1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to keyboards, and particularly to a keyboard with a numerical calculation function for a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A contemporary keyboard as an input device for a computer has very simple functions. The keyboard designers often focus their mind on improving keys of the keyboard rather than finding other uses for the keyboard. Often, people using a computer may like to perform numerical calculations. However, contemporary computers are not capable of processing numeral calculations via the keyboard directly. Therefore, it is necessary for people to get a calculator or open a program in the computer to perform calculations.
What is needed, therefore, is a keyboard for a computer which can overcome the above problems.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the switch 202 is a push switch. A stationary contact 1 of the switch 202 is connected to the numerical keypad 200. A first movable contact 2 of the switch 202 is connected to the keyboard control circuit 212. A second movable contact 3 is connected to the calculator circuit 204. Therefore, the numerical keypad 200 is capable of working in two different modes selectable by use of the switch 202, a common input mode and a calculator input mode. The keyboard control circuit 212 is further connected to the main keypad 100 in order to process input information of the keyboard. The calculator circuit 204, which is employed to process the input of the numerical keypad 200 during calculator mode, is further connected to the LEDs 206 and the display driver circuit 208. The display driver circuit 208 is further connected to the LCD screen 210. The LCD screen 210 is employed to display the input and the result of operations performed on the input when the numerical keypad 200 is in the calculator input mode.
In one embodiment, power for the numerical keypad 200 may be provided by a power supply 214 or a battery 216 such that the numerical keypad 200 can still function as a calculator when the computer is off. In other embodiments, the switch 202, the LEDs 206, and the LCD screen 210 can be mounted at other places of the keyboard 110.
When the switch 202 is pushed to connect the stationary contact 1 to the second movable contact 3, the “On/off” LED is lit up, indicating that the numerical keypad 200 is in the calculator input mode. The numerical keypad 200 is capable of performing operations on the input to the numerical keypad 200 with results displayed by the LCD screen 210. When the switch 202 is pushed to connect the stationary contact 1 to the first movable contact 2, the “On/off” LED emits no light, indicating that the numerical keypad 200 is in the common input mode.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200810303655.0 | Aug 2008 | CN | national |