Keyboard calculator system

• US 6,114,977 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keyboard Technologies Incorporated, Unilogic Systems India Pvt., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Unilogic Systems Keyboard Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Philip E., Hallman, Grant M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/813,660
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 364/709.12, 364/709.1, 345/169, 345/168, 400/78, 705/30, 379/368
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A keyboard for use with a computer. The keyboard has an alphanumeric keypad with alphanumeric keys, a calculator keypad with calculator keys including numeric and arithmetic keys which also function as the standard number pad on a calculator, a keypad matrix, a processor and a bi-directional communications interface. The processor, through the keypad matrix, receives signals indicating actuation of the keys, resolves keystrokes corresponding to the actuated keys, and sends the keystrokes to the computer through the communications interface. The keyboard has a tape mode, a calculator mode and a keyboard mode. The processor, keyboard matrix and calculator keypad act as a discrete calculator when in calculator mode. There is a send key for sending a number active in the calculator to the computer as a series of keystrokes for display on the monitor. In tape mode, the processor sends keystrokes to the computer corresponding to intermediate steps in calculations entered at the calculator keypad. The keyboard has its own LCD display for displaying the calculations of the calculator. There is a software program for use on the computer to display a display window on the monitor. A signal is sent to the keyboard to enter tape mode when the software program becomes active. When the software program is active, keystrokes representing the intermediate steps of the calculation are received from the keyboard and displayed on the monitor. A signal is sent from the computer to the keyboard to exit tape mode when the software program becomes inactive.

Claims

1. A keyboard for use with a computer, the keyboard comprising:

an alphanumeric keypad with alphanumeric keys, a calculator keypad with calculator keys, a keyboard matrix, a processor, and a communications interface,

wherein the processor, through the keyboard matrix, (i) receives signals indicating actuation of the alphanumeric keys and the calculator keys, (ii) resolves keystrokes corresponding to the actuated keys, and (iii) sends keystrokes to the computer through the communications interface, and

wherein the keyboard has a calculator mode and a keyboard mode, the processor, keyboard matrix and calculator keypad acting as a discrete calculator when in calculator mode and as numeric keys when in keyboard mode,

wherein the calculator keys comprise a send key for sending, upon actuation of the send key when the keyboard is in calculator mode, a number active in the calculator to the computer from the processor through the communications interface as a series of keystrokes without actuation of other keys on the keyboard.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the communications interface comprises a bi-directional communications interface and the keyboard further comprises a tape mode, wherein the processor sends keystrokes to the computer corresponding to intermediate steps in calculations entered at the calculator keypad.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, further comprising a display for displaying the calculations of the calculator.