Pilot operated keyboard for supersonic speeds - is clamped against back of hand and contains pushbuttons operated by finger joints

摘要

The keyboard shaped to match the curvature of the hand in a gripping position is designed for use by fighter pilots when there is difficulty in moving the arms at the highest speeds. The keyboard has a shell with a portion (13) gripped by the fingers, and an outer portion (14) around the knuckles of the fingers. This is held against the back of the hand by a clamping plate (15) carrying a resilient pad (4). The shell consists of strips, one for each finger, each with four push buttons placed so that they can be operated by the joints and tips of the fingers, e.g. two can be operated by the outside surfaces of the joints and two operated by the inside surfaces of the tips. Each strip with four press buttons in line along it, can be connected to other strips to form the keyboard. The shell has ribs along the grip portion so at least partially, the fingers from each other. In another form, the tips of the fingers pass through rings attached to spindles so that each spindle operates four switches.