Dynamic character display input device

• US 20060061542A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dragan Z. Stokic
• Original Assignee: Dragan Z. Stokic
• Inventors: Stokic, Dragan Z.
• Application Number:
  US10/948,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061542A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/066 for control of contrast
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers

Abstract

An input device including an illuminated keyboard and a display controller for displaying characters on depressible keyboard locations or buttons. The display controller changes the displayed characters according to a selection of a character set and application of modifiers, such as shift, alternate, or control. The input/output device also includes a light sensor for sampling the ambient light level in the vicinity of the input/output device. Based on the ambient light level, the display controller adjusts the intensity of the displayed character, its background, and the contrast between the displayed character and its background. The depressible keyboard locations may be buttons connected to mechanical switches to allow a user to rapidly type information into the input device. The display controller can be controlled by either user-selectable switches or by the operating system or software applications of an attached computing device.

Claims

1. A dynamic character display input device, comprising:

a display controller for transmitting display information; and

a plurality of discrete user-selectable locations for receiving said display information, each of said plurality of discrete user-selectable locations including a display surface for transmitting a visual representation of said display information and including a switch for creating an input data signal indicative of a user'"'"'s selection of said each of said plurality of discrete user-selectable locations.

2. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, wherein said visual representation includes a character.

3. The dynamic character display input device of claim 2, wherein said character conforms to an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (“

ASCII”

) standard.

4. The dynamic character display input device of claim 2, wherein said character conforms to an Extended American Standard Code for Information Interchange standard.

5. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, wherein said visual representation includes a plurality of characters.

6. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, wherein said visual representation includes a word.

7. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, wherein said visual representation includes a representation of a software function.

8. The dynamic character display input device of claim 7, wherein the software function is a software application shortcut.

9. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, wherein said visual representation includes a graphical image.

10. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, further comprising a light sensor for measuring an ambient light level at the plurality of discrete user-selectable locations.

11. The dynamic character display input device of claim 10, wherein the ambient light level is communicated to the display controller and the display controller adjusts said display information.

12. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor.

13. The dynamic character display input device of claim 12, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to communicate an indication of non-movement to the display controller, and the display controller is adapted to stop transmitting display information in response to said indication of non-movement.

14. The dynamic character display input device of claim 13, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to communicate an indication of movement to the display controller, and the display controller is adapted to start transmitting display information in response to said indication of movement.

15. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, further comprising a memory device containing a first representation of a first keyboard layout, wherein said first representation is loaded into said display controller, and said display information conforms to said first keyboard layout.

16. The dynamic character display input device of claim 1, further comprising a user-selectable switch including a first position and a second position, and a memory device containing a first representation of a first keyboard layout and a second representation of a second keyboard layout;

wherein, when said user-selectable switch is at said first position, the first representation is loaded into said display controller and said display information conforms to said first keyboard layout; and

wherein, said user-selectable switch is at said second position, the second representation is loaded into said display controller and said display information conforms to said second keyboard layout.

17. The dynamic character display input device of claim 16, wherein said user-selectable switch is a modifier key.

18. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said modifier key is a control key.

19. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said modifier key is a shift key.

20. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said modifier key is a caps-lock key.

21. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said modifier key is a num-lock key.

22. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said modifier key is an alternate key.

23. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said first keyboard layout is a US-English 104 key keyboard layout.

24. The dynamic character display input device of claim 17, wherein said first keyboard layout is a US-English 88 key keyboard layout.

25. The dynamic character display input device of claim 24, wherein said second keyboard layout is a Serbian-Cyrillic 88 key keyboard layout.

26. A dynamic character display input device, comprising:

a memory device containing a first representation of a first keyboard layout and a second representation of a second keyboard layout;

a display controller adapted to transmit display information including foreground intensity, background intensity, and contrast level;

a plurality of discrete user-selectable locations adapted to receive said display information, each of said plurality of discrete user-selectable locations including a display surface adapted to transmit a visual representation of said display information and a switch adapted to transmit input data indicative of a user'"'"'s selection of said each of said plurality of discrete user-selectable locations;

a light sensor for measuring an ambient light level at the plurality of discrete user-selectable locations, wherein the ambient light level is communicated to the display controller and the display controller adjusts the foreground intensity, background intensity, and contrast level to enhance a user'"'"'s ability to see the transmitted visual representation;

a motion sensor for providing an indication of non-movement and an indication of movement at the plurality of discrete user-selectable locations, wherein, if the indication of non-movement is communicated to the display controller, the display controller stops transmitting display information, and further wherein, if the indication of movement is communicated to the display controller, the display controller starts transmitting display information; and

a user-selectable switch including a first position and a second position, wherein, if said user-selectable switch is at the first position, said first representation is loaded into said display controller and said display information conforms to said first keyboard layout, and wherein, if said user-selectable switch is at the second position, said second representation is loaded into said display controller and said display information conforms to said second keyboard layout.

27. A method of inputting information into a computing device, comprising the steps of:

transmitting display information to a plurality of discrete user-selectable locations;

transmitting a visual representation of said display information from the plurality of discrete user-selectable locations;

creating an input data signal indicative of a user'"'"'s selection of one of said plurality of discrete user-selectable locations; and

transmitting said input data signal to said computing device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

determining an ambient light level at the plurality of discrete user-selectable locations; and

,

adjusting the display information, including foreground intensity, background intensity, and a contrast level, to enhance a user'"'"'s ability to see said visual representation.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

determining an indication of non-movement at the plurality of user-selectable locations; and

discontinuing transmission of said visual information in response to said determining an indication of non-movement.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

determining a first position of a user-selectable switch; and

transmitting display information conforming to a first keyboard layout in response to said first position of a user-selectable switch.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

determining a second position of the user-selectable switch; and

transmitting display information conformation to a second keyboard layout in response to said second position of the user-selectable switch.