Replaceable faceplates for peripheral devices

• US 7,264,473 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom; Kurt
• Application Number:
  US10/871,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 434/258, 434227-233, 434/259, 434/301, 434/311, 434/334, 434/343, 434/345, 273/237, 273/238, 446/297, 446/397, 446/404, 446/227
• US Class Current: 434/227
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 13/00 Teaching typing

Abstract

Automatically determining which one of a plurality of functions is to be associated with a movable member of an electronic device, depending on which one of a plurality of faceplates is coupled to the electronic device. A selected faceplate is coupled to a keyboard or other electronic device with movable members such as keys, buttons, knobs, etc. Protrusions or other configuration characteristics of the faceplate interface with one or more faceplate sensors, such as switches, that detect which faceplate is coupled to the electronic device. Based on the state of the faceplate sensors, the electronic device selects a predefined code, such as a scan code, that represents the coupled faceplate. The selected predefined code is communicated to a host computing device according to a keyboard protocol such as PS/2 or universal serial bus (USB). Consequently, an individual function is associated with each movable member based on the coupled faceplate.

Claims

1. A method for automatically enabling one function of a plurality of functions associated with a key of a peripheral device, in response to one of a plurality of different faceplates being coupled to the peripheral device, said peripheral device including a plurality of additional keys, comprising:

(a) enabling a user to couple a selected faceplate from among the plurality of different faceplates to the peripheral device;

(b) automatically detecting the selected faceplate that has been coupled to the peripheral device from among the plurality of different faceplates; and

(c) associating the one function with the key, so that said one function is performed in response to actuation of the key, a different function being associated with the key of the peripheral device for each different faceplate detected, so that a functional behavior associated with the key of the peripheral device is dependent upon the faceplate that is coupled to the peripheral device by the user, but functions performed by the plurality of additional keys are unaffected by the faceplate that is coupled to the peripheral device by the user, wherein associating the one function with the key comprises the following;

accessing a function identifier for the one function to be associated with the key for the selected faceplate that has been automatically detected as being coupled to the peripheral device; and

assigning the function identifier to a key code for the key of the peripheral device, so that when the key is actuated, the key code is transmitted and detected, invoking the one function associated with the key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device includes at least one faceplate switch used to detect a faceplate that is coupled to the peripheral device, and wherein the selected faceplate is configured with a protrusion extending from the selected faceplate to interact with and switch said at least one faceplate switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically detecting the selected faceplate comprises the steps of:

(a) detecting a state of said at least one faceplate switch; and

(b) selecting a predefined code as a function of the state of said at least one faceplate switch that is detected.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined code is one of a PS/2 scan code and a universal serial bus (USB) human interface device report.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

communicating the predefined code to a host computing device to enable the one function corresponding to the selected faceplate to be associated with the key.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined code is communicated according to one of a PS/2 protocol, a universal serial bus protocol, a serial communication protocol, a parallel communication protocol, and a wireless communication protocol.

7. A keyboard for operatively coupling to a host computing device and communicating a predefined code from a plurality of predefined codes indicating that a selected faceplate from among a plurality of faceplates is coupled to the keyboard, said predefined code specifying a function to be associated with a key of the keyboard, said function being designated for the selected faceplate, the keyboard comprising:

(a) a key having a state that changes when the key is actuated;

(b) a faceplate detector having a state that depends on a selected faceplate being properly coupled to the keyboard, wherein the selected faceplate is properly coupled to the keyboard when the faceplate, which includes an opening, is positioned with respect to the keyboard in such a way that the opening of the faceplate is disposed around the key of the keyboard and when, at the same time that the opening is disposed around the key, one or more protrusions extending from a bottom surface of the faceplate engage the faceplate detector;

(c) a memory that stores machine-readable instructions and a plurality of predefined codes that conform to a keyboard communication protocol and are used for communicating the state of the faceplate detector; and

(d) a processor in communication with the key, the faceplate detector, and the memory, said processor executing the machine-readable instructions, causing one of the plurality of predefined codes to be selected as a function of the state of the faceplate detector, said processor transmitting the predefined code as an output signal that conforms to the keyboard communication protocol, for input to a host computing device, to enable a host computing device to determine the function to be associated with the state of the key, enabling a host computing device to carry out the function that is associated with the state of the key.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the state of the faceplate detector depends on a configuration of the selected faceplate relative to the faceplate detector.

9. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the key is associated with a default function when the state of the faceplate detector corresponds to the selected faceplate not being coupled to the keyboard.

10. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the key is one of:

(a) integrated into the keyboard and adjacent to the selected faceplate; and

(b) integrated into the selected faceplate.

11. A keyboard as recited in claim 7, wherein the keyboard comprises a full alphanumeric input keyboard.

12. The full alphanumeric input keyboard of claim 11, further comprising additional function actuating keys, each additional function actuating key being associated with a plurality of different functions, so that a set of functions for all of the function actuating keys are selected for use by a host computing device in response to receipt of the predefined code produced by the faceplate detector.

13. A method for communicating an identification of a selected faceplate from among a plurality of faceplates that has been coupled with an input device, said input device being operatively coupled to a host computing device through a keyboard interface that communicates using a standard keyboard communication protocol, comprising:

(a) automatically identifying when a selected faceplate is properly coupled to the input device, wherein the selected faceplate is properly coupled to the input device when the faceplate, which includes an opening, is positioned with respect to the input device in such a way that the opening of the faceplate is disposed around at least one key protruding from the input device and when, at the same time that the opening is disposed around the at least one key, one or more protrusions that extend from a bottom surface of the faceplate engage a faceplate detector of the input device;

(b) selecting a predefined code corresponding to the selected faceplate that is properly coupled to the input device, wherein the predefined code conforms to the standard keyboard communication protocol; and

(c) transmitting a signal that includes the predefined code to the host computing device and which is in conformance with the keyboard communication protocol, enabling the host computing device to modify its response to subsequent input signals from the input device, as a function of the predefined code corresponding to the selected faceplate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the faceplate determines one function of a plurality of functions to be associated with a movable member of the input device.

15. A faceplate adapted to be removably coupled to an input device, comprising:

(a) at least one opening formed in the faceplate, so that said at least one opening in the faceplate can be removably disposed around a plurality of keys protruding from an input device; and

(b) identification means for identifying the faceplate when the faceplate is properly coupled to the input device and for enabling the input device to then respond to an identification of the faceplate by modifying functions associated with a plurality of keys on an input device, wherein the selected faceplate is properly coupled to the input device when the faceplate is positioned with respect to the input device in such a way that the opening of the faceplate is disposed around at least one key of the plurality of keys protruding from the input device and when, at the same time that the opening is disposed around the at least key, one or more protrusions that extend from a bottom surface of the faceplate engage the input device.

16. The faceplate of claim 15, wherein the identification means comprise a plurality of tabs extending from a perimeter of the faceplate, said plurality of tabs being disposed at predefined locations to interact with sensors on an input device to supply the identification of the faceplate to an input device.

17. The faceplate of claim 15, wherein a plurality of separate openings are included, each opening being sized to fit around a different key on an input device.

18. The faceplate of claim 15, further comprising indications of the functions associated with a plurality of keys on an input device, by removably coupling the faceplate to an input device.

19. The faceplate of claim 18, wherein the indications comprise text labels for each of a plurality of keys.

20. A faceplate as recited in claim 15, wherein the faceplate includes at least one moving key that moves relative to a body portion of the faceplate.