Input device and method of configuring the input device

• US 20040222963A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guo, William, Lum, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A input device is disclosed that is configurable as a manufacturing step or by a user to input selected characters. The input device includes character input keys and an internal memory. The specific character that is input by activating one of the character input keys depends upon a configuration code that is stored within the internal memory. The configuration code is associated with a key mapping configuration of a host device, for example, and the configuration code may be associated with a plurality of character identifiers for the character input keys. When the input device is configured during manufacturing, the configuration code may be programmed into the internal memory and the character identifiers may be provided. When the input device is configured by the user, the configuration code and the character identifiers are replaced with an alternate configuration code character identifiers.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an input device, the method comprising steps of:

encasing a rewritable memory device within a housing of the input device; and

programming a key mapping configuration into the input device after encasing the rewritable memory device within the housing.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of providing the input device with character identifiers that correspond with the key mapping configuration.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the step of providing includes selecting the key mapping configuration and character identifiers to correspond with a particular language.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of encasing includes selecting the memory device to be electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of programming includes inputting a configuration code into the memory device.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of programming includes selecting the key mapping configuration to correspond with a particular language.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of programming includes enabling a serial interface with the input device.

8. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of configuring the input device to interface with a game console.

9. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of providing the input device with a plurality of activatable keys for inputting characters.

10. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of programming a configuration code into the input device after encasing the rewritable memory device within the housing.

11. A method of reconfiguring an assembled input device having a plurality of keys and an internal memory, the method comprising steps of:

connecting the input device to a game console;

obtaining a second key mapping configuration; and

reprogramming the internal memory to replace a first key mapping configuration with the second key mapping configuration.

12. The method recited in claim 11, further including a step of providing the input device with character identifiers that correspond with the second key mapping configuration.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the step of providing the input device with the character identifiers includes selecting the character identifiers to correspond with a particular language.

14. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the step of providing the input device with the character identifiers includes applying a second set of labels over a first set of labels.

15. The method recited in claim 11, further including steps of:

obtaining a second configuration code; and

reprogramming the internal memory to replace a first configuration code with the second configuration code.

16. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of connecting includes enabling a serial interface between the game console and the input device.

17. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of reprogramming includes determining whether the first key mapping configuration is different than the second key mapping configuration.

18. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of wherein the step of obtaining includes selecting the second key mapping configuration to correspond with a particular language.

19. An input device comprising:

a plurality of character input keys;

a plurality of first character identifiers associated with the character input keys, the first character identifiers being replaceable with a plurality of second character identifiers; and

an internal memory having a first configuration code that corresponds with the first character identifiers, the internal memory being reprogrammable to replace the first configuration code with a second configuration code that corresponds with the second character identifiers.

20. The input device recited in claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the first character identifiers and the second character identifiers are images of characters associated with different languages.

21. The input device recited in claim 19, wherein the internal memory is electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

22. The input device recited in claim 19, further including a host cable that electrically joins with input device with a programming unit that replaces the first configuration code with the second configuration code.

23. The input device recited in claim 19, wherein the input device is a character input portion for a gaming system.

24. An input device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of character input keys accessible from an exterior of the housing; and

a rewritable memory device located within the housing and having a key mapping configuration area that stores a key mapping configuration for the character input keys.

25. The input device recited in claim 24, further including a plurality of character identifiers associated with the character input keys, the character identifiers being replaceable with another plurality of character identifiers.

26. The input device recited in claim 24, wherein the rewritable memory device is electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

27. The input device recited in claim 24, wherein the input device is a character input portion for a gaming system.