Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Including keyboard
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-09
2001-05-15
Brier, Jeffery (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Including keyboard
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232960
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for entering data or signals to an electronic device, such as a computer, telephone, electronic game, cash register, electronic musical keyboard or other electronic device having a data entry keyboard.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many known types of keyboards used for inputting keystrokes and various other commands and data to electronic devices. These keyboards typically are large and bulky, and their use can thus be awkward, especially if there is a limited amount of space available for using the keyboard. In particular, full-size keyboards used with a desktop computer take up a large amount of desk space which could be used for other purposes. Such large keyboards have also been cited as the cause of certain hand or arm muscular problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. As such keyboards include within them various electrical components for transmitting the keystroke signals to the computer, should the user spill liquid or deposit other foreign substances onto the keyboard, a malfunction of the keyboard is likely to result.
A device that substitutes for a typical desktop keyboard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,537 in which keystroke signals are based on sign language, i.e., hand shapes corresponding to the alphabet and various words used to communicate with the deaf and/or hearing-impaired. Sensors mounted to a glove's surface detect the flexing of finger joints and the contacts between various portions of the user's hand. The signals are transmitted to a computer which translates the user's hand shapes into the word, letter, number, etc., corresponding to the hand shapes. This device, however, is unable to perform all of the operations of a conventional keyboard, requires knowledge of another language, sign language, to operate it, and cannot be used in any way other than translating sign language into computer readable form.
Devices that have attempted to make a keyboard more compact include fold-up or collapsible keyboards. However, the bulky electrical components of these keyboards limit how small and light-weight these keyboards may be. Although a keyboard or other data entry device may be temporarily removed from a workspace to create additional workspace, this option is not available for portable laptop computers with their attached keyboards. In fact, the size of a keyboard for a laptop computer or computer notebook is often one of the main size limiting factors for the device.
There is therefore a need for a device that can perform the same functions as a conventional keyboard for a data entry device but which is light, compact, and easy to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a conventional keyboard, such as one for a computer, a calculator, a cash register, a video or computer game, a musical instrument or any other kind of data entry device, is replaced by a thin, flat keypad on which is printed the key layout of the keyboard being replaced. Each key of the keypad incorporates a code uniquely representative of the key. The codes for the keys may be stored in electronic or magnetic microchips one for each key embedded in the keypad. The codes may also take the form of optically scannable bar codes printed in colored or metallic ink on the faces of the keys, or raised tactile codes, such as braille, formed on the surfaces of the keys. Because the keypad is thin and need not include any bulky mechanical or electrical elements, it may be designed so that it is flexible and light-weight and can be folded or rolled up for compact storage.
The keypad's key codes are selectively read by sensing devices mounted to each of a user's fingers. The sensing devices may be secured to fingers of gloves worn by the user, or to a plurality of rings or thimbles worn on the user's fingertips. Alternatively, the sensing devices may be affixed directly to the user's skin using a removable fixative. When the user touches a key of the keypad, sensors in the sensing devices detect and decode the code to the key that has been touched and a signal is transmitted to the computer or other data processing device indicative of the key that has been selected by the user. To simulate the feel of a conventional keyboard, a pressure sensitive switch is preferably included in each of the sensing devices in which is incorporated a resistive element. The pressure sensitive switch is interposed between the user's finger and the surface of the sensing device contacting the keypad so that when the user touches the keypad, the user's finger experiences a resistance and a springiness. The pressure sensitive switches may also be electrically connected to the sensors so that the sensors are activated only when a respective switch has been depressed and thus closed. The sensing devices may also incorporate either electrical or mechanical audio confirmation signal devices which generate a sound when the switches have been closed. Indicator lights are preferably attached to the glove or otherwise mounted to the hand or wrist of the user to indicate when certain switch-type keys of the keypad have been selected, such as the “CAPS LOCK” key.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a flat keyboard which is fully functional electronically but which does not give the user the feel of a conventional keyboard may be used in conjunction with sensing devices that incorporate only the pressure sensitive switches and optionally the audio confirmation signal devices. Here, the keyboard may be one substantially like that incorporated into flat hand-held calculators or a touch sensitive television screen (a “touch screen”). The pressure sensitive switches, with their resilient elements, provide the user with the feel of a conventional keyboard, while the audio confirmation signal devices provide the otherwise missing sounds of conventional keyboard operation.
In another embodiment, a signal transmitted for each of the sensing devices is indicative of the user's selection of a single, unique function. No keypad is required, and each sensing device need include only a pressure sensitive switch, although an audio confirmation device may also be included. A signal from a sensing device, resulting from pressing the sensing device against any rigid surface, is thus understood by the data processing device as an indication that the particular function associated with that sensing device has been selected by the user. This embodiment may be used in conjunction with video or computer games where depressing of one finger can be interpreted as, for example. a “fire” command, and depressing of another finger can be interpreted as, for example, a “jump” command. Alternatively, more than one sensing device may be mounted to a single finger so that selective depression of the finger against a surface will simulate “joystick” action.
In another embodiment, the keypad is a thin, flat sheet on which is printed the key layout of the keyboard being replaced. Two signal generators are mounted to the periphery of the keypad so that they are spaced apart from one another. When activated, sensors mounted on the user's finger tips detect the generated signals, and determine the distance between the sensors and the signal generators. These two distances are then translated into coordinates on the keyboard to identify which key has been selected by the user. As discussed above, the finger-mounted sensors are preferably activated when the user depresses the keypad. Alternatively, the signal generators may also receive a signal reflected from the user's finger that has touched the keypad. In this case, the transmitted signal, which may for example be a radar signal, is received by the keypad-mounted signal generator/detector which then determines the location of the user's finger and thus which key has been selected. The finger mounted devices need only include the pressure sensitive switches,
Brier Jeffery
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
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