Keyboard system

• US 6,615,283 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EJT Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silitek Corporation (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuo, Chunn-Cherh
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US09/479,218
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/5, 710/12, 710/15, 710/17, 710/18, 710/20, 710/58, 710/62, 710/72, 710/8, 710/104, 710/7, 710/36, 710/106, 455/420, 712/225
• US Class Current: 710/1
• 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

Abstract

A keyboard system includes keyboard having an internal circuit therein, at least one I/O device, and a transceiver module. The transceiver module on the main body of the keyboard receives signals from I/O devices and transmits audio signals from at least one external device connected to the keyboard system. The keyboard further includes a plurality of pointers indicative of which I/O device is connected to the keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard system comprising:

a keyboard having an internal circuit therein, the keyboard being operably coupled to a computer device;

at least one input/output device wirelessly coupled to the keyboard for operable coupling to the computer device thereby; and

,

a transceiver module arranged on the keyboard and electrically connected to the internal circuit for receiving from the input/output device signals containing identification information corresponding thereto, so as to allow the internal circuit to identify the input/output device generating the signals.

2. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the internal circuit comprises a processor connected to a universal serial bus (USB) controller, and the USB controller is further connected to a PC through a connection line.

3. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the internal circuit further includes a plurality of pointers indicative of which input/output device has sent out the signals.

4. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is connected to the keyboard through a wireless medium.

5. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a mouse.

6. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a trackball.

7. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a digital pad.

8. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a light pen.

9. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a joystick.

10. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a loudspeaker.

11. The keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is an earphone.

12. A keyboard system comprising:

a keyboard having an internal circuit therein, the internal circuit including a processor connected to a universal serial bus (USB) controller, the USB controller being connected to a PC through a connection line;

at least one input/output device; and

a transceiver module arranged on the keyboard and electrically connected to the internal circuit for receiving signals from the input/output device so as to allow the internal circuit to identify which input/output device is connected to the keyboard;

the internal circuit further including an A/D converter for converting audio signals into digitalized audio signals and a digital signal processor connected to the A/D converter, wherein the digitalized audio signals are encoded by the digital signal processor, deciphered by the processor, and then transmitted out through the transceiver module.

13. The keyboard system of claim 12, wherein the audio signals are from an external device.

14. The keyboard system of claim 13, wherein the external device is a microphone.

15. The keyboard system of claim 13, wherein the external device is a CD-ROM.