Ultra-portable, componentized wireless keyboard and mobile stand

• US 9,405,380 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synerdyne Corporation
• Original Assignee: Synerdyne Corporation
• Inventors: Knighton, Mark S., Islam, Mydul R., Sung, Tzyy-Woei R., Vuong, Kevin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKS, CHARLES V
• Application Number:
  US14/223,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20140204032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An ultra-compact wireless keyboard in separable components, with an associated stand to support mobile devices. The invention uses separate key arrays which can be attached or dissociated, to deploy in a layout suitable for touch typing, or to collapse into a compact form for convenient transport. The stand provides for inclined operation of a mobile device with only a small additional volume. The keyboard may also provide for password characters to be stored internally, and transmitted automatically to a mobile device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transmitter to transmit keyboard data to a recipient; and

a plurality of physically dissociable cordless elements including at least;

a first array of keys mounted on a first substrate;

a second array of keys mounted on a second substrate;

wherein the elements attach together to collectively form a wireless keyboard;

wherein the elements can store together in a collapsed configuration;

and a clip attachable to the dissociable elements, the clip defining a stand for the recipient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clip defines a sleeve into which the individual cordless elements nest such that the additional volume associated with the clip is less than 20% of the volume of the elements in the collapsed configuration.

3. A keyboard peripheral comprising:

a key array;

a wireless interface within the keyboard for communication with a host; and

a controller disposed within the keyboard, the controller to retain user defined data within the keyboard;

wherein responsive to at least one of a pressure event, a finger touch gesture or a single key event, when a wireless link with the host is operational, the controller uses the user defined data to automatically send a user defined password to the host without the need for a manual password entry, and

wherein the keyboard peripheral has a deployed and collapsed configuration, wherein when in the collapsed configuration the key are not available for typing, and wherein the wireless link is operational in both configurations.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the keyboard is a touch type keyboard peripheral.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the keyboard automatically signals a user when the physical distance between the keyboard and the host exceeds a threshold while the keyboard is in a collapsed state.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the keyboard triggers the host to generate a user discernable output to assist in locating the host.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the keyboard triggers the host to generate an output to assist a user in physically locating the host.

8. The keyboard peripheral of claim 3 wherein the key event is a single press of any single key on the array without requiring any other key event in combination.

9. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein the password unlocks the host for access by a user.