Adapter for wirelessly interfacing a full-size stand alone keyboard with a handheld computing device

• US 5,999,996 A
• Filed: 04/14/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dunn, Matthew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park, Ilwoo
• Application Number:
  US08/843,168
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 359/152, 379/93.17, 364/709.01, 364/708.01, 395/884, 395/885, 395/893, 710/12, 710/64, 710/67
• US Class Current: 710/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

An adapter is provided to interface a full-size keyboard with a handheld computing device. The adapter couples to the serial cable of the keyboard to convert keyboard generated signals to code, such as ASCII code. The adapter has a wireless transmitter (e.g., IR or RF transmitter) to transmit the code via a wireless link to a compatible receiver in the handheld computing device. The adapter enables a user to employ a full-size keyboard to enter data into a handheld computing device having a miniaturized or limited keypad.

Claims

1. An adapter for interfacing a portable handheld electronic computing device with a standalone keyboard, comprising:

a keyboard port for coupling to the standalone keyboard to receive keyboard generated signals;

a converter coupled to the keyboard port to convert the keyboard generated signals to converted signals; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the converter to transmit the converted signals to the handheld electronic computing device.

2. An adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises an IR transmitter.

3. An adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises an RF transmitter.

4. An adapter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power supply coupled to supply power to the converter and the transmitter.

5. An adapter as recited in claim 1 further comprising an AC adapter input.

6. An adapter for interfacing a portable handheld computing device with a full-size standalone QWERTY keyboard, comprising:

a keyboard input alternately connectable to and disconnectable from a keyboard plug of a full-size standalone QWERTY keyboard, the keyboard input receiving a scan code indicative of an activated key on the keyboard when the keyboard input is connected to the keyboard plug;

a converter coupled to the keyboard input to convert the scan code into an ASCII/special-key code; and

an infrared transmitter coupled to the converter to transmit the ASCII/special-key code via infrared to the handheld computing device.

7. An adapter as recited in claim 6, wherein the converter comprises a BIOS integrated circuit.

8. An adapter as recited in claim 6 further comprising a power supply coupled to supply power to the converter and the infrared transmitter.

9. An adapter as recited in claim 6 further comprising an AC adapter input.

10. An adapter for interfacing a keyboard with a handheld electronic computing device, the adapter being configured to couple to the keyboard to convert keyboard generated signals to code and to transmit the code via a wireless link to the handheld electronic computing device.

11. An adapter as recited in claim 10, comprising an IR transmitter.

12. An adapter as recited in claim 10, comprising an RF transmitter.

13. An adapter as recited in claim 10, comprising a power supply.

14. An adapter as recited in claim 10, comprising an AC adapter input.

15. An assembly comprising:

a handheld electronic computing device equipped with a wireless receiver; and

a keyboard adapter for coupling to a full-size standalone keyboard to convert keyboard generated signals to code and to transmit the code via a wireless link to the wireless receiver of the handheld electronic computing device.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the wireless receiver in the handheld electronic computing device comprises an IR receiver; and

the keyboard adapter is equipped with an IR transmitter to transmit the code via an IR link to the IR receiver.

17. An assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the wireless receiver in the handheld electronic computing device comprises an RF receiver; and

the keyboard adapter is equipped with an RF transmitter to transmit the code via an RF link to the RF receiver.

18. A computing assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the keyboard adapter includes a power supply.

19. An assembly comprising:

a full-size standalone keyboard having a serial cable; and

an adapter configured to be connected to the keyboard cable to convert keyboard generated signals to code, the adapter comprising a wireless transmitter to transmit the code via a wireless link to a handheld electronic computing device.

20. A computing assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the keyboard comprises an ergonomic, full-size keyboard.

21. A computing assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an IR transmitter.

22. A computing assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an RF transmitter.

23. A computing assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the adapter includes a power supply.

24. A method for inputting data into a portable handheld electronic computing device from a full-size standalone keyboard, the portable handheld electronic computing device being equipped with a wireless receiver, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving keyboard generated signals as they are output by the keyboard;

converting the keyboard generated signals to code; and

transmitting the code via a wireless link to the wireless receiver of the handheld electronic device.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting the code as an IR signal.

26. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting the code as an RF signal.

27. A standalone adapter for interfacing a standalone keyboard with a handheld electronic computing device, the standalone adapter comprising:

a keyboard port for coupling to the standalone keyboard to receive keyboard generated signals;

a converter coupled to the keyboard port to convert the keyboard generated signals to converted signals;

a wireless transmitter coupled to the converter to transmit the converted signals to the handheld electronic computing device without a physical connection between the adapter and the computing device; and

an encasing to package the keyboard port, the converter, and the wireless transmitter within a single integrated device.

28. A standalone adapter as recited in claim 27, further comprising a power supply to power the converter and the wireless transmitter.

29. An assembly comprising:

a handheld computing device having a wireless receiver;

a full size standalone keyboard having a standard serial connector; and

,

an adapter to interface the full size keyboard to the handheld computing device, the adapter being detachably coupleable to the keyboard so that the keyboard can be alternately coupled to and decoupled from the adapter, the adapter having, an independent power supply, a keyboard input port into which the keyboard connector is coupled for receiving keyboard generated signals output from the full size keyboard, a converter coupled to the keyboard port to convert the keyboard generated signals to converted signals, and a wireless transmitter coupled to the converter to transmit the converted signals to the handheld computing device without a physical connection between the adapter and the computing device.