Patent Abstract:
A wireless keyboard comprises at least a keystroke each comprising a first resonating circuit for responsing a first wireless signal to provide a power source, a chip storing a key data, and a switch coupled between the first resonating circuit and the chip for conducting a connection between the first resonating circuit and the chip when receiving an external force, to transmit the power source provided by the first resonating circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key data as a second wireless signal via the first resonating circuit, and a reader coupled to a computer system for emitting the first wireless signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second wireless signal outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine commands inputted to the computer system.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a wireless keyboard and computer system, and more particularly, to a wireless keyboard and computer system having the flexibility of keystroke allocation to enhance convenience of usage. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In a computer system, a keyboard is one of the most essential input devices, and is composed of a plurality of keystrokes. Each of the keystrokes generates a key value or a key code when pressed, such that a keyboard controller of the computer system can determine input signals of a user. For example,  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a laptop  10  according to the prior art. The laptop  10  includes a keyboard  100 , which has a plurality of keystrokes related to different key codes. 
         [0005]    In the keyboard  100 , relative positions of the keystrokes are fixed, and a key value (or definition) of a keystroke is also fixed; therefore, a user cannot arbitrarily adjust the positions of the keystrokes, add more keystrokes, and needless to say, define the key value of each keystroke. In other words, the conventional keyboard is not allowed for the user to adjust the position or key value of each keystroke, and to add or remove keystrokes. 
         [0006]    Moreover, a conventional wired keyboard requires operating power supplied by a computer system, and if wirelessly transmitting the key values is requested, a wireless transmitting module and a power storage device, such as battery, are required to ensure normal operation. Under such a condition, if the battery runs out of electricity, the wireless keyboard suspends, affecting convenience of usage. 
         [0007]    As can be seen, the prior art keyboard lacks of flexibility of keystroke allocation and cannot meet a user&#39;s demand for adjusting the positions or key values of the keystrokes, and adding or removing keystrokes. In addition to the above drawbacks, the prior art wireless keyboard further requires a power storage device, which may be out of use due to battery power insufficiency, affecting convenience of usage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a wireless keyboard and a computer system. 
         [0009]    The present invention discloses a wireless keyboard for a computer system, which comprises at least a keystroke and a reader. Each of the at least a keystroke comprises a first resonating circuit for responsing a first wireless signal to generate an induced electromotive force and provide a power source, a chip for storing a key data, and a switch coupled between the first resonating circuit and the chip for conducting a connection between the first resonating circuit and the chip when receiving an external force, to transmit the power source provided by the first resonating circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key data as a second wireless signal via the first resonating circuit. The reader is coupled to the a computer system, and utilized for emitting the first wireless signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second wireless signal outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine commands inputted to the computer system. 
         [0010]    The present invention further discloses a computer system, comprises a host and a wireless keyboard. The wireless keyboard comprises at least a keystroke and a reader. Each of the at least a keystroke comprises a first resonating circuit for responsing a first wireless signal to generate an induced electromotive force and provide a power source, a chip for storing a key data, and a switch coupled between the first resonating circuit and the chip for conducting a connection between the first resonating circuit and the chip when receiving an external force, to transmit the power source provided by the first resonating circuit to the chip, such that the chip outputs the key data as a second wireless signal via the first resonating circuit. The reader is coupled to the a computer system, and utilized for emitting the first wireless signal to the each keystroke and responsing the second wireless signal outputted by the each keystroke, so as to determine commands inputted to the computer system. 
         [0011]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a laptop according to the prior art. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  are schematic diagrams of explosion, combination, and cutaway view of the keystroke shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    To improve the drawbacks of the prior art keyboard, the present invention utilizes a radio frequency identification (RFID) technique to realize a wireless keyboard, which is allowed to change positions or key values of keystrokes, or to add or remove keystrokes. Firstly, the RFID technique is a non-contact automatic recognition technique, and mainly composed of an electric tag, a reader and a related application system. The electric tag works as a transponder, and is composed of a chip including analog, digital and memory functionalities, and an antenna designed for various frequencies and application environments. The reader is mainly composed of an analog control unit, a digital control unit, a micro-processing unit and a set of reading antennas. The application system is a middleware, for retrieving or receiving internal digital information of the electric tag through a wired or a wireless method, and utilizing the information coordinated with various application requirements to perform further processes. The RFID system has the advantages of non-contact reading, data renewable, high data storage capacity, reusable, high data security, and small volume of the RFID chip, so that the present invention applies the RFID technique to a wireless keyboard, for improving the drawbacks of the prior art. 
         [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard  20  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless keyboard  20  is used in a computer system  200 , and includes a reader  202  and keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n. The reader  202  is coupled to the computer system  200 , and composed of a signal transceiving circuit  204  and a resonating circuit  206 . The signal transceiving circuit  204  emits wireless signals through the resonating circuit  206  to the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n, or inducts the wireless signals output from the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n, to determine the contents of commands inputted to the computer system  200 . The keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n are composed of the resonating circuits RNC_ 1 -RNC_n, chips CHIP_ 1 -CHIP_n and switches SW_ 1 -SW_n respectively. Operating principles of the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n are substantially the same. Therefore, for sake of clarity, the following description takes the keystroke PAD_ 1  as an example. The resonating circuit RNC_ 1  can induct wireless signals output from the resonating circuit  206 , so that the resonating circuit RNC_ 1  and the frequency resonating circuit  206  are coupled to each other via an alternating current (AC) magnetic field, and such coupling triggers the resonating circuit RNC_ 1  to generate an induced electromotive force, providing adequate power source for the chip CHIP_ 1  to work, and making the reader  202  and the keystroke PAD_ 1  capable of performing bi-directional communication. The chip CHIP_ 1  stores a key data or key value, and can read and output the key data when power is supplied for the chip CHIP_ 1 . The switch SW_ 1  is coupled between the resonating circuits RNC_ 1  and the chip CHIP_ 1 , and can conduct an electric connection between the resonating circuit RNC_ 1  and the chip CHIP_ 1  when the switch SW_ 1  is pressed by an external force, so as to conduct power source provided by the resonating circuit RNC_ 1  to the chip CHIP_ 1 , so that the chip CHIP_ 1  can output the stored key data as wireless signals through the resonating circuit RNC_ 1 , and send the wireless signals out to the reader  202 . 
         [0019]    In brief, the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n are similar to a variety of electric tags in an RFID system, while the difference is that the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n induct the wireless signals from the reader  202  only when the switches SW_ 1 -SW_n are pressed, and reply the stored key data in the chips CHIP_ 1 -CHIP_n accordingly. In other words, when a user presses a keystroke, the reader  202  will receive the key data or key value stored in the keystroke, and will not receive key data or key values stored in other keystrokes. 
         [0020]    In addition, in the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n, the key data stored in the chips CHIP_ 1 -CHIP_n can be preset in the system or defined by a user. If “defined by the user” is required, the chips CHIP_ 1 -CHIP_n can respectively include a key data updating unit or a corresponding firmware, for receiving control signals output from the user for updating the stored key data. However, the updating method is not limited to specific processes. For example, in an embodiment, the computer system  200  includes a key value configuration software, which can be executed by the user to send a key value configuration command through the signal transceiving circuit  204  to a specific keystroke, so that the key data updating unit of the specific keystroke can update the stored key value accordingly. Under such a condition, the user can arbitrary set the key value of each keystroke; for example, the user can store his/her name, phone number and address in various chips, and when the user needs to input some of these data, the user can quickly finish the inputting process; thus, efficiency is improved. 
         [0021]    Moreover, since the wireless keyboard  20  adopts the RFID technique, the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n are powered by the reader  202  using the method of AC magnetic field coupling. In other words, the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n are not required to include physical wires or connect to power supplies. Under such a condition, the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n can be designed as independent pieces respectively, namely mechanically independent elements, such that flexibility of keystroke allocation is greatly improved accordingly. 
         [0022]    For example, please refer to  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C , which are schematic diagrams of explosion, combination, and cutaway view of a keystroke PAD_x of the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n. As illustrated in  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C , a resonating circuit RNC_x of the keystroke PAD_x and a chip CHIP_x are disposed on a base plate BRD_x; a switch SW_x includes a flexible structure, and is covered by a key cap KH_x with a specific symbol painted to represent key data of the keystroke PAD_x. As a result, when a user presses the key cap KH_x, the switch SW_x is triggered to conduct the resonating circuit RNC_x and the chip CHIP_x. 
         [0023]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C , the keystroke PAD_x does not need to connect with the other keystrokes or the reader  202  in view of either the structure or the electric circuitry, and therefore, the keystroke PAD_x can be independently allocated. Certainly, for convenience of usage, fastening structures such as hooks or tenons, or binding structures such as backing adhesive or magnetic materials can be added, in order to fix the keystroke PAD_x to the other keystrokes or an object. For example, the four sides of the base plate BRD_x can include fastening structures that can hook other base plates, such that the base plate BRD_x and the base plates of the other keystrokes can be fixed together. Or, the button of the base plate BRD_x can coated with backing adhesive or magnetic materials, such that the base plate BRD_x can stick on a plane surface or a metal surface. As a result, a user can easily allocate the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n. 
         [0024]    On the other hand, the main concept of the present invention is to use the RFID technique, such that the wireless keyboard  20  can meet the user&#39;s demand for adjusting positions or key values of the keystrokes, and adding or removing keystrokes; meanwhile, the wireless keyboard  20  does not require power storage devices such as batteries, so as to enhance convenience of usage. Besides, those skilled in the art can make modifications accordingly. For example, because a inductive distance of a passive RFID technique is restricted, if the inductive distance is required to be extended, independent power sources can be further settled for the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n, and the passive RFID technique becomes a semi-passive or an active radio RFID technique, in order to extend the distance for use. Shapes of the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n are not restricted to squares, and can be long straps, circles, etc. Or, the keystrokes PAD_ 1 -PAD_n can be classified into various blocks according to the functionalities, e.g. number blocks or character blocks. 
         [0025]    Moreover, the computer system  200  represents all types of computer systems that can receive data inputted by a user, such as a laptop, a tablet, a smart phone or a PDA. According to various applications, a designer can properly adjust appearance or manufacturing of the wireless keyboard  20  according to system requirements. For example,  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard  40  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless keyboard  40  is derived from the wireless keyboard  20 , and basic structures of the wireless keyboard  40  and the wireless keyboard  20  are identical. The wireless keyboard  40  is used for a PC system; therefore, a reader  400  thereof connects with the host through physical wires, while keystrokes are allocated in an area  402  according to user&#39;s demand. 
         [0026]    Furthermore,  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a wireless keyboard  50  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless keyboard  50  is derived from the wireless keyboard  20 , and the basic structures of the wireless keyboard  50  and the wireless keyboard  20  are identical. The wireless keyboard  50  is used for a laptop system; therefore, a reader  500  thereof is disposed in a host (i.e., a chassis of the laptop system), and keystrokes are allocated in an area  502  on the chassis or an area  504  surrounding the area  502  according to user&#39;s demand. 
         [0027]    The prior art keyboard lacks of flexibility of keystroke allocation and cannot meet the user&#39;s demand for adjusting the positions or key values of the keystrokes, and adding or removing keystrokes. In addition to the above drawbacks, the prior art wireless keyboard requires a power storage device, which may be out of use due to battery power insufficiency, affecting convenience of usage. In comparison, the wireless keyboard of the present invention can meet the user&#39;s demand for adjusting keystroke allocation or key values, and adding or removing keystrokes; and meanwhile, the wireless keyboard of the present invention does not require a power storage device such as battery, which further enhance convenience of usage. 
         [0028]    In conclusion, the wireless keyboard of the present invention has the flexibility of keystroke allocation, to enhance convenience of usage. 
         [0029]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6