Keyboard and method of making the same

• US 20050105951A1
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tareq Risheq
• Original Assignee: Tareq Risheq
• Inventors: Risheq, Tareq
• Granted Patent: US 7,059,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for communicating data to a remote device, the apparatus comprising a keyboard having a plurality of keys. The lower surface of the keyboard is attached to an object along at least a portion of the lower surface of the keyboard. The object is adapted for providing a cushioned region between the keyboard and a resting-place. The remote device comprises at least one of a personal computer (PC), television (TV), an organizer, cable box, satellite receiver, and radio or stereo equipment. The resting-place is typically a portion of a human body, such as a lap or thigh region, or palm(s) of a hand(s). The keyboard communicates to the remote device via a wired or wireless link to allow use at home, hotel, or office.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating data to a detached device, the apparatus comprising:

an alphanumeric keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, the keyboard having a lower surface, the keyboard being configured to communicate data representative of alphanumeric information to the device; and

an object attached to the keyboard along at least a portion of the lower surface of the keyboard, the object being adapted for providing a cushioned region between the keyboard and a resting place.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a housing configured to contain substantially the entire lower surface of the keyboard so that the plurality of keys are exposed to a user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises within it a material suitable for cushioning, the material including at least one of air, cotton, polyester, silicone, rubber, resin, straw, wooden pieces, and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing is substantially flat at its lower surface when not in contact with the resting place, and the housing is configured to modify its flatness to conform, at least in part, to the shape of the resting place.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a substantially V-shaped lower surface having a lower peak that is configured to align, at least in part, with contours of two thighs or fit, at least in part, within the lap region of a human body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises one of a football, soccer ball, volleyball, basketball, and rugby ball.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the object is at least partially inflated with a suitable gas.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the object is configured to be held between palms of two hands while keeping at least some fingers of the two hands free to operate at least one of the plurality of keys.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keyboard comprises a wireless transmitter configured to communicate to a wireless receiver a signal representative of, at least in part, a key pressed by a user.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises at least one of an infrared (IR) emitter and an RF transmitter, and the wireless receiver comprises one of an IR receiver and an RF receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit signals in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an RF transmitter and IR emitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a selector switch configured to switch the transmitter between one of RF and IR transmission modes in accordance with the capability of the wireless receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detached device comprises at least one of a personal computer (PC), television (TV), an, organizer, cable box, satellite receiver, and radio or stereo equipment.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric information comprises data representative of a Latin-based alphabet.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keyboard comprises a transmitter configured to communicate at least one alphanumeric symbol to the detached device in response to a user'"'"'s strike of a key of an alphanumeric key on the keyboard.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detached device is configured to display the at least one alphanumeric symbol on a screen.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a microphone and a camera configured to capture audio and video data, respectively, from a source associated with the location of the keyboard, and further comprising at least one of a speaker and a display configured to receive audio and video information, respectively, from a source associated with the location of the detached device.

19. A method of making an alphanumeric keyboard, the method comprising:

configuring a transmitter to communicate data representative of alphanumeric information to a detached device;

connecting the transmitter to the alphanumeric keyboard; and

attaching a cushioned object to at least a portion of a lower surface of the alphanumeric keyboard.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising configuring the transmitter to communicate the data via at least one of IR, RF, and wired links.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising configuring the transmitter to cause at least one alphanumeric character to be displayed on a screen associated with the detached device.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising operationally connecting a selector switch to the transmitter to select at least one mode of communication, the mode being selected from IR, RF, and wired media.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising selecting the cushioned object to have a shape resembling a toy or sport object.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the toy or sport object comprises one of a soccer ball, football, basket ball, and a volley ball.

25. An apparatus for communicating data to a detached device, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating alphanumeric characters, the character generation means being configured to communicate data representative of alphanumeric information to the device; and

means for cushioning the generation means onto a resting place, the cushioning means being located substantially between the character generation means and the resting place.