Method and apparatus for reconfigurable key positioning on a keyboard

• US 7,780,368 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Longobardi, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/121,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 400/492
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a reconfigurable keyboard is provided. One implementation involves a row mounting mechanism for mounting each row of keys on a row frame, the row mounting mechanism allowing one or more keys of each row to be moved and locked in a certain row position, whereby the spacing of one or more keys in each row on the keyboard can change. The apparatus also includes a column mounting mechanism for mounting each column of keys on a column frame, the column mounting mechanism allowing one or more keys of each column to be moved and locked in a certain column position, whereby the spacing of one or more keys in each column on the keyboard can change. As such, one or more keys can be moved in row or column and to lock or unlock key positioning for arranging the keys on a keyboard according to a reconfigurable layout.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a row mounting mechanism for mounting each row of keys on a row frame, the row mounting mechanism allowing one or more keys of each row to be moved and locked in a certain row position, whereby the spacing of one or more keys in each row on the keyboard can change; and

a column mounting mechanism for mounting each column of keys on a column frame, the column mounting mechanism allowing one or more keys of each column to be moved and locked in a certain column position, whereby the spacing of one or more keys in each column on the keyboard can change;

wherein the row mounting mechanism allows a key of a row to be moved and locked in a certain row position, and the column mounting mechanism allows said key to be moved and locked in a certain column position, individually and independent of other keys;

wherein one or more keys can be moved in two different transverse directions independently, row and column, and locked or unlocked in a position for arranging the keys on a keyboard according to a reconfigurable layout.