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Portable computer with interchangeable keypad and method for operating same

  • US 5,576,981 A
  • Filed: 11/17/1993
  • Issued: 11/19/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A data processing assembly for a user comprising:

  • a system computer constructed for operation in accordance with a standard operating system;

    a keyboard housing;

    a keypad mounted to said keyboard housing, said keypad having a plurality of keys for depression by a user, said keypad being constructed to provide a plurality of X-Y position signals in response to depression of said plurality of keys wherein each of said plurality of X-Y position signals is associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys, said keypad further including a meaning key and being constructed to provide a change meaning signal in response to depression of said meaning key by the user;

    a token memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said token memory having a plurality of first memory locations and a plurality of second memory locations wherein each of said plurality of first memory locations is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of second memory locations, said plurality of first and second memory locations of said token memory being constructed for storing a plurality of token data units, said token memory further including a plurality of third memory locations wherein each of said plurality of third memory locations is associated with respective ones of said plurality of first and second memory locations, said plurality of third memory locations being constructed for storing a plurality of control data units;

    a pointer memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said pointer memory being constructed for storing a plurality of pointer data units;

    a string memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said string memory being constructed for storing a plurality of string data units;

    a keyboard processor mounted in said keyboard housing and being electrically coupled to said keypad, said token memory, said pointer memory and said string memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said plurality of X-Y position signals to access corresponding ones of said plurality of first memory locations and said plurality of second memory locations of said token memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for determining whether to access said plurality of first memory locations and whether to access said plurality of second memory locations, said keyboard processor retrieving a desired token data unit from said token memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said desired token data unit for retrieving a desired pointer data unit from said pointer memory and being responsive to said desired pointer data unit for retrieving a desired string data unit from said string memory, wherein said desired string data unit identifies a meaning that will be attributed to a particular one of said plurality of keys, the meaning being a function of said change meaning signal, said keyboard processor being further responsive to said X-Y position signals to access a corresponding one of said plurality of third memory locations to access a desired control data unit and being responsive to said change meaning signal for obtaining a desired control signal wherein said control signal is portion of said desired control data unit;

    a standard keyboard port mounted in said keyboard housing, said standard keyboard port being coupled to said keyboard processor for receiving said desired string data unit, said standard keyboard port being coupled to said system computer for transmitting said desired string data unit to said system computer;

    an additional keyboard port mounted in said keyboard housing and electrically coupled to said keyboard processor, said additional keyboard port further being coupled to said system computer constructed for interfacing said keyboard processor with said system computer in co-existence with said standard operating system in a manner such that the standard operating system is not interfered with and is furthermore unaware of the additional port, thereby to transmit and receive additional data to and from said system computer wherein said additional data includes token data units and desired data strings; and

    a display mounted in said keyboard housing and electrically coupled to said keyboard processor, said display including a meaning indicator having a elongated indicator and first and second meaning indicators wherein said first and second meaning indicators are light responsive devices that are selectively actuatable, said first and second meaning indicators being positioned in orthogonal relationship with respect to said elongated indicator, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for selectively actuating said first and second meaning indicators thereby to indicate to the user the meaning that will be attributed to said plurality of keys of said keypad.

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