Method and apparatus for modifying characters entered on a computer keyboard

• US 5,574,447 A
• Filed: 07/24/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
• Inventors: Roylance, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/506,241
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 400/472, 400/447, 345/145, 345/25, 345/172, 345/141, 345/169, 395/700
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/08 by operating selected combinations of multifunction keys
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/14 by using additional keys, e.g. shift keys, which determine the function performed by the multifunction key

Abstract

A keyboard for use with a computer has an array of keys including a space key and modifiable keys with apparatus for detecting when keys are pressed and generating a key code corresponding to keys that are pressed, a buffer capable of holding the key code of a key, a state register having three states including a state indicating when the first key code of a word is in the buffer. The keyboard also has apparatus for comparing a key code in the buffer to a second key code and for generating a modified key code when a match is found, and apparatus for sending the key code to the host computer, the key code sent being the modified key code when the first key code of a word is in the buffer and the key code in the buffer matches the second key code of the word.

Claims

1. A keyboard for use with a host computer comprising:

an array of keys including a space key and a plurality of modifiable keys;

apparatus for detecting when keys of the key array are pressed and for generating a key code corresponding to keys that are pressed;

a buffer capable of holding the key code of a key;

a state register having a first state indicating when the first key code of a word is in the buffer;

means for comparing a key code in the buffer to a second key code;

means for generating a modified key code;

means for sending key codes to the host computer, the means for sending transmitting the modified key code when the state register is in the first state and the key code in the buffer matches the second key code of the word, and when the state register is in the first state and the key code in the buffer does not match the second key code of the word the means for sending transmitting key codes sent comprise a sequence comprising the key code in the buffer and the second key code.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 further comprising:

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one sideways direction; and

means for modifying a key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one sideways direction.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 further comprising

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one sideways direction;

and

means for generating a predetermined key code of a non-space character when the pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one sideways direction.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, further comprising:

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one additional sideways direction; and

means for modifying the key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one additional sideways direction.

5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein the predetermined key code of a non-space character is the key code of a backspace character, and the means for modifying the key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one additional sideways direction performs the modification function of a SHIFT key.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the array of keys includes key modifier keys and further comprising:

means for modifying the key code of a modifiable key that is pressed within a timeout interval after detection of a pressed key modifier key.

20. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the means for generating a modified key code is capable of generating a string of keycodes corresponding to at least one common word of at least two characters.

7. A computer system comprising:

a computer;

an array of keys including a space key and a plurality of modifiable keys;

means for detecting when a key of the array of keys is pressed and means for generating a key code corresponding to the key that is pressed;

a state register;

means for identifying key codes corresponding to word separator characters and for setting the state register to a first state upon identifying a word separator key code;

a buffer capable of holding the key code of a first key of a word, and means for setting the state register to a second state upon identifying the first key of a word;

means for comparing the key code of a second key of a word to a key code contained in the buffer, and for forming a modified key code and advancing the state register to a third state when the key code in the buffer matches the key code of the second key and the state register is in the second state; and

wherein provisions are made for entering data as keystroke data into a program running on the computer, the data comprising key codes from the buffer and the key code of the second key when the key code in the buffer does not match the key code of the second key and the state register is in the second state, and the data comprising the modified key code when the key code in the buffer matches the key code of the second key and the state register is in the second state.

8. The computer system of claim 7 further comprising:

apparatus for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one sideways direction; and

means for modifying a key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one sideways direction.

9. The computer system of claim 7 further comprising

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one sideways direction;

and

means for generating a predetermined key code of a non-space character when the pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one sideways direction.

10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one additional sideways direction; and

means for modifying the key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one additional sideways direction.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the predetermined key code of a non-space character is the key code of a backspace character, and the means for modifying the key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one additional sideways direction performs the modification function of a SHIFT key.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the array of keys includes key modifier keys and further comprising:

means for modifying the key code of a modifiable key that is pressed within a timeout interval after detection of a pressed key modifier key.

13. A keyboard comprising:

an array of keys including a space key and a plurality of character keys;

means for detecting when a key of the array of keys is pressed and means for generating a key code corresponding to the key that is pressed;

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one sideways direction;

means for modifying the key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one sideways direction.

14. The keyboard of claim 13, further comprising:

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in at least one additional sideways direction; and

means for generating a key code of a predetermined non-space character when the pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one additional sideways direction.

15. The keyboard of claim 13, wherein the array of keys includes key modifier keys and further comprising:

means for modifying the key code of a modifiable key that is pressed within a timeout interval after detection of a pressed key modifier key.

16. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein the key code of a predetermined non-space character is the key code of a backspace character, and the means for modifying the key code if pressure is applied to the space key in the at least one additional sideways direction performs the modification function of a SHIFT key.

17. The keyboard of claim 13 further comprising

means for detecting when pressure is applied to the space key in a second sideways direction perpendicular to the first sideways direction;

and

means for generating a macro function when pressure is applied to the space key in the second sideways direction in a plane perpendicular to a direction of normal key movement.

18. The keyboard of claim 13 wherein the means for modifying the key code is capable of generating a string of keycodes corresponding to at least one common word of at least two characters.

19. The keyboard of claim 18 wherein the at least one common word of at least two characters includes at least two words selected from the group consisting of "the", "that", "and", "to", "of", "is", and "in".

21. A method for generating multiple distinct keycodes upon activation of keys:

Providing a keyboard having a first key, a second key, and a third key, where the first key corresponds to a word separator character;

Detecting a sequence of a first, a second, and a third strike in succession upon the keys of the keyboard, the first strike being a strike upon the first key;

Generating a first keycode corresponding to a word separator character;

Generating a second keycode corresponding to a lower case alphabetic character and a third keycode differing from the second keycode if the second strike is a strike upon the second key and the third strike is upon the third key; and

Inhibiting production of the second keycode and Generating a fourth keycode corresponding to an upper case alphabetic character if the second strike is a strike upon the second key and the third strike is upon the second key.

22. A method for generating multiple distinct keycodes upon activation of keys:

Providing a keyboard having a first key, and a second key;

Detecting a sequence of a strike upon the first key;

Checking for sideways pressure on the second key in a first direction; and

Generating a first keycode if the second key has sideways pressure in the first direction, and generating a second keycode if the second key has no sideways pressure in the first direction.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second key is a spacebar.