Keyboard with simultaneous operations

Claim 1

A keyboard which comprises: a first plurality of keys designated function keys, such as space, shift or delete keys, each of which when depressed by a key-stroke generates and delivers a signal which is capable of being processed and when transmitted is capable of causing associated apparatus to perform the function corresponding to said depressed function key, during a first period of time, following said depression of said function key, having initial and final instants, and a second plurality of keys designated character keys, such as keys for letters, numerals, punctuation points and symbols, each of which when depressed generates and delivers a signal which is capable of being processed and when transmitted is capable of causing associated apparatus to perform the character corresponding to said depressed character key, during a second period of time, following said depression of said character key, having initial and final instants; wherein the improvement comprises delay means, which delays delivery of said signals from at least one of said character keys, and said delay means, having a value of delay which, when one of said function keys is depressed simultaneously with one of said character keys by a first key-stroke, causes said initial instant of said second period of time to occur later than said final instant of said first period of time, and causes said final instant of said second period of time to occur earlier than the initial instant of a signal caused by a second key-stroke, said first and said second key-strokes occurring successively separated by the minimum interval of time permitted in operation of said keyboard with said associated apparatus, and means for generation of said signals from said keys in a form suitable for said associated apparatus.