Abstract:
A keyboard includes a plurality of keys mechanically and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, the plurality of keys are arranged in a keyboard defining air gaps around the plurality of keys. The keyboard also includes a keyboard housing for containing the printed circuit board, the keyboard housing further including an opening on at least a portion of a top surface thereof for usably exposing the plurality of keys therethrough. The keyboard also includes a heating element located within the keyboard housing, the heating element and the printed circuit board deriving power from a keyboard port of a computer when the keyboard is coupled to the computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typical computer users generally access and interact with the computer for an appreciable amount of time during a particular session. Furthermore, interaction with a computer device via a keyboard generally requires repetitive motions and sustained articulation, and, oftentimes, at a significant sustained rate of movement. Because of the continued exposed nature of such extremities, it is common for a user&#39;s fingers and hands to become uncomfortably cold and stiff. Such stiffness and discomfort may become so overwhelming as to impair or otherwise affect a user&#39;s efficiency. 
     Furthermore, the types of materials generally utilized in a computer keyboard composition lends itself to mirror the ambient environment as opposed to absorbing and retaining heat from interaction with the user&#39;s fingers. In addition to the discomfort associated with the ambient temperature-assimilating keyboards of the prior art, there are many clinically recognized maladies which may be exacerbated by exposure to cold devices and interfaces. One well-known illness, carpal tunnel syndrome, is an illness which can affect computer users. The pain associated with such a syndrome is further aggravated, not only by the repetitive motion, but also by the cooler temperatures. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a therapeutic relief solution to computer users as well as others who engage in repetitive manual operations, such as the operation of a keyboard. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a warmed environment for a user&#39;s hands without interfering with the manual interaction between a user and a keyboard. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A computer input peripheral, such as a keyboard, that provides a physical interface for touching by a user is described herein. The keyboard provides a heated interface for touching by the user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a keyboard as utilized by a user, in accordance with the heated aspect of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the heated keyboard, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a heated keyboard, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heated keyboard, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a pictorial end view of a standard computer keyboard connector showing its pinout configuration and signal assignments, in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is an interconnection diagram of the heated keyboard, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one application of the present invention as applied to improving the ergonomics and usability of a ubiquitous device, namely a computer keyboard. In FIG. 1, a user  10  is illustrated as interfacing with a computer input device, namely a keyboard. The keyboard of FIG. 1, illustrated as keyboard  12 , incorporates an internal heating element illustrated in the cutaway as heating element  14 . As illustrated, when activated, heating element  14  causes heat to radiate, illustrated as radiating heat  16 , through or about at least a portion of keys  18  of keyboard  12 . 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a keyboard  12  which may take various forms other than the one illustrated in FIG. 2; however, such additional embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates keyboard  12  being comprised of a plurality of keys  18  which are coupled in an operatively understood manner to a printed circuit board  20  which, when cooperatively and operatively coupled with keys  18 , performs a typical keyboard function, namely the detection of the articulation of one or more keys  18  and the decoding of the identity of a specific articulated key performed by circuitry resident on or about printed circuit board  20 , which is generally performed by circuitry such as a keyboard controller (not shown) as well as other mechanical componentry for maintaining the tactile nature and electrical fidelity of a typical keyboard device. Heated keyboard  12  further includes a heating element  14  which is illustrated in the present embodiment as being located below both the printed circuit board  20  and the keys  18  so as to maintain the generally operative orientation for accommodating the generally upwardly radiating direction of the heat generated by heating element  14 . 
     In order to facilitate a more evenly and desirable distribution of heat as radiated by heating element  14 , heating element  14  is depicted as assuming a repeatedly traversing configuration across a significant portion of a plane parallel to the general plane of keys  18 . In order to further enhance the propagation of heat from radiating element  14  in a more uniform fashion through keys  18 , printed circuit board  20  may further include apertures or vents, illustrated in FIG. 2 as apertures  22 . While apertures  22  are illustrated, it should be pointed out that such venting is optional as heat can transfer through and around printed circuit board  20  and still radiate through keys  18 . 
     While heating element  14  may maintain a stand-alone arrangement as a rigid heating element, FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative configuration wherein heating element  14  is backed or otherwise supported by a heating element substrate  24 . It should be appreciated that such a substrate may further facilitate manufacturability and provide a wider range of heating element compositions that find application in the present invention. Keyboard  12  is further illustrated as including a housing  26  for both practically enclosing the other elements of keyboard  12  as well as providing ducting and directionality for heat propagating from heating element  14 . Various configurations of housing  26  are contemplated including clam-shell arrangements as well as other multifaceted and multipiece embodiments. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the heated keyboard, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 details the relationship of keys  18  with respect to printed circuit board  20 . Such an arrangement and configuration is appreciated by those of skill in the art and details associated with the mechanical resiliency as well as the electrical continuity associated with the articulation of keys  18  has not been illustrated so as to focus the illustrations on the aspects of the present invention. FIG. 3 further details heating element  14 , illustrated as being backed or supported by a substrate  24 , being activated and receiving electrical energy from a power source  28 . Once activated, heating element  14  radiates heat, illustrated as heat  16 . 
     As introduced above, one embodiment of the present invention contemplates channeling or otherwise facilitating the transfer of heat from the heating element through keys  18  by way of vents or apertures, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 3 as aperture  22 . It should be appreciated that while FIG. 3 illustrates apertures or vents between each key  18 , selective venting so as to further maintain the integrity of printed circuit board  20  is also contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. It should be further appreciated that the utilization of apertures or vents is optional and is not essential to the practice of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 further illustrates a heating element  14  that maintains a somewhat continuous parallel arrangement with keys  18 , thereby accommodating a more vertical radiation of heat  16 . It should be appreciated that the various radiating patterns are a function of the arrangement and topology of the heating element as well as the ducting of the housing. Therefore, various configurations, designs, implementations and topographies of heating elements are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, while the heating elements as illustrated herein are depicted as a single continuous heating element having an electrically series-oriented configuration with respect to power source  28 , electrically parallel configurations are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, heating element  14  may be implemented as a series of electrically parallel coupled heating elements and may further be oriented in alternative configurations with respect to keys  18 . One example of an alternate implementation would include a plurality of heating elements that may be individually located in proximity to the apertures of printed circuit board  20  or may alternatively be located on the side opposite of that illustrated in FIG. 3 of the printed circuit board. In such an arrangement, the printed circuit board would not necessarily utilize apertures as the heating element could radiate directly between keys  18 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a heated keyboard, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the heating element  14  assumes a peripheral arrangement about at least a portion of keys  18 . In such a peripherally heated configuration, the ducting or routing of heat becomes of more interest so as to provide a more uniform distribution of the heat throughout keys  18 . In FIG. 3, the radiation or transfer of heat assumes a horizontal component in the radiating pattern and is illustrated as being further maintained and controlled by housing  26 . It should be appreciated that such a less uniform arrangement of the heating element may result in “hot spots” and “cold spots” throughout keyboard  12 ′. 
     FIG. 5 shows a pinout configuration and signal assignment of a standard computer keyboard connector  30 , also known as a keyboard port by those of skill in the art. It is appreciated that a keyboard  12  generally communicates with a computer via a serial ASCII data signal impressed on a half-duplex, bidirectional data line or data signal  32 . The data signal is synchronously transferred from its source to its destination by a clock signal impressed on a clock line or clock signal  34 . The clock signal is generated by keyboard  12  and, more specifically, by a keyboard controller for data transfers between keyboard  12  and a computer. Keyboard port  30  further includes a power signal  36  and a respective ground signal  38  which provides power to a peripheral device, such as keyboard  12 . In the case of a typical computer environment, such as an IBM-compatible computer, power signal  36 , with reference to ground signal  38 , exhibits a +5 volt potential for use by keyboard  12 . Power signal  36  is utilized by the present invention for the powering of heating element  14  via a connection illustrated as power source  28  in FIGS. 3 and 4. For completeness, the typical computer keyboard port  30  further includes a reset signal  40  for interaction between a keyboard and a host computer. 
     FIG. 6 is an interconnection diagram illustrating the electrical coupling of keyboard  12  with a computer  42 , forming a computer system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Keyboard  12  and computer  42  electrically and physically couple via keyboard port  30  and an attachment cable such as a keyboard cord  44  to form a computer system  56 . Keyboard cord  44  provides the electrical signals described previously with reference to FIG. 5 for use by keyboard  12  in the performance of keyboarding functionality as well as for providing the power necessary for the activation of the heating aspects of the embodiment of FIG.  6 . In FIG. 6, keyboard  12  includes the keyboarding functionality as appreciated by those of skill in the art implemented through the use of keys  18  and printed circuit board  20  having a keyboard controller  46  thereon for the performance of detection, identification, and encoding of the respective key articulation. 
     The heating aspects of keyboard  12  are implemented by coupling heating element  14  with the power source, as exhibited by the voltage potential between power signal  36  and ground signal  38  as received from the keyboard port  30  of computer  42 . The intensity of the heat provided by heating element  14  may be controlled through the selection of specific heating elements with respective resistances compatible with the arrangement and configuration of the heating element within the keyboard housing, as well as the relationship of the heating elements to the printed circuit board  20  and keys  18 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the activation of heating element  14  may be performed by a user through the activation of a switch  48 , which in one embodiment is operative as an on and off switch. The present invention also contemplates other switching applications such as the integration of a rheostat as a part of switch  48  for the selection of various degrees of activation for heating element  14 . The switch and rheostat combination  48  may be further implemented in a stepwise manner (i.e., having high, medium, and low settings), or may be implemented as a continuous control switch for further gradations of heat intensity. 
     FIG. 6 further contemplates an additional switching mode wherein a control signal  50  is activated upon the detection of keyboard activity and is deactivated upon keyboard inactivity, thereby causing the deactivation of switch  48  upon the lack of key articulation of keyboard  12 . In such a configuration, keyboard  12  only becomes heated upon the utilization of the keyboard and remains deactivated or becomes deactivated when the keyboard is not in use, thereby conserving power resources and minimizing the degradation of components within keyboard  12  associated with extended heat exposure. A timer feature allowing the heating element to remain active for a fixed duration with each subsequent key activity resetting the timer is also contemplated. 
     FIG. 6 further contemplates the integration of a fan  52  for enhancing a more uniform thermal profile throughout keyboard  12 . Additional embodiments of the keyboard further include the integration of a power regulation device, illustrated as a DC—DC converter  54  capable of generating various voltage levels for utilization by heating element  14 . It is appreciated by those of skill in the art that heating element efficiency is affected by electrical parameters such as the availability of voltage potentials and current. Therefore, the integration of a DC to DC converter or, alternatively, a DC to AC converter, allows for the adjustment of the voltage and current as presented to heating element  14 . 
     It is appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. While one example of a heated keyboard implementation has been presented, modifications and functional substitutions for the keyboard and the various systems, circuits, devices and computer systems described herein are also contemplated. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosed embodiments, but, instead, the scope of the invention is determined by the following claims.