Keyboard with ports

• US 6,449,142 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Wu
• Original Assignee: Donald Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/765,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680, 361/683, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• 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: 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: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a body containing a USB hub circuit and a keyboard circuit coupled to the hub circuit, a plurality of keys on the top of the body coupled to the keyboard circuit, a signal connection device on the body coupled to the hub circuit which is coupled to a first electronic device such that a key may be pressed to cause keyboard circuit to generate a signal which is sent to the first electronic device through the hub circuit and a signal connection device for processing, and at least one port on the body, each port having one end coupled to the hub circuit and the other end coupled to a second electronic device, such as a fingerprint reader, having an input section. When the second electronic device is coupled to the port, the input section of the second electronic device faces toward the user for ease of operation. Signals from the second electronic device may be sent to the first electronic device through the keyboard for processing. Further, signals from the first electronic device may be sent back to the second electronic device through the keyboard in response.

Claims

1. A keyboard device comprising:

a body including a universal serial bus (USB) hub circuit and a keyboard circuit coupled to said USB hub circuit, and a plurality of keys on a top surface of said body electrically coupled to said keyboard circuit;

a signal connection device coupled to said USB hub circuit and to a first electronic device such that when said key is pressed, said keyboard circuit generates a signal which is sent to said first electronic device through said USB hub circuit and said signal connection device for being processed;

a second electronic device having an input device; and

at least one port on said body, said at least one port being arranged to electrically couple the second electronic device to said hub circuit, said second electronic device being received in said port to thereby position said second electronic device on said body and facilitate use of the second electronic device by a user without the need for connecting cables;

whereby signals input through said second electronic device are sent to said first electronic device through said body for being processed by said first electronic device and signals from said first electronic device are sent back to said second electronic device through said body in response.

2. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein said at least one port is a USB port, and said second electronic device further comprises a USB connector.

3. The keyboard device of claim 2, wherein said USB connector of said second electronic device is provided at a predetermined positioned thereon such that said input device of said second electronic device is positioned to facilitate access by the user after said second electronic device is coupled to said USB port.

4. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein said at least one port has a predetermined interface specification, and further comprising a signal conversion circuit coupled between said USB hub circuit and said port having said predetermine interface specification such that said second electronic device is coupled to said port with said predetermined interface specification, whereby said signals input through said second electronic device are sent to said signal conversion circuit for conversion into a USB signal so that said signals input through said second electronic device may be sent through said hub circuit and said signal connection device to said first electronic device.

5. The keyboard device of claim 4, wherein said second electronic device includes a connector provided at a predetermined position thereon such that said input device of said second electronic device is positioned to facilitate access by the user after said second electronic device is coupled to said port having said predetermined interface specification.

6. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein signal connection device is a cable having one end coupled to said hub circuit and another end coupled to said first electronic device.

7. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein said first electronic device is a computer.

8. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein said second electronic device is positioned by said port to face said user.

9. The keyboard device of claim 1, 3, or 5, wherein said second electronic device is a fingerprint reader, and said input device of said second electronic means is positioned by said port so that a surface of said input means is in substantially a same plane as that of said keys.