Universal display keyboard, system, and methods
First Claim
1. A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
one or more electronically-alterable displays associated with the keys to display identifying indicia corresponding to such keys; and
a controller coupled to the one or more electronically-alterable displays, the controller to receive control code from an application executing on an external electronic device, the controller to control the display of the identifying indicia in accordance with the control code.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A universal display keyboard can include a plurality of keys whose identifying indicia can be altered via electronically-alterable displays associated with the keys. In one embodiment, indicia associated with character and function keys can be controlled by the currently active application of an electronic device external to the keyboard. The keyboard can also include a plurality of user-operable mode-changing keys or elements to select state changes for the plurality of character and function keys. The keyboard can optionally include one or more built-in display windows to show the user helpful information about the keys or to provide application menu information. Various methods, as well as application of the keyboard to a keyboard system and to a data processing system, are also described.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A keyboard comprising:
-
a plurality of keys;
one or more electronically-alterable displays associated with the keys to display identifying indicia corresponding to such keys; and
a controller coupled to the one or more electronically-alterable displays, the controller to receive control code from an application executing on an external electronic device, the controller to control the display of the identifying indicia in accordance with the control code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A keyboard system comprising:
-
a keyboard having a plurality of keys;
one or more electronically-alterable displays on the keyboard associated with the keys to provide identifying indicia corresponding to such keys;
a controller coupled to the one or more electronically-alterable displays, the controller to receive control code from an application executing on an external electronic device, the controller to control the display of the identifying indicia in accordance with the control code; and
at least one user-operable mode-changing element coupled to the keyboard to make a state change to the one or more electronically-alterable displays. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A data processing system comprising:
-
a computer to execute an application; and
a keyboard system including a keyboard having a plurality of keys;
one or more electronically-alterable displays on the keyboard associated with the keys to provide identifying indicia corresponding to such keys; and
a controller coupled to the one or more electronically-alterable displays and to the computer to receive control code, the controller to control the display of the identifying indicia in accordance with the control code. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method comprising:
-
providing identifying indicia on a plurality of keys of a keyboard using one or more electronically-alterable displays physically associated with the keys; and
making a state change in the one or more electronically-alterable displays in response to control code from an executing application. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated instructions, wherein the instructions, when accessed, result in a machine performing:
-
providing identifying indicia on a plurality of keys of a keyboard through one or more electronically-alterable displays physically associated with the keys; and
making a state change in the one or more electronically-alterable displays solely in response to control code from an executing application. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
-
Specification