Abstract:
This invention proposes to use the typing force to generate electricity. Electromagnetic devices are placed under the keys of a keyboard. When a key is pressed, the electromagnetic devices are driven so that the magnets and the coils or the coils and cores have relative movement to generate the electricity. When the key is released, the force stored in the spring or between the magnets and the cores or both drives the key, the magnets, and the coils or the cores and coils back to their positions so that the magnets and the coils or the coils and cores have relative movement to generate the electricity. Any number of keys may share any number of electromagnetic devices. For the wireless keyboard, with the generation of the electrical currents when the typing keys are operated with pressing down or raising up movements, the batteries are no longer required and can be eliminated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to mechanical structures and electrical circuit configurations of keyboard devices. More particularly, this invention relates to mechanical structures and electrical circuit configurations of keyboard devices for applying the typing force to generate electricity when the keyboard user types the keys. 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view that shows a conceptual model of a key  10  of a conventional keyboard. The key  10  has a key spring  20  or the like under the key.  FIG. 2  shows the key  10  is pressed down and contact an electronic circuit board  120  to set or to send a signal to the controller or the CPU to indicate which key is pressed. Meanwhile, an amount of energy is stored in the key spring  20  that is pressed down as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the key  10  is released, the energy stored in the key spring  20  is released to push the key  10  back to its position. When the keyboard users, especially the game players, type the keys, the force they press the keys is usually more than what is required for typing by pushing down the key. The conventional keyboards have no mechanical structures and electrical circuits to effectively take advantage of the excessive force. 
         [0003]    Therefore, a need still exists in the art of designing and manufacturing the wireless keyboards to provide new and improved mechanical structures and electrical circuits configurations such that the limitations and inconveniences of requiring batteries to operate the wireless keyboards can be resolved. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide a new and improved keyboard to apply the typing force to generate electricity. Electromagnetic devices are placed under the keys of a keyboard. When a key is pressed, the electromagnetic devices are driven so that the magnets and the coils or the coils and cores have relative movement to generate the electricity. When the key is released, the force stored in the spring or between the magnets and the cores or both drives the key, the magnets, and the coils or the cores and coils back to their positions so that the magnets and the coils or the coils and cores have relative movement to generate the electricity. The number of keys may be flexibly adjusted to share adjustable number of electromagnetic devices. With the self generated electrical energy to transmit the keyboard signals from the wireless keyboard, the batteries can be eliminated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are cross sectional views of a key in a conventional keyboard to illustrate the operation of the key of the conventional keyboard when the key is operated in a released and then in a pressed-down condition respectively. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the conceptual model of an electromagnetic device composing of a magnet and a coil where the electricity is generated if the magnet and the coil have relative movement. The former shows that the coil is placed around the magnet and the latter shows that the magnet is placed around the coil. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the conceptual model of an electromagnetic device composing of a magnet and a core wound by a coil where the electricity is generated if the magnet and the core have relative movement. The former shows that the core and coil is placed around the magnet and the latter shows that the magnet is placed around the core and coil. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the key of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is combined with the coil-magnet device shown in  FIG. 3A  where the magnet is pressed in  FIG. 6  and is pushed back in  FIG. 5  to generate the electricity. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the key of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is combined with the coil-magnet device shown in  FIG. 3A  where the coil is pressed in  FIG. 8  and is pushed back in  FIG. 7  to generate the electricity. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show the key of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is combined with the electromagnetic device shown in  FIG. 4A  where the magnet is pressed in  FIG. 10  and is pushed back in  FIG. 9  to generate the electricity. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show the key of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is combined with the electromagnetic device shown in  FIG. 4A  where the coil and core is pressed in  FIG. 12  and is pushed back in  FIG. 11  to generate the electricity. 
           [0012]      FIG. 13˜16  show the side views of a model that by applying levers, many keys share one electromagnetic device to generate electricity. 
           [0013]      FIG. 17  shows the top view of a model that by implementing rotating rods, many keys share one electromagnetic device to generate electricity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 3A  shows a simple electromagnetic device that can generate electricity. The magnet  40  has magnetic flux  60 . The coil  30  is wound and is placed around the magnet  40 . When the coil  30  has relative movement with the magnet  40 , the coil  30  “cuts” the flux  60 . Then, the electrical current is generated in the coil  30 .  FIG. 3B  shows an equivalent device where the magnet  40  is placed around the coil  30 . Alternatively, as  FIG. 4A  shows, the magnetic core  70  is wound with the coil  30  and is placed around the magnet  40 . Most magnetic flux  60  of the magnet  40  is kept in the core  70 . If the core  70  and coil  30  has relative movement with the magnet  40 , the flux  60  in the core  70  will be changed. Then, the electrical current is generated in the coil  30 .  FIG. 4B  shows an equivalent device where the magnet  40  is placed around the coil  30  and core  70 . 
         [0015]    Therefore, linking the device shown in  FIG. 3A  or  3 B or in  FIG. 4A  or  4 B or the equivalent to the keys of the keyboard, the typing force pressed by the keyboard users can be used to move the magnet  40 , the coil  30 , or the coil  30  and core  70  to generate the electricity. 
         [0016]    The keyboards need electricity only when the users are typing. The electricity is generated when the users are typing. Therefore, the batteries can be eliminated for the wireless keyboards. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a simple model of this invention where  FIG. 5  depicts that the key  10  is not pressed and  FIG. 6  shows that the key  10  is pressed down. In this case, the magnet-coil device illustrated in  FIG. 3A  is implemented in the key. One end of the driving spring  130  and the coil  30  are fixed to the electronic circuit board  120 . When the key  10  is pressed, the magnet  40  is pressed to rotate with the rotating axis  50 , the driving spring  130  is pressed, and a signal is set or sent to the controller or to the CPU to indicate which key is pressed as  FIG. 6  shows. So, the coil  30  “cuts” the flux of the magnet  40  and the electricity is generated in the coil  30 . When the key  10  is released, the driving spring  130  pushes the magnet  40  and the key  10  back to their positions as  FIG. 5  shows. The coil  30  “cuts” the flux of the magnet  40 , again, and the electricity is generated in the coil  30 . The directions of the current generated in the pressing process and in the releasing process are reverse. The two ends of the wire of the coil  30  are connected to a rectifier  180  to convert the current to be DC to be fed to the power supply of the keyboard. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are cross sectional views for showing a key of a keyboard of this invention wherein the magnet  40  is fixed. When the key  10  is pressed, the coil  30  is pressed to rotate with the rotating axis  50 , the driving spring  130  is pressed, and the key extension  12  is pressed down to touch the electronic circuit board  120  to set or to send a signal to the controller or to the CPU to indicate which key is pressed as  FIG. 8  shows. The electricity is generated in the coil  30 . When the key  10  is released, the driving spring  130  pushes the coil  30  and the key  10  back to their original positions. The electricity is generated in the coil  30  in the reverse direction. The two ends of the wire of the coil  30  are connected to a rectifier  180  to convert the current to be DC to be fed to the power supply of the keyboard. 
         [0019]    In the above examples, the electrical currents are generated when there is a conductive coil moves across magnetic flux according to the operational principle of the magnet-coil device illustrated in  FIG. 3A . The electromagnetic device can be replaced with that illustrated in  FIG. 3B  to work equivalently. 
         [0020]    The magnet-coil device used in the above cases can be replaced with the magnet-coil device illustrated in  FIG. 4A  where the core  70  is wound with the coil  30 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  depict the dual model of the model shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  where the coil  30  and core  70  is fixed to the electronic circuit board  120 . When the key  10  is pressed, the magnet  40  is pressed to rotate with the rotating axis  50  as shown in  FIG. 10 . A signal indicating which key is pressed is set or sent to the controller or to the CPU. The flux  60  in the core  70  is changed. That generates electricity in the coil  30 . Since the magnet  40  and the core  70  form a magnet circuit, the magnet  40  and the core  70  attract each other. So, when the key  10  is released, the magnet  40  is attracted to return back to its original position and to push the key  10  back as  FIG. 9  shows. Since the flux  60  in the core  70  is changed, again, the electricity is generated in the reverse direction. Springs may be needed to push the magnet  40  back if the magnetic attraction force is too low. The two ends of the wire of the coil  30  are connected to a rectifier  180  to convert the current to be DC to be fed to the power supply of the keyboard. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 11 and 12  depict the dual of the model shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  where the magnet  40  is fixed to the electronic circuit board  120 . When the key  10  is pressed, the coil  30  and core  70  is pressed to rotate with the rotating axis  50  as shown in  FIG. 12 . A signal indicating which key is pressed is sent to the controller or to the CPU. The flux  60  in the core  70  is changed and the electricity is generated in the coil  30 . When the key  10  is released, the coil  30  and core  70  is attracted to return back to its original position and to push the key  10  back to the original position as  FIG. 11  shows. The flux  60  in the core  70  is changed and the electricity is generated in the reverse direction. Springs may be needed to push the coil  30  and the core  70  back if the magnetic attraction force is too low. The two ends of the wire of the coil  30  are connected to a rectifier  180  to convert the current to be DC to be fed to the power supply of the keyboard. 
         [0022]    In the above examples, the electrical currents are generated when there is a conductive coil moves across magnetic flux according to the operational principle of the electromagnetic device illustrated in  FIG. 4A . The electromagnetic device can be replaced with that illustrated in  FIG. 4B  to work equivalently. 
         [0023]    A configuration of utilizing one electromagnetic device for each key may increase the production cost of the keyboard thus causing the keyboard to be expensive.  FIGS. 13 to 16  illustrate a keyboard of this invention with mechanical structures implemented with levers where multiple keys share an electromagnetic device to generate electricity. Three keys are illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  for explanation. The keys  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C have key springs  20 A,  20 B, or  20 C, respectively, to keep the keys at the higher position when the keys are not pressed as shown  FIG. 13 . The levers  110 B and  110 C can rotate with the joint  90 A as the axis. The levers  110 B and  110 C are connected to the substrate  100  at the joints  90 E and  90 D, respectively, and are connected to the top plate  110 A at the joints  90 B and  90 C, respectively. The levers  110 B and  110 C can slide laterally a little bit at these four joints,  90 B,  90 E,  90 D and  90 C, respectively. Assume that the magnet-coil device illustrated in  FIG. 3A  is used and the magnet  40  is fixed. When the keys are not pressed, the driving spring  130  pushes the coil  30 , the top plate  110 A, and the joint  90 A to the up most positions and the four joints  90 B,  90 E,  90 D and  90 C, of the levers  110 B and  110 C slide to the inner most positions as shown in  FIG. 13 . When the left key  10 A is pressed as  FIG. 14  shows, the key spring  20 A is pressed, the key extension  12 A touches the electronic circuit board  120  to set or to send a signal to the controller or to the CPU to indicate which key is pressed and the left end of the top plate  110 A is pressed. The levers  110 B and  110 C are pressed down and rotate with the joint  90 A as the axis. So, the two ends of the lever  110 B slides to the opposite directions at the joints  90 B and  90 E and the two ends of the lever  110 C slides to the opposite directions at the joints  90 C and  90 D. Hence, the whole top plate  110 A is pressed down and its presser  150  presses the coil  30  down. The coil  30  rotates with the rotating axis  50  and presses and squeezes the driving spring  130 . Since the magnet  40  is fixed, the coil  30  and the magnet  40  have relative movement. The electricity is generated in the coil  30 . When the left key  10 A is released, the driving spring  130  pushes the coil  30 , the top plate  110 A, the levers  110 B and  110 C, and the key  10 A back to their positions as shown in  FIG. 13 . Electricity is generated in the coil  30 , again, but, with opposite direction.  FIGS. 15 and 16  show that, when the middle key  10 B and the right key  10 C are pressed, respectively, the key extensions  12 B and  12 C, respectively, touches the electronic circuit board  120  to set or to send a signal to the controller or to the CPU to indicate which key is pressed. Meanwhile, the top plate  110 A, the levers  110 B and  110 C, the coil  30 , and the driving spring  130  are pressed down the same way as when the key  10 A is pressed. So, the electricity is generated in the coil  30 . When the keys  10 B and  10 C are released, respectively, the driving spring  130  pushes the coil  30 , the top plate  110 A, the levers  110 B and  110 C, and the keys  10 B and  10 C back to their positions, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Electricity is generated in the coil  30 , again, but, with opposite direction. The two ends of the wire of the coil  30  are connected to a rectifier  180  to convert the current to be DC to be fed to the power supply of the keyboard. Equivalently, the case that the coil  30  is fixed and the magnet  40  is pressed and released works the same way. 
         [0024]    In the above example, the electrical currents are generated when there is a conductive coil moves across magnetic flux according to the operational principle of the magnet-coil device illustrated in  FIG. 3A . The electromagnetic device can be replaced with that illustrated in  FIG. 3B ,  4 A, or  4 B. Either the magnet  40  or the coil  30  or the coil  30  and core  70  may be structured as a fixed component and the other component of the electromagnetic device is pressed and released. These electromagnetic devices are implemented to generated electric currents according to the same principle. 
         [0025]    There are many different designs. For examples, the electronic circuit board  120  may be built on the top plate  110 A and there may be any number of driving springs  130 . Another example is that a number of keys share few electromagnetic devices. This is good when one electromagnetic device is too big for thin or compact keyboards. The big one is replaced by few smaller ones to fit in the thin or compact keyboard. 
         [0026]    There are also many different constructions and forms of the levers. All kinds of mechanical devices that can transfer the typing force to the electromagnetic devices will work.  FIG. 17  illustrates another example that, using rotating rods, multiple keys share an electromagnetic device to generate electricity. In  FIG. 17 , the keys and the electronic circuit board are not shown to keep the drawing neat. The keys and the electronic circuit board are similar with that shown in  FIGS. 13˜16 . In this example, 30 keys are arranged into three rows and each row is divided into two wind rods. The wing rods  200 A,  200 B, . . .  200 F are fixed and can rotate with their axis as the rotating axis. Each wing rod  200 X has pressing pins  210 X 1 ,  210 X 2 , . . .  210 X 5  where X represents which wing rod. Each key is associated with one pressing pin  210 XY, where Y represents which pressing pin of the wing rod  200 X. When a key is pressed, a signal indicating which key is pressed is set or is sent out and the associated pressing pin  210 XY is pressed. Hence, the wing rod  200 X rotates. In  FIG. 17 , the electromagnetic device illustrated in  FIG. 4A  is assumed. Either the magnet  40  is fixed to the substrate or the case and the coil  30  and core  70  is fixed to the rotating axis  50  or the coil  30  and core  70  is fixed to the substrate or the case and the magnet  40  is fixed to the rotating axis  50 . The rotating axis  50  can rotate and has a rotating pin  52 X for each wing rod  200 X where X represents which wind rod. So, when a key is pressed, the associated pressing pin  210 XY is pressed and the wing rod  200 X rotates. Then, either the pressing pin  210 X 0  where X is A, C, or E or the pressing pin  210 X 1  where X is B, D, or F presses the rotating pin  52 X. Hence, the rotating axis  50  rotates and the magnet  40  and the core  70  have relative movement. Consequently, the electricity is generated in the coil  30 . When the key is released, the magnetic force between the magnet  40  and the core  70  will pull the device fixed to the rotating axis  50  to rotate back to its original position. That not only generates electricity but also rotates the rotating axis  50 . So, the rotating pin  52 X pushes the associated pressing pin  210 X 0  where X is A, C, or E or  210 X 1  where X is B, D, or F to rotate the associated wing rod  200 X. Consequently, the associated pressing pin  210 XY pushes the key back to its position. The two ends of the wire of the coil  30  are connected to a rectifier  180  to convert the current to be DC to be fed to the power supply of the keyboard. Springs may be implemented to push the key and the magnet  40  or the coil  30  and core  70  back to their positions and to generate electricity if the magnetic attraction force is too low. 
         [0027]    The electromagnetic device in this example can be replaced by the magnet-coil device illustrated in  FIG. 3A ,  3 B, or  4 B. Also, either the magnet  40  is fixed to the substrate or the case and the coil  30  or the coil  30  and core  70  is fixed to the rotating axis  50  or the coil  30  or the coil  30  and core  70  is fixed to the substrate or the case and the magnet  40  is fixed to the rotating axis  50 . They work equivalently. 
         [0028]    The above embodiments are implemented with one mechanical device and one electromagnetic device. However, a keyboard may comprise multiple mechanical devices or multiple electromagnetic devices or both. Each mechanical device may be associated with any number of keys and any number of electromagnetic devices. So that each electromagnetic device or each mechanical device or both are smaller. The configuration has advantages for thin or compact keyboards that have small space for the electromagnetic devices and the mechanical devices. They function the same way as that explained for the above embodiments. 
         [0029]    The electricity generated when the user is typing is rectified and is fed to be the power supply of the keyboard. The keyboard does not need power when the keyboard user does not type. The keyboard needs power only when the user is typing. In the other words, the keyboard needs power only when the electricity is being generated. Therefore, this invention provides new and improved configurations and device structures for the wireless keyboard because the batteries can be eliminated. 
         [0030]    Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alternations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alternations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.