Typing power

• US 5,911,529 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Crisan, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): HILTEN, JOHN S
• Application Number:
  US08/885,089
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 400/473, 400/474, 400/472, 400/490, 310/12, 310/15, 310/20
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/972 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94042 Means for reducing energy consumption

Abstract

A keyboard power generator provides a plurality of keys with one or more magnets mounted thereon. Additionally, a plurality of coils are mounted on both ends of the magnet such that, when the user is typing, the magnet traverses the coils. The movement of the magnet over the coils causes a current to be generated. In one embodiment, one magnet is mounted per key on the keyboard. In a second embodiment, a plurality of magnets are mounted per key to enhance the power generation capability of the keyboard. The currents generated collectively by the keys are provided to a charge pump which multiplies the voltage to achieve a level greater than the voltage level of the battery to be charged. The multiplied voltage is provided to a charging circuitry such as a trickle charger to recharge the battery. In this manner, the more information entered by the user, the more electricity is generated by the keyboard power generator. The energy provided by the keyboard of the present invention can be used to lengthen the operating period of the portable computer, or alternative, can be used to reduce the size of the primary battery so as to result in a lighter portable computer.

Claims

1. A method for capturing energy from a keyboard, having a plurality of keys, each of said keys having a magnet mounted thereon, each of said keys further positioned between one or more coils, comprising:

actuating said key to move said magnet over said coils;

providing energy generated by moving said keys over said coils to a charge pump circuit; and

storing said energy into a voltage storage device, said energy usable as at least a portion of a power source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of operating a computer temporarily from the output of said voltage storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said voltage storage device is a capacitor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said voltage storage device is a battery.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of scanning a matrix to detect a key actuation.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of operating said computer based on said key actuations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stepping-up the voltage of said collected voltage from said keys; and

charging a voltage storage device with said stepped-up voltage.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said charging step is a trickle charging step.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said charging step is a fast charging step.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second magnet coupled to said stem, further comprising:

actuating said key to move said magnets over said coils;

providing energy generated by moving said key over said coils to a charge pump circuit; and

storing said energy into a voltage storage device.

11. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a display device coupled to said processor;

a data storage device coupled to said processor;

an energy storage device coupled to said processor, said memory, said display device, and said data storage device for providing power; and

a keyboard coupled to said processor and to said energy storage device, including;

a key cap having a stem;

a magnet coupled to said stem; and

one or more coils positioned on either side of said magnets for generating energy when said key cap is moved by said user, at least one of said coils generating said energy, said energy transmitted to said energy storage device for providing additional power.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said coils are mounted on one or more printed circuit boards.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said key caps are positioned above a scan matrix.

14. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a scan matrix and a keyboard processor, said keyboard processor receiving closures on said scan matrix by said key.

15. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a keyboard interface for communicating with said keyboard processor.

16. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a spring positioned at the bottom of said stem.

17. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a second magnet mounted on said stem.

18. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a charge pump coupled to said coils.

19. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a battery charger coupled to said battery.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said battery charger is a trickle charge circuit.

21. A system for providing extended battery life, the system comprising:

a keyboard, the keyboard including;

a plurality of keys; and

a mechanical to electrical energy converter coupled to at least one of the plurality of keys, the mechanical to electrical energy converter providing an electrical signal containing power in response to mechanical activation of at least one of the plurality of keys;

a power supply receiving the electrical signal and providing usable power drawn from the electrical signal; and

a computer coupled to the keyboard and the power supply and using the usable power as at least a portion of the computer power source.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer includes:

battery terminals for a battery; and

a battery charger receiving the usable power as a power source and charging the battery with the usable power.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer includes:

a processor, wherein the processor is powered at least in part by the power supply.