Multimedia keyboard structure

• US 6,011,495 A
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Silitek Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/833,053
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/20, 341/176, 341/26, 345/168, 345/172, 345/115, 345/302, 364/189, 364/709.12, 400/472, 400/477, 400/489
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A multimedia keyboard structure which includes a standard keyboard having a control key pad having a set of keys for cursor, number, screen scroll and multimedia function controls. The control key pad is connected to the scan matrix formed by the I/O lines of the microprocessor of the internal circuit structure of the keyboard. The scan code of Num Lock or Scroll Lock is adapted to match Win 95'"'"'s register in testing the flag bit of Num Lock or Scroll Lock and judging its flag bit through a driver so that the job of code converting can be executed. The operator is allowed to directly control the control key pad and to monitor the operation through a display screen to which the standard keyboard is connected by means of employing the function provided by WindExec O of Windows API to the path of the file and the file index of the application program.

Claims

1. A multimedia keyboard structure for interfacing with an external processing device, said keyboard comprising:

a numeric key pad having a plurality of keys respectively representing multimedia functions, screen and cursor controls, and numerical values, said numeric key pad also having a Num Lock key;

a Scroll Lock key;

a microprocessor disposed internal to said keyboard;

a scan matrix formed by I/O lines of said microprocessor and connected to said numeric key pad and to said Scroll Lock key;

means for testing a flag bit of a WINDOWS-based operating system register to determine a value thereof, said flag bit value corresponding to an operational status of at least one of said Scroll Lock key and said Num Lock key, said microprocessor transferring key codes to the external processing device responsive to operation of said numeric key pad, said key codes representing respective numerical values or respective screen and cursor controls responsive to said flag bit value being set to a first value, and said key codes representing respective multimedia functions responsive to said flag bit being set to a second value.