Patent Publication Number: US-2005140654-A1

Title: Window keyboard

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/917,690, filed on 31 Jul. 2001, and entitled WINDOW KEYBOARD. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a Window keyboard, especially to a Window keyboard used in Window system for facilitate document-editing task. The user does not require memorizing and press serial combination keys or heavy use mouse by serial click.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      The computer hardware and software have rapid progress as the processing speed of computer is growing faster. However, the document-editing tool has insufficient development as compared with the progress of computer hardware and software.  
      In general, the document-editing task by computer is achieved by typing with keyboard and with the help of mouse by serial click. The typing and editing of document require frequent operation of the keyboard and mouse. It is easy for the typewriter to have industrial disease.  
      The ergonomic keyboards have been developed to overcome these problems. However, the prior art ergonomic keyboards still require heavy use the mouse by serial click. Moreover, some keyboard manufactures have developed multimedia keyboard (said as traditional hot key keyboard), wherein a plurality of hot keys (for example: CD, Video, Play, Fast Forward, Fast Rewind, Volume+, Volume−, Mute, WWW, Email . . . etc.) are incorporated on the standard keyboard and specific complex driver is also developed for operating this keyboard in Windows environments. When user presses a specific hot key, Keyboard will send standard Windows pre-define extend scan to system, the complex driver will inform Windows operation system and a specific function is executed. However, the multimedia keyboard (traditional hot key keyboard) requires the help of mouse at most time and still has following problems:  
      1. The number of hot keys is limited by keyboard free area or space and twenty hot keys are nearly a maximum.  
      2. A complex driver or complex software program is required, which occupies system resource and reduce operation speed. The installation of software and compatibility of software are also problems.  
      3. All the hot key functions pre-define by Microsoft almost and require generated standard extend scan code to Windows OS for direct launch target applications. But it without capability to control application internal functions, such as the popular Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Power Point . . . , etc.) has provide tools, such as “Cut, Paste, copy, New, Open, Save, Reply, Send, Undo, Redo . . . , etc.” (Windows have not pre-define yet).  
      At present, the popular Microsoft Office software (release on 1997 year) has provided tools including word, excel, power point etc. Those programs enable user to finish document like personal and commercial letters, spread sheet and presentation data. However, in editing above documents, the user still needs to operate keyboard, heavy use mouse (by serial click) or use composite keys (said as combination keys, means require to memorize and press serial key at same time) frequently to perform certain editing operation. It is still inconvenient for user. For example, such as the  send  function, the user must memorize the composite key (said as combination keys) always— ALT+S   and by holding  ALT key  first then  S key  to launch  send  function. For different Windows language OS, the composite key require change to  ALT+Enter . It is not easy for everyone to remember too many composite keys (said as combination keys).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a Window keyboard, which integrates one of plurality functional blocks at least thereon. More particularly, one of an office block, a file &amp; clipboard block or an application setting block are arranged on a keyboard, and those blocks are connected to the I/O lines of a single-chip microprocessor. Therefore, the user can directly access those functional blocks without requiring complex driving program and the user does not need to remember composite keys (said as combination keys) or heavy use mouse by serial click.  
      In one aspect of the invention, a functional block can be integrated on a keyboard, whereby the user needs only one stroke to perform specific functions rather than pressing a plurality of composite keys (said as combination keys) or using mouse (by serial click). The effort of keying operation, moving hand between keyboard and mouse can be minimized.  
      In another aspect of the invention, a functional block is provided with specific code table (said as pseudo composite keys or combination keys table), which does not require any support of complex software driver or application program. Therefore, the windows keyboard has not the problem of software compatibility. This is different to conventional (traditional) hot key, which should be requires support of driver program always.  
      In still another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a code-conversion application software, which generate a pseudo composite-key (combination-key) code by a pseudo composite key (said as combination keys) table (See,  FIG. 7 ). Therefore, the code-conversion application software program for Windows keyboard does not need to update or revise. The (traditional) hot key compare with the simple code-conversion application software is different. See below:  
      The driver program for conventional hot key (traditional hot key keyboard) executes following operations. The keyboard generates E0 XX or usage code when the hot key is pressed. An associated program is invoked by using the “WinExec O” that provided by Window API and the path and filename of the program are also used as argument of the function. However, the detailed commands (application internal function) of the program cannot be exploited and the approach wastes considerable system resource.  
      The present invention provides a code-conversion application software hooking arbitrary usage code that generated by the keyboard and setting an internal flag of Window OS. The code-conversion application software received arbitrary usage code that generated by the keyboard and transfer to the pseudo composite-key (combination-key) code (See  FIG. 7 ). The code-conversion application software will send the pseudo composite-key (combination-key) code information to the Window OS for operating or invoking specific programs or application internal functions. The Window compatible programs, such as Window OS self, Office, Works, Corel draw, Photo Impact etc., can be operated or invoked in this way. Therefore, the waste of system resource can be reduced.  
      The pseudo composite key (combination key) table (See,  FIG. 7 ) for code-conversion application software of the present invention that let support independent of keyboards for various countries become easy. For example, the redo and undo operation can be executed by typing CTRL+Z (hold on CTRL key and press Z key) and CTRL+Y (hold on CTRL key and press Y key), respectively. However, the alphabet arrangements on keyboard are different for different countries. In Germany keyboard, the positions of “Z key” and “Y key” are opposite to those of English keyboard. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , different functions will be executed for these two types of keyboards while pressing the same combination keys. So, the “Z key” and “Y key” are said  moving keys . Therefore, the composite keys cannot be arbitrarily assigned (not easy to memorized).  
      The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows the top view of a Germany keyboard;  
       FIG. 2  shows the top view of an English keyboard;  
       FIG. 3  shows the top view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  shows the block diagram of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  shows the detailed circuit diagram of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  shows the flowchart of operation of the single-chip microprocessor of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  shows the table for pseudo composite key (combination key) of the present invention; and press one key to imitate multi-keys (combination key) pressed;  
       FIG. 8  shows the top view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 9  shows the function description of the function key of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      As shown in FIGS.  3  to  5 , the present invention provides a demo Window keyboard comprises a keyboard body  1 , a File &amp; Clipboard block  2 , an Office block  3  (See,  FIG. 3 ) and an Application-setting block  4  (See,  FIG. 4 ).  
      The keyboard body  1  contains a single-chip microprocessor  11  therein. The File &amp; Clipboard block  2  can be arranged at a position near the arrow key on the keyboard (See,  FIG. 3 ), below the space bar or other margin place on the keyboard body  1  and electrically connected to the single-chip microprocessor  11 . The File &amp; Clipboard block  2  has function keys such as cut, paste, copy or mark. The mark key is used to mark a document segment to be edited. The cut key is used to cut the marked document segment. Then up arrow, down arrow, left arrow and right arrow on the keyboard are used to move cursor to a specific region on the screen. Afterward, the user can use the paste key or the copy key to paste or copy the selected document segment to the position of cursor. Moreover, the user can also use the mark key to mark a file for copying and moving the file.  
      When user presses any function key in the File &amp; Clipboard block  2 , the single-chip microprocessor  11  detects the keystroke of the key of the File &amp; Clipboard block  2  and generates a pseudo composite-key (combination-key) code.  FIG. 7  shows the relationship between the function keys in the File &amp; Clipboard block  2  corresponding to the pseudo composite keys (combination keys). As can be seen from the figure, the pseudo composite keys (combination keys) corresponding to the cut key is ALT+E, T, CTRL+X or SHIFT+DEL, the composite keys (combination keys) corresponding to the paste key is CTRL+V (holding CTRL pressed and pressing V, then releasing both keys simultaneously), SHIFT+INSERT or ALT+E, P (holding ALT pressed and pressing E, then releasing both keys simultaneously, and then pressing P; therefore, “+” indicating pressing simultaneously and “,” indicating releasing and then pressing), the pseudo composite keys (combination keys) corresponding to the copy key is ALT+E, C, CTRL+C or CTRL+INSERT and the pseudo composite keys (combination keys) corresponding to the mark key is SHIFT key holding function (imitate holding Shift key).  
      Moreover, a screen-scrolling bar  21  (See,  FIG. 3 ) is placed (or rolled) at the center of the up arrow, down arrow, left arrow and right arrow on the keyboard. The screen-scrolling bar  21  is used to scroll the screen in vertical or horizontal direction. When the screen-scrolling bar  21  is rolled, a key code is sent by the Window keyboard and the key code is interpreted by the single-chip microprocessor  11  to generate a corresponding pseudo target key code with the help of a code-conversion application software. This approach is different to the conventional keyboard wherein a scroll bar on the keyboard is operated to send code for control the Windows Application software Scroll Bar (imitate some of mouse function).  
      The different computer may have different processing speeds; therefore, the microprocessor  11  may generate the pseudo composite-key (combination-key) code with speed different to the generating speed of ordinary key (because the function key mimic the operation of releasing keys and then pressing key in conventional composite-key (combination key). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the separation between the issuing of pseudo composite-key (combination-key) code corresponding to the function keys is at larger than 3 ms. Otherwise, few computers may have malfunction.  
      The Office block  3  is arranged on the special function keys F1-F12 on keyboard and is switched by an extra adding switch key  31 . The extra adding switch key  31  is used to switch the function of the standard keyboard function keys F1-F12 between ordinary function and augmentation function of the Office block  3 . The augmentation function including redo, undo, open, new, bold, save, take pane, forward, reply, send, bullets and number, replace, print, spell check . . . etc. In other word, the microprocessor  11  has two different key code tables  One for standard code, another for generating a pseudo composite-key (combination key) code  to switch the function of the function keys F1-F12 between ordinary function and augmentation function. The function of the function keys F1-F12 can be expanded while no new keys are necessary, the function keys F1-F12 should be with dual functions. It can meet space saving requirement. However, if still have free space, the augmentation functions (including redo, undo, open, new, bold, save, find, forward and send etc) can put as a single along key, it same as the single along cut, paste, copy, mark key.  
      When the extra adding switch key  31  is pressed, the function keys F1-F12 have augmentation function as shown in  FIG. 7 . As can be seen from the table, the composite-key (combination-key) code for redo is ALT+E, R, ALT+ENTER, ALT+SHIFT+BACKSPACE or CTRL+Y; the composite-key (combination-key) code for undo is ALT+E, U, ALT+BACKSPACE or CTRL+Z; the composite-key (combination-key) code for open is ALT+F, O, CTRL+O, CTRL+F12 or ALT+CTRL+F2; the composite-key (combination-key) code for new is CTRL+N or ALT+E, N; the composite-key (combination-key) code for change to bold form or normal form is CTRL+B or CTRL+SHIFT+B; the composite-key (combination-key) code for save is CTRL+S, ALT+F, S, SHIFT+F12, or ALT+S HIFT+F2; the composite-key code (combination-key) for take pane is ALT+E, K, the composite-key (combination-key) code for forward is CTRL+F; the composite-key (combination-key) code for send is ALT+S or CTRL+ENTER; the composite-key code (combination-key) for reply is CTRL+R; the composite-key (combination-key) code for bullets and number is ALT+O, N; the composite-key (combination-key) code for replace is ALT+E, E, CTRL+F; the composite-key (combination-key) code for print is ALT+F, P or CTRL+P. If the extra adding switch key  31  is pressed again, the function keys F1-F12 are switched back to ordinary functions. The state of the extra adding switch key  31  can be manifested by an extra adding light-emitting element  8 , as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
      Alternatively, a key on the keyboard can be used as the extra adding switch key and the key code of the key is sent to the code-conversion application software to enable or disable the augmentation function of the function keys F1-F12. It is the other solution for dual functions also.  
      The File &amp; Clipboard block  2  and Office block  3  uses standard key code of the pseudo composite key (combination-key) table for sending pseudo combination key code information to Window system; No software compatibility problem is occurred.  
      The Application-setting block  4  (See,  FIG. 4 ) is arranged at right side of the keyboard body  1  or at arbitrary location on the keyboard body  1 . The Application-setting block  4  is electrically connected to the single-chip microprocessor  11  and comprises function key such as shortcut key  41  and application key  42  (See,  FIG. 3 ). The default setting of the shortcut key  41  is Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, calculator and the shortcut key  41  is used to provide shortcut function in Window system for user. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the code corresponding to the short-cut key  41  is CRTL+ALT+specific non-shift (non-moving) key.  
      When user presses the shortcut key  41 , he can execute any programs without support of any driver program. For example, the user can open the properties of a program on the desktop. In the short-cut section, the user presses the shortcut key  41  and select confirm to associate the program with the shortcut key  41 . Afterward, the user can directly press the shortcut key  41  to launch the program. The shortcut key  41  can also be provided at the number pad of the keyboard body  1 .  
      The Application-setting block  4  uses standard key code of the composite key (combination-key) table for sending pseudo combination key code to Window system; No software compatibility problem is occurred.  
      The application key  42  comprises an application switch key, a close application key, and a log off key. The application switch key is used to toggle the opened application program to the active window of the screen. The user can press the close application key to close the application program on the active window of the screen. The close application key is used to log off current user. The composite-key (combination-key) code for application switch key is ALT+SHIFT+TAB or ALT+TAB; the composite-key (combination-key) code for close application key is ALT+F4 or CTRL+W; the composite-key (combination-key) code for log off key is WIN, L.  
       FIG. 6  shows the flowchart of the microprocessor  11  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
      After step  60  of powering on computer, the microprocessor  11  is first in reset state (step  61 ) and then begins security test (step  62 ). Afterward, if a command is sent to the microprocessor  11  in step  63 , the microprocessor  11  executes the command in step  631  and in step  632  the microprocessor  11  judges whether the scan counter time is ended. If the scan counter time is not ended, the microprocessor  11  judges whether the flag time is ended in step  64 . If the flag time is ended, the key code is sent in step  65 , else the procedure is back to step  63 .  
      If the scan counter time is ended, the microprocessor  11  scans each key in step  66  and judges whether a function key is pressed in step  67 .  
      If no function key is pressed, the procedure is back to step  63 , else the microprocessor  11  judges whether any function in the function blocks of the invention is pressed in step  68 .  
      If no function key pressed, the flag corresponding to this state is stored in buffer in step  682  and then the procedure is back to step  63 . If certain function key is pressed, the flag corresponding to this state is set and stored in buffer in step  682 .  
      To sum up, the Window keyboard of the present invention has following advantages:  
      (1) The user can directly use those functional key blocks to edit document without invoking (memorize) conventional composite key (combination-key) or heavy use mouse.  
      (2) Those functional key blocks can be operated stand-alone and don&#39;t need the support of complex keyboard driver. Therefore, the modular key set does not have the problem of software compatibility. If used the code conversion of the composite-key (combination key) code solution, it just share the minimum system resource only.  
      (3) The user can use short-cut key to start any function associated with the short-cut key. It is very convenient.  
      (4) The area of the keyboard does not require enlargement. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,  36  function keys are augmented on the keyboard while the area of the keyboard is not increased.  
      (5) The function keys provided by the invention are more practical than the conventional hot keys.  FIG. 9  lists the function description of the function keys of the present invention. The user can directly use those functional key blocks, just press one button for launch application internal functions (for example: new, open, save, cut, paste, copy, mark, undo, redo, F&#39;ward, send, find, bold, Bullets . . . etc). Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , other function key can be assigned to the composite key including pressing and releasing of SHIFT, CTRL, ALT plus standard key. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.