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Abstract

A combinatorial data entry system useful with a computing apparatus comprises two multi-position switches. A data entry system useful with a telephone comprises one multi-position switch. Each multi-position switch includes a control knob, which can be manually tilted between a rest position and any of twelve tilted positions and is biased to the rest position, and twelve switchable devices, which may be electrical, opto-electronic, capacitive, or magnetically activated. Electrical switching devices having stationary and movable contacts are preferred. In each multi-position switch, each switchable device has a deactivated state and an activated state and corresponds uniquely to one of the tilted positions of the control knob. Each switchable device has an active output when switched from the deactivated state into the activated state. Thus, as the control knob of each multi-position switch is tilted from the rest position into selected ones of the tilted positions, a selected one of the switchable devices is switched from the deactivated state into the activated state. Each possible combination of active outputs from all of the switchable devices of the multi-position switches represents a unique output of the combinatorial data entry system.

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First Claim