Keyboard with input-sensitive display device

• US 20060052885A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kong, Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation

Abstract

An input/output device is disclosed that includes an input-sensitive display screen and alphanumeric keys for entering characters. The input-sensitive display screen may be positioned proximate the alphanumeric keys and be capable of displaying graphical information and sensing user selection of the graphical information. The input-sensitive display screen may include a combination display/input region and a non-display input region. The touch sensitive display screen may be detachable from the alphanumeric region and may be operable in a detached configuration. The input/output device may usable with a method of input correction. The method may include displaying, on a secondary display, a first text unit, such as a character or a word, which corresponds with a second text unit shown on a primary display screen of a computing device. The method further involves receiving user selection of the first text unit and replacing the first text unit with a second text unit.

Claims

1. An integrated input/output device for a computer system having a primary display, the integrated input/output device comprising:

a plurality of alphanumeric keys for receiving character inputs from a user;

an input-sensing display device configured to provide displays supplemental to the primary display of the computer system and to receive display selection inputs from the user, the input-sensing display device positioned proximate the plurality of alphanumeric keys; and

an interface configured to provide the character inputs and the display selection inputs to the computer system and to receive supplemental display data for displaying on the input-sensing display device.

2. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the input-sensing display includes one of a touch-sensitive display device, a proximity-sensitive display device, a resistance-sensitive display device, a digitizer-sensing display device, and an optical-sensing display device.

3. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, further comprising a keyboard including the alphanumeric keys, wherein the input-sensing display device includes a flat panel display having a width of 4 inches to 10 inches.

4. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 3, wherein the flat panel display has a width of about 7.8 to 8.5 inches.

5. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the interface includes:

a first interface for transmitting to the computer system character inputs received via the user-selection of the alphanumeric keys;

a second interface for providing the display selection inputs to the computer system; and

a third interface for receiving supplemental display data for displaying on the input-sensing display device.

6. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the interface includes a wireless interface with the computer system.

7. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 6, wherein the wireless interface includes one of a BLUETOOTH interface, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) interface, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, a wireless fidelity network (WiFi) interface, a cellular interface, and an infrared interface.

8. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the interface includes a wired interface with the computer system including one of a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a FIREWIRE interface, and a home audio video interoperability (HAVI) interface.

9. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, further comprising a first structure housing the alphanumeric keys and a second structure housing the input-sensing display device, wherein the interface includes a first interface part on the first structure and a second interface part on the second structure, the first and second interface parts configured to provide an operational connection when mated together.

10. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the input-sensing display device includes a directional input region for receiving directional inputs from a user and a character display/selection region for displaying characters and receiving user selection of the characters.

11. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the input/output device is configured to provide a user-configurable display of virtual input keys.

12. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory; and

a processor for performing steps comprising;

receiving user instructions for configuring a display of virtual input keys;

displaying the user-configured virtual input keys;

receiving user selection of one of the user-configured input keys;

translating the user selection into one of a command and a character input for the computer system; and

providing the one of a command and a character input to the computer device.

13. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 1, wherein the input-sensing display device is removable from the plurality of alphanumeric keys.

14. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 13, further comprising a display device interface operatively connecting the alphanumeric keys and the input-sensing display device when connected with each other.

15. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 13, wherein the input-sensing display device comprises a computing device having functionality independent of the integrated input/output device.

16. The integrated input/output device recited in claim 15, wherein the input-sensing display comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

17. An input-sensing display device comprising:

an input-sensing display;

a communications interface; and

a processor coupled to the input-sensing display and the communications interface coupled to provide independent computing functionality while the computing device is in an independent mode of operation and, while in the input/output device mode of operation, provide displays supplemental to a primary display of the host computer system and receive display inputs from a user for the host computer system based on the supplemental displays.

18. The computing device recited in claim 17, wherein the computing device provides personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality while in the independent mode.

19. A method of interacting with a computer system having a primary display, the method comprising:

displaying user-selectable inputs on a supplemental display located proximate a plurality of alphanumeric keys;

receiving user-selection of one of the user-selectable inputs; and

identifying the user-selection to the computer system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of receiving user-selection includes sensing a user'"'"'s touch of the one of the user-selectable inputs.