Keyboard device capable of automatically changing function of certain key without pressing a specific key

• US 6,697,054 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kamizono, Hidenobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr Ahmid
• Application Number:
  US09/599,569
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169, 345/170, 345/172, 345/173, 341/20-22, 341/26-34, 400/472, 400/476, 400/477
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• 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 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a sensor (1) for detecting whether hands of a user are present at the home position, a function switching key to select one of the two functions by pressing a key (2), a sensor validating/invalidating switch (3) to changeover the validation/invalidation of the detection result of the sensor, and a microcomputer 6 for selecting the function according to the detection result of the sensor (1) when the sensor validating/invalidating switch (3) is validated, and by the function switching key when the same is invalidated.

Claims

1. A keyboard device, comprising:

a first group of keys provided on a keyboard;

a left hand sensor for detecting the presence of the left hand of a user at a left hand home position of said first group of keys;

a right hand sensor for detecting the presence of the right hand of a user at a right hand home position of said first group of keys;

a second group of keys provided on a left side of said first group of keys with said left hand sensor as a border;

a third group of keys provided on a right side of said first group of keys with said right hand sensor as a border; and

a control section for monitoring the detection result of said left hand sensor and said right hand sensor and disabling the input by said second group of keys while said left hand sensor detects the left hand and disabling the input by said third group of keys while said right hand sensor detect the right hand.

2. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second or third group of keys are group of numeric input keys.

3. A keyboard device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second or third group of keys are group of cursor shift keys.