Patent Application
20100238054
The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a keyboard device capable of identifying different keys functions according to key codes.
With rapid development of electronic and information industries, computers and the peripheral device thereof become essential parts in our daily lives. In addition to the working purposes, computers can be employed as amusement tools. In the computer systems, input devices play important roles for communicating the computer and the user. The common input devices of the computer systems are for example mice, keyboards or a trackballs. The subject of the present invention is directed to a keyboard device for inputting instructions to a computer by pressing multiple keys.
With the maturity of computing technologies, the keyboard devices with basic functions fail to meet the users' requirements. The keyboard manufacturers make efforts in designing novel keyboard devices with increased number of I/O ports and increased number of keys. Since the space within the keyboard device 1 is limited, the increased number of keys is still insufficient to meet the users' requirements.
Nowadays, computer games and online games are gaining popularity. For playing these games, the user needs to skillfully operate the keyboard device 1. If the common keys of a keyboard device are located at the sites that the users can quickly move their fingers thereon, the convenience of operating the keyboard device is enhanced. Since the internal circuitry of the keyboard device is fixed, the key positions on the keyboard device fail to be moved as required. Before the users are familiar with the key positions on the keyboard device, the users usually feel that the keyboard device is not easy-to-use and readily erroneously operated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard device with enhanced key expandability.
Another object of the present invention provides a keyboard device having adjustable key positions.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device communicated with a computer. The keyboard device includes a micro-controller, a wire circuit and multiple keys. The micro-controller is disposed on a circuit board. A key code table has been previously stored in the micro-controller. The wire circuit is connected to the micro-controller. The multiple keys are arranged over the wire circuit. Each key includes a keycap and a key identification part. The keycap is exposed outside of the keyboard device to be depressed. The key identification part is disposed under the keycap and in the vicinity of the wire circuit and includes at least one long protrusion and at least one short protrusion. When one of the multiple keys is depressed, the key identification part of the depressed key is contacted with the wire circuit and a key code is generated, and the micro-controller executes a function of the depressed key according to the key code and the key code table. The key code of each key is determined according to the number of the long protrusion and the number of the short protrusion included in the key identification part.
In an embodiment, the key code is encoded as a binary key code, the binary key code is converted into a hexadecimal key code by the micro-controller, and a function of the depressed key is executed according to the hexadecimal key code and the key code table.
In an embodiment, the key code table is a human input device usage table.
In an embodiment, the long protrusion of the key identification part is longer than the short protrusion. When the keycap is depressed, the long protrusion is contacted with the wire circuit such that a high logic-level signal having a logic value 1 is issued, but the short protrusion is separated from the wire circuit such that a low logic-level signal having a logic value 0 is issued.
In an embodiment, the key code includes high logic-level signals and low logic-level signal.
In an embodiment, the micro-controller issues a key signal to the computer according to the key code and the key code table, and the computer executes a function of the depressed key according to the key signal.
In an embodiment, the micro-controller further comprises multiple input/output ports respectively connected with multiple wires of the wire circuit.
In an embodiment, both terminals of the key identification part are connected to ground.
In an embodiment, both terminals of the key identification part are connected to a high logic-level voltage.
In an embodiment, the keyboard device further includes a signal power circuit, which is connected to the micro-controller for providing electricity and transmitting signals to the micro-controller.
In an embodiment, the keyboard device further includes a capacitor regulator, which is connected to the micro-controller for providing a reference voltage.
In an embodiment, the keyboard device further includes an oscillating circuit, which is connected to the micro-controller for driving the micro-controller.
In an embodiment, the keyboard device further includes an indicator lamp circuit, which is connected to the micro-controller for providing several lighting prompts to indicate different operating statuses of the keyboard device.
In an embodiment, the keyboard device further includes a filtering circuit, which is connected to the micro-controller for filtering off noise.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key function identification method for use in a keyboard device. The keyboard device includes multiple keys and a key code table. The key function identification method includes steps of generating a binary key code when one of the multiple keys is depressed, and identifying a function of the depressed key according to the binary key code and aid key code table.
In an embodiment, the key code table is a human input device usage table.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The micro-controller 20 is disposed on a circuit board (not shown). The micro-controller 20 includes eight I/O ports 201˜208. The signal power circuit 21 is connected to the micro-controller 20 for providing electricity and signals to the micro-controller 20. The capacitor regulator 22 is also connected to the micro-controller 20 for providing a reference voltage. The oscillating circuit 23 is connected to the micro-controller 20 for driving the micro-controller 20. The indicator lamp circuit 24 is connected to the micro-controller 20 for providing several lighting prompts to indicate different operating statuses of the keyboard device 2. The filtering circuit 26 is connected to the micro-controller 20 for filtering off noise. The wire circuit 25 includes a first wire 251, a second wire 252, a third wire 253, a fourth wire 254, a fifth wire 255, a sixth wire 256, a seventh wire 257 and an eighth wire 258. The first wire 251 is connected with the micro-controller 20 through the first I/O port 201. The second wire 252 is connected with the micro-controller 20 through the second I/O port 202. Similarly, the wires 253˜258 are connected with the micro-controller 20 through the I/O ports 203˜208, respectively.
The keyboard device 2 has a plurality of keys. When the keys are depressed, corresponding functions are executed. The keys are disposed over the wire circuit 25. When a key is depressed, the key is electrically connected with a corresponding wire and thus a corresponding key signal is transmitted to the computer 3 through the wire. For identifying which key is depressed to accurately execute the function of the depressed key. In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a key code table has been previously stored in the micro-controller 20 of the keyboard device 2. The key code table concerns the relationships between the keys and corresponding codes. When a key is depressed, the micro-controller 20 will realize the code of the depressed key by the key code table. According to the code, the micro-controller 20 issues a corresponding key signal to the computer 3, so that the computer 3 executes a corresponding function. In an embodiment of the present invention, the key code table is illustrated with the following human input device (HID) usage table.
The above HID usage table is written according a hexadecimal system. In contrast to the decimal system, the hexadecimal system uses sixteen distinct symbols. The symbols 0˜9 represent the values zero to nine. The symbols A, B, C, D, E and F represent the values ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, respectively. For example, the key “y” has a key code “1C”. The symbol 1C in the hexadecimal system represents the value 28 in the decimal system. Whereas, the symbol 1C in the hexadecimal system represents the value 00011100 in the binary system.
As shown in
By the micro-controller 20, the value 00000100 is converted into a value 04 in the hexadecimal system. According to the key code table (i.e. the HID usage table), the first key code 04 corresponds to the key A. When the first key 27 is depressed, a first key signal transmitted from the micro-controller 20 to the computer 3 and thus the computer 3 executes the function associated with the key A.
In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the key identification parts of all keys of the keyboard device 2 are different, so that diverse functions could be provided. The key codes generated from the keyboard device 2 are determined according to the numbers and positions of the long protrusion and short protrusion included in the keyboard device 2.
In the above embodiments, the key identification parts of all keys of the keyboard device 2 are different. In cooperation with the eight wires of the wire circuit 25, the keyboard device 2 can provide 256 keys (28=256).
From the above description, the keyboard device 2 of the present invention uses eight I/O ports 201˜208 and multiple keys with different key identification parts in replace of the keyboard scanning matrix of the conventional keyboard device. The extra I/O ports of the micro-controller 20 could be connected with other electronic components in order to expand the functions of the keyboard device 2. On the other hand, only few additional keys may be mounted on the conventional keyboard device. According to the present invention, the wire circuits 25 under all keys of the keyboard device 2 are identical, and the differences between all keys are realized according to the distinguishable key identification parts. As a consequence, the positions of keys can be altered according to the practical requirements. For mounting one or more keys on specified positions of the keyboard device, the user may detach the keys from the keyboard device and then mount these keys on desired positions of the keyboard device. Under this circumstance, the possibility of erroneously operating the keyboard device is minimized.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 098109042 | Mar 2009 | TW | national |
