Ampex Corporation

Ampex Systems Corporation

Data Entry Products, Incorporated

David N Larkins

Antoni S Baranski

Glenn T Yoshida

Thomas L Helmers

David W Thompson

Thomas J Heath

An illuminated dome type switch for use on a control panel having a support base and suitable circuitry for interconnecting various components making up the panel is disclosed herein. This switch includes a light source and a dome, both of which are supported on the base of the panel and the latter of which is resiliently movable between a biased OFF position and a depressed ON position. The switch also includes a keycap having an upper portion through which at least some light can pass, and a bottom outer periphery including a dome actuator. The keycap is supported directly over the light source and to one side of the dome for movement between a biased OFF position so as not to depress the dome and a depressed ON position for causing the actuator to depress the dome in order to move the latter to its on position, whereby to turn on the light source by means of circuitry forming part of the control panel and a suitable source of power and thereby illuminate the upper portion of the keycap. In the embodiments disclosed herein, the bottom outer periphery of the keycap also includes one or more fulcrums to aid the actuator in depressing the dome.

Illuminated dome switch

An apparatus for controlling conditions in response to an operator input, the apparatus including a rotary knob coupled to the shaft of the rotor of a stepper motor having first and second stator windings, in quadrature, with each winding being center tap grounded to provide first and second winding portions for each winding. One pair of first winding portions are used for providing pulse inputs to a microprocessor on rotation of the knob, in either direction, via a pulse control system, with the microprocessor providing command signals to a braking control system, which includes a direct current power control source, which may be either a voltage or current control source. The power control source, in turn is in circuit relation with the pair of second winding portions. On command of the processor, a force or torque is applied to the rotor, by means of energization of the other pair of winding portions, with the force being in opposition to the direction of rotation of the knob, the force being in proportion to the applied power. Under control of a microprocessor, the force may be intermittently applied to simulate a mechanical detent arrangement, or a constant force for braking, either of which provides tactile feedback to the operator.

Interactive rotary controller system with tactile feedback

A programmable time code generator utilizes a synchronous parallel-to-serial data converter for conversion of time code in parallel form into serial form. The resulting longitudinal time code is suitable for recording on magnetic tape in synchronism with an information signal. The time code generator can be readily adapted for various video recording formats, such as NTSC, PAL, PAL-M, SECAM, etc., as well as for synchronous time code generation in other types of recording. In addition, the frequency of the generated longitudinal time code can be changed in a simple manner to be adapted for recording at various tape speeds which are different from the normal playback speed.

Synchronous programmable parallel-to-serial data converter and a

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

David N Larkins