Method of detecting excessive keyboard force

• US 5,745,376 A
• Filed: 05/09/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Webb, Gary Edward, Barker, John Howard, Verrier, Guy Francis, Battiloro, Gennaro, McClurg, Gary Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/647,097
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 364/508, 364/550, 73/649, 73/763, 73/768, 434/227, 434/230, 324/109, 340/665, 340/669, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/815.4, 341/22
• US Class Current: 702/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/044 Repetitive strain injury [RSI] considerations

Abstract

A method for detecting when a user is typing with excessive force on a keyboard is disclosed. First, the force applied by the user on the keyboard is measured and detected during a first period of time, and the normal level of force applied by the user is determined. Next, the force applied by the user on a keyboard during a second period of time is measured and detected. It is then determined whether the force applied by the user during the second period of time is greater than the normal level of force, and if so, the user is warned and provided with feedback to adjust the level of force being applied to the keyboard.

Claims

1. A method of detecting when a user is typing with excessive force on a keyboard, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting the force applied by the user to each key of the keyboard during a first period of time;

determining from said detecting step a normal level of force applied by the user for each key during said first period of time;

detecting the force applied by the user to a key of the keyboard during a second period of time;

determining if the force applied by the user to said key during said second period of time is greater than the normal level of force for said key; and

indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to said key of the keyboard.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of determining if the force applied by the user is greater than the normal force applied by the user comprises the step of determining if the force applied by the user is greater than the normal force applied to that key of the keyboard.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard when force greater than the normal force is applied to a predetermined number of keys during a predetermined period of time.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard when force greater than normal force is applied to an individual key.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to which key the user applied a force greater than the normal force.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of providing an audible alarm to the user.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to which key the user applied a force greater than normal force.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard when force greater than the normal force is applied to a predetermined number of keys during a predetermined period of time.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to which keys the user applied a force greater than the normal force.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of providing an audible alarm to the user.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to which key the user applied a force greater than the normal force.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of providing an audible alarm to the user.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of indicating to the user that force greater than the normal force is being applied to the keyboard comprises the step of indicating to which key the user applied a force greater than the normal force.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of determining from said detecting step a normal level of force applied by the user comprises the step of adjusting the normal level of force applied by the user.