Coded data generation or conversion – Bodily actuated code generator – Including keyboard or keypad
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-24
2001-08-28
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2735)
Coded data generation or conversion
Bodily actuated code generator
Including keyboard or keypad
C341S022000, C341S020000, C200S0050EA, C200S314000, C400S495000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281812
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer having a light emitting diode (LED) display keyboard device, and more particularly to a computer which lights numeral function keys on a numeric pad/portion of a keyboard by LED during calculation or dialing mode.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Computers are used over a wide range of environments from offices to households, but generally have keyboards which are used as an input device, recognizing an input from individual keys electronically or mechanically. A conventional desk-top computer has a numeric pad located on the right portion is of a keyboard. During use, when a need to use numeral function keys for a calculation arises, a user can simply activate only the numeral function keys on the numeric pad by pushing a number lock (Num Lock) key, and a Num Lock mode display located on the top of the keyboard lights up. Although the Num Lock mode display is located on the keyboard along with displays for other functions, it is not readily apparent to a user and serves only as a minimal reminder. Failure to notice the display causes inconvenience and typographical errors.
In portable computers, a numeric portion is located in the center of a keyboard. Similarly to the desk top computers, a user can activate the numeral function keys of the numeric portion by simply pushing its Num Lock key. Unlike the desk top computers, the numeral function keys are inconveniently located in the center of the keyboard and indicated by small numbers. Thus, it is even easier for a user to be confused about the function of the keys, consequently resulting in typographical errors.
Devices with the purpose of making it easier for the user to locate keys of a keyboard are seen, for example, in the following U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,990, to Burke, entitled Photo-Optical Keyboards, discusses a keyboard with a matrix of light sources, such as LEDs, and photodetectors beneath the keys, and the keys being transparent to allow illumination from below. This patent mainly deals with a method of detecting depression of the keys, and does not allow for selective illumination of keys. U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,949, to Rossi, entitled Lighted Electronic Keyboard describes a keyboard with keys having a light source which transmits light to illuminate the key. The patent does not discuss lighting of selected keys. U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,692, to Lee, entitled Light-Emitting Device Mounted Under Key Buttons of a Keyboard, describes a keyboard in which LEDs are mounted under every key. This is primarily designed for using a telephone in the dark, and does not deal with selective illumination of keys. U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,883, to Boulanger, entitled Keyboard with Illuminated Keys describes a keyboard for use in an automotive control panel. This system involves a conventional lamp and mirrors, and is probably not suitable for use in a computer keyboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,138 to Harden, entitled Flush Lighted Flat Keyboard, Assembly, discusses a flat keyboard in which a light under the keys is visible through a fight-transmitting portions of the key. U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,345, to Mikula-Curtis et at., entitled Keyboard, Assembly Incorporating Multiple Lighting Modes For Improving User Feedback, discusses a keyboard incorporating multiple fighting modes and which allows light from an indicator LED to be transmitted to the top of the key. U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,769, to Shumate, entitled, Apparatus for Selective Backlighting of Keys of a Keyboard, discusses use of LEDs to backlight individual translucent keys.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,723, to Nebenzahl, entitled Configurable Keyboard, describes a keyboard where LCDs are used to selectively illuminate keys which are generally transparent and mirrors are used to reflect the fight. U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,060, to Muurinen, entitled Illuminated Push Button Keyboard describes a telephone keyboard in which the keys are illuminated in different areas of the key by an LED to indicate different modes of operation. The regional illumination is accomplished by use of multi-colored LEDs and different colored light transmitting materials for the keys. Use in computer keyboards was not described. U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,717, to Dreher, entitled Intelligent Key Display describes a computer keyboard key with a microchip inside to allow programming of the key. In this device the key has an LCD or LED, mounted in the key cap, to indicate the mode of the key. This arrangement requires both a microchip and an indicator device within the key. However, and therefore may be somewhat expensive to manufacture U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,361, to Acevedo, entitled Display Keyboard describes a computer keyboard in which keys have LEDs or LCDs to indicate the key's function during particular software operations. Details of the mechanism for constructing the keys are not given, and only operation requiring driving of the keys by the software program being run by the computer is described.
Based on my observation of the art, then, I have determined that what is needed is a computer keyboard which, in a simple but unmistakable manner, indicates to the user whether the Num Lock key or Telephone key is activated and indicates the current function of the keys.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a computer keyboard which helps prevent typographical errors.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a computer keyboard which helps the user properly identify active keys.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a computer keyboard which readily indicates the status of keys activated by the Num Lock or Telephone Lock function keys.
The present invention provides a computer having a light emitting diode (LED) display keyboard device, which lights numeral function keys on a numeric pad/portion or relevant keys of a keyboard required for calculation or dialing, when activated by a number lock key or a telephone lock key for providing an easy and convenient access to the keys by making them readily noticeable. To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a computer having a LED display keyboard device, a display device, a central processing unit, a ROM, a RAM, and a system bus, the LED display keyboard device including: a number lock (Num Lock) key for activating numeral function keys on a keyboard; a telephone lock key for activating telephone function keys on a keyboard; a controller for lighting respective numeral function keys according to a Num Lock key signal or a telephone lock key signal; and a light emitting device which activates according to a control signal from the controller. In accordance with the present invention, the controller determines a power supply status of a computer and disables a LED display function, if the computer is determined to be supplied by a battery.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3865994 (1975-02-01), Bender
patent: 4088837 (1978-05-01), Singer
patent: 4100402 (1978-07-01), Lundstrom et al.
patent: 4163138 (1979-07-01), Harden
patent: 4163883 (1979-08-01), Boulanger
patent: 4311990 (1982-01-01), Burke
patent: 4491692 (1985-01-01), Lee
patent: 4551717 (1985-11-01), Dreher
patent: 4772769 (1988-09-01), Shumate
patent: 5164723 (1992-11-01), Nebenzahl
patent: 5253940 (1993-10-01), Abecassis
patent: 5266949 (1993-11-01), Rossi
patent: 5408060 (1995-04-01), Munrinen
patent: 5736942 (1998-04-01), Randolph
patent: 5801345 (1998-09-01), Mikula-Curtis et al.
patent: 5818361 (1998-10-01), Acevedo
patent: 6035214 (2000-03-01), Henderson
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Horabik Michael
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Wong Albert K.
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