Keyboard device capable of automatically changing function of certain key without pressing a specific key

• US 20040119697A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kamizono, Hidenobu
• Application Number:
  US10/695,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20040119697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a sensor (1) for detecting whether hands of a user are present at the home position, a function switching key to select one of the two functions by pressing a key (2), a sensor validating/invalidating switch (3) to changeover the validation/invalidation of the detection result of the sensor, and a microcomputer 6 for selecting the function according to the detection result of the sensor (1) when the sensor validating/invalidating switch (3) is validated, and by the function switching, key when the same is invalidated.

Claims

1. A keyboard device for key inputting by selecting any one of two functions affected by certain keys on a keyboard, wherein whether hands of a user are present at the home position is detected by a sensor, and one of the two functions affected by said certain keys is selected based on the result of the detection by said sensor.

2. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said certain keys are ten-key section provided with numeric input function and cursor shift function.

3. A keyboard device for key,inputting by selecting any one of two functions affected by certain keys on a keyboard, comprising

a sensor for detecting whether hands of a user are present at the home position;

a function switching key to select one of said two functions by pressing a key;

a sensor validating/invalidating switch to changeover the validation/invalidation of the detection result of said sensor; and

a control section for selecting said function according to the detection result of said sensor when said sensor validating/invalidating switch is validated, and by said function switching key when the same is invalidated.

4. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 3, wherein

said certain keys are ten-key section provided with numeric input function and cursor shift function.

5. A keyboard device for key inputting by selecting any one of two functions affected by certain keys on a keyboard, comprising:

a function switching key to changeover the function to be selected each time when it is pressed down;

a sensor, which is active (ON state) when hands of a user are present at the home position and inactive (OFF state) when they are not at the home position; and

a control section for monitoring respective events of press-down of said function switching key, transitions from ON state to OFF state of said sensor and from OFF state to ON state of said sensor, and selecting alternatively said two functions, each time when one of events occurs.

6. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

said certain keys are ten-key section provided with numeric input function and cursor shift function.

7. A keyboard device, comprising

a first group of keys provide on a keyboard;

a sensor for detecting whether hands of a user are present at the home position of this first group of keys;

a second group of keys provided on this side opposite to said first group of keys taking said sensor as border; and

a control section for monitoring the detection result of said sensor and disabling the input by said second group of keys while said sensor detect hands.

8. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said second group of keys includes at least one of a group of numeric input keys and a group of cursor shift keys.

9. A keyboard device, comprising

a first group of keys provide on a keyboard;

a left hand sensor for detecting whether the left hand of a user is present at the left hand home position of said first group of keys;

a right hand sensor for detecting whether the right hand of a user is present at the right hand home position;

a second group of keys provided on this side left opposite to said first group of keys taking said left hand sensor as border;

a third group of keys provided on this side right opposite to said first group of keys taking said right hand sensor as border; and

a control section for monitoring the detection result of said left hand sensor and said right hand sensor and disabling the input by said second group of keys while said left hand sensor detect the hand and disabling the input by said third group of keys while said right hand sensor detect the hand.

10. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 9, wherein

said second or third group of keys are group of numeric input keys.

11. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 10, wherein

said second or third group of keys are group of cursor shift keys.