Input apparatus and method

• US 20030091377A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ma, Chi-Fang, Hsu, Chia-Chang
• Application Number:
  US10/287,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20030091377A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/472
• 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

Abstract

An input apparatus and method for use in an information input unit. The information input unit is coupled to an information device having a display. The input apparatus includes an operational selection module, which is coupled to the information input unit, for generating a press signal in response to a pressing operation detected by the operational selection module and for generating a shift signal in response to a shifting operation detected by the operational selection module. A control chip of the information input unit activates the information device to display a graphical interface indicative of a set of options on the display when the information input unit receives the shift signal. Selection of the set of options on the graphical interface is made according to the press signal and the shift signal.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for use in an information input unit, the information input unit being coupled to an information device having a display, the input apparatus comprising:

an operational selection module, coupled to the information input unit, for generating a press signal in response to a pressing operation detected by the operational selection module and for generating a shift signal in response to a shifting operation detected by the operational selection module;

wherein a control chip of the information input unit activates the information device to display a graphical interface indicative of a set of options on the display when the information input unit receives the shift signal, and selection of the set of options on the graphical interface is made according to the press signal and the shift signal.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit is a keyboard controller.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit is coupled to a keyboard.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operational selection module comprises a switch mechanism.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switch mechanism is a cursor pad.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switch mechanism is a knob.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cursor pad outputs the press signal and the shift signal to the control chip by a press detector.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the knob outputs the press signal and the shift signal to the control chip by a pulse detector.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the knob outputs the press signal and the shift signal to the control chip by an analog-to-digital converter.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the press detector is comprised in the information input unit.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pulse detector is comprised in the information input unit.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is comprised in the information input unit. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control chip drives the information device by a keyboard interface.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the keyboard interface is comprised in the information input unit, and outputs an interrupt vector and a scan code to the information input unit.

14. The input apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the selection of the set of options on the graphic interface is according to the interrupt vector and the scan code.

15. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shifting operation comprises shifting and rotation.

16. The input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the shifting comprises upward, downward, left and right.

17. The input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rotation comprises clock-wise rotation and counter-clock-wise rotation.

18. An input method for controlling an operational selection module of an information input unit, the information input unit being coupled to an information devicehaving a display, the input method comprising:

in response to a shifting operation, the operational selection module outputting a shift signal to the information input unit, the information device being activated by a control chip of the information unit to generate a graphic interface, which having a set of options;

in response to the shifting operation, the operational selection module outputting the shift signal to the information input unit, and accordingly the information device controlling a selection of the set of options on the graphic interface; and

in response to a pressing operation, the operational selection module outputting a press signal to the information input unit, and accordingly the information device executing the selected option.

19. The input apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the information input unit is a keyboard controller.

20. The input apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the information input unit is coupled to a keyboard.

21. The input apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the operational selection module comprises a switch mechanism.

22. The input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the switch mechanism is a cursor pad.

23. The input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the switch mechanism is a knob.

24. The input apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the cursor pad outputs the press signal and the shift signal to the control chip by a press detector.

25. The input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the knob outputs the press signal and the shift signal to the control chip by a pulse detector.

26. The input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the knob outputs the press signal and the shift signal to the control chip by an analog-to-digital converter.

27. The input apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the press detector is comprised in the information input unit.

28. The input apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the pulse detector is comprised in the information input unit.

29. The input apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is comprised in the information input unit.

30. The input apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control chip drives the information device by a keyboard interface.

31. The input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the keyboard interface is comprised in the information input unit, and outputs an interrupt vector and a scan code to the information input unit.

32. The input apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the selection of the set of options on the graphic interface is according to the interrupt vector and the scan code.

33. The input apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the shifting operation comprises shifting and rotation.

34. The input apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the shifting comprises upward, downward, left and right.

35. The input apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the rotation comprises clock-wise rotation and counter-clock-wise rotation.