Abstract: A two-way video telephone station includes a television screen for displaying an image transmitted by a distant party to a telephone conversation, a video camera for electronically photographing a human subject and periodically transmitting his picture to the distant party, and position-indicating apparatus for keeping the subject within the camera's field of view. The position-indicating apparatus includes a pair of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)--one on each side of the camera. The LEDs are visible to the subject when he is out, or almost out, of the camera's field of view. Because the LEDs can only be seen when the subject needs to take corrective action, they act as passive restraints that are completely unnoticed when the subject is properly positioned. Red LEDs are used to indicate that movement should stop if the subject wishes to be centered in the picture transmitted to the distant party.

Abstract: A pluggable cartridge is disclosed for housing electronic components and for insertion into a cavity of a using device, such as a telephone or video game apparatus, having a recessed electrical connector. The cartridge comprises first and second dielectric structures which when joined together form a seam. The seam is arranged to be fully inserted into the cavity before electrical contact is established between the electronic components of the cartridge and the recessed connector.In a second embodiment of the invention, a single dielectric enclosure is utilized having an opening at one end only. A circuit board including a female dielectric connector mounted at one end is arranged to attach to the enclosure and thereby provide an inexpensive cartridge. Each disclosed embodiment offers improved electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection in minimal space.

Abstract: A multiple pushbutton switch is disclosed in which each pushbutton actuator has a rotatable cam mounted thereon that interacts with one or more lockout members positioned alongside of the actuator in the same plane as the cam. The interaction between the cam and the lockouts is such that one group of the pushbutton actuators can be depressed simultaneously while a second group of the actuators are blocked from simultaneous depression with the first group. Furthermore, a pushbutton actuator can be shifted from one group to the other merely by rotating the cam thereon to a different position.

Abstract: A switch is disclosed in which manual adjustment of a contact spring pileup is avoided by closely controlling the interaction between (1) the contact springs, (2) a movable actuator including a plurality of cam surfaces, each of which is associated with an individual contact spring, and (3) a frame for supporting the actuator. This is achieved by molding a cam follower to one end portion and a mounting element to the other end portion of each contact spring. The mounting elements of the contact springs are positioned in engagement with one another and are secured to the frame. The mounting elements serve to orient the contact springs at a particular angle with respect to one another and accurately locate the contact springs and thereby the cam followers with respect to the cam surfaces of the actuator. The cam followers in combination with the associated cam surfaces serve to locate and provide a predetermined bias to the contact springs.