Patent Application
20070103448
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a portable personal computer with a touch sensitive display, also known in the industry as a Tablet PC. More specifically, the invention relates to incorporating a portable keyboard with the Tablet PC to enter characters without use of a stylus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A Tablet PC is a wireless personal computer (PC) that allows a user to take notes using natural handwriting with a stylus or digital pen, hereinafter referred to as a pen, on a touch screen. The Tablet PC is similar in size and thickness to a yellow paper notepad and is intended to function as the user's primary personal computer as well as a note-taking device. The pen may be applied directly on the screen just as you would a conventional computer mouse to select, drag, and open files, or in place of a keyboard to handwrite notes and communication. Software is integrated with the Tablet PC to translate handwritten instructions to computer readable instructions. However, there are drawbacks associated with use of the pen and the associated software. For example, the software that converts the handwritten data to computer readable data is error prone and requires the user to proof their input data. This requires additional time which the user may not have available.
Since conventional personal computer use a keyboard to receive input data, it has become known in the art for Tablet PCs to include a keyboard area. Such Tablet PCs are called convertibles or hybrids. Similarly, Tablet PCs that are only a monitor with a pen are called a slate. Since many PC users are comfortable with a conventional keyboard to input data, hybrid Tablet PCs may also include an integrated keyboard that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded down over the keyboard, or a slate style, with a removable keyboard. However, a drawback with the hybrid table PC is the requirement of a keyboard. Tablet PCs are portable lightweight computers and one of their advantages is that they do not have a keyboard that must be transported with the display. The hybrid has solved a problem with a drawback associated with the table PC, while removing one of the enticing benefits associated therewith.
Therefore, there is a need for a keyboard, virtual or physical, that can be modified for use with a Tablet PC that will not interfere with portability or significantly increase the weight associated with the Tablet PC.
This invention comprises a Tablet PC with a keyboard attachment that changes between an active position and an inactive position.
In one aspect, a Tablet computer is provided with a touch sensitive display. A keyboard template is provided to be positioned over a portion of the display. The template includes a plurality of spaced apart openings. A range of pixels of the display are assigned to represent a single character. The range of pixels are illuminated when the keyboard is placed in an active position.
In another aspect of the invention, a computer is provided with a display responsive to touch. A keyboard is provided with a plurality of keys adapted to be positioned over a portion of the display. A range of pixels of the display are assigned to represent a single character.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for employing a keyboard with a Tablet PC. A keyboard template is positioned from a storage position to an active position over a portion of a display. A range of pixels of said display are assigned to represent a single character. The character assigned to the pixels is projected through a key of the keyboard. The key is registered with an operating system of the PC responsive to the key touching the display.
Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A Tablet PC is provided with an optional keyboard implementation. The keyboard is lightweight and sized to fit over a portion of the display of the Tablet PC. In an inactive state, the keyboard may be stored adjacent to a back portion of the Tablet PC. At such time as the keyboard is positioned to cover a portion of the display, the active state of the keyboard is registered with the operating system. Characters are illuminated on the portion of the display that receives the keyboard. The keys of the keyboard are transparent or translucent to allow the character on the display to be displayed through the key to the user.
A keyboard sized for the Tablet PC is provided.
The position of the keyboard in both the active and stored positions, enables the keyboard to be an unobtrusive addition to the Tablet PC. Similarly, the activation of the keyboard is optional for the user. When the keyboard is in a stored inactive position, it is non-obtrusive to the user. Similarly, when the keyboard is placed in an active position, it only illuminates a portion of the display of the Table PC. The use of the keyboard is optional and may be activated at such time as the user thinks it will be a more efficient communication tool. Since. each of the keys on the keyboard are transparent or translucent, illumination of the characters projects through the keys.
It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, with respect to the keyboard and its position with respect to the Tablet PC, clips, or an equivalent mechanical device, may be substituted for the hinges shown in the drawing figures and associated detailed description. A clip would be placed along the Tablet PC and would communicate the physical position of the keyboard to the operating system. Furthermore, with respect to the keyboard and it's characters, since the keyboard keys are transparent or translucent, a program may be executed that will illuminate characters of the QWERTY keyboard in a different order or configuration. Similarly, a program may be executed that enables the characters of the keyboard to be from the English language, a foreign language other than English, foreign language characters, phonetic symbols, and typographical symbols. The characters associated with the keys can be assigned to be buttons or symbols for use in games or other types of programs that need buttons and are unrelated to traditional keyboard characters. Accordingly, the scope of protection of this invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.
