DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLED KEYBOARD

• US 20080001787A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Eric G., Reid, Gavin J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/037 using organic materials, e.g. organic LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/00 Manufacturing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a computer peripheral including one or more keys. Each key has several light emitting diodes disposed on a face of the key. Each of the light emitting diodes can switch on or off in response to a data signal received from an application specific integrated circuit dedicated to the key. A corresponding key and manufacturing method, as well as a computer system including one or more such keys are also described.

Claims

1. A computer peripheral including one or more keys, each key having a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on a face of the key, each of the light emitting diodes being operable to switch on or off in response to a data signal received from an application specific integrated circuit dedicated to the key.

2. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the computer peripheral is a computer keyboard.

3. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are organic light emitting diodes.

4. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are placed in a dot matrix pattern on each key and operable to display symbols indicating an action that will be performed by a computer connected to the peripheral when the key is depressed by a user.

5. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are switched on and off with a predetermined frequency to create animation effects on the key face.

6. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is operable to receive a data signal from a computer connected to the peripheral, the data signal containing information about which light emitting diodes among the plurality of light emitting diodes to switch on and which light emitting diodes among the plurality of light emitting diodes to switch off for the key associated with the application specific integrated circuit.

7. The computer peripheral of claim 6, wherein the application specific integrated circuit and the light emitting diodes for two or more keys operate together under control of the computer in order to display large symbols across the faces of the two or more keys.

8. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is operable to receive a data signal overlayed on a power signal from a computer connected to the peripheral.

9. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the application specific integrated circuit stores a pattern to be displayed by the plurality of light emitting diodes in an internal memory as a bitmap.

10. The computer peripheral of claim 1, wherein the application specific integrated circuit has only two electrical connections to the peripheral.

11. The computer peripheral of claim 10, wherein a first electrical connection provides a power and a data signal and wherein a second electrical connection provides a ground signal.

12. A key for a peripheral device, the key comprising:

an application specific integrated circuit disposed inside the housing of the key; and

a plurality of user feedback elements disposed on a face of the housing of the key and coupled to the application specific integrated circuit to receive signals from the application specific integrated circuit.

13. The key of claim 12, wherein the user feedback elements are operable to provide visual information to a user.

14. The key of claim 13, wherein the user feedback elements are organic light emitting diodes.

15. The key of claim 14, wherein the organic light emitting diodes are placed in a dot matrix pattern on the key and operable to display symbols indicating an action that will be performed by a computer when the key is depressed by a user.

16. The key of claim 14, wherein the organic light emitting diodes are switched on and off with a predetermined frequency to create animation effects on the key face.

17. The key of claim 14, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is operable to receive a data signal from a computer, the data signal containing information about which light emitting diodes among the plurality of light emitting diodes to switch on and which light emitting diodes among the plurality of light emitting diodes to switch off for the key.

18. The key of claim 12, wherein the application specific integrated circuit is operable to receive a data signal overlayed on a power signal from a computer.

19. The key of claim 12, wherein the application specific integrated circuit stores a pattern to be displayed by the plurality of light emitting diodes in an internal memory as a bitmap.

20. The key of claim 12, wherein the application specific integrated circuit comprises two electrical connections for connecting the key to a peripheral.

21. The key of claim 20, wherein a first electrical connection provides a power and a data signal and wherein a second electrical connection provides a ground signal.

22. The key of claim 12, wherein the user feedback elements are operable to provide tactile information to a user when the user touches the key.

23. A computer keyboard comprising a plurality of keys as defined by claim 12.

24. A computer system comprising:

a peripheral having a plurality of keys for receiving user input;

a central processing unit for processing the user input received through the peripheral; and

a display for displaying the user input processed by the central processing unit;

wherein the plurality of keys each contains an application specific integrated circuit and a plurality of organic light emitting diodes disposed on the respective key faces, each organic light emitting diode being controlled by the application specific integrated circuit for the key; and

wherein the central processing unit is further operable to provide instructions to the application specific integrated circuits to cause the organic light emitting diodes to display information indicative of an action that will be performed when a user depresses a key.

25. A method of manufacturing a key having a housing with a dynamically changeable face, the method comprising:

providing a glass substrate forming a top face of the key;

forming a plurality of organic light emitting diodes on the glass substrate, including;

forming an anode;

forming a first transport layer adjacent to the anode;

forming an emission layer adjacent to the first transport layer;

forming a second transport layer adjacent to the emission layer;

forming a cathode adjacent to the second transport layer;

coupling an application specific integrated circuit to the plurality of organic light emitting diodes; and

attaching key housing sidewalls and supporting structures to the glass substrate with the organic light emitting diodes and to the application specific integrated circuit.