Keyboard with integrated pointer control function

• US 20040183786A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mehrban Jam
• Original Assignee: Mehrban Jam
• Inventors: Jam, Mehrban
• Granted Patent: US 7,193,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• 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 3/04892 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: H01H 13/78 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator

Abstract

A dual-function keyboard with two operational modes, a typing mode and a pointing mode. In the typing mode, each visible key functions as in a standard keyboard. In the pointing mode, all the keys function as pointer controllers. The keyboard also employs a novel “one-hot-encoding” circuitry that simplifies the wiring while allowing digital detection of any number of keys that are simultaneously depressed. The keyboard may be made of flexible materials and may be rolled-up or folded for easy transportation.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a surface layer having a top side, a plurality of keys, and a mode switch,

wherein each key includes a key area on the top side of the surface layer and a key sensor,

wherein the mode switch switches the keyboard from a typing mode of operation, in which the key sensors generate normal keyboard signals including alphanumeric signals, when the key areas are contacted, to a pointing mode of operation, in which the key sensors generate pointer movement signals when the key areas are contacted.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein each key sensor comprises a key switch and a keychip.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the keychip comprises a debouncer circuit.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a marked reference point on the top side of the surface layer for a pointer movement.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the pointer movement signal contains information concerning the direction and speed of the pointer movement.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the key areas on the surface layer are dimpled.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a left mouse button and a right mouse button.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the mode switch, the left mouse button, and the right mouse button are located at a lower left corner of the keyboard.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keyboard is foldable or rollable.

10. A keyboard comprising:

a surface layer having a top side, a mode switch, a plurality of visible keys, and a plurality of hidden keys, wherein the visible key includes a marked key area on the top side of the surface layer and the hidden key includes a unmarked key area on the top side of the surface layer.

a first set of key sensors, proximally located under the marked key areas on the surface layer, that generate signals when the marked key areas are contacted; and

a second set of key sensors, proximally located under the unmarked key areas, that generate signals when the unmarked key areas are contacted and the second set of key sensors are active,

wherein the mode switch switches the keyboard from a typing mode of operation, in which the second set of key sensors are inactive and the first set of key sensors generate normal keyboard signals including alphanumeric signals, when the marked key areas are contacted, to a pointing mode of operation, in which both the first set and the second set of key sensors are active, and the key sensors generate pointer movement signals when the marked and/or unmarked key areas are contacted.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein each key sensor comprises a key switch and a keychip.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein the keychip comprises a debouncer circuit.

13. The keyboard of claim 10, further comprising a marked reference point on the top side of the surface layer for a pointer movement.

14. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the pointer movement signal contains information concerning the direction and speed of the pointer movement.

15. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the key areas on the surface layer are dimpled.

16. The keyboard of claim 10, further comprising a left mouse button and a right mouse button.

17. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the keyboard is foldable or rollable.

18. A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys and a circuit that includes:

a keyboard controller;

a plurality of serially connected key sensors each comprising a keychip and a key switch,

wherein each key sensor generates a sensor signal when the key switch is actuated, and wherein the keyboard controller scans the key sensors in a serial fashion and generates scan code data responsive to the sensor signals.

19. The keyboard circuit of claim 18, wherein the keychip contains a debouncer circuit.

20. The keyboard circuit of claim 18, wherein the keyboard controller and the key sensors are connected in series through five wires:

a voltage wire, a ground wire, a keyboard clock wire, a controller wire, and a key scan wire.