Multi-purpose keyboard

• US 7,091,955 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Ideazon, Inc.
• Inventors: Kramer, Oren
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20030132916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-172, 345/156, 345/166, 341/22, 341/20, 341/24, 400/489, 400/495, 400/496, 400/490, 463/37, 200/5.R, 200/520, 200/344, 200/5.B, 200/5.C, 200/5.EB, 235/145.R, 235/146, 235/145.A
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for a keyboard. A removable part of a keyboard includes keyboard keys and stores identification data for indicating software for the particular removable keyboard or model of removable keyboard. The removable part of a keyboard can be combined with a fixed part of the keyboard. A computer system can include the keyboard.

Claims

1. A removable part of a personal computer keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keyboard keys; and

a memory device containing identification data (ID) for identifying a selected computer applications software program to be executed on a personal computer for which the removable part of the personal computer keyboard is particularly designed,

wherein the removable part of the personal computer keyboard is adapted to be combined with a fixed part of the personal computer keyboard, and wherein the personal computer keyboard is configured specifically for the selected computer applications software program on the personal computer based on the identification data (ID).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the removable part of the personal computer keyboard is foldable.

3. A personal computer keyboard, comprising:

a removable part of the personal computer keyboard, including;

a plurality of keyboard keys; and

a memory device containing identification data (ID) for identifying a selected computer applications software program to be executed on a personal computer for which the removable part of the personal computer keyboard is particularly designed; and

a fixed part of the personal computer keyboard, including a data recognition device that receives identification data (ID) from the (IC) memory device from the removable part of the personal computer keyboard;

wherein the removable part of the personal computer keyboard is adapted to be combined with the fixed part of the personal computer keyboard, and wherein the personal computer keyboard is configured specifically for the selected computer applications software program on the personal computer based on the identification data (ID).