Modularly expandable desktop keyboard

Abstract: A modularly expandable keyboard (10) has expansion modules (14) which are integrated into an elementary keyboard by means of locking tongues (42) inserted in depressed tracks (28, 34) in the modules and held in place by detents (44, 46, 50, 52) in the attached modules. The detent mechanisms (44, 46, 50, 52) are formed integrally with the housings (54) of the modules and are unstressed when fully engaged. An electrical interconnect plug (40) integrates the electrical buses of attached modules. Modules can be attached to either right or left and additional modules (14) can be attached to already attached modules indefinitely.

Description: The invention relates to desktop keyboards and auxiliary devices such as voice pick up devices, speakers, and numerical keypads, which are used by an operator to control and interact with a computer. Computers are often offered to users with a choice of various auxiliary devices in addition to a simple keyboard, which must be accommodated on the desk of the operator. At the same time the space on an operator's desk is in high demand for many things. The invention aims at minimizing the desktop space requirements under the prevailing circumstances and needs for additional auxiliary devices. GB-A-2 154 948 shows a modular keyboard assembly, which can be configured to customer's requirements. However, in contrast to the claimed desktop interaction board, the assembly is finally mounted within one housing, so that the modules cannot be removed or interchanged afterwards. The invention as defined by the appendent claims provides an modularly expandable desktop keyboard or operator control board that can be modularly expanded from a minimal keyboard by adding auxiliary modules such as a numerical keypad module and/or telephone module. The added modules are mechanically and electrically integrated into an expanded control board with flexibility as to the configuration of positioning the modules with respect to each other. The modular arrangement is further advantageous in using no unnecessary desk space. The above and other advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a modularly expandable desktop interaction board according to the invention. Figure 2 shows the board of Fig. 1 set at three slopes, as seen from the right end. Figure 3 shows the bottom of the board of Fig. 1 with elements separated from each other. Figure 4 shows a detail of the board of Fig. 1. Figure 5 shows a detail of the detent mechanism used in the board of Fig. 1. Figure 6 shows an end view of the tongue which is an element of the board of Fig. 1. A modularly expandable desktop interaction board 10 includes keyboard module 12, keypad module 14, and telephone module 16, which are shown as exemplary of a generic expansion module. Board 10 is interconnected to a host computer through connector 18. The modules 12, 14, 16 have a common side profile, and all have a set of adjustable rear supports 20 which permit all modules to be tipped up to position their top surfaces at a common set of slopes, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. Keyboard module 12 has attachment interface 22 situated generally at its left side, and expansion module 14 has attachment interface 24 situated generally at its right side as shown particularly in the bottom view of Fig. 3. (The terms right and left are referred to the top view throughout this document.) Keyboard interface 22 includes electrical socket 26 connecting with an electrical bus (not illustrated) interior to keyboard module 12. Keyboard interface 22 also includes track 28 depressed below bottom surface 30 of module 12. Expansion interface 24 includes electrical socket 32 connecting with an electrical bus (not illustrated) interior to expansion module 14. Expansion interface 24 also includes track 34 depressed below bottom surface 36 of module 14. As shown in the pulled-apart illustration of Fig. 3, the electrical sockets and tracks are aligned when the modules are placed side by side with a common profile. Bridging tongue 42 slides into both tracks 28 and 34 when modules 12 and 14 are integrated as shown particularly in the bottom view of Fig. 4. Tongue 42 fits snugly in edges of tracks 28 and 34, and the tracks and tongue have a depth (referring to the direction towards and away from the operator in the normal operating position) that is an appreciable fraction of that of the boards to provide, when in place, a rigid coupling between modules and thus form a mechanically integrated expanded keyboard unit. Tongue 42 is maintained in position in keyboard track 28 by engagement of male detent element 44 on tongue 42 with female detent element 46 on track 28. Similarly tongue 42 is maintained in position in track 34 by engagement of male detent element 50 on tongue 42 with female detent element 52 on track 34. Female detent element 52 shown more particularly in Fig. 5 is advantageously molded as an integral part of the polymeric housing 54 of the module. Female detent element 52 (as exemplar y) includes cantilevered spring 56 supporting wedge 58, which protrudes above track 34. Male detent element 44 (as exemplary) is a bump molded integrally as a part of polymeric tongue 42. The positions of the engaging elements of the detent are such that the spring of the female element is stressed in flexure only while the male element is entering or exiting the detented position. This arrangement avoids giving the polymeric material of the spring a permanent set from remaining in a stressed condition for extended periods. Electrical interconnector 40 is advantageously a rigid double-ended electrical plug which fits simultaneously into sockets 26 and 32, and is dimensioned to be seated in both sockets when modules 12 and 14 are mechanically integrated to form an integrated electrical bus extending through both of the integrated modules. The foreging discussion has described the attachment of an expansion module to the left side of the keyboard as exemplary. Corresponding electrical and mechanical structures are provided for attachment of an expansion module to the right side of the keyboard module and for attachment of an additional expansion module outboard of any attached expansion module. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 6, an additional detent with male element 74 on tongue 42 and female element 72 in track 34 of an expansion module provides a stable storage place for a tongue in a module rack when not in use. The detents used for leftward expansion, those used for rightward expansion, and those used for storage are positioned on distinct alignments to avoid interference. The slopes of the wedges 58 and the protuberances 44 are adjusted so that engagement of a detent requires less force than that required for disengagement. This arrangement ensures that when a tongue has been engaged in a module and is protruding (say) to the right and is then slid into the left facing interface of another module the tongue will engage with the module on the right in preference to disengaging from the detented position in the left module.

Claims: A modularly expandable desktop interaction board (10) for use by an operator to interact with a computer said interaction board (10) including a keyboard module, at least one expansion module and means for electrically and mechanically interconnecting said modules, characterized in that said modularly expandable desktop interaction board (10) is operator-changeable and said keyboard module (12) has a first polymeric housing and an alphanumeric keyboard mounted therein, said expansion module (14) is operator-installable and has a second polymeric housing, said module providing auxiliary operator-selected functions, a bridging tongue (42), and an electrical interconnector (40) are provided, all of said modules having a common side profile and each module being adjustable to provide a set of slope values for its top surface, the set of slope values being identical for all modules, each of said modules has an attachment interface (22) including a track (28, 34) depressed from its bottom surface, said track (28, 34) admitting said bridging tongue (42) by a sliding motion in the right-left direction, said tracks (28, 34) being uniformly positioned on the modules to effect alignment of tracks of modules placed side by side, means (44, 46, 50, 52) are provided for affixing the bridging tongue (42) in a position partly inserted into the track (28, 34) of said keyboard module (12) and partly inserted into the track of the expansion module (14) for removably joining said first and second housings to form an expanded keyboard unit, and means (26, 32) are provided for electrically interconnecting said modules through said electrical connector Interaction board (10) as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that said first housing includes a detent mechanism (44, 46) for attaching said bridging tongue (42) to said keyboard module (12), said detent mechanism (44, 46) including a protuberance (44) affixed to said tongue (42) and protruding toward the track (28) of said keyboard module when said tongue (42) is inserted therein and a cantilevered spring (56) integral with the housing of the keyboard module and supporting a wedge (58) protruding above the track, said protuberance (44), spring (56), and wedge (58) being constructed and positioned so that as the tongue (42) is inserted into the track (28) of the keyboard module (12), the protuberance (44) engages the wedge (58), thereby flexing the spring (56), then passes over the wedge (58) into a stable detent position, the spring (58) being unflexed when the protuberance (44) is in the stable detent position. Interaction board (10) as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that the expansion module (14) can be attached to either end of the keyboard module (12). A modularly expandable desktop interaction board (10) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further characterized in that the keyboard module (12) has an electrical bus with an external electrical connection interface (26), the expansion module (14) includes a bus extension with an external electrical connection interface (32), the keyboard electrical interface (26) and the expansion electrical interface (32) faces each other when the modules are mechanically attached and includes a double ended rigid electrical bus connector plug (40) interconnect the external electrical connection interfaces (26, 32) to form an integrated extended bus through the mechanically integrated expanded keyboard unit (10). Interaction board (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the expansion module (14), when attached to the keyboard module (12), provides an attachment interface equivalent to that of the interface to which it is attached for attachment thereto of a second expansion module. Interaction board (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that said expansion module (16) includes a telephone.

Inventors: KUBA LAWRENCE M, KUBA, LAWRENCE M.
Applicants: WANG LABORATORIES, WANG LABORATORIES INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G06F1
IPC codes: H05K5, H04M1, G06F3