USB keyboard and human input device using the same

• US 20070266188A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chien-Tsung
• Application Number:
  US11/716,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

A USB keyboard includes a plurality of keys and a USB controller. The USB controller includes at least a firmware, wherein the USB controller is for executing the firmware. The firmware includes at least two endpoint descriptors, wherein each of the endpoint descriptors operate according to a USB-HID communication standard, and report descriptors of the same amount as the endpoint descriptors, wherein each of the report descriptors is respectively corresponding to one of the endpoint descriptors, and the report descriptors all operate according to the USB-HID communication standard. When at least one of the keys is pressed simultaneously, the USB controller stores key codes corresponding to the simultaneously pressed keys in endpoints defined by the endpoint descriptors, and transmits the key codes stored in the endpoints by executing the firmware.

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys; and

a USB controller, comprising at least a firmware, wherein the USB controller executes the firmware, the firmware comprising;

at least two endpoint descriptors, wherein the endpoint descriptors all operate according to a USB-HID (human interface device) communication standard; and

report descriptors of the same amount as the endpoint descriptors, wherein each of the report descriptors respectively corresponds one of the endpoint descriptors, and the report descriptors all operate according to the USB-HID communication standard;

wherein when at least one of the keys is pressed simultaneously, the USB controller stores key codes corresponding to the simultaneously pressed keys in endpoints defined by the endpoint descriptors, and transmits the key codes stored in the endpoints by executing the firmware.

2. The USB keyboard of claim 1, wherein the amount of the simultaneously pressed keys is less than or equal to 6, and the key codes corresponding to the simultaneously pressed keys are stored in endpoints defined by one or more than one endpoint descriptor.

3. The USB keyboard of claim 1, wherein the amount of the simultaneously pressed keys is more than or equal to 7, and the key codes corresponding to the simultaneously pressed keys are stored in endpoints defined by one or more than one endpoint descriptor.

4. The USB keyboard of claim 1, wherein the endpoint descriptors comprise a first endpoint descriptor and a second endpoint descriptor.

5. The USB keyboard of claim 4, wherein the amount of the simultaneously pressed keys is more than or equal to 7 and less than 11, the key codes corresponding to at least one simultaneously pressed key are stored in endpoints defined by the first endpoint descriptor, and the key codes corresponding to the other simultaneously pressed keys are stored in endpoints defined by the second endpoint descriptor.

6. The USB keyboard of claim 4, wherein the amount of the simultaneously pressed keys is more than or equal to 1 and less than 7, the key codes corresponding to at least one simultaneously pressed key are stored in endpoints defined by the first endpoint descriptor, and the key codes corresponding to the other simultaneously pressed keys are stored in endpoints defined by the second endpoint descriptor.

7. The USB keyboard of claim 4, wherein the amount of the simultaneously pressed keys is less than or equal to 6, and the key codes corresponding to the simultaneously pressed keys are stored in endpoints defined by the first endpoint descriptor.

8. The USB keyboard of claim 4, wherein the amount of the simultaneously pressed keys is less than or equal to 6, and the key codes corresponding to the simultaneously pressed keys are stored in endpoints defined by the second endpoint descriptor.

9. The USB keyboard of claim 1 being a USB game keyboard for game software.

10. The USB keyboard of claim 1, wherein a configuration of the keys of the USB keyboard is compatible to a standard keyboard.

11. A human input device comprising the USB keyboard of claim 1.