Wireless keyboard with improved radiation transmission

• US 20040201953A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Chiang, Chih-Hsiang
• Granted Patent: US 6,967,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/680
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless keyboard capable of operating with a radiation-based signal receiver of a computing apparatus. The wireless keyboard includes a radiation-based signal transmitter functions converting a corresponding key signal into a radiation beam and emitting the radiation beam. The wireless keyboard also includes a user-adjustable guiding device having a first end and a second end. The first end abuts on the radiation-based signal transmitter such that the radiation beam emitted by the radiation-based signal transmitter enters into the guiding device from the first end. The guiding device also leads the radiation beam out from the second end. The radiation beam, led out from the second end of the guiding device, has a covered zone. When the keyboard operates with the radiation-based signal receiver, the second end of the guiding device approaches the radiation-based signal receiver by adjusting the guiding device such that the radiation-based signal receiver is located in the covered zone of the radiation beam.

Claims

1. A keyboard capable of operating with a radiation-based signal receiver of a computing apparatus, said keyboard comprising:

a housing;

a user input device mounted in the housing, the user input device comprising a plurality of user-operable keys;

a processor for generating a corresponding key signal responsive to key-in of one of the keys;

a radiation-based signal transmitter, set on the housing, for converting the corresponding key signal into a radiation beam and emitting the radiation beam;

a user-adjustable guiding device having a first end and a second end, the first end abutting on the radiation-based signal transmitter such that the radiation beam emitted by the radiation-based signal transmitter enters into the guiding device from the first end and transmits out from the second end, the radiation beam transmitting out from the second end of the guiding device having a covered zone; and

wherein the second end of the guiding device approaches the radiation-based signal receiver by adjusting the guiding device when said keyboard operates with the radiation-based signal receiver, such that the radiation-based signal receiver is located in the covered zone of the radiation beam.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the housing has a cavity for accommodating the radiation-based signal transmitter, and the guiding device is detachably plugged into the cavity via the first end.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the radiation beam is an infrared beam, the radiation-based signal transmitter is an infrared transmitter, and the radiation-based signal receiver is an infrared receiver.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a battery for supplying power for operation of the processor and the radiation-based signal transmitter.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the guiding device comprises a flexible tube and a bundle of optical fibers wrapped by the flexible tube.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the flexible tube has at least one breach from which the radiation beam is leaked out, the radiation beam leaked from each of the at least one breach has a respective second covered zone.

7. A keyboard capable of communicating with a computing apparatus having at least two radiation-based signal receivers, said keyboard comprising:

a housing;

a user input device mounted in the housing, the user input device comprising a plurality of user-operable keys;

a processor for generating a corresponding key signal responsive to key-in of one of the keys;

a radiation-based signal transmitter, set on the housing, for converting the corresponding key signal into a radiation beam and emitting the radiation beam;

a user-adjustable guiding device having a first end and a second end, the first end abutting on the radiation-based signal transmitter such that the radiation beam emitted by the radiation-based signal transmitter enters into the guiding device from the first end and transmits out from the second end, the radiation beam transmitting out from the second end of the guiding device having a first covered zone; and

wherein the second end of the guiding device approaches one of the at least two radiation-based signal receivers by adjusting the guiding device when said keyboard communicates with the computing apparatus, such that said one of the at least two radiation-based signal receivers is located in the first covered zone of the radiation beam led out from the second end of the guiding device.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the housing has a cavity within which the radiation-based signal transmitter is set, and the guiding device is detachably plugged into the cavity via the first end.

9. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the radiation beam is an infrared beam, the radiation-based signal transmitter is an infrared transmitter, and each of the radiation-based signal receivers is an infrared receiver respectively.

10. The keyboard of claim 7, further comprising a battery for supplying power for operation of the processor and the radiation-based signal transmitter.

11. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the guiding device comprises a flexible tube and a bundle of optical fibers wrapped by the flexible tube.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein the flexible tube has at least one breach from which the radiation beam is leaked out, the radiation beam leaked from each of the at least one breach has a respective second covered zone, when said keyboard communicates with the computing apparatus, one of the at least one breach approaches another of the at least two radiation-based signal receivers by adjusting the guiding device such that said another of the at least two radiation-based signal receivers is located in the second covered zone of the radiation beam leaked out from said one of the at least one breach.

13. A first electronic device capable of communicating with a second electronic device via a radiation beam, said first electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a radiation-based signal transmitter, disposed on the housing, for emitting the radiation beam; and

a guiding device having a first end and a second end, the first end disposed on the housing and neighboring to the radiation-based signal transmitter such that the radiation beam emitted by the radiation-based signal transmitter enters into the guiding device from the first end, and substantially transmits along the longitudinal axis of the guiding device and out from the second end.

14. The first electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a supporting stand disposed on the housing for supporting the second electronic device in a predetermined position, the guiding device is adjustable so that the radiation beam, led out from the second end of the guiding device, transmits toward the second electronic device supported by the supporting stand.

15. The first electronic device of claim 13, wherein the guiding device comprises a flexible tube and a bundle of optical fibers wrapped by the flexible tube.