How do I use this Euro symbol/key on this US keyboard? - Hardware Hangout - Neowin Forums How do I use this Euro symbol/key on this US keyboard? March 25, 2011 Hey I have a US laptop and I recently changed the keyboard as one of the keys broke and I used the warrenty. This new keyboard is exactly the same (man it feels good to type on a brand new keyboard lol) but it has something change- Besides the number 5 is there the Euro symbol. It surprised me and the tech as this is the same part number as the US keyboard I had when I bought the laptop (and it did not have the euro symbol) We tried a few logic combinations but it would simply not print out. Does anyone have any ideas? Picture: Hmm. What did you already try? Ctrl, or Alt, or Fn + 5? Share this post March 25, 2011 unless it's built into the systems keyboard it won't be usable or maybe if you remap it to different locality or something but if it's just a replacement key it'll not be useable.

However just the blue buttons on your other keys on the system it came from it could possibly be activated via the Fn[function] key + 5 Share this post OS: OS X Yosemite / Windows 7 Phone: Sony Xperia Z2 What's printed on the button has little effect on how Windows handles it. Try to see what other US keyboard layouts are available in Windows and try some out! Share this post OS: Windows 8 x64, Ubuntu 12.04 Phone: iPhone 4S Use Right Alt + 5 to access the ? symbol. (at least that's how it works on all British keyboards that I've used) Share this post Use Right Alt + 5 to access the ? symbol. (at least that's how it works on all British keyboards that I've used) yeah right Alt (Alt GR)+ 5 or Alt Gr+ e Share this post Hmm. What did you already try? Ctrl, or Alt, or Fn + 5?

5=5 Left Ctrl+Left Alt+5=(nothing) Left Ctrl+Left Shift+5=(nothing) Left Shift+Left Alt+5=Windows' sound "Error Beep" Left Shift+Left Ctrl+Left Alt+5=(nothing) Fn+Left Shift+5=% Fn+Left Alt+5=Windows' sound "Error Beep" Fn+Left Ctrl+5=(nothing) Fn+Left Ctrl+Left Alt+Left Shift+5=(nothing) If I missed any left combination say so before I try it on the right :p Share this post Just (Alt + 8364) and be done with it :p 2 people like this March 25, 2011 unless it's built into the systems keyboard it won't be usable or maybe if you remap it to different locality or something but if it's just a replacement key it'll not be useable. However just the blue buttons on your other keys on the system it came from it could possibly be activated via the Fn[function] key + 5 Tried the Fn key and nothing. What's printed on the button has little effect on how Windows handles it.

Try to see what other US keyboard layouts are available in Windows and try some out! Its a possibility I also thought about Use Right Alt + 5 to access the ? symbol. (at least that's how it works on all British keyboards that I've used) yeah right Alt (Alt GR)+ 5 or Alt Gr+ e Right alt+5=Windows' sound "Error Beep" Share this post March 25, 2011 Just (Alt + 8364) and be done with it :p Yes, it is easier typing in that on a keyboard without a numeric pad which I would have to turn on the numeric lock and press the Fn key at the same time. :rolleyes: Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand. 103 Yes, it is easier typing in that on a keyboard without a numeric pad which I would have to turn on the numeric lock and press the Fn key at the same time. :rolleyes: You don't. Press the Fn (function) key, then the Alt key, then the numerical code. Also on the side note people here are trying to help you, so " :rolleyes: " isn't a way to go about getting help.

Share this post March 25, 2011 You don't. Press the Fn (function) key, then the Alt key, then the numerical code. Also on the side note people here are trying to help you, so " :rolleyes: " isn't a way to go about getting help. Alt + 8364 Thats 5 keys to type one letter. So his suggestion isnt disrespectful towards me? His attitude was offensive as I was trying to find a natural way to do it. Share this post Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand. 103 It's not an everyday used key so IMO pressing those 5 key couple of time shouldn't be any problem. Share this post On my UK Microsoft keyboard the Euro is in the same position, but on the 4 key. It can be typed by holding Ctrl + Alt while pressing the key. ? Use Right Alt + 5 to access the ? symbol. (at least that's how it works on all British keyboards that I've used) This works too.

March 25, 2011 I switched to "United States International" (and it works) but it seems like there is a small glitch (which bothers me): I press the " key (shift+') and there is a delay such as that I have to press another key on the keyboard to make it appear. From what I see, it only happens with that key. Fix? Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand. 103 March 25, 2011 I switched to "United States International" (and it works) but it seems like there is a small glitch (which bothers me): I press the " key (shift+') and there is a delay such as that I have to press another key on the keyboard to make it appear. From what I see, it only happens with that key. Fix? If you have to type that character a lot then why don't you copy that character and paste it as you need. Just a suggestion I don't know what you're trying to do with that particular character, since you didn't have that before and you were doing fine.

Share this post OS: Windows 10 Pro (Work) Windows 10 (Home) Phone: Lumia 930 March 25, 2011 I switched to "United States International" (and it works) but it seems like there is a small glitch (which bothers me): I press the " key (shift+') and there is a delay such as that I have to press another key on the keyboard to make it appear. From what I see, it only happens with that key. Fix? I was going to tell you that you needed to change the keyboard type to access that key. The pause that happens after the quotes key is that the keyboard is waiting to see if you type a vowel after it. If you do then it will put an umlaut over it. If not it will just show the quotes then the letter. There is no "fix" if you are using the US International keyboard because that's how it's supposed to work. You will see the same behavior with the ' key and ~ key. 2 people like this March 26, 2011 I was going to tell you that you needed to change the keyboard type to access that key.

The pause that happens after the quotes key is that the keyboard is waiting to see if you type a vowel after it. If you do then it will put an umlaut over it. If not it will just show the quotes then the letter. There is no "fix" if you are using the US International keyboard because that's how it's supposed to work. You will see the same behavior with the ' key and ~ key. Understood. Well I guess that Euro symbol will mean nothing to me. Thanks for the explaination. UK International Keyboard Layout UK International Keyboard Layout Feedback Overview One of the problems with US and UK versions of Windows is the assumption that just because our language doesn't use many accented characters, you'll never want to type them in (for example when writing down passages of foreign text, or place or people names.) Thus you pretty much get the character symbols displayed on your keyboard and nothing else.

(Under Windows 2000 at least, you can get acute accented vowels on the United Kingdom keyboard layout by typing AltGr+vowel, but that's it.) To enter most accented characters you can either start the Character Map application (Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Character Map), then copy and paste what you need, but that's a little long winded for regular entering of individual characters! You can also learn the character codes for the characters you need and use the Alt+NNN method (for example À can be entered by holding down Alt and typing 0192.) These are hard to remember though, and why should you have to anyway? You can even (temporarily) set your keyboard layout to German, French etc. which have these characters available directly, but since they won't be marked on the actual keys of your UK keyboard, and they're in odd places (and some of the normal characters move around too) this can be quite confusing. The UK International layout presented here adds easy to remember shortcuts for many international characters, and some other "special" characters too, which can be accessed on a standard UK QWERTY keyboard.

(The standard UK keyboard has the pound sign above 3 and double-quote above 2.) Download and Installation (Windows) The installer can be found here . This has only been tested on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 98 SE, however it should also work on Windows NT 4.0, Windows Server 2003, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME. As of version 1.0.0.5 it should hopefully now work properly for later systems (Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10) and for 64-bit systems. Download, run, and follow the instructions. (The previous separate versions for 9x and NT have been merged into a single custom installer due to the unreliability of the MSI packages generated by Microsoft's Keyboard Layout Creator tool.

The differences noted under Supported Characters still apply, but there is now just a single installer for both systems.) Once installed it must be selected for use by using Control Panel: Windows 10: Start Menu, Settings, Time & language (Speech, region, date) Select "Region & language" from the list on the left, then select "English (United Kingdom)" from the list of already installed Languages on the right. (Assuming it is already installed. Choose "Add a language" to add it if not.) Select Options. From there select "Add a keyboard" and choose "United Kingdom (International)" from the list. You should now be able to choose this keyboard by clicking on the language icon in the system tray (which probably looks like "ENG UK" if you have the default "United Kingdom keyboard" selected, and will change to just "ENG" once "United Kindgom (International) keyboard" is selected.) Windows NT 4.0: Regional Settings control panel, Input Locales tab. Windows 2000: Regional Options control panel, Input Locales tab. Windows 2003/XP: Regional and Language Options control panel, Languages tab, Details button.

Add a new Input language, with language as "English (United Kingdom)" and keyboard layout as "United Kingdom (International)". Windows 98 SE: Keyboard Control Panel, Language tab, Properties button with the language you want to change selected (usually "English (British)") to change the layout to "United Kingdom (International)". 95/98/ME: Probably much the same as for 98 SE. Since these systems do not fully support Unicode, the range of characters available is somewhat reduced compared to the NT version, however most of the useful ones are possible. Certainly, Western European (codepage 1252) languages should be fully supported. (For the curious and stout of heart, source code for the installer is available here .) Upgrading/Removing The first thing to do is to change keyboard layout back to plain United Kingdom and remove any reference to "United Kingdom (International)" in the Regional Settings Control Panel. If you have previously installed the MSI version for NT-style OSs, then through Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs page remove "United Kingdom (International)" and reboot.

Running a new version of the installer program will then give you the option of Uninstalling the old version, or Repairing it which should also upgrade to the latest version. (The MSI uninstall may leave the layout installed so you may still get a message saying it is already installed when you run the new installer. Repair should also work in this case.) When upgrading you may need to reboot after running the installer to make absolutely sure the old version has been unloaded, before the new version will work. To manually delete the layout, you can delete the file(s) KBUKINT.dll or KBUKINTn.dll in the Windows System32 directory for NT-style OSs, or the file(s) KBUKINT.KBD or KBUKINTn.KBD for 9x-style OSs (where n is a number), and delete the corresponding registry key. This should be done very carefully, but can be done by running the Registry Editor (Windows-Key+R, regedit.exe, Enter), drilling down the tree to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layouts" and locating the subkey under there which references KBUKINT.dll or KBUKINT.KBD.

This will be called something like 000n0809 where n is 1 or greater. Download and Installation (Linux) Due to the way keyboard layouts work under X, the installation procedure is somewhat more manual for the Linux version. The full layout requires a system component, which defines the base keyboard mappings, but dead keys must be defined per-user via their .XCompose file. These instructions are for Fedora/Gnome, but other distros are probably fairly similar. Download and unpack the tarball . This contains all the required layout definitions. Find the xkb root directory. This contains the "symbols" and "rules" subdirectories, and under Fedora 14 is /usr/share/X11/xkb/. If you can't find it there, running the command "locate evdev.xml" or "locate xorg.xml" (assuming you have locate installed, otherwise "find / -name evdev.xml -print") should identify the correct path. Become root. Copy symbols/kbukint from the tarball into the xkb symbols directory. Then apply the rules/*.patch from the tarball to the corresponding files in the xkb rules directory.

For dead keys to work under gtk you will need to install the XIM IM module: under F14 the package for this is called gtk2-immodule-xim. If you are running bi-arch and need dead keys to work under both 32-bit and 64-bit gtk programs, make sure you install both the i686 and x86_64 versions: "yum install gtk2-immodule-xim.x86_64 gtk2-immodule-xim.i686". You may also want gtk3-immodule-xim too. Return to your normal user account. From the tarball, copy home/dotXCompose to ~/.XCompose in your home directory. You need to make sure your shell environment sets GTK_IM_MODULE correctly to pick these up - usually by adding "export GTK_IM_MODULE=xim" to ~/.bashrc. Finally, from the Gnome menu, select System->Preferences->Keyboard->Layouts->Add... Now choose By language, set the Language drop-down to English, and choose "United Kingdom International" from the Variant drop-down. Add this layout, remove the old one, and you're mostly set.

The next time you log in with the Gnome login manager, after selecting your user account, change your keyboard layout selection at the bottom, before logging in. Supported Characters Any character available on the standard UK layout should still be available in exactly the same way. This includes such combinations as AltGr+4 for the Euro currency symbol. The only exception is AltGr+vowel which on some versions of Windows gives accented vowels. These have been moved as described below. Some additional characters are available through AltGr: AltGr+Key Patent WO2005067597A2 - Computer keyboard - Google Patents WO 2005067597 A2 Abstract A computer keyboard (101) that includes features which assista a child in learning how to type. The keys have different colors bas upn the function of the keys. The number keys (107) are physically separated from the letter keys (103, 105) by a gap (109) to prevent accidental contact with the number keys (107) while typing words. The keyboard (101) includes a mechanism which disabl the normal repeat function.

This mechanism prevents the repeated tping of a letter or number regardless of how long the key is pressed. Claims (OCR text may contain errors) What is claimed is: 1. A computer keyboard comprising: a frame; a set of letter keys arranged in a QWERTY layout and mounted to an upper surface of the frame; a set of number keys arranged in a sequential and linear configuration parallel to the top row of the QWERTY layout and mounted to the upper surface of the frame; and a gap that separates the top row of QWERTY layout from the number keys. 2. The computer keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising: a mechanism for disabling a key repeat function for all letters and numbers. 3. The computer keyboard of claim 2 wherein the mechanism for disabling the key repeat function is a firmware program stored in a first electronic memory in the frame of the computer keyboard. 4. The computer keyboard of claim 2 wherein the mechanism for disabling the key repeat function is a software program stored in a second electronic memory in a computer associated with the computer keyboard. 5.

The computer keyboard of claim 1 further comprising: a first recess in which at least some of the set of letter keys are positioned; a second recess in which at least some of the set of number keys are positioned; and a drain that provides a path for liquids to flow from the recess out of the keyboard. 6. The computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein the set of letter keys have vowel keys that are a first color and consonant keys which are a second color. 7. The computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein the number keys are a third color that is distinct from the second color of the consonant keys. 8. The computer keyboard of claim 1 further comprising: a shift key having text in a fourth color printed on a surface of the shift key; wherein the number keys each have a symbol in the forth color printed on a surface of the number keys. 9.

A computer keyboard comprising: a frame; a set of letter keys arranged in a QWERTY layout and mounted to an upper surface of the frame; a set of number keys arranged in a sequential and linear configuration parallel to the top row of the QWERTY layout and mounted to the upper surface of the frame; and a mechanism for disabling a key repeat function for all letters and numbers. 10. The computer keyboard of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for disabling the key repeat function is a firmware program loaded into a first electronic memory in the frame of the computer keyboard. 11. The computer keyboard of claim 9 wherein the mechanism for disabling the key repeat function is a software program loaded into a second electronic memory in a computer associated with the computer keyboard. 12. The computer keyboard of claim 9 wherein the set of letter keys have vowel keys that are a first color and consonant keys which are a second color. 13. The computer keyboard of claim 9 wherein the number keys are a third color that is distinct from the second color of the consonant keys. 14.

The computer keyboard of claim 9 further comprising: a shift key having text in a fourth color printed on a surface of the shift key; wherein the number keys each have a symbol in the forth color printed on a surface of the number keys. 15. A computer keyboard comprising: a frame; a set of letter keys arranged in a QWERTY layout and mounted to an upper surface of the frame; and a mechanism for disabling a key repeat function for all letters and numbers. 16. The computer keyboard of claim 15 wherein the mechanism for disabling the key repeat function is a firmware program loaded into a first electronic memory in the frame of the computer keyboard. 17. The computer keyboard of claim 15 wherein the mechanism for disabling the key repeat function is a software program loaded into a second electronic memory in a computer associated with the computer keyboard. 18. The computer keyboard of claim 15 further comprising: a USB type connector which allows the computer keyboard to be used as a secondary keyboard for a computer. 19.

The computer keyboard of claim 15 further comprising: a recess in which at least some of the set of letter keys are positioned; and a drain that provides a path for liquids to flow from the recess out of the keyboard. 20. The computer keyboard of claim 15 further comprising: a set of number keys each have a symbol printed in a third color on a surface of the number key; and a shift key having text printed in the third color on a surface of the shift key. Description (OCR text may contain errors) COMPUTER KEYBOARD Background The origin of the modern computer keyboard began with the invention of the typewriter in 1867. The industry standard keyboard layout is the QWERTY keyboard because of the arrangement of the keys in the upper row. When electric typewriters and computers were developed, the typewriter QWERTY layout was retained even though the keys were connected to electrical switches rather than mechanical typing mechanisms. In particular, the keyboards were designed to repeatedly input any key that is held down. As computers and electric typewriters advanced, the keyboard layouts also changed. In addition to the letter and number keys, special function keys were added to control various computer program functions.

Cursor keys that control the cursor position and a numeric keypad for faster numeric input were also added to computer keyboards. Wliile these additional keys enhanced the functionality of the keyboard, they also made the keyboard more complex and confusing. Because there are so many control keys, modern computer keyboards can be intimidating to children and beginning computer users. Summary Of The Invention The inventive keyboard is a simplified keyboard that is intended to help children learn how to use computers. The keyboard assists children by color coding each of the keys based upon function. In addition to being marked with the QWERTY letter, the consonant keys are in a first color and the vowel keys in a second color. For example, the consonant keys may be orange and the vowel keys may be red. This visual distinction helps the child learn the location of the letters on the keyboard. The keys of the inventive keyboard are also color coded. The number keys are a color that is distinct from the consonant letters such as red. The "enter" and cursor keys of the keyboard are a third color and all other functional keys are in a fourth color. In an embodiment, the enter and cursor keys are purple and the other functional keys are blue.

In addition to the keys themselves being color coded, the markings on the keys are also color coded. In general most functional text and letters are marked on the keys in a uniform color that contrasts with the color of the keys. However, the "shift" text on the shift keys are in a color that differs from the other letters and text. Where a symbol corresponds to a key, the symbol is marked on the key in a color that matches the shift key text. Thus, it is easier to explain to children that when the shift key and a number key are pressed simultaneously, the symbol on the key matching the color of the shift key text will be transmitted. The inventive keyboard also uses a simplified set of keys. The nonessential function keys that are normally on the keyboard have been completely removed. By removing these keys, the child can more easily learn to type. Because the inventive keyboard also differs from normal keyboards, number/symbol keys which are normally in very close proximity to the top row of letter keys have been separated by a gap from the letter keys. This gap separation of the number/symbol keys adds distance to avoid unintentional key strokes.

Yet another feature of the inventive keyboard is the removal of the repeat function from all keys other than the hyphen, enter, space and cursor arrow keys. When children learn to type, they tend to type very slowly as they learn the locations of each letter and number key on a keyboard. While learning to type, children tend to press and hold the keys down for too long. On a normal keyboard, this would result in the key being repeatedly input and displayed across the computer screen. The inventive keyboard overcomes this repeating problem by disabling the repeat function. This allows children to type at a very slow pace without inadvertently engaging the repeat function. After the children become proficient with the inventive learning keyboard, they can switch to a normal computer keyboard and use the repeat function. Description Of The Drawings Figure 1 is a top view of the inventive keyboard; Figure 2 is cut away view of the inventive keyboard; and Figure 3 is a top view of a hand. Detailed Description The present invention is a keyboard designed for children. With reference to Figure 1, the inventive keyboard uses the standard QWERTY layout but includes several design features that allow the keyboard to be more easily used by children. Various features differentiate the inventive keyboard from existing keyboards.

The inventive keyboard has color coded keys which differ from existing keyboards. The keys of the inventive keyboard are grouped by color depending upon the type of key or functionality. In an embodiment, the vowel keys 103 A, E, I, O and U are red and the consonant keys 105 are orange. In alternative embodiments the vowel keys 103 may be any color which is distinct in color from the consonant keys 105. This contrast between the vowel keys 103 color and the consonant keys 105 color allows the child to more easily find the vowels which are used in nearly all English words. Because the vowel keys 103 and consonant keys 105 are distinctly colored, the child will be able to quickly learn the locations of the letters which will result in faster typing. The child will also more easily learn that almost all words are spelled by using combinations of consonant keys 105 in orange and vowel keys 103 in red.

In order to further assist the user, the number keys 107 at the top of the keyboard 100 are physically separated by a gap 109 from the letter keys 103, 105. This spacing gap 109 also helps children learn to type. When the user presses the top row of letter keys, the gap 109 helps to prevent accidental contact with the number keys 107. With a conventional computer keyboard, the number keys are placed directly adjacent to the upper row of letter keys. It is very easy to accidentally press a number key rather than a letter key because the number keys are placed very close to the upper row of letter keys. The inventive keyboard separates the number keys 107 and letter keys 103, 105 which helps to reduce this problem. The inventive keyboard also distinguishes the number keys 107 by using a distinct color. In an embodiment the number keys 107 are red. In other embodiments, the number keys 107 can be any color that is distinct from the color of the consonant keys 105.

The distinctive color and physical separation of the number keys 107 helps children to differentiate the number keys 107 from the letter keys 103, 105. It is well known that when the shift key 113 and another key are pressed simultaneously, the character typed will be different than when the shift key 113 is not pressed. However, when the shift key 113 and any letter key 103, 105 are pressed, the upper case letter will be typed. When the shift key 113 and a number key 107 are pressed, a symbol will be typed. These symbols are printed on the upper portion of the number keys 107. The symbols corresponding to each of number keys are listed in Table 1 below. Table 1 The inventive keyboard also includes symbol keys 111 and punctuation keys 115. Like the number keys 107, these symbol keys 111 and punctuation keys 115 produce different symbols or punctuation marks when pressed simultaneously with the shift key 113.

Table 2 The inventive keyboard also has a set of essential functional keys 117 which are in colors different from the number keys 107 and letter keys 103, 105. In an embodiment the functional keys 117 are blue. These functional keys 117 are necessary in order to use the keyboard with the computer. Pressing the functional keys does not print text on the computer screen but may alter the output of the keys or control the computer cursor position on the displayed page. The functional keys 117 include: Ctrl, alt, space, shift, caps lock, tab, esc, insert, delete, back space, print screen, page up and page down. These keys are generally not effected by pressing the shift key. The inventive computer keyboard 101 also includes an "enter" key 121. The enter key 121 of the inventive keyboard is distinctive in color. That contrasts with the number keys 107 and letter keys 103, 105. In an embodiment, the enter key 121 is purple.

This color contrast is intended to again distinguish the enter key from all other keys and assist in teaching the child where the enter key 121 is located. When a child is learning to use a computer, the enter key 121 can be located by instructing the child to press the rectangular purple key. The computer keyboard 101 also includes cursor keys 119 which are directional arrows: <-, t, •!■ and -�. The cursor keys 119 normally control the position of a cursor displayed on the computer monitor. In an embodiment of the keyboard, the cursor arrow keys 119 are also purple. In addition to the special coloring of the keys of the inventive keyboard, the text printed on each of the keys may have special significance. In the preferred embodiment, the symbols which are actuated by pressing the shift key 117 and a number key 107 are printed on the keys in a color that matches the shift key 117 text color. Because these colors match, the child will be reminded that the shift key 117 needs to be pressed in order to type the symbol or punctuation mark associated with the number keys 107.

In an embodiment, the shift key 117 text is white and the text symbol produced when the shift key 117 is pressed is also white. As discussed, the keyboard is designed for a child's hand rather than an adult hand. The spacing of the keyboard keys may be shorter allowing children and users with small hands to more easily reach the desired keys. In an embodiment, the overall inventive dimensions of the keyboard are proportional to the average sized child's hand. Table 3 lists average dimensions in inches for various hand parameters of children 4, 6 and 8 years of age and an adult hand for comparison. The dimensions of the adult male hand are substantially greater in size than the average child's hand. Figure 2 illustrates the location of the listed dimensions on a hand. In order to accommodate the smaller dimensions of children's hands, the size and spacing of the inventive keyboard can be proportionally smaller than an adult keyboard. Table 3 The width of the inventive keyboard is approximately 15 inches. In contrast, a typical adult keyboard is approximately 17 inches in width. The rounded key top enables the child to more easily press the intended keys and makes it less likely for the child to accidentally hit an adjacent key.

The size of a keyboard key is approximately a 0.5 inches circle on the top of the key. The key then tapers down to a larger size at its base; a little under 0.75 inches square (about ll/16ths of an inch). The tops of the keys also have a concave curvature on the top surface of each key. The top surfaces of the keys are also textured; roughened with minute bumps to improve traction and help reduce finger slippage. The inventive keyboard is easier for a child to use because it is more easily handled by the child, more intuitively organized and has a better fit with the child's hands. The body of the keyboard may be a simple rectangular structure with rounded corners and adjustable feet at the front of the keyboard that allow the angle of the keyboard to be adjusted. The perimeter of the keyboard may have a rounded edge and curves. All sharp corners or sharp edges which may cause injury if the keyboard is dropped onto a limb have been removed. The keys of the keyboard are positioned away from the edges so that there is one or more inches of border between the keys and the edge of the keyboard.

This border allows the child to easily grasp the keyboard and move it without depressing any of the keys. Another feature of the keyboard is its ability to resist damage when liquids are split onto the keys. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the inventive keyboard 101 has two groups of keys, a lower group of letters 103, 105, punctuation key 115 and functional keys 113, 115, 117 and an upper group of number 107 and functional keys. In an embodiment, the two groups of keys each occupy two distinct rectangular recesses 171, 173 in the keyboard frame. The inventive keyboard 101 has drains 179 that allow liquids spilt these recesses 171, 173 to flow through the drains 179 to the bottom of the keyboard 101. The drains 179 may be located at the lower corners of the two recesses 171, 173.

When a liquid is spilt onto the inventive keyboard 101, it flows over the keys and into one of the rectangular recesses in the keyboard 171, 173. Because the keyboard naturally tilts up at the front, the liquid flows around the keys to the lower edge 175 of the lower recesses 171 and to the lower edge 177 of the upper recess 173. The liquid accumulates at the lower edges 175, 177 and flows through the drains 179. If the liquid remains in the recess, the user can tilt the keyboard 101 to the left or right so that the remaining liquid will flow to one of the drains 179 and out of the keyboard 101. Although the liquids contact the recesses in the keyboard, it may not damage the functionality of the keys. As shown in Figure 2, the keys are connected to posts 181 which fit into slots in raised sections 187. Thus, the sliding contact area between the posts 181 and the slots 185 are protected from the liquids.

When the liquid is spilt onto the keyboard 101, it flows over the keys which diverts it away from the posts 181 and slots 185. As the fluids flow down to the lower edge 175 of the lower recess 171 and the lower edge 177 of the upper recess 173, the fluids flow around the raised sections 187. Thus, the raised sections 187 also protect the fluids from contacting the sliding contact areas between the posts 181 and slots 185. In an embodiment, the inventive keyboard has a light that indicates that the "cap lock" key 123 is engaged. In another embodiment, the keys may have lights which are illuminate the entire keyboard or only illuminate the individual keys when the key is pressed. When the shift key is depressed, the symbol text on the number keys may be illuminated so that the child will know that pressing the shift key will result in a symbol being typed. In this embodiment, small lights under the keys may be illuminated when the shift key is pressed and the light may pass through the translucent symbol portion of the keys.

In yet another embodiment, the keys may have a glow-in-the-dark material which allows the child to identify the keys in the dark. In addition to the color scheme of the keys, the body of the keyboard may also have various colors, solid or patterned colors which may also include drawings or graphical designs. These designs and colors may be related to a theme, program or a specific institution. For example, if the product is associated with a television show, the graphics of the television characters may be printed on the boarder space of the keyboard. The keyboard may be packaged with various stickers which would allow the child to personalize the keyboard. For example, a set of letters or names as well as other graphics representing the interests of the child can be applied to the borders of the keyboard. A common problem that children have when learning to type is that the keys can repeat if the key is not released quickly after being pressed. In an embodiment, the number, letter, punctuation and most symbol keys cannot be repeated even when the keys are held down. The inventive keyboard only allows the underscore and dash symbols to be repeated when these keys are held down. Some other keys may also be repeated such as the space bar or lines.

By eliminating the repeat feature for most of the keys, the child will be less likely to accidentally make typing errors due to not releasing the key or typing to slowly and accidentally actuating the key repeat function. In embodiments, the inventive keyboard includes mechanisms for preventing the computer from repeating the number and letter keys. In an embodiment special software is used with the inventive keyboard to prevent the letters and numbers from repeating. The software may be loaded onto a microprocessor in the computer as a keyboard driver. In another embodiment, the mechanism used to disable the repeat function is firmware is loaded onto a memory device in and run on a microprocessor in the keyboard. The firmware causes the keyboard to transmit only non-repeating key stroke signals for all letter and number keys. In yet another embodiment, a hardware device such as electrical circuitry transforms the keystroke signals into short single character keystrokes regardless of how long the key is pressed. Another problem with children using computers, is that they can accidentally damage a computer by accessing or deleting certain program and data files. In an embodiment, the inventive keyboard may prevent the child from accessing or damaging the computer by applying a setting that disables all but the most basic program functions.

In particular, when the keyboard is in a safe mode the "delete", "replace", "save as" and any controls which may cause data to be lost are completely disabled. Like the disabling of the repeat function, the safe mode function can be implemented through software, firmware or hardware. By setting the keyboard to this save mode, the child can freely use the inventive keyboard without causing any damage or make any functional changes to the computer, documents or software. In an embodiment, the keys may be customized with "skins" which are thin plastic pieces which are attached to the keys. The skins may be held to the keys with an adhesive, plastic tabs or small magnets which are in the keys and skins. The skins may also be made of a soft material or a rubber material that resists the child's fingers from slipping off. The inventive keyboard may be connected to the computer via a cable which has a plug which connects directly to the computer. The plug may be a dedicated PS/2 keyboard plug or a USB type plug. The keyboard is compatible with the various operating systems including: Windows 95, 98, 2000, Windows XP, all future Microsoft operating systems and all Apple Macintosh operating systems.

Alternatively, the keyboard may have a wireless transmitter which transmits the keystroke signals as they are typed to a receiver which is connected to the computer. Examples of wireless communications include radio frequency (RF) or infrared. Communications between the computer and keyboard may be bidirectional or unidirectional with data traveling only from the keyboard to the computer. The keyboard translates the motion of the fingers into text-based commands sent to the PC. Each of the keys are attached to a keyswitch which is an electrical switch. A separate keyswitch is associated with each key of the keyboard. When a key is pressed, the corresponding keyswitch is actuated. In an embodiment, the inventive keyboard uses membrane type contact keyswitches. When the key is pressed a rubber layer deforms, a carbon pad touches the contacts actuating the electrical switch. The keyboard also has internal circuitry that handles the processing of keystrokes and exchanging information with the computer. In an embodiment, the keyboard has an internal microprocessor and read-only memory (ROM) that is similar to the system BIOS code on the computer's motherboard. The keyboard may also include EEPROM memory to store programming information.

This internal circuitry is responsible for sensing the raw signals created by the keyswitches as they make electrical contact, and translating the keystroke signals into signals that are sent to the computer. The keyboard's internal circuitry also handles the actual interfacing between the keyboard and the rest of the PC system. The interface between the PC and the keyboard is a full bi-directional serial communications line that utilizes special protocols and commands. In an embodiment, the inventive keyboard also includes a cable that runs between the main case of the keyboard, and the connector that attaches to the rest of the system. The cable contains four wires, corresponding to the four signal lines used for interfacing to the PC through the keyboard connector. A USB connector attached to the end of the cable. Some older computers may not have USB connectors, so the keyboard also includes a 6-pin mini-DIN adapter. The pins and signals associated with each pin are listed in the table below. As indicated above, there are only four actual signals used in the standard keyboard interface. Table 4 When the keyboard is used with the USB connector it can be used as a second supplemental keyboard to the primary keyboard that is connected to the computer through the mini-DIN connector.

By using the USB port, two keyboards can be connected to the computer simultaneously. In this configuration, an adult may be the primary user and a child may be the secondary user with either keyboard being fully functional. The two keyboards may even be used simultaneously. Two functional keyboards may be particularly useful when an adult is teaching a child how to use a computer. The adult can set up the computer with the primary keyboard and let the child use the inventive simplified keyboard to perform various computer actions under supervision. The keyboard case holds all of the internal components of the keyboard, including the keys, the processing circuitry, an LED indicator and the keyswitches. The LED indicates that the cap lock is engaged. The case has a rounded shape and includes a wide perimeter area around the keys for grasping the keyboard. The keyboard also has feet with small rubber pads that provide traction for the keyboard, holding it in place so it cannot move around while being used. The keyboard also has angle adjuster tabs on the bottom of the keyboard case. These tabs are used to adjust the tilt of the keyboard, to provide a comfortable angle between the keyboard and the hands for a variety of users. The tabs have a locking mechanism to hold the adjusters in position.

The inventive keyboard draws some power from the computer's motherboard. Two of the wires that run through the keyboard cable carry a +5 volt power signal and ground signal from the motherboard to the keyboard. As discussed above, the keyswitches respond to mechanical motion of the user by creating an electrical signal that tells the keyboard's internal controller that "a key was pressed". The internal circuitry then determines which key has been actuated and communicates this information to the computer. The keyswitches are arranged in a matrix of linear rows and columns. When a specific key is pressed, it generates a signal for the row and column assigned to that key. The keyboard controller is programmed to know that, for example, the letter "T" is at row # 4 and column #6 in the matrix. A different combination of row and column signals exists for every other key in the keyboard. After the keystroke has been registered, the keyboard controller generates special "scan" codes that indicate what key has been pressed. Each key on the keyboard has two scan codes. The first scan code is called the make code and is sent through the cord to the computer when the key is pushed. The second scan code is called the break code and is sent when the key is released.

Using two codes, the PC system can determine not only what keys were pressed, but for how long, and also which keys have been held down during a specific period of time. This dual-code system also facilitates the multiple-key combinations and the controller can detect when multiple keys are pressed simultaneously. The multiple keys are typically control keys in combination with letters or other control keys: Ctrl + A, Ctrl + Alt + Delete, or Alt + Tab. Each key on the keyboard has its own scan code make-break pair; this is true even if there are two or three keys that are the same. The PC can also tell the difference between the left and right Shift keys. In an embodiment, the inventive keyboard uses a universal serial bus (USB) to connect the keyboard to the PC. The traditional keyboard interface is over conductors in the keyboard cable which connect the internal controller in the keyboard with a matching device on the motherboard called the keyboard controller. All keyboards that use standard keyboard connectors to attach to the motherboard use the regular keyboard interface. In an embodiment, the inventive keyboard has a 6-pin mini-DIN adapter which can be connected to the USB connector.

Communication over the interface is accomplished using two signaling lines, and is governed by a number of special rules and protocols, as described in the page on interface signaling. The communication is bidirectional, with the keyboard's internal controller and the motherboard's keyboard controller each able to send and receive commands over the interface. The USB is a general-purpose, multi-functional serial interface for various devices including: keyboards, mice, printers, scanners and storage devices. The interface between the keyboard and the keyboard controller on the motherboard is a communications channel, over which commands and data are passed. The keyboard interface uses specific signaling protocols and standards to ensure that the keyboard can communicate with the PC system. The standard keyboard interface is a serial communications link with data sent one bit at a time over a single line. There are four lines that comprise the channel between the PC and the keyboard: the power and ground lines which provide power to the keyboard and the two signaling lines. The first signal line is the Keyboard Data line over which data bits are sent to the system from the keyboard and commands are sent from the system to the keyboard.

The second signal line is the Keyboard Clock that is a repetitive, regular clock signal with a value that switches from 1 to 0 to 1 to 0 in a regular pattern. The clock signal synchronizes the keyboard and the system. In the foregoing, a computer keyboard system has been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Patent Citations Barcode Datalink Sydney, Australia - Motorola Keypads & Keyboard Types Motorola Keypads & Keyboard Types Which is the best keyboard for my Motorola mobile (PDA) application? In an ideal world the only thing you want your staff to key in is the quantity. However, in reality the barcode could be damaged or missing so they will have to key it in. Lets start by looking at warehouse applications. To look at mobile devices for other applications Are your bin locations and part numbers numeric, alpha or a mix of alpha-numeric? What ERP system are you working with?

SAP, Baan, Pronto, JD Edwards or something else? Our most popular mobile computers for warehouse use are the Motorola range: The Motorola MC3000 series mobile computer has three keyboard options. You have to buy the device with the keyboard you want since they are not changeable. The MC3090 options are: 48 keys The 28 key keypad gives your operators easy access to the large number buttons. To enter any A to Z characters you have to switch to 'alpha' mode by pressing the 'ALPHA' button and then like on a mobile phone, to get a 'C' press the '2' button three times. The 38 key keyboard is the most popular choice for Pronto, Paxar VendorConnect and SAP since the function keys are only one keystroke away. The 48 key model offers you separate numbers and alpha keys so there is no need to shift the keyboard state to get the character you need. However, to get a function key you have to press the 'FUNC' key and then the 'A' for an 'F1' key. If you do a lot of alpha-numeric data entry then this keyboard is the easiest to use.

The brick and gun version are available with all three keyboards. to view the Wavelink keyboard maps The MC9000/MC9090 series offers you the ability to swap keypads easily. All you need is a small philips head screw driver to undo the two screws at the top of the keyboard. Three options are available: 28 keys As with the MC3000 series, the 28 key model has large numbers and is ideal for entering in the quantity. For SAP, Pronto and Paxar VendorConnect customers, the 43 key model is ideal since the keyboard offers one keystroke access to the function keys. The numbers are large and down the bottom next to a large enter key. Finally, for data intensive applications where you want one keyboard state and the ability to enter in numbers and letters quickly the 53 key model is ideal. to view the Wavelink keyboard maps The Motorola MC3100 series shares the same keyboards as the Motorola MC3000 series. The Motorola MC9500K (brick) version is now available and what makes this device stand out is the rich feature set. There are four user interchangeable keypads available.

for all the details on this amazing new MC9500K from Motorola. Mobile Computers for Non-warehouse Applications Barcode Datalink offers a range of mobile computers that are ideal for data collection both in the office and out on the road or in the field. Of course you can use these devices in a warehouse but typically the mobile computers in the warehouse section above are more suitable for daily use. Managers would typically use the devices mentioned below in a warehouse while they are there for random tasks. The mobile computers below are capable of being used as walkie talkies, mobile phones, have camera and video options and many other features. It is these features that are not required in a warehouse as to why they are not promoted for daily warehouse use. The current range of Motorola mobile computers includes:

Question: On a western-style Qwerty keyboard, what number shares the key with the % symbol?
Answer: 5