KEYBOARD WITH MODE-SWITCHING FUNCTION

• US 20120019444A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Huang, Bin-Hui, Yang, Chien-Ming
• Application Number:
  US12/875,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019444A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A keyboard with a mode-switching function is provided. The keyboard includes at least one key, a pressure sensing circuit, an illumination module, a mode-switching program and a controlling unit. The mode-switching program is executable to enable both the pressure sensing circuit and the illumination module, so that the keyboard is operated in a pressure sensitive and luminous mode. The pressure sensing circuit is used for detecting the pressure, and generating a corresponding pressure-strength sensing voltage in response to the pressure. According to the pressure-strength sensing voltage, the illumination module is controlled by the controlling unit to emit either a first light beam or a second light beam.

Claims

1. A keyboard with a mode-switching function, said keyboard being in communication with a computer host, said keyboard comprising:

at least one key to be depressed in response to a pressure;

a pressure sensing circuit for detecting said pressure, and generating a corresponding pressure-strength sensing voltage in response to said pressure;

a mode-switching program executable to have said keyboard operate in a pressure sensitive mode; and

a controlling unit connected with said key and said pressure sensing circuit for detecting a strength of said pressure when said keyboard is operated in said pressure sensitive mode, wherein if said controlling unit judges that said pressure-strength sensing voltage is lower than said preset threshold voltage value, said computer executes a lightly-depressed instruction, wherein if said controlling unit judges that said pressure-strength sensing voltage is higher than or equal to said preset threshold voltage value, said computer executes a heavily-depressed instruction.

2. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 1 wherein said computer host is in communication with a display screen, wherein in response to said lightly-depressed instruction, a small letter of an English letter corresponding to said depressed key is shown on said display screen, wherein in response to said heavily-depressed instruction, a capital letter of said English letter corresponding to said depressed key is shown on said display screen.

3. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 1 wherein said keyboard further comprises a first mode-switching key, wherein by depressing said first mode-switching key, said mode-switching program is executed to have said keyboard operate in said pressure sensitive mode.

4. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 1 wherein said keyboard further comprises a first mode-indicating lamp for illuminating to indicate that said keyboard is in said pressure sensitive mode.

5. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 1 wherein said keyboard further comprises an illumination module connected with said controlling unit, wherein said mode-switching program is further executable to have said keyboard operate in a luminous mode.

6. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 5 wherein said keyboard is operated in said luminous mode, wherein if said controlling unit judges that said pressure-strength sensing voltage is lower than said preset threshold voltage value, said illumination module emits a first light beam, wherein if said controlling unit judges that said pressure-strength sensing voltage is higher than or equal to said preset threshold voltage value, said illumination module emits a second light beam.

7. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 6 wherein said keyboard further comprises a second mode-switching key, wherein by depressing said second mode-switching key, said mode-switching program is executed to have said keyboard operate in said luminous mode.

8. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 7 wherein said keyboard further comprises a first mode-indicating lamp for illuminating to indicate that said keyboard is in said luminous mode.

9. A keyboard with a mode-switching function, said keyboard being in communication with a computer host, said keyboard comprising:

at least one key to be depressed in response to a pressure;

a pressure sensing circuit for detecting said pressure, and generating a corresponding pressure-strength sensing voltage in response to said pressure;

an illumination module for emitting either a first light beam or a second light beam;

a mode-switching program executable to enable both said pressure sensing circuit and said illumination module, so that said keyboard is operated in a pressure sensitive and luminous mode; and

a controlling unit connected with said key, said pressure sensing circuit and said illumination module, wherein when said keyboard is operated in said pressure sensitive and luminous mode, said illumination module is controlled by said controlling unit to emit either said first light beam or said second light beam according to a strength of said pressure, wherein if said controlling unit judges that said pressure-strength sensing voltage is lower than said preset threshold voltage value, said computer executes a lightly-depressed instruction and said illumination module emits said first light beam, wherein if said controlling unit judges that said pressure-strength sensing voltage is higher than or equal to said preset threshold voltage value, said computer executes a heavily-depressed instruction and said illumination module emits said second light beam.

10. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 9 wherein said keyboard further comprises a mode-switching key, wherein by depressing said mode-switching key, said mode-switching program is executed to have said keyboard operate in said pressure sensitive and luminous mode.

11. The keyboard with a mode-switching function according to claim 10 wherein said keyboard further comprises a mode-indicating lamp for illuminating to indicate that said keyboard is in said pressure sensitive and luminous mode.