The keyboard generator could reduce the size of batteries or make them last longer. The generator was invented by Adrian Crisan, who works at Compaq's Houston, Texas, headquarters. Every time a key is depressed, the magnets move through the coils, inducing a tiny current that is used to charge a capacitor. When the capacitor has a high enough charge, it recharges the battery .
Most keyboards have springs to return keys to their original positions after they're struck.
Crisan says that his generator should not significantly change their feel. Inventing such devices is just a sideline for Crisan. Although the three Compaq patents that bear his name are for improvements in hardware, he is actually a software engineer.