Keyboard with more than one eject key, a user key and/or regional illumination

• US 20050078091A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Amo, Immanuel Jimenez, Andres, Guillermo, Norman, John, Neal, Thomas S.
• Application Number:
  US10/683,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078091A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A keyboard for providing data to a processor of a computer includes two eject keys each operable to eject removable storage media from a storage device coupled with the processor, a user key operable to display a menu of user accounts that include data for identifying a user within the processor, and an illumination device to illuminate the keyboard. With the two ejects keys, one may eject removable storage media from more than one storage device without having to operate an eject key located on the storage device. With the user key, one may access a menu of user accounts without having to use a mouse or other keys of the keyboard to search for and then display a menu of user accounts. With the illumination device one may use the keyboard in a low-light environment.

Claims

1. A keyboard for providing data to a processor of a computer, the keyboard comprising:

two eject keys each operable to eject removable storage media from a storage device coupled with the processor.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein each eject key is operable to eject removable storage media from one storage device coupled with the processor.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein:

a first eject key is operable to eject removable storage media from a first storage device coupled with the processor; and

a second eject key is operable to eject removable storage media from a second storage device coupled with the processor.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the two eject keys are located in a top portion of the keyboard.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the two eject keys are located in a right half of a top portion of the keyboard.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the two eject keys are located next to each other.

7. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled with the processor; and

a keyboard operable to provide the processor data, and including two eject keys each operable to eject removable storage media from the storage device.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the computer includes:

a first storage device and a second storage device,

a first eject key operable to eject removable storage media from the first storage device, and

a second eject key operable to eject removable storage media from the second storage device.

9. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the storage device includes a compact disc player.

10. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the storage device includes a digital video disc player.

11. A keyboard for providing data to a processor of a computer, the keyboard comprising:

a user key operable to display a menu of user accounts that include data for identifying a user within the processor.

12. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the user key is not operable to select a user account from the menu.

13. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the user key is located in a top portion of the keyboard.

14. The keyboard of claim 11 wherein the user key is located in a left half of a top portion of the keyboard.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a monitor coupled with the processor and operable to display data; and

a keyboard to provide data to the processor and including a user key operable to display a menu of user accounts that include data for identifying a user within the processor.

16. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the data includes permission to access other data in the computer.

17. A keyboard for providing data to a processor of a computer, the keyboard comprising:

a user key operable to display a menu of user accounts that include data for identifying a user within the processor; and

two eject keys each operable to eject removable storage media from a storage device coupled with the processor.

18. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a monitor coupled with the processor and operable to display data;

a storage device coupled with the processor; and

a keyboard to provide data to the processor and including;

a user key operable to display a menu of user accounts that include data for identifying a user within the processor, and

two eject keys, each operable to eject removable storage media from the storage device.

19. A method for ejecting removable storage media from a storage device coupled with a processor, the method comprising:

activating one of two eject keys of a keyboard coupled with the processor; and

ejecting the removable storage media responsive to the one of the two eject keys being activated.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein activating the key includes exerting pressure to depress the key relative to the other key.

21. A method for ejecting removable media from two storage devices each coupled with a processor, the method comprising:

moving a first eject key of a keyboard coupled with the processor to eject removable storage media from a first storage device; and

moving a second eject key of the keyboard to eject removable storage media from a second storage device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein moving each key includes exerting pressure to depress the key relative to the other key.

23. A method for displaying a menu of user accounts that include data for identifying a user within a processor, the method comprising:

moving a user key of a keyboard coupled with the processor.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein moving the key includes exerting pressure to depress the key.