Keyboard with detachably attached unit having multimedia key function

• US 6,545,668 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
• Inventors: Hayama, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jorgensen, Leland R.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 345/172, 345/109, 345/168, 235/146, 235/145.A, 341/22, 341/28
• US Class Current: 345/172
• 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

A keyboard, which comprises a main keyboard unit, and an auxiliary keyboard unit having a multimedia key function, through which various functions, which can be realized by using a computer, and execution of application programs, which can be executed by using the computer, are directly achieved by a key operation as multimedia functions. The auxiliary keyboard unit is detachable from the main keyboard unit.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a main keyboard unit;

an auxiliary keyboard unit having a multimedia key function, through which various functions, which can be realized by using a computer, and execution of application programs, which can be executed by using said computer, are directly achieved by a key operation as multimedia functions; and

a general interface to connect said main keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard detachably, wherein said auxiliary keyboard can provide an additional computer with the multimedia key function when said auxiliary keyboard is disconnected from said main keyboard and then said auxiliary keyboard is directly connected via said general interface to said additional computer which is different form said computer.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit has an ordinary operation mode for ordinary keying, and a multimedia key operation mode to perform the multimedia key function, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit comprises:

ten keys;

a mode switching key to switch an operation mode between the ordinary operation mode and the multimedia key operation mode; and

key code output device to post a ten key code to said computer in the ordinary operation mode when said mode switching key is depressed, and to post a multimedia key code to said computer in the multimedia key operation mode when said mode switching key is depressed.

3. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit further comprises an indication device for indicating which of the ordinary operation mode and the multimedia key operation mode is the operation mode in which said auxiliary keyboard unit is placed.

4. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit further comprises a posting device for indicating on a screen, of a display device for said computer in which of the ordinary operation mode and the multimedia key operation mode said auxiliary keyboard unit is placed.

5. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary keyboard comprises:

ten keys;

at least one multimedia key for the multimedia key function;

multimedia key code output device to post a multimedia key code to said computer when said multimedia key is depressed; and

ten key code output device to post a ten key code to said computer when one of said ten keys is depressed.

6. The keyboard according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit comprises:

a multimedia key unit having said multimedia key; and

a main ten key unit having said ten key, and wherein said multimedia key unit and said main ten key unit are detachable through a general interface.

7. The keyboard according to claim 6, wherein each of said multimedia key unit and said main ten key unit has a second fitting device, and wherein said multimedia key unit and said main ten key unit are adapted to be able to be mechanically connected to each other by using said second fitting device.

8. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein each of said auxiliary keyboard unit and said main keyboard unit has a first fitting device, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit and said main keyboard unit are adapted to be able to be mechanically connected to each other by using said first fitting device.

9. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit is constituted by a flexible sheet keyboard unit.

10. The keyboard according to claim 9, wherein each of said auxiliary keyboard unit and said main keyboard unit has an adhesive device.

11. A keyboard system comprising:

a computer and a keyboard having a main keyboard unit, and an auxiliary keyboard unit having a multimedia key function, through which various functions, which can be realized by using said computer, and execution of application programs, which can be executed by using said computer, are directly achieved by a key operation as multimedia functions, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit is detachable from said main keyboard unit, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit has an ordinary operation mode for ordinary keying, and a multimedia key operation mode for use in performing the multimedia key function, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit comprises ten keys, a mode switching key for switching an operation mode between the ordinary operation mode and the multimedia key operation mode, and key code output device for posting a ten key code to said computer in the ordinary operation mode when said ten key is depressed, and for posting a multimedia key code to said computer in the multimedia key operation mode when said ten key is depressed,

wherein said computer has a multimedia function table, in which the multimedia functions corresponding to the multimedia key codes are defined, and wherein the multimedia function corresponding to a posted one of the multimedia key codes is read from the multimedia function table and performed.

12. The keyboard system according to claim 11, wherein the multimedia function table is saved in a rewritable storage medium in said computer, and wherein when a power supply for said computer is turned on, the multimedia function table is read from said storage medium to a CPU of said computer, and the definitions in the multimedia function table become effective.

13. The keyboard system according to claim 11, wherein setting information on which of the ordinary operation mode and the multimedia key operation mode becoming effective immediately upon completion of turning on a power supply for said computer is saved in a rewritable storage medium in said computer, and

wherein when a power supply for said computer is turned on, the multimedia function table is read from said storage medium to a CPU of said computer, and the definitions in the multimedia function table become effective.

14. The keyboard system according to claim 11, wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit is directly connected to said computer through a general interface cable.

15. A keyboard system comprising:

a computer and a keyboard having a main keyboard unit, and an auxiliary keyboard unit having a multimedia key function, through which various functions, which can be realized by using said computer, and execution of application programs, which can be executed by using said computer, are directly achieved by a key operation as multimedia functions, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard unit is detachable from said main keyboard unit, and wherein said auxiliary keyboard comprises ten keys, at least one multimedia key for the multimedia key function, multimedia key code output device for posting a multimedia key code to said computer when said multimedia key is depressed, and ten key code output device for posting a ten key code to said computer when said ten key is depressed,

wherein said computer has a multimedia function table, in which the multimedia functions corresponding to the multimedia key codes are defined, and wherein the multimedia function corresponding to a posted one of the multimedia key codes is read from the multimedia function table and performed.

16. The keyboard system according to claim 15, wherein the multimedia function table is saved in a rewritable storage medium in said computer, and wherein when a power supply for said computer is turned on, the multimedia function table is read from said storage medium to a CPU of said computer, and the definitions in the multimedia function table become effective.

17. A keyboard comprising:

a main keyboard unit;

an auxiliary keyboard unit having multimedia key functions; and

a general interface to connect said main keyboard and said auxiliary keyboard detachably, wherein said auxiliary keyboard can provide an additional computer with said multimedia key functions.