Wire/wireless keyboard with pointing device attachable thereto, computer system for use with the same, and related method

A low power-consumption keyboard with a pointing device attachable thereto and for use with the same comprises: a battery for supplying a power source voltage for the keyboard; a key matrix having a set of keys for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed key of the keys; a key function indicator for indicating a key function state corresponding to a depressed specific function key of the keys; a controller for selectively controlling the key code to be transmitted to the computer system by either wire communication or wireless communication; and a wireless transceiver for converting the key code into a wireless signal and for transmitting the wireless signal to the computer system. With this construction, the key function indicator is disabled during wireless communication and enabled during wire communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Technical Field
 The present invention relates to a data input system with a pointing device
 attachable thereto and for use in a computer system, and a related method,
 and more particularly, to a wire/wireless keyboard which allows wire and
 wireless communication with a computer system and reduces battery power
 consumption of during the wireless communication, and a computer system
 for use with the same.
 2. Related Art
 Computer systems having a wireless keyboard and a pointing device, such as
 a mouse, are well known in the art. However, as explained in more detail
 below, significant problems are experienced in such systems.
 For example, when a wireless keyboard operates in accordance with wireless
 communication and is powered by a battery voltage, the battery voltage
 rapidly becomes lowered due to, for example, the key function indicator
 typically provided on such a keyboard having a relatively high power
 consumption, such high power consumption typically being caused by the
 necessity to employ LEDs (light emitting diodes).
 In addition, such systems have the further disadvantage that, since the
 mouse is directly connected to the computer, while the wireless keyboard
 communicates with the processor via wireless communications, a user
 entering data into the computer using the wireless keyboard is able to do
 so from a remote location, but then has to suffer a great inconvenience
 when it becomes necessary to point to data using the pointing device or
 mouse.
 Therefore, there is a need in the art for the development of a wireless
 keyboard which does not experience the problem of high power consumption
 and inconvenience in use with a wired pointing device, as explained above.
 The following patents are considered to be representative of the prior art,
 and are burdened by the disadvantages set forth herein: U.S. Pat. No.
 5,726,684 to Blankenship et al., entitled Detachable Convertible
 Mouse-Trackball Pointing Device For Use With A Computer; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,541,621 to Nmngani, entitled Mouse Or Trackball System; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,440,502 to Register, entitled Stylus Operable Computer With Wireless
 Keyboard In Storage Bay; U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,285 to Yokota et al.,
 entitled Standup Portable Personal Computer With Detachable Wireless
 Keyboard And Adjustable Display; U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,543 to Lin et al.,
 entitled Infra-red Wireless Keyboard System; U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,268 to
 Mori, entitled Wireless Mouse Apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,674 to Baker
 et al., entitled Method And Apparatus For Wireless Cursor Position
 Control; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,437 to Stavrou et al., entitled Remote
 Control Wireless Keyboard Musical Instrument.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and it is an
 object of the invention to provide a wire/wireless keyboard to which a
 pointing device is removable connected, and a related method.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wire/wireless
 keyboard with low power-consumption by turning-on a specific key function
 indicator of a computer system when the keyboard operates with wireless
 communication and when one of specific function key pad thereon is struck.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire/wireless
 keyboard to which a pointing device is removable connected, and through
 which output signals of the pointing device are selectively transmitted by
 wire/wireless communication to a computer system.
 It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a
 wire/wireless keyboard to which a pointing device is removably connected,
 and through which output signals of the pointing device are selectively
 transmitted by wire/wireless communication to a computer system. of the
 keyboard or pointing device with a computer system.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer system
 having a key function indicator thereon which can be turned on by
 depressing a specific function key when a wire/wireless keyboard operates
 with wireless communication.
 In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention,
 there is provided a wire/wireless keyboard when comprises: a battery for
 supplying a power source voltage for the keyboard; a key matrix having a
 set of keys for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed key; a
 wireless signal transceiver for converting the key code into a wireless
 signal and transmitting the wireless signal to the computer system; and a
 controller for controlling key function indicating data to be supplied to
 and displayed on the computer system, said key function indicating data
 being indicative of a key function state corresponding to a specific
 function.
 According to a further aspect of the present invention, a wire/wireless
 keyboard for use with a computer system and allowing wire/wireless
 communication of the keyboard with the computer system comprises: a
 battery for supplying a power source voltage for the keyboard; a key
 matrix having a set of keys for generating a key code corresponding to a
 depressed key; a key function indicator for indicating a key function
 state corresponding to a depressed specific function key of the keys; a
 controller for selectively controlling the key code to be transmitted to
 the computer system by either wire communication or wireless
 communication; and a wireless transceiver for converting the key code into
 a wireless signal and transmitting the wireless signal to the computer
 system, wherein the key function indicator is disabled when the key code
 is transmitted by wireless communication.
 According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer system
 having a data input device which has a set of keys and a computer
 comprises a key function indicator formed on the computer for indicating a
 key function state corresponding to a depressed specific function key of
 the keys. The computer has a front vessel on which the key function
 indicator is formed.
 According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer system has
 a computer and a first data input device which allows wire/wireless
 communication with the computer. The first data input device comprises: a
 battery for supplying a power source voltage for the first data input
 device; a key matrix having a set of keys for generating a key code
 corresponding to a depressed key of the keys; a first key function
 indicator for indicating a key function state Corresponding to a depressed
 specific function key of the keys; a first controller for selectively
 controlling the key code to be transmitted to the computer by either wire
 communication or wireless communication; and a first wireless transceiver
 for converting the key code into a wireless signal and transmitting the
 wireless signal to the computer. The computer comprises: a second key
 function indicator for indicating the key function state corresponding to
 the depressed specific function key of the keys; and a second controller
 for receiving the wireless signal from the first wireless transceiver and
 for determining whether or not the wireless signal thus received is one of
 specific function keys to generate a control signal. The first key
 function indicator is disabled when the key code is transmitted by the
 wireless communication, and the second key function indicator is enabled
 when the wireless signal thus received is a specific function key.
 According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a method of
 operating a wire/wireless keyboard allows wire/wireless communication with
 a computer system, said wire/wireless keyboard having a key function
 indicator indicative of a specific key function state of a depressed
 specific function key. The method comprises the steps of: determining
 whether the keyboard operates with either wire or wireless communication
 with the computer system; if the keyboard operates with wire
 communication, enabling the key function indicator of the keyboard; if the
 keyboard operates with wireless communication, disabling the key function
 indicator of the keyboard; and transmitting a wire/wireless signal
 corresponding to a key input.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer system having a wire keyboard
 and a pointing device which are connected to the computer. In this figure,
 the computer system is based on a computer 20 and includes a set of user
 interface devices to allow the user to provide data to and receive
 information from the computer system. In particular, the computer system
 includes a monitor 10, which is the primary output interface component
 from the computer 20 to the user. For user-to-computer interfacing, a wire
 keyboard 30 is connected through a DIN (Deutch Industrie Norm) connector
 cable 50 to the computer 20 to allow the user to enter data and direct the
 execution of the software. When keys on the keyboard 30 are struck, the
 keyboard 30 generates a set of signals that indicates which keys have been
 depressed. As the user enters data into the computer 20, the data is
 displayed on the monitor 10. The computer system includes a mouse 40 as a
 pointing device for data manipulation. The mouse 40 is used to designate
 data for manipulation, although any type of electronic pointing device
 used for designating data in computer systems may be used. Although not
 shown, the computer system also includes a printer, a plotter, etc.
 As shown in FIG. 1, however, since the length of the DIN connector cable 50
 is standardized, and thereby limited within a definite range, the wire
 keyboard 30 cannot be moved over the definite range. If the DIN connector
 cable 50 having a length of more than the definite range is used between
 the wire keyboard 30 and the computer 20, noise may be introduced through
 the cable 50, and as a result data entry from the keyboard to the computer
 may be unstable.
 So as to eliminate the above-mentioned problem, a wireless keyboard has
 been proposed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another computer system
 having a wireless keyboard and a pointing device which are connected to
 the computer. In this figure, the computer system includes a wireless
 keyboard 30a which allows a user to enter data and direct the execution of
 the software as in the wire keyboard 30 of FIG. 1. The wireless keyboard
 30a converts a key code, which is generated when a key is struck, into a
 wireless signal, and transmits the converted wireless signal through a
 wireless signal transmitter 60 and wireless signal receiver 70 to the
 computer 20. Since the wireless keyboard 30a operates with a battery
 voltage from a battery located therein, there arises a problem in that the
 battery has to be frequently changed.
 Also, the wireless keyboard 30a includes key pads which are used to perform
 specific key functions, such as number lock, caps lock, scroll lock, and
 the like. The keyboard 30a further includes a key function indicator 35
 having several indicating elements, for example, LEDs (light emitting
 diodes). When one of the specific function key pads is struck, the
 keyboard 30a generates a corresponding key function signal, and at the
 same time a corresponding LED of the key function indicator 35 is enabled
 to be turned on. The LED elements are relatively high in power consumption
 as compared with the other elements of the keyboard 30a. Thus, when the
 keyboard 30a operates with wireless communication and by a battery
 voltage, the battery voltage is rapidly lowered due to, particularly, the
 key function indicator 35 having relatively high power-consumption LED
 elements.
 As shown FIGS. 1 and 2, the mouse 40 is directly connected to the computer
 20. In this case, if a user enters data into the computer 20 using the
 wireless keyboard 30a as shown in FIG. 2, it is very inconvenient for the
 user to use both the mouse 40 and the wireless keyboard 30a.
 Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, a novel wire/wireless keyboard 200 according to
 the present invention has a connector with which a pointing device, for
 example, a mouse 250, is removably connected directly, so that output
 information of the pointing device 250 can be provided through the
 keyboard 200 to a computer 100 in wire or wireless form. The keyboard 200
 also provides key input information, or example, commands and data, to the
 computer 100 in wire/wireless form. Hereinafter, wire and wireless
 communication mean that signal transmission between the keyboard 200 and
 the computer 100 is performed in wire and wireless form, respectively. The
 pointing device 250 may be a touch pad, a joy stick, a track ball, etc. in
 addition to the mouse. For simplicity, a mouse is hereinafter described as
 an example of the present invention to which a pointing device is adapted.
 Referring again to FIG. 3, the wire/wireless keyboard 200 is connected
 through a cable 252 with the mouse 250, and an upper panel thereof has a
 set of keys, a key function indicator 270 and a driver 260 for
 transmitting information in wireless form (for example, as a light signal,
 an RF (radio frequency) signal or an infrared signal). The key function
 indicator 270 is provided to indicate which specific function keys, such
 as number lock, key caps lock key, and scroll key, are depressed.
 As shown in FIG. 6, the keyboard 200 is also connectable through a cable
 280 to the computer 100. An additional key function indicator 120 (FIG. 3)
 is mounted on a front panel 110 of the computer 100 so as to indicate
 which one of the specific function keys is depressed, as is the case with
 the key function indicator 270 provided on the keyboard 200. The indicator
 120 has three LEDs (light emitting displays) as in the indicator 270. In
 this embodiment, the indicator 120 is located on the front vessel 10 of
 the computer 100, but it may be located on a front panel of a monitor 10.
 Also, two key function indicators may be located on both of computer 100
 and the monitor 10.
 When the wire/wireless keyboard 200 operates with wireless communication,
 or when it communicates with the computer 100 in wireless form, the key
 function indicator 270 on the keyboard 200 is turned off and the key
 function indicator 120 on the computer 100 is turned on. Thus, during
 wireless communication, it is possible to reduce power consumption of a
 battery (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) mounted in the keyboard 200. The
 battery may be a rechargeable battery.
 Turning to FIG. 3, a reference numeral 190 indicates an infrared window
 which receives information transmitted by the driver 260 infrared signal
 to the computer 100. When the keyboard 200 operates with wireless
 communication, a corresponding LED of the key function indicator 120 on
 the computer 100 is turned on so as to indicate which specific function
 key is depressed. For example, the number lock function is indicated by a
 first LED element LS1, the caps lock function by a second LED element LS2,
 and the scroll lock function by a third LED element LS3.
 Also, the mouse 250 can be connected to the keyboard 200 so as to remotely
 enter pointing information, and thereby the pointing information can be
 transmitted through the keyboard 200 to the computer 100. Herein,
 "pointing information" means pointer data for designating data
 manipulation by means of the mouse 250.
 FIG. 4 shows a circuit of the computer 100 when the wire/wireless keyboard
 200 operates with wireless communication. As shown in FIG. 4, a CPU
 (central processing unit) 510 is connected to a host bus so as to perform
 a data processing function. System controller 520 is provided to control
 data transmission between the host bus and PCI bus and to control access
 to a memory 530. Video interface 550 is connected with the PCI bus so as
 to display video data on the monitor. Keyboard controller 570 and I/O
 controller 560 are connected with an ISA bus so as to control data
 transmission between the computer 100 and its peripheral devices. The I/O
 controller 560 is provided to control data transmission between the CPU
 510 and the peripheral devices, for example, a floppy disk driver, a hard
 disk driver, a CD-ROM driver, etc. The keyboard controller 570 is provided
 to control data transmission between the CPU 510 and the data input
 devices, for example, the mouse MS1 and the wire keyboard KB which are
 connected through cables to the connectors CN1 and CN2, respectively, of
 the computer 100.
 Also, wireless signal processor 580 is connected to the keyboard controller
 570 so as to control data transmission between the CPU 510 and a remote
 data input device, for example, a remote controller device RC, the
 wire/wireless keyboard 200, or the mouse 250 connected directly to the
 keyboard 200 via cable 252. Wireless signals from the remote data input
 device are processed by the wireless signal processor 580 to enter the
 processed data into the computer 100. Pointing data from the mouse 250 is
 transmitted through the wire/wireless keyboard 200 to the computer 100.
 FIG. 5 shows a circuit of the computer 100 when the wire/wireless keyboard
 200 operates with wire communication. In this figure, a wire signal from
 the keyboard 200 or the mouse 250 is transmitted through the cable 280 to
 the computer 100. The computer 100 of FIG. 5 has the same composition as
 that of FIG. 4, and thus description thereof is omitted below.
 FIG,. 6 shows that the keyboard 200 is connected through the cable 280 to
 the computer 100 so as to perform wire communication. The cable 280 has
 two ends, one of which is connected via a single plug PL3 to the
 wire/wireless keyboard 200, and the other of which is divided and
 connected to two plugs PL1 and PL2. These plugs PL1 and PL2 are connected
 to a keyboard input port CN1 and to a mouse input port CN2, respectively,
 of the computer 100. Through the cable 280, key input information from the
 wire/wireless keyboard 200 or pointing information from the mouse 250 is
 applied to the computer 100. An expanded view of the cable 280 is shown in
 FIG. 7A.
 FIGS. 7B and 7C show the plugs PL1 (PL1) (PL3) and PL3. Each of the plugs
 PL1 and PL2 is comprised of a DIN plug having six pins CP1 through CP6 as
 shown in FIG. 7B. CP1 is a data transmission pin, (CP2 and CP6 are
 non-connection pins, CP3 is a ground pin, CP4 is a Vcc supply pin, and CP5
 is a clock transmission pin. The plug PL3 has eight pins P1 through P8 as
 shown in FIG. 7C. The pins P1 through P4 are provided for the
 wire/wireless keyboard 200 and the pins P5 through P8 for the mouse 250.
 P1 and P5 are data transmission pins, P2 and P6 are clock transmission
 pins, P3 and P7 are ground pins, and P4 and P8 are Vcc supply pins.
 FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit diagram of the combination of
 the wire/wireless keyboard and the computer system associated therewith.
 In this figure, the wire/wireless keyboard 200 has five main components: a
 key matrix 230, a wire/wireless keyboard controller 220, a wireless
 transceiver 210, a pointer interface 240 and a key function indicator 260.
 The keyboard controller 220 is substantially constituted by a
 microcomputer which is connected by a DIN jack 202 so as to communicate
 with the computer 100 through the cable 280. This DIN jack 202 is coupled
 with the DIN plug PL3 (refer to FIG. 6).
 Referring again to FIG. 8, the key matrix 230 has a set of keys for
 entering data and commands. The keyboard controller 220 provides a
 scanning signal to the key matrix 230 and senses a signal corresponding to
 the key input. The sensed signal is provided to the wireless transceiver
 210 and the DIN jack 202. Then, the wireless transceiver 210 converts the
 signal into a wireless signal, i.e., an infrared signal, and transmits the
 wireless signal to the computer 100. If the keyboard 200 is coupled via
 the cable 280 to the computer 100, it operates with a power source voltage
 applied from the computer 100: if not so coupled, or when the keyboard 200
 operates with wireless communication, it operates with a battery voltage
 from a battery 204 which is located therein.
 As mentioned above, when the power source voltage generated by a power
 supply (not shown) of the computer 100 is applied through the power supply
 pins Vcc and GND of the cable 280 to the keyboard 200, keyboard 200 can
 use the power source voltage firm the computer 100. This can be achieved
 by detecting whether the keyboard 200 is coupled through the plugs PL1 to
 PL3 to the computer 100. In detail, the wire/wireless keyboard controller
 220 detects whether the DIN plug PL3 of the cable 280 connected to the
 computer 100 is inserted into the DIN jack 202. If the DIN plug PL3 is
 inserted into the DIN jack 202, the keyboard controller 220 allows the
 keyboard 200 to operate using the power source voltage applied through the
 power pins of the plug PL3, but not using battery voltage. This detection
 is substantially accomplished by the keyboard controller 220 operating
 with battery voltage from the battery 204; after detection, the keyboard
 controller 220 can operate with the power source voltage from the computer
 100. Even though the DIN plug PL3 is inserted into the DIN jack 202, the
 keyboard controller 220 continues to operate with battery voltage.
 Also, the keyboard controller 220 controls operations of the keyboard 200
 in response to a control signal provided by the computer 100 through the
 wireless signal processor 580. The keyboard 200 senses a pointing signal
 generated from the mouse 250 through the pointer interface 240. The sensed
 pointing signal is converted into a wireless signal by means of the
 wireless transceiver 210, and is provided to the computer 100.
 The wireless signal processor 580 of the computer 100 receives the wireless
 signal from the keyboard 200. The signal received through the wireless
 transceiver 584 is transformed into a preset format data and is provided
 to the keyboard controller 570 (refer to FIGS. 4 and 5) of the computer
 100. Then, it is determined in the signal processor 582 whether the
 received signal is key input data from the keyboard 200, pointing data
 from the mouse 250, or data from the remote controller RC. If the received
 signal is key input data, the signal processor 582 determines whether the
 key input data is a signal corresponding to a specific key function. If
 so, the signal processor 582 generates a control signal to the key
 function indicator 120 so that the LEDs of the indicator 120 are turned on
 in response to the control signal.
 The circuit of FIG. 9 has the same construction as that of FIG. 8, except
 that a rechargeable battery 204a is used as the battery located in the
 keyboard 200 and a battery charger (or battery charging circuit) 206 is
 further included in the circuit of FIG. 8. Accordingly, description of
 components identical to those in FIG. 8 is omitted.
 As shown in FIG. 9, when the keyboard 200 operates with a power source
 voltage Vin from the computer 100 by connecting the keyboard to the
 computer 100 through the cable 280, the rechargeable battery 204a is
 charged by means of a battery charger 206 receiving the voltage Vin. If
 the keyboard 200 does not operate with the power source voltage Vin from
 the computer 100, it operates with the battery voltage from the
 rechargeable battery 204a. If the power source voltage Vin from the
 computer 100 is supplied, however, the keyboard 200 operates with the
 voltage Vin and, at the same time, the battery 204a is charged.
 The circuit of FIG. 10 has the same construction as that of FIG. 9 except
 that a wire/wireless keyboard controller 220a incorporates an interfacing
 function capable of processing pointing data provided directly from the
 mouse 250, and thus description of identical components is omitted. In the
 circuit of FIG. 10, an additional pointer interface is not provided for
 the mouse 250.
 On the other hand, even though an additional key function indicator is
 located on a front panel of the monitor, the indicator can be turned
 on/off in response to the control signal which is generated from the
 signal processor 582 of FIGS. 7 to 10 and supplied from the computer 100
 to the monitor. Accordingly, even a monitor can display a specific key
 function.
 In FIGS. 8 to 10, it is shown that the mouse is connected directly to the
 wire/wireless keyboard controller 220a or the pointer interface 240, but
 the direct connection therebetween is accomplished through the plug and
 jack serving as PS2 connector, as in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
 FIGS. 11A and 11B show that the controller 220 or 220a of the keyboard
 detects whether a power source voltage is supplied from either a battery
 or the computer. It is shown, particularly, in FIG. 11B, that the battery
 204a may be charged by the battery charger 206. In FIGS. 11A and 11B, a
 power source voltage Vin supplied from the computer 100 is applied through
 a diode D1 to a power terminal VP of the keyboard controller 220 or 220a,
 and directly to a power detection terminal DP thereof. A battery voltage
 Vbat from the battery 204 or 204a is supplied through a diode D2 to the
 power terminal VP. Particularly, in FIG. 11B, the power source voltage Vin
 is also supplied through the battery charger 206 to the battery 204a.
 Thus, the keyboard controller 220 or 220a can detect whether the voltage
 Vin is supplied through the power detection terminal DP.
 Hereinafter, operations of the wire/wireless keyboard and the computer
 associated therewith according to the present invention will be described
 with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The flow chart shown in FIG. 12 is a
 control program to be performed in the keyboard controller 220 or 220a of
 the keyboard 200.
 At step S10, the keyboard controller 220 or 220a determines that the
 keyboard 200 operates with wire or wireless communication by detecting
 whether or not a power source voltage Vin from the computer 10 is applied
 to the power detection terminal DP of the keyboard controller 220 or 220a.
 If the keyboard 200 operates with wire communication, the control proceeds
 to step S14 and, if it operates with wireless communication, the control
 proceeds to step S12. At step S14, the key function indicator 260 on the
 keyboard 200 is enabled to be turned on so that a specific key function
 can be displayed when a specific function key is depressed, and the
 control proceeds to step S24 wherein it is determined whether a key input
 data from the keyboard 200 or pointing data (or pointer data) from the
 mouse 250 is inputted. At step S24, if data is inputted, the control
 proceeds to step S26 wherein a corresponding data (i.e., a key code or a
 pointing information) is generated. After generation of the corresponding
 data, the control proceeds to step S28 wherein the data is delivered
 through the cable 280 to the keyboard controller 570 of the computer 100.
 On the other hand, at step S12, the key function indicator 260 of the
 keyboard 200 is disabled. Then, even though a specific function key is
 depressed, a specific key function is not displayed by the indicator 260.
 This is because the indicator 260 is turned off. The control proceeds to
 step S16 wherein it is determined whether a key input data from the
 keyboard 200 or a pointing data from the mouse 250 is inputted. At step
 S16, if data is inputted, the control proceeds to step S18 wherein a
 corresponding data (i.e., a key code or a pointing information) is
 generated. After (generation of the corresponding data, the control
 proceeds to step S20 wherein the data is delivered to the wireless
 transceiver 210. Then, the transceiver 210 converts the data thus
 delivered into a wireless signal, for example, a radio frequency signal,
 an infrared signal or an optical signal. The control proceeds to step S22
 wherein the wireless signal thus converted is transmitted to the computer
 100.
 The transmitted wireless signal is received and processed by the wireless
 signal processor 580 of the computer 100. The received wireless signal is
 converted into an electrical signal by means of the wireless transceiver
 584 of the processor 580, and is then delivered to the signal processor
 582 to be processed in accordance with the control program shown in FIG.
 13.
 At step S120, the signal processor 582 determines whether or not there is
 received data. If there is received data, the control proceeds to step
 S200 wherein it is checked whether a wire keyboard is used. At step S200,
 if a wire keyboard is not used, the control proceeds to step S130 wherein
 it is checked whether a channel (i.e., a frequency) of the transmitted
 signal is identical to a channel (i.e., a frequency) of the received
 signal. If so, the control proceeds to step S140 wherein it is determined
 whether the transmitted signal is provided from the remote controller RC.
 If so, at step S140, the control proceeds to step S150 wherein a scan code
 for the remote controller RC is generated. If not, at step S140, the
 control proceeds to step S160 wherein it is determined whether the
 transmitted signal is provided from the keyboard 200. At step S160, if so,
 the control proceeds to step S170 wherein a scan code for the keyboard 200
 is generated. At step S160, if not, the control proceeds to step S180
 wherein it is determined whether the transmitted signal is provided from
 the mouse 250. At step S180, if so, the control proceeds to step S190
 wherein a mouse sensing data is generated.
 At steps S150, S170 and S190, after generating the scan codes and the mouse
 sensing data, the control proceeds to step S210 wherein it is determined
 whether a specific function key is depressed. If so, the control proceeds
 to step S220 wherein a control signal is delivered to the key function
 indicator. The control signal is used to enable the key function indicator
 120 of the computer 100 to display a corresponding specific key function.
 If a specific function key is not depressed at step S210, the control
 proceeds to step S230 wherein the scan code or data thus generated is
 delivered to the keyboard controller 570 of the computer.
 As described immediately above, when the wire/wireless keyboard 200
 operates with wire communication, it operates with the power source
 voltage from the computer 100 and the key function indicator of the
 keyboard is enabled to display a specific key function. And when the
 keyboard 200 operates with wireless communication, it operates with the
 battery voltage from the battery located therein, and the key function
 indicator of the computer or the monitor is enabled to display a specific
 key function. Accordingly, when the keyboard 200 operates with wireless
 communication, since the key function indicator thereof is disabled and
 the key function indicator is of the computer or the monitor is enabled,
 power consumption of the battery can be reduced considerably.
 Also, since the keyboard 200 can be connected directly to a pointing
 device, such as a mouse, etc., pointing data can be delivered to the
 computer 100 in wire or wireless signal.
 FIG. 14 shows an inside structure of the computer 100 having the key
 function indicator 120 controlled by the keyboard. In this figure, the key
 function indicator 120 may indicate a number lock function, a caps lock
 function and a scroll lock function.
 As shown in FIG. 14, the key function indicator 120 is located on a front
 panel 110 of the computer 100. LED board 150, constituting an electrical
 circuit of the key function indicator 120, is electrically connected with
 a computer main board 170 inside the computer 100. The LED board 150
 receives a control signal from the wireless signal processor 580 mounted
 on the main board 170. The control signal is used to allow the keyboard
 200 to display a specific key function. The LED board 150 is provided with
 a connector C1 for connecting with a connector C2 of the main board 170.
 The LED board 150 and the main board 170 are connected with each other by
 a cable 155 having sockets 155A and 155B at both ends thereof. The LED
 board 150 receives the control signal from the wireless signal processor
 580 on the main board 170.
 So as to emit lights generated from LEDs LED1 to LED3 of the LED board 150
 outside of the computer, the LED board 150 has a tens portion 140 having
 three LED receiving members LS1 to LS3 for receiving the LEDs
 respectively. There is no interference between the LED receiving members
 LS1 to LS3 and the light generated by the LEDs.
 As shown in FIG. 15, the LED receiving members LS1 to LS3 are projected
 outward through holes 130 on the front panel 110, and mounted to the
 computer by a supporting case 160 which supports the LED board 150 and the
 lens portion 140.
 FIG. 16 is a detailed circuit diagram of the key function indicator 120. In
 this figure, the indicator 120 has three LEDs corresponding to the number,
 caps and scroll lock functions. A power source voltage Vcc is commonly
 applied to anodes of the LEDs LED1 to LED3. Cathodes of the LEDs are
 connected through resistors R1 to R3 to terminals T2, T3 and T4 of the
 connector C1. When the control signal of low level from the signal
 processor 582 of the computer 100 is applied to the terminal T2, T3 or T4
 of the connector C1, an LED is turned on. So, when a specific function key
 of the keyboard is depressed, a corresponding specific key function is
 indicated by the turned-on LED. The terminals T1-T4 of the connector C1
 are connected to the wireless signal processor 580.
 The structure of FIG. 15 has the same composition as that of FIG. 14 except
 that FIG. 15 includes a speaker phone 180 and a number of holes 130a
 therefor are provided on the front panel 110. Further description thereof
 is omitted herein.
 As described above, a keyboard according to the present invention operates
 with a power source voltage from a computer during wire communication and
 allows a key function indicator on the keyboard to be enabled. Also, the
 keyboard operates with battery voltage from a battery located therein
 during wireless communication, and allows the key function indicator on
 the keyboard to be disabled and an additional key function indicator on
 the computer and/or a monitor to be enabled. Thus, when a specific
 function key is depressed during wireless communication, the key function
 indicator on the computer is turned on to display a corresponding specific
 key function. During wireless communication between the keyboard and the
 computer, since the keyboard operates with the battery voltage but the key
 function indicator on the keyboard does not operate, power consumption of
 the battery can be reduced considerably.
 In addition, since the keyboard can be connected directly to a pointing
 device, such as a mouse, etc., pointing data from the pointing device can
 be delivered to the computer in a wire signal or a wireless signal.
 Accordingly, whenever the keyboard operates with wireless communication,
 it is very convenient for a user to use the pointing device as well as the
 keyboard.
 It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the
 particular embodiment disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for
 carrying out the present invention, but rather that the present invention
 is not limited to the specific embodiments described in this specification
 except as defined in the appended claims.