Computer system having a cordless keyboard and an induction coil in a plug-in electronic card module

• US 5,615,393 A
• Filed: 07/15/1996
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PDACO LIMITED
• Original Assignee: Elonex IP Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Dornier, Pascal, Seiler, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US08/680,100
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 395/281, 395/887, 395/892, 395/893, 361/680, 361/686, 361/683, 364/708.1, 364/709.09, 364/709.12, 341/22, 341/26, 341/32
• US Class Current: 710/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1466 Key-lock mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/048 Inductive or infrared coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 : Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 : implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 : User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 : by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 : for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 : Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 : Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 : in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 : PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0273 : having extensions for peripherals, e.g. LAN, antennas details of antennas H01Q1/2275

Abstract

A computer system has a cordless keyboard having an on-board power supply and a magnetic field generator with the keyboard adapted for coding keystrokes made on the keyboard in a dynamic magnetic field broadcast by the magnetic field generator. There is also an electronic card module having an induction coil for receiving the coded keystrokes in the dynamic magnetic field and having decoding circuitry connected to the induction coil for converting the coded keystrokes in the dynamic magnetic field into standard serial bus data. A computer as part of the system has a docking bay adapted for receiving and engaging the electronic card module and connecting the decoding circuitry in the electronic card module by means of multi-pin connectors to an internal bus of the computer.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a cordless keyboard having an on-board power supply and a magnetic field generator, the keyboard adapted for coding keystrokes made on the keyboard in a dynamic magnetic field broadcast by the magnetic field generator;

an electronic card module having an induction coil for receiving the coded keystrokes in the dynamic magnetic field and having decoding circuitry connected to the induction coil for converting the coded keystrokes in the dynamic magnetic field into standard serial bus data; and

a computer having a docking bay adapted for receiving and engaging the electronic card module and connecting the decoding circuitry in the electronic card module by means of multi-pin connectors to an internal bus of the computer.

2. A computer system as in claim 1 wherein the electronic card module is implemented as a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, and the docking bay is adapted for receiving and communicating with a PCMCIA card.

3. A computer system as in claim 2 wherein the PCMCIA card is a digital assistant module having an enclosure, a local CPU, a memory, and a display implemented on a surface of the enclosure.

4. A computer system as in claim 3 additionally comprising a nonvolatile storage device connected to the local CPU of the digital assistant module and containing a code unique to the digital assistant module, for uniquely identifying the digital assistant module to the computer having a docking bay.

5. A computer system as in claim 4 wherein the nonvolatile storage device is an EEPROM device.

6. A computer system as in claim 3 wherein the digital assistant module additionally comprises a user-accessible well having electrical connections for a storage battery for powering functional elements of the digital assistant module.

7. A computer system as in claim 3 wherein the display comprises an LCD display having a transparent, touch-sensitive screen at least partially overlying the display, the touch-sensitive screen and display forming a substantially flat I/O apparatus on one surface of the enclosure.

8. A computer system as in claim 3 wherein the digital assistant module further comprises a pointer device for providing positional and directional input for control operations performed in conjunction with the display.

9. A computer system as in claim 8 wherein the pointer device comprises a thumbwheel implemented at one corner of the enclosure.

10. A computer system as in claim 8 wherein the pointer device comprises a four-way pressure-sensitive region on a surface of the enclosure.

11. A computer system as in claim 3 wherein the digital assistant module further comprises an expansion bus interface for connecting the digital assistant module to serial peripheral devices.

12. A computer system as in claim 1 wherein the computer having a docking bay is one of a laptop, notebook, and a hand-held computer.

13. A computer system as in claim 1 wherein the keyboard is a flexible keyboard of two connected layers, rollable into a cylinder for storage and transport.

14. An electronic card module comprising;

an induction coil for receiving coded keystrokes in a dynamic magnetic field;

decoding circuitry connected to the induction coil for converting the coded keystrokes in the dynamic magnetic field into standard serial bus data; and

a multi-pin electrical connector connected to the decoding circuitry and adapted for connecting the electronic card to a mating connector of a host computer.

15. The electronic card module of claim 14 implemented as a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card.

16. A method for adapting a computer having a docking bay for an electronic card to a cordless keyboard, comprising the steps of:

(a) implementing an induction coil and decoding circuitry into an electronic card adapted to dock in the docking bay;

(b) plugging the electronic card into the docking bay, thereby connecting the decoding circuitry to an internal bus of the computer;

(c) implementing a cordless keyboard having an on-board power supply and a magnetic field generator, the keyboard adapted for coding keystrokes made on the keyboard in a dynamic magnetic field broadcast by the magnetic field generator; and

(d) placing the cordless keyboard in a position relative to the computer within range of the dynamic magnetic field.