Keyboard device with preselect feedback

• US 20040004559A1
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Rast, Rodger H.
• Application Number:
  US10/612,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004559A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/002 Writing aids for blind persons devices for Braille writing G09B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1017 the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0422 Media holders, covers, supports, backgrounds; Arrangements to facilitate placing of the medium H04N2201/0406 - H04N2201/0412, H04N2201/0434 take precedence

Abstract

A system allowing persons to operate their computer comfortably while lying in bed. The system has a user friendly keyboard, that provides preselection feedback indicating prior to a keystroke being entered, thus allowing the individual to verify the correct key before pressing down the key. Additional aspects of the system include the user of display goggles with panning control, and a see-through mode. Numerous additional system and methods are described.

Claims

1. In a keyboard having a plurality of keys that upon being pressed past a selection threshold generate a keystroke for entry into the current application, wherein the improvement comprises:

means of sensing intermediate key pressure which is less than that required to generate a selection; and

programming in the application for generating feedback as to which key is subject to the intermediate pressure, wherein the user can change hand positioning to find the desired key before entering a keystroke.

2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a contact, or sensor, that generates a signal to the computer in response to detecting an intermediate level of keymotion, or pressure.

3. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said feedback comprises a displaying the character with different viewing properties than an entered key.

4. The improvement as recited in claim 3, wherein if preselected key is pressed a normal keystroke is registered, gut if released, the preselection feedback disappears as well, or is replaced by the user preselecting another key by applying an intermediate level of pressure.

5. In a fan configured for personal cooling having a plularity of blades rotating at moderate speeds, the improvement comprising:

attaching a removable filter to the blades of the fan;

wherein said removable filters are configured to entrain air through the edge of the filter to trap particulates in the air.

6. The improvement as recited in claim 5, wherein the blades are in excess of 1 foot in length.

7. The improvement as recited in claim 5, wherein the fan has between 2 and 6 blades to which filters may be attached.

claims 8-20 not defined.

21. A system for accurately controlling HVAC systems, comprising:

a temperature sensor;

remote thermal contribution sensing devices;

a controller receiving input from the temperature sensor and the remote thermal contribution sensing devices;

said controller adapted with programming for,

determining a thermocline from the temperature sensor to the thermal contribution sensing unit;

adjusting the HVAC output so that the user set temperature is adjusted for the thermocline.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the remote thermal contribution sensing devices comprise radiation detection units, such as pyroelectric detectors, that detect infrared radiation which determines the amount of heat contribution from a given area.

23. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the remote thermal contribution sensing devices comprise remote temperature sensors that generate temperature signals.

24. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the remote sensors communicate via RF with said controller.

25. A counting apparatus for registering multiple categories of items in response to a touch direction applied thereto, comprising:

a force responsive tip element adapted for sensing the direction of force applied thereto;

a counter operably coupled to said force responsive tip element adapted for sequential counting of each touch of said tip element in a predetermined number of directions; and

an annunciator for announcing the sequential counts according to each of said predetermined number of directions.

26. A apparatus for registering the height of an individual and annunciating that height, comprising:

a compliant strip of material;

means for sensing position along said strip of material;

means for annunciating a height value;

computer processor operative coupled to said means for sensing ans said means of annunciating height and configured with programming for,

registering the location along said strip wherein sufficient level of said contact pressure has occurred,

converting the location data to a height value,

converting the height value to a signal for said means of annunciating height,

outputting said height value to said means for annunciating.

27. A system for directing the movement of an individuals, comprising:

means for detecting the presence of a particular individual;

means for displaying direction indications along the route of said particular individual; and

a computer connected to means for detection and means for displaying and adapted with programming readable from a computer readable media for execution on said computer for,

interfacing with said individual to determine a destination,

maintaining location information about said particular individual based on said means for detecting;

determining a next direction toward said destination,

generating an indication of direction proximal to said individual toward said destination.

28. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein said means for detecting the presence of a particular individual comprises:

a network of detectors capable of detecting an individual within sufficient proximity to said detectors; and

an identification feature within said detectors adapted to uniquely register the presence of a particular individual;

wherein said detectors are connected to said computer.

29. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein said detectors comprise:

imaging systems adapted for capturing images, or image streams, of said individuals;

said imaging systems being connected to said computer;

programming executable on said computer for,

recognizing a particular individual from said captured images and image streams,

determining the location of said individual from said captured images and image streams.

30. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein said detectors comprise:

radio frequency communication devices adapted for communicating with a radio frequency device associated with said individual;

wherein said radio frequency communication devices are responsive to the distance between said individual and said detector so that the locations of said individual in relation to said detectors may be generally determined.

31. A system for controlling burner intensity on a stove, or similar, cooking element, comprising:

a transducer adapted for registering the cooking state of food elements being heated within receptacles by a specific heating element;

a signal processing element operably coupled to said transducer and adapted to discern the state of said food elements in response to the quantity being registered by said transducer;

a controller operably coupled to said signal processing element for receiving information on the state of said food elements;

an input device in communication with said controller into which a user can select the desired state that said food elements are to attain or be retained at;

a power control element operably coupled to said controller and adapted for modulating the power output of said specific heating element; and

wherein said controller generates at least one signal to said power control element that is responsive to the difference between the desired state as entered by said user and said state of said food elements as registered by said transducer;

whereby the power output of said burner is modulated so as to match the user input with the state of said food elements registered by said transducer.

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said transducer comprises:

an acoustical transducer as selected from the group of acoustical transducer elements consisting of audio transducers, microphones, vibration sensors, or similar vibration and audio responsive elements;

wherein said acoustical transducer is retained in a position to receive acoustical signals from said receptacles;

said acoustical transducer having a sufficiently directional input to discern the sound of foods being heated by a specific heating element; and

wherein said acoustical transducer is connected to said signal processing element.

33. A system as recited in claim 32, wherein said acoustical transducer is connected to said signal processing element by a wired, or wireless communication channel.

34. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said wireless communication channel comprises an RF transmitter configured to transmit acoustical information to said signal processing element.

35. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said acoustical transducer is retained above said receptacle and directed so as to receive acoustical in relation to the state of said food in said receptacle.

36. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said acoustical transducer is positioned proximal to said cooking element for registering the sounds associated with the state of the food being heated at said particular cooking element.

37. A system as recited in claim 36:

wherein a plurality of said acoustical transducers are positioned proximal to said cooking elements and produce an output signal to said signal processing element;

wherein the congruence, or difference, of the signals received by said signal processing element provides for the discernment of the state of food heating with each specific heater element.

38. A system as recited in claim 33, further comprising a module within which said acoustical transducer, an acoustical transducer, or a vibration sensor, is located that communicates a signal to said signal processing element.

39. A system as recited in claim 38, wherein said signal is communicated over a wired or wireless communication link with said signal processing element.

40. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said transducer comprises a pressure transducer.

41. An apparatus for cleaning windows in multi-story buildings, comprising:

a drive mechanism adapted for traversing a set of tracks joined to a multistory building adjacent the windows of said building;

washer assembly attached to said drive mechanism and adapted for cleaning said windows;

means for sensing position along said tracks;

a controller operable connected to said means for sensing position, said washer assembly, and said drive mechanism, wherein said controller is adapted with programming for,

determining the position of said drive mechanism along said track from input received from said means for sensing position along said track,

activating said drive mechanism until said washer assembly is positioned in relation to a window, or a portion thereof, to be washed next,

activating said washer assembly to wash all or a portion of a given window,

determining which window or portion is to be washed next, repeating the above steps for all windows to be washed;

at least one power source configured to power the drive mechanism, washer assembly, means for sensing, and said controller.

42. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said drive mechanism is adapted for engaging said tracks on opposing sides, vertically or horizontally, of windows on said building.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 42, wherein said drive mechanism is adapted so that said engagement is a slidable engagement wherein one or more roller wheels is retained within a track section.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein roller wheels are retained on opposing sides of a track section.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein at least one roller wheel per track is mechanically locked into said track and unable to disengage except at predetermined locations.

46. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said tracks are primarily oriented horizontally along the side of the building with at least one vertical path for traversing between horizontal sections.

47. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said tracks are primarily oriented vertically along the side of the building with at least one horizontal path for traversing between vertical sections.

48. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein both vertical and horizontal tracks are deployed.

49. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said power source comprises a battery source.

50. An apparatus as recited in claim 49, wherein said battery source is automatically connected to a battery charging device when at one or more charge positions along said track.

51. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said power source is derived from a power connection on said multistory building.

52. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein said power connection is integrated within said tracks.

53. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein washer assembly comprises:

a spray head adapted to dispense liquid cleaning solutions;

a wiper head adapted to wipe away the liquid and associated dirt from the window; and

a motorized positioner for moving said wiper head and optionally said spray head.

54. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

data storage associated with said controller and programming for,

retaining a map of said track on said building,

retaining a programmed cleaning path,

following said map of said track to execute said programmed cleaning path.