Keyboard with detection function for pressing pressure

The present invention provides a kind of computer keyboard being able to detect the pressing pressure of keys. The computer keyboard comprises: a plurality of keys; a detecting unit, which outputs a detecting signal according to the pressing pressure of the plurality of keys; and a keyboard controller, which generates a key code according to the detecting signal and sends the key code to a digital device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer keyboard, and more particularly relates to a computer keyboard with the multiple functions to detect the key pressure and shaking effect and prompt message.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The computer keyboard is the most popular input device for general computer users. It is needful especially for reporters, accountants, and typists those who need to type lots of numbers or words.

However, the prior keyboards can only provide users a simplex and prosy function, even though some other products that accentuate user-friendly design could only provide some function keys to allow users being able to activate pre-defined commands quickly. These user-friendly design keyboards may be helpful to enhance operating performance, but they still lack of the interactive effect.

For the working peoples, the competition pressure is very heavy and the working time is very long, lots of workers spend most of their time in the offices, face to the computers, work hard, but with less relax opportunity. Sometimes these workers need to take a relax but cannot leave away, if they can have interactive entertainments that are provided by office devices, such as computers, mouse, or keyboards, then they would be able to release their nervousness and impatience. But, the design for entertainment of current computer peripherals such as keyboards, is not enough. So, how to enhance the computer keyboard's functions for entertainment is a main topic of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is to create a computer keyboard with multiple functions. By adding an analog to digital converter (ADC) onto the computer keyboard to detect the pressing pressure onto a key, users are able to run a simple application to play as a keyboard instrument and create some music such as a piano. Moreover, a pulse width modulator (PWM) and an actuator are introduced to make computer keyboards be able to shake, and then we may get a great entertainment effect after combining with some applications.

Another objective of this invention is to create a computer keyboard that is equipped with display devices such as LEDs to change the status of display devices on the keyboards whenever the connected computers receive e-mails, or to shake the computer keyboards by the shaking device to inform users for receiving new information.

By integrating above key pressing detecting, shaking effect, and electrical information noticing, we may give the computer keyboards more and more functions and applications to give users more and more multiple and interactive functions by keyboards.

According to the present invention, a kind of computer keyboard being able to detect the pressing pressure of keys. The computer keyboard comprises:

A plurality of keys;

A detecting unit for outputting a detecting signal according to the pressing pressure of the plurality of keys; and

A keyboard controller for generating a key code according to the detecting signal and sends the key code to a digital device.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the digital device could be a personal computer (PC), a notebook, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the detecting unit comprises a transfer unit to transfer the pressing pressure on the plurality of keys to an analog signal.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the detecting unit further more comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) to convert the analog signal to the detecting signal for output.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the detecting unit can be integrated in the keyboard controller.

According to the present invention, a computer keyboard with shaking effect and being able to connect with a digital device comprises a shaking device to drive the computer keyboard shaking according to a command.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the digital device could be a personal computer (PC), a notebook, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the computer keyboard further more comprises a keyboard controller to send the command from the digital devices or the computer keyboard to the shaking device.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the shaking device comprises a pulse width modulator (PWM) and an actuator, and the pulse width modulator is able to receive the command and to drive the actuator for generating shaking effect.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the command is a voltage level, and the pulse width modulator is able to enhance or reduce the shaking effect that generated by the actuator according to the voltage level.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the pulse width modulator can be integrated into the keyboard controller.

According to the present invention, a computer keyboard with message notice function and being able to connect with a digital device comprises a responding unit for generating a responding action according to the digital device receiving a message.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the digital device could be a personal computer (PC), a notebook, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the message could be an instant message or an Email message.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the computer keyboard further more comprises a keyboard controller to control the responding unit for generating the responding action.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the responding unit is a display device, and the display device is able to respond the receiving message event of the digital device by changing the display status.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the display device could be an LCD display or an LED.

The present invention may best be understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. In the figure, the computer keyboard11comprises the plurality of keys112, the detecting unit113, and the keyboard controller114, where the detecting unit113comprises the transfer unit1131and the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)1132. The computer keyboard11is able to connect and communicate with computer12(the digital device) by the keyboard controller114through USB/PS2 interface13.

Whenever any key of the plurality keys112is pressed down, the pressed key1121can be used as a variable resister and its value reflects the pressing pressure of the pressed key1121. The resister value of the pressed key1121will be transferred to an analog signal by the transfer unit1131, and be converted to a digital signal by ADC1132. The keyboard controller generates a key code according to the digital signal, and the key code will be sent to computer12via USB/PS2 Interface13. By means of the information of key's pressing pressure from computer keyboard11, computer12is able to do lots of application by executing software121, such as:

1. Separating the original keys of the computer keyboard to multiple levels of response to expand the number of keys.

2. Simulating the keyboard typed musical instruments, and being able to adjust the volume, tune, and tempo of music by the pressing pressure of keys.

3. For the game application, game players are able to control the weapon power, car speed, and moving speed of the game roles by the pressing pressure of the keys.

Further more, detecting unit113is able to integrate into the keyboard controller114to simplify the complexity of hardware design as shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the computer keyboard11comprises a shaking device115, the keyboard controller114, and the plurality of keys112. In which the shaking device115comprises a Pulse Width Modulator (PWM)1151and an actuator1152. When a user presses down any key of the plurality of keys112, or computer12(the digital device) makes a shaking command to inform the keyboard controller114via USB/PS2 interface13, PWM1151will ask the computer keyboard11for generating pulses to drive the actuator1152for shaking effect by reflecting commands. The command to PWM1141is a voltage level, which is able to affect the shaking strength of the computer keyboard11. And, PWM1151can be integrated into the keyboard controller114as shown inFIG. 4, to simplify the complexity of hardware design.

FIG. 5shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the computer keyboard11comprises the responding unit116and the keyboard controller114. When computer12receives an instant message/email message122, it can notice the keyboard controller114via USB/PS2 interface13and activate the responding unit116for responding actions to notice users. In which, the responding unit115can be an LED or LCD display device to notice users by lighting, flicking, or text displaying.

FIG. 6shows the system block diagram of a computer keyboard that integrates above three functions together. In which, the detecting unit113and PWM1151are integrated into the keyboard controller114, and also be separated out asFIG. 1andFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 6, the computer keyboard11has pressing pressure of keys, shaking effect, and electrical information noticing functions as an interactive keyboard with multiple functions and these functions can support each other. For example, the pressing pressure of keys can provide to software121of computer12for reference, and also can send commands to PWM1151for driving the actuator1152to generate shaking effect; further more, for Message noticing, it can notice users by the responding unit116, and also can notice users by commanding PWM1151to drive the actuator1152to generate shaking effect.

To sum up, the present invention improves the prior keyboards by providing multiple interactive functions. By adding an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter), a shaking device, and a display device onto the computer keyboard, this keyboard has pressing pressure detection, shaking effect, and electrical information notice functions. And the improvement of technique according to the present invention is, with integrating above pressing pressure detection, shaking effect, and electrical information notice functions, the present invention gives more applications onto a keyboard than a prior one. And combining with suitable computer software will make a computer keyboard not being a simple input device as before, but a wonderful pal in working environment with interactive and entertainment functions.