Computer keyboard providing an alert when typing in CAPS LOCK mode

• US 20030206157A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry E. Emerson
• Original Assignee: Harry E. Emerson
• Inventors: Emerson, Harry E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

A computer keyboard providing an audible alert and a visual alert to the user when the keyboard is in the CAPS LOCK mode of operation. A computer system including a computer keyboard providing an audible alert and a visual alert to the user when the keyboard is in the CAPS LOCK mode of operation. A computer keyboard and a computer system having a timer to turn off the CAPS LOCK mode after a period of time during which no keyboard keys are struck.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard having keys for generating displayable characters, comprising:

a. Keys for generating alphabetic characters which can be presented on the computer'"'"'s display screen in lower case letters or in capital letters;

b. a CAPS LOCK mode key which causes typed alphabetic characters to be presented on-screen in capital letters when the key is activated, said keyboard being thus entered into the CAPS LOCK mode;

c. said keyboard functioning within a computer system by generating messages to the computer operating software, which messages indicate the appropriate computer system response to the activation or striking of a key such as by indicating a character to be presented on the computer system'"'"'s display screen or by indicating a mode of operation to be engaged; and

d. said CAPS LOCK mode key causing the keyboard to generate an audible alert via the computer'"'"'s audible output system indicating that said keyboard is in CAPS LOCK mode, said audible alert generated by sending appropriate messages to the computer'"'"'s operating software when any of said alphabetic character keys are struck while in said CAPS LOCK mode.

2. A computer keyboard as recited in claim 1 further comprising a timer mechanism such that said audible alert will only be generated after the timer has expired, the timer being started or restarted each time the CAPS LOCK key is activated into the CAPS LOCK mode, and after each alphabetic key is typed while in the CAPS LOCK mode.

3. A computer keyboard having keys for generating displayable characters, comprising:

a. Keys for generating alphabetic characters which can be presented on the computer'"'"'s display screen in lower case letters or in capital letters;

b. a CAPS LOCK mode key which causes typed alphabetic characters to be presented on-screen in capital letters when the key is activated, said keyboard being thus entered into the CAPS LOCK mode;

c. a standard on-screen insertion cursor for indicating the location where typed characters will appear on the computer'"'"'s display screen;

d. an on-screen CAPS LOCK alerting insertion cursor for indicating the location where typed characters will appear on the computer'"'"'s display screen, said alerting cursor having a uniquely identifiable characteristic;

e. said keyboard functioning within a computer system by generating messages to the computer operating software, which messages indicate the appropriate computer system response to the activation or striking of a key such as by indicating a character to be presented on the computer system'"'"'s display screen or by indicating a mode of operation to be engaged;

f. said CAPS LOCK mode key causing the keyboard to generate appropriate messages to the computer'"'"'s operating software when any of said displayable character keys are struck while in said CAPS LOCK mode; and

g. said computer'"'"'s operating software responding to said messages by causing said alerting insertion cursor to be presented on screen in place of said standard insertion cursor, thus alerting the computer user that the keyboard is in CAPS LOCK mode.

4. A computer system, comprising:

a. A keyboard having keys for generating displayable characters;

b. Said keys to include keys for generating alphabetic characters which can be presented on the computer'"'"'s display screen in lower case letters or in capital letters;

c. a CAPS LOCK mode key which causes typed alphabetic characters to be presented on-screen in capital letters when the key is activated, said keyboard being thus entered into the CAPS LOCK mode;

d. said keyboard functioning within said computer system by generating messages to the computer operating software, which messages indicate the appropriate computer system response to the activation or striking of a key such as by indicating a character to be presented on the computer system'"'"'s display screen or by indicating a mode of operation to be engaged; and

e. said CAPS LOCK mode key causing the computer system to generate an audible alert via the computer'"'"'s audible output system indicating that said keyboard is in CAPS LOCK mode, said audible alert generated by sending appropriate messages to the computer'"'"'s operating software when any of said alphabetic character keys are struck while in said CAPS LOCK mode.

5. A computer system as recited in claim 4 further comprising a timer mechanism such that said audible alert will only be generated after the timer has expired, the timer being started or restarted each time the CAPS LOCK key is activated into the CAPS LOCK mode, and after each alphabetic key is typed while in the CAPS LOCK mode.

6. A computer system, comprising:

a. A keyboard having keys for generating displayable characters;

b. Said keys to include keys for generating alphabetic characters which can be presented on the computer'"'"'s display screen in lower case letters or in capital letters;

c. a CAPS LOCK mode key which causes typed alphabetic characters to be presented on-screen in capital letters when the key is activated, said keyboard being thus entered into the CAPS LOCK mode;

d. a standard on-screen insertion cursor for indicating the location where typed characters will appear on the computer'"'"'s display screen;

e. an on-screen CAPS LOCK alerting insertion cursor for indicating the location where typed characters will appear on the computer'"'"'s display screen, said alerting cursor having a uniquely identifiable characteristic;

f. said keyboard functioning within said computer system by generating messages to the computer operating software, which messages indicate the appropriate computer system response to the activation or striking of a key such as by indicating a character to be presented on the computer system'"'"'s display screen or by indicating a mode of operation to be engaged;

g. said CAPS LOCK mode key causing the keyboard to generate appropriate messages to the computer'"'"'s operating software when any of said displayable character keys are struck while in said CAPS LOCK mode; and

h. said computer'"'"'s operating software responding to said messages by causing said alerting insertion cursor to be presented on screen in place of said standard insertion cursor, thus alerting the computer user that the keyboard is in CAPS LOCK mode.

7. A computer keyboard having keys for generating displayable characters, comprising:

a. Keys for generating alphabetic characters which can be presented on the computer'"'"'s display screen in lower case letters or in capital letters;

b. a CAPS LOCK mode key which causes typed alphabetic characters to be presented on-screen in capital letters when the key is activated, said keyboard being thus entered into the CAPS LOCK mode;

c. said keyboard functioning within a computer system by generating messages to the computer operating software, which messages indicate the appropriate computer system response to the activation or striking of a key such as by indicating a character to be presented on the computer system'"'"'s display screen or by indicating a mode of operation to be engaged;

d. a timer mechanism associated with the CAPS LOCK key, the timer being started or restarted each time the CAPS LOCK key is activated into the CAPS LOCK mode, and after each alphabetic key is typed while in the CAPS LOCK mode; and

e. means to turn off the CAPS LOCK mode upon expiration of the timer mechanism.

8. A computer keyboard as recited in claim 7 further comprising a means for alerting the user when the CAPS LOCK mode is turned off as a result of the expiration of the timer.

9. A computer system, comprising:

a. A keyboard having keys for generating displayable characters;

b. Said keys to include keys for generating alphabetic characters which can be presented on the computer'"'"'s display screen in lower case letters or in capital letters;

c. a CAPS LOCK mode key which causes typed alphabetic characters to be presented on-screen in capital letters when the key is activated, said keyboard being thus entered into the CAPS LOCK mode;

d. said keyboard functioning within said computer system by generating messages to the computer operating software, which messages indicate the appropriate computer system response to the activation or striking of a key such as by indicating a character to be presented on the computer system'"'"'s display screen or by indicating a mode of operation to be engaged;

e. a timer mechanism associated with the CAPS LOCK key, the timer being started or restarted each time the CAPS LOCK key is activated into the CAPS LOCK mode, and after each alphabetic key is typed while in the CAPS LOCK mode; and

f. means to turn off the CAPS LOCK mode upon expiration of the timer mechanism.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 9 further comprising a means for alerting the user when the CAPS LOCK mode is turned off as a result of the expiration of the timer.