DE3805932A1

DE3805932A1 - Keyboards for electronic systems - use series of parallel fibre optical conductors with single light conductors with single light transmitter, etc.

Info

Publication number: DE3805932A1
Application number: DE19883805932
Authority: DE
Inventors: Pedro Rodriguez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-25
Filing date: 1988-02-25
Publication date: 1989-09-07

Abstract

In visual electronic switches and keyboards the logical operations use optical fibres of e.g. glass, acrylic, ''Plexiglas'' (RTN), etc., and interrupt or divert the light beams through them; the optical conductors are arranged parallel in bundles for signalling with a number of bits so that the switches are in rows (e.g. for a keyboard) and only require one single light transmitter; more may be needed in exceptional cases but only one for one row of switches or keys. The optical conductors are preferably made partly or completely by injection moulding (sic). ADVANTAGE - The system is an improved and technologically simplified type of keyboard, etc.

Description

Die Erfindung befaßt sich mit der logischen Schaltung mittels sogenannter Lichtwellenleiter, im besonderen mit deren Anwendung in alphanumerischen Tastaturen (Keyboard) sowie mit allen in Bedienungsfeldern von Maschinen und Geräten vorkommenden Sorten von Befehlselementen, Schalter, die für die Signaleingabe benötigt werden.The invention is concerned with the logic circuit by means of so-called optical fiber, especially with their application in alphanumeric keyboards (keyboard) as well as with all in Control panels of machines and devices occurring types of Command elements, switches that are required for signal input.

Zweck der Erfindung ist es, die funktionsmäßige Verbesserung und technologische Vereinfachung von alphanumerischen Tastaturen und Befehls- und Schaltelementen, die vorwiegend in Bedienungsfeldern von elektronischen Steuergeräten in Maschinen und Anlagen Verwendung finden.The purpose of the invention is to improve the functionality and Technological simplification of alphanumeric keyboards and Command and switching elements that are mainly used in the control panels of electronic control units used in machines and systems Find.

Die bisherigen Schaltelemente von Tastaturen und Schaltern beruhen aus elektromechanischen Schaltstücken zur Kontaktgabe, die hinsichtlich der Funktionssicherheit und Anfälligkeit sowie technologischem Aufwand (seltenen Metallen und Arbeitsaufwand) verbesserungs- bzw. ersatzbedürftig sind. Hierbei bilden die kontaktgebenden Teile, Schaltstücke, und deren Vielfachung zur Erhöhung der Bitzahl bzw. der Verknüpfungsgrad die schwache Stelle, da sie ja ihrer Funktion nach auf der elektromechanischen Kontaktgabe beruht, mit allen innenwohnenden Nachteilen, z. B. Kontaktverschleiß, Verschmutzung und aggressive Einflüsse.The previous switching elements of keyboards and switches are based of electromechanical contact pieces for making contact with regard to functional reliability and vulnerability as well as technological effort (rare metals and workload) improvement or are in need of replacement. Here the contacting parts form Switching elements, and their multiplication to increase the number of bits or the degree of linkage is the weak point, since it is their function based on electromechanical contact with everyone inherent disadvantages, e.g. B. contact wear, pollution and aggressive influences.

Einer weiteren Miniaturisierung der herkömmlichen Befehls- oder Schaltelemente sind Grenzen gesetzt, im Gegensatz zu den aus dem Lichtwellenleiterprinzip herrührenden gleichen Schaltelementen, die in dieser Hinsicht umfangreiche Möglichkeiten bieten. Another miniaturization of conventional command or Switching elements have limits, in contrast to those from the The same switching elements originating from the optical waveguide principle offer extensive possibilities in this regard.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, die obengenannten Mängel zu beheben, indem dabei ein neues Prinzip zur Erzeugung von logischen und verknüpfenden Signalen verwendet wird.The object of the invention is to remedy the above-mentioned shortcomings, by doing a new principle for the generation of logical and linking signals is used.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst, indem manThis object is achieved according to the invention by

- the principle of fiber optics for glass, glass fiber, plexiglass and other optical fibers
- when using one or more light wave transmitters - e.g. B. laser diodes, LEDs - various channels made of optical fibers trains so that while interrupting the Lightwave beams are generated in the channels in multi-bit signals.

Die mit der Erfindung erzielbaren Vorteile bestehen insbesondere darin, daßThe advantages that can be achieved with the invention are in particular in that

1. using the optoelectronic switches and keyboards comparable higher degree of linkage per switch or button is about 1: 10
2. The degree of miniaturization is extremely feasible in comparison to the conventional switches and keyboards
3. Manufacturing costs are reduced because of many technological Processes in the production of individual parts are eliminated, as in in our case the injection molding process can be used
4. the use of precious metals is eliminated, since for the production of optoelectronic switches and keyboards only relative cheap fabrics such as B. glass, acrylic glass, plexiglass, etc. used will
5. The functional reliability is significantly increased because the The lifespan of all parts involved is longer and Aggressiveness of the environment can be ignored
6. the total weight and dimensions are comparatively less.

Zur Wirkungsweise der optoelektronischen Schalter und Tastatur:How the optoelectronic switches and keyboard work:

In der Explosionsdarstellung der Fig. 1 sieht man die wesentlichen Teile, die für die Beschreibung der Funktionsweise notwendig sind. Die in der Fig. 2 dargestellte Tastatur beginnt mit dem Lichtwellen sender (3), der direkt mit dem Lichtwellenleiter (6) (-segmenten (2)) gekoppelt ist und dessen Strahlen jeden der 6 Lichtwellenleiter durchstrahlt. Wenn keine der Tasten betätigt wird, erscheint somit an jeden der Fototransistoren der Fototransistor matrix (4) ein logischer 1. Sobald eine Taste gedrückt wird, dann unterbricht die zu der Taste zugehörige Lichtsperre (1) die Strahlen in einer bestimmten Anzahl der Lichtwellenleiter (6) oder in allen Lichtwellenleitern (6), so daß ein bestimmtes Bitmuster in der Fototransistormatrix (4) entsteht, je nach Codierung der Lichtsperre (1). Die Lichtsperre (1), so wie sie in der Fig. 1 dargestellt ist, würde die Strahlen in allen sechs Lichtwellenleitern (6) sperren und an der Fototransistormatrix (4) das Bitmuster 000000 erzeugen. Für die Codierung der jeweiligen Bitmuster werden auf die Fläche der Lichtsperre (1) entsprechende Ausschnitte gemacht. Eine andere Lösung besteht, wenn die Fläche der Lichtsperre (1) mit einem durchsichtigen Material versehen wird und durch Färbung oder Lackierung der Oberfläche die verschiedenen Bitmuster gestaltet. Lichtsperre (1) und Taste werden geführt durch die Führungsschienen (7), während die notwendige Federung für den Rückholvorgang der Taste samt Lichtsperre (1) durch die Permanentmagneten (8) z. B. übernommen wird. Auf der Fig. 2 ist die Lichtwellenleiter-Kupplung (5) zu sehen, die die Kette von Lichtwellenleitersegmenten (2) umleitet.In the exploded view of Fig. 1 you can see the essential parts that are necessary for the description of the operation. The keyboard shown in FIG. 2 begins with the optical fiber transmitter ( 3 ), which is directly coupled to the optical fiber ( 6 ) (segments ( 2 )) and the rays of which radiate through each of the six optical fibers. If none of the buttons are pressed, a logical 1 appears on each of the photo transistors of the photo transistor matrix ( 4 ). As soon as a button is pressed, the light lock ( 1 ) associated with the button interrupts the rays in a certain number of optical fibers ( 6 ) or in all optical fibers ( 6 ), so that a certain bit pattern is created in the phototransistor matrix ( 4 ), depending on the coding of the light barrier ( 1 ). The light barrier ( 1 ), as shown in FIG. 1, would block the beams in all six optical fibers ( 6 ) and would generate the bit pattern 000000 on the phototransistor matrix ( 4 ). For the coding of the respective bit patterns, corresponding cutouts are made on the surface of the light barrier ( 1 ). Another solution is if the surface of the light barrier ( 1 ) is provided with a transparent material and the different bit patterns are designed by coloring or painting the surface. Light lock ( 1 ) and button are guided by the guide rails ( 7 ), while the necessary suspension for the return process of the button including light lock ( 1 ) by the permanent magnets ( 8 ) z. B. is adopted. In FIG. 2, the optical fiber coupling (5) it can be seen that redirects the chain of optical waveguide segments (2).

Claims

1. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard), characterized in that the logical switching operations using optical fibers or light-conducting substances - z. B. glass, acrylic glass, glass fiber, plexiglass, etc. - and be realized by interrupting or deflecting the light wave rays present therein, the optical fibers made of glass, which are guided in parallel in bundles, spatially and optically for the design of signals with several bits are arranged in parallel so that for the spatially arranged switches in several rows - z. B. for the design of a keyboard - only a single light beam transmitter is required, in exceptional cases more than one, but not more than one for a spatial row of switches or buttons.

2. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1, characterized in that the design of the optical waveguide done in bundles, e.g. B. with a common beginning at which one suitable optical surface irradiated by only one light wave transmitter is so that the actual optoelectronic switches through spatial arrangement, rows and / or parallel of the light waveguide are formed - each switch practically existing from the parallel routing of several optical fibers - and that whole is irradiated by one or more light wave transmitters, each after how many rows of switches there are.

3. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that an optoelectronic switch - z. B. as an expansion cell for an entire keyboard - consists of one or more optical axes (ie one or more optical fibers), and that each optical axis can be interrupted by the intervening of a body or material (light barrier) ( 1 ), so that the light waves running in it radiate to the reception side can be interpreted as logical 1 or 0.

4. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard according to claim 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that for the detection of all the rays coming from a series of switches - several parallel bits - is required by only a single group of receivers (e.g. phototransistor matrix), since the constructional design allows the rays to pass unhindered - in the state of rest - through the fiber optic segments ( 2 ) between the switch and the switch until the non-transparent part (light barrier) ( 1 ) the optical axis interrupts.

5. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that each row of switches - here are the switches with each other through the fiber optic segments optically connected - optically coupled to the next row of switches, so that each optical axis of all switches from all switch rows is traversed and thus detected by only one light wave receiver with the result that an entire keyboard starts with only one fiber optic transmitter - the beginning with all fiber optic cables the first row of switches optically connected - and at the end with the parallel optical fibers with a z. B. Photo transistor matrix - with one phototransistor per optical fiber - is equipped.

6. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the light waves in the parallel optical waveguide, by the intervening z. B. impermeable lamellae (light barrier) ( 1 ) can be interrupted, the same being possible by the interposition of liquid crystals in the optical waveguide or by mechanical displacement of the optical axis of the optical waveguide or by other similar means, the interruption of the beams.

7. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the light wave beams pulse modulated will.

8. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 to 7, characterized in that the manufacture of the spatially serial and / or parallel optical fibers, made of glass, etc. partially or completely done by injection molding.

9. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 to 8, characterized in that the switches can be hermetically encapsulated by the body or lamella (light barrier) ( 1 ) to interrupt the light wave rays from outside the encapsulation by means of a magnetic field (also permanent magnet) actuated.

10. Optoelectronic switch and keyboard (keyboard) according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the light lock ( 1 ) to interrupt the light waves from outside the encapsulation by means of a kind of membrane made of elastic material - similar to the keyboards used recently - operated .