KEYBOARD WITH INCREASED CONTROL OF BACKLIT KEYS
First Claim
1. A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
a plurality of light sources coupled to the keys; and
a global control circuit coupled to a first local control circuit controlling a first light source in the plurality of light sources and coupled to a second local control circuit controlling a second light source in the plurality of light sources, wherein the first and second local control circuits are dynamically programmed during operation of the keyboard.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that provide increased control of backlit keys for a keyboard. Some embodiments may include controllers within the keyboard that are capable of dynamically programming illumination of the keyboard based upon interaction, where each key of the keyboard may be individually programmed in a dynamic manner. For example, a spell checking function may be executing on a computer system, and as the user types various words, the keyboard may dynamically program the illumination of keyboard controllers such that the next letter of the word being typed is illuminated by the keyboard. Also, different keyboard illumination schemes may be generated based upon mouse movements by the user and/or based upon which application is currently executing.
174 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of keys; a plurality of light sources coupled to the keys; and a global control circuit coupled to a first local control circuit controlling a first light source in the plurality of light sources and coupled to a second local control circuit controlling a second light source in the plurality of light sources, wherein the first and second local control circuits are dynamically programmed during operation of the keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a computer; a keyboard coupled to the computer, the keyboard comprising; a plurality of keys; a keyboard controller coupled to the plurality of keys; a plurality of light sources coupled to the plurality of keys; and a lighting control circuit coupled to the plurality of light sources; wherein the keyboard controller detects a keystroke associated with an application executing on the computer, and the lighting control circuit is dynamically programmed based upon the keystroke. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a keyboard as an output device, the method comprising the acts of:
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executing an application on a computer system, the computer system coupled to the keyboard; detecting a keystroke associated with the application; and dynamically controlling illumination of a plurality of light sources coupled to a plurality of keys of the keyboard, wherein the dynamic control is based upon the keystroke. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification