Keyboard with function keys

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a keyboard, and in particular, to a keyboard having additional function keys.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Computers are now a mainstay in every person's life. The incorporation of multimedia functions with a conventional computer have significantly increased the power, popularity and usage of computers. Multimedia peripheral equipment, including but not limited to CD-ROMs and DVD players, are now often used with computers to provide multimedia effects on the monitor, speakers and other peripherals associated with the computer.

Despite the increased multimedia usage, computer systems and their associated peripherals are still controlled by conventional and well-known input devices such as keyboards and computer mice. To operate a multimedia device (e.g., “PLAY”, “Fast Forward”, “STOP”, etc.), a user would still need to press the appropriate buttons and switches on the multimedia device.

In addition, a user often needs to input a series of instructions or key presses to execute certain applications. For example, to sign on to the Internet, a user may need to press a sequence of keys, or execute a sequence of mouse clicks.

To improve the user's convenience, efforts have been made to provide hot keys or additional function keys to a conventional QWERTY keyboard so that the user can control and manipulate multimedia devices via a single key on the keyboard, or execute certain applications through a single key on the keyboard. Unfortunately, a conventional QWERTY keyboard is normally provided with 108 key codes. After deducting the keys for designated language and system commands from the 108 key codes, there only remains eight keys that can be further defined. As a result, the conventional QWERTY keyboard is limited in its ability to provide additional function keys.

To address this drawback, U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,586 to Tsai provides an additional I/O port to form a new scan matrix for the keyboard. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, where a microprocessor A 1 is connected to a new I/O port A 2 to form a new 9×16 scan matrix, which is different from a conventional 8×16 scan matrix. The additional I/O port A 2 adds an additional 16 keys A 3 to the conventional scan matrix. Unfortunately, the additional I/O port A 2 in U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,586 to Tsai poses certain problems. For example, this can only be implemented when the microprocessor A 1 has an extra I/O port to connect the additional scan line, so its applicability can be limited to certain microprocessors. As another example, increasing the size of the conventional scan matrix may lead to the possibility of error in executing a defined function or procedure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard that allows the user to define a number of function keys.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a keyboard that increases the number of function keys.

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a keyboard having a processor, a scan matrix coupled to the processor, a first set of keys coupled to the scan matrix, a logic control circuit, and a second set of keys coupled to the logic control circuit. The processor decodes the identity of a pressed key from the second set of keys via the logic control circuit.

FIG. 1 illustrates the circuit of a prior art keyboard.

FIG. 2 illustrates certain circuit elements of a keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the logic status utilized by the present invention.

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 2 illustrates certain circuit elements for a keyboard according to one preferred embodiment for the present invention. The keyboard in FIG. 2 has a microprocessor 1 , a scan matrix 2 , a digital logic circuit 3 , and a plurality of additional keys 4 . The processor 1 can be a standard processor (like a microprocessor) that is used with any conventional keyboard, and the scan matrix 2 can be a conventional 8×16 scan matrix that is connected to the processor 1 in the same manner as in a conventional keyboard. The digital logic circuit 3 can be embodied in the form of a multiplexer, a parallel to serial converter, or any similar circuit. The plurality of additional keys 4 is illustrated as having eight such keys, denoted by eight switches SW 1 -SW 8 . Each key SW 1 -SW 8 is coupled to a voltage source Vcc via a resistor R, and is also coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of inputs 10 - 17 of the digital logic circuit 3 .

The digital logic circuit 3 is described hereinafter in the form of a multiplexer, although as noted above, it can be embodied in the form of other known circuits. The digital logic circuit 3 has an output coupled via an I/O line Y to one of the scan lines (e.g., P 1 . 15 ) of the scan matrix 2 . The digital logic circuit 3 has three inputs coupled via three separate I/O lines S 0 , S 1 , S 2 from three corresponding scan lines (e.g., P 1 . 12 , P 1 . 13 , P 1 . 14 ) of the scan matrix 2 . The output Y is provided to the processor 1 to inform the processor 1 whether one of the keys SW 1 -SW 8 has been pressed, and the inputs S 0 , S 1 , S 2 are provided from the processor 1 to allow the processor 1 to decode the identity of the key SW 1 -SW 8 that has been pressed.

FIG. 3 illustrates the logic control for the keys SW 1 -SW 8 and the logic control circuit 3 . If none of the keys SW 1 -SW 8 are pressed, then Y will always be 0. On the other hand, if any one of the keys SW 1 -SW 8 is pressed, then Y will be 1. Each of S 0 , S 1 , S 2 has a value of 0 or 1. Since the example of FIG. 2 provides three I/O lines S 0 , S 1 , S 2 , there are 2 3 =8 different logic combinations, represented by 000, 001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110 and 111. Since there are eight logic combinations, this means that there are eight additional function keys.

In the present invention, the processor 1 continually provides the eight different logic combinations 000-111 to the logic control circuit 3 . As a non-limiting example, assume that the key SW 1 has been pressed. The digital logic circuit 3 will output a value of 1 at its Y output. At this time, the processor 1 will know which switch SW 1 -SW 8 has been pressed because the processor 1 will look for the value of S 0 , S 1 , S 2 that coincides to the receipt of the value 1 from the output Y. Thus, a logic status for pressing key SW 1 is formed by Y, S 0 , S 1 , S 2 , which is 1000. This logic code may be defined (by the user or the manufacturer) as being an instruction for, for example, playing a CD-ROM. Thus, a CD-ROM can be played by merely pressing a single key on a keyboard. In a similar manner, it is possible to control an application program (e.g., signing on to the Internet, receiving electronic mail, among others) or to manipulate a desired function of a peripheral device (e.g., volume control, selecting songs, etc.) by pressing a single key on a keyboard.

In addition, even though FIG. 2 illustrates the provision of eight additional keys, the number of additional keys can be varied as desired. For example, it is possible to provide sixteen additional keys by providing four output lines S 0 , S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , or to provide thirty-two additional keys by providing five output lines S 0 , S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 3 , and so on.

Although the digital logic circuit 3 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as being separate from the microprocessor 1 , it is also possible for the digital logic circuit 3 to be incorporated inside the processor 1 in a single chip. In such an embodiment, the output Y and inputs S 0 , S 1 , S 2 will not need to be coupled to the scan lines of the scan matrix 2 , but will be internally connected to the appropriate parts of the processor 1 .

Thus, the present invention provides a logic circuit 3 that can be coupled to the processor 1 either directly or via an original or conventional scan matrix 2 to increase the number of additional keys on a conventional keyboard. Thus, the size of the scan matrix does not need to be increased, and no additional ports are needed.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.