Wireless keyboard with a built-in web camera

• US 20030197685A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leland Yi
• Original Assignee: Leland Yi
• Inventors: Yi, Leland
• Application Number:
  US10/061,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A wireless keyboard with a built-in web camera, which allows a user to input text data and image data without being locally restricted by a wired connection to the computer. According to one preferred embodiment, a wireless keyboard with a built-in web camera is provided, comprising: a first input part for transmitting input key data inputted by a user to a user terminal device, a second input part for transmitting an image signal inputted from the web camera to the user terminal device, a packet generator for receiving the input key data and/or the compressed image signal and producing at least one packet according to a predetermined method, and a transmitter for transmitting the packet to a user terminal device.

Claims

1. A wireless keyboard with a built-in web camera comprising, in combination:

a first input part for transmitting input key data inputted by a user to a user terminal device;

wherein said first input part comprises, in combination;

(a) an input key signal generator for producing a scan code corresponding to an input key selected by said user;

(b) an input key data generator for producing said input key data corresponding to said scan code;

(c) an input key converter for converting said input key data into a predetermined code format; and

(d) an input key transmitter for transmitting said converted input key data to said user terminal device via a wireless network; and

a second input part for transmitting an image signal inputted from said web camera to said user terminal device;

wherein said second input part comprises, in combination;

(e) an image receiver for receiving said image signal;

(f) an image compressor for adjusting and compressing said image signal;

(g) an image signal divider for dividing said compressed image signal, based on data size of said compressed image signal and a predetermined data size for transmission, into a proper size based on said predetermined data size; and

(h) at least one transmitter for transmitting said divided image signal to said user terminal device.

2. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 1, wherein said user terminal device comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a computer and a set-top box.

3. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 1, wherein at least one selected from a group consisting of said input key data and said image signal is transmitted to said user terminal device through a wireless transmission.

4. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 3, wherein said wireless transmission comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of IR transmission and RF transmission.

5. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 1, wherein said input key data and said image signal are transmitted to said user terminal device with a predetermined identification code added.

6. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 1, wherein said image compressor adjusts brightness and color of said image signal using a reference value extracted from an analysis of said image signal.

7. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 1, wherein said image compressor compresses said image signal adding an error detection code for detecting errors which occurred in said step of wireless transmission.

8. A wireless keyboard with a built-in web camera comprising, in combination:

an input key signal generator for producing a scan code corresponding to an input key selected by a user;

an input key data generator for producing said input key data corresponding to said scan code;

an image receiver for receiving an image signal;

an image compressor for adjusting and compressing said image signal;

a packet generator for receiving at least one selected from a group consisting of said input key data and said compressed image signal and producing at least one packet according to a predetermined method; and

at least one transmitter for transmitting said packet to a user terminal device.

9. A receiving part for receiving data from a wireless keyboard via a wireless network comprising, in combination:

at least one receiver for receiving at least one selected from a group consisting of said input key data and said image signal which are transmitted from at least one transmitter embedded in said wireless keyboard;

a packet combiner for determining whether said data received by said receiver are said input key data or said image signal and combining said data as a complete packet;

a decoder for reproducing said data, if said data are compressed image signals;

an image converter for converting said reproduced image signal into a data format suitable for a predetermined transmission protocol;

an input key converter for converting said data into a data format suitable for a predetermined transmission protocol, if said data are said input key data; and

an integrated transmitter for transmitting at least one selected from a group consisting of said converted image signal and said converted input key data to a user terminal device.

10. The receiving part as stated in claim 9, wherein said image converter determines said input device of said image signal and reports said input device to said user terminal device while converting said image signal.

11. The receiving part as stated in claim 9, wherein said wireless transmission comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of IR transmission and RF transmission.

12. A wireless keyboard with a plurality of input keys comprising, in combination:

an input key signal generator for producing a scan code corresponding to an input key selected by said user;

an input key data generator for producing said input key data corresponding to said scan code;

an input key converter for converting said input key data into a predetermined code format; and

an input key transmitter for transmitting said converted input key data to said user terminal device via wireless network.

13. A wireless keyboard with a built-in web camera comprising, in combination:

a keyboard with a plurality of input keys;

a camera coupled to said keyboard for inputting an image signal;

a converter for converting said input key data inputted from said keyboard and said image data inputted from said camera into a data format suitable for wireless transmission; and

a transmitter for transmitting said converted input key data and said converted image signal to a receiving part.

14. The wireless keyboard as stated in claim 13, wherein said camera can be separated from said wireless keyboard and be used separately.