Programmatic, pluggable keyboard
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsQing Y. Meng, Tian J. Yang, Yi Yao, Jian Zhang, Xue Y. Zhang, Yu Zhao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A physical computer keyboard which includes: a circuit board having touchpoints; physical programmable, pluggable keys such that each of the keys is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, each of the keys having interlocking elements to join with an adjoining key, each key having connectors on a bottom surface of each key to make electrical contact with the touchpoints; and display panels with one display panel on a top surface of each key, the function of each key being displayed on the display panel of each key.
Claims20
A physical computer keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of physical programmable, pluggable keys;
- a circuit board having a plurality of touchpoints to make electrical contact with connectors of the keys such that the plurality of touchpoints is greater than the number of the keys;
- each of the keys is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, each of the keys having interlocking elements to join and be slideably engaged with at least one adjoining key having interlocking elements that constrain horizontal movements with respect to the at least one adjoining key but allow vertical movements of each of the keys, each of the keys having the interlocking elements is joined with the at least one adjoining key having the interlocking elements and is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, and each key including each of the keys having the interlocking elements is joined with the at the least one adjoining key having the interlocking elements and having the connectors on a bottom surface of each key to make electrical contact with the touchpoints;
- and
- a plurality of display panels with one display panel on a top surface of each key, the programmed function of each key being displayed on the display panel of each key.
A system comprising:
- a computer processor;
- a display;
- and
- a physical computer keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of physical programmable, pluggable keys;
- a circuit board having a plurality of touchpoints to make electrical contact with connectors of the keys such that the plurality of touchpoints is greater than the number of the keys;
- each of the keys is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, each of the keys having interlocking elements to join and be slideably engaged with at least one adjoining key having interlocking elements that constrain horizontal movements with respect to the at least one adjoining key but allow vertical movements of each of the keys, each of the keys having the interlocking elements is joined with the at least one adjoining key having the interlocking elements and is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, and each key including each of the keys having the interlocking elements is joined with the at least one adjoining key having the interlocking elements and having the connectors on a bottom surface of each key to make electrical contact with the touchpoints;
- and
- a plurality of display panels with one display panel on a top surface of each key, the function of each key being displayed on the display panel of each key.
A computer-implemented method for manufacturing a physical computer keyboard comprising a plurality of physical programmable, pluggable keys, a circuit board having a plurality of touchpoints such that the plurality of touchpoints to make electrical contact with connectors of the keys is greater than the number of the keys, each of the keys is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, a plurality of display panels with one display panel on a top surface of each key, the function of each key being displayed on the display panel of each key and a virtual keyboard assistant, each of the keys having interlocking elements to join and be slideably engaged with at least one adjoining key having interlocking elements that constrain horizontal movements with respect to the at least one adjoining key but allow vertical movements of each of the keys, each of the keys having the interlocking elements is joined with the at least one adjoining key having the interlocking elements and is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, and the method comprising:
- detecting and displaying by the virtual keyboard assistant the current keyboard layout on a display;
- customizing the current keyboard layout by freely placing the keys on the keyboard to meet needs of a user, the freely placing of the keys accommodated by the plurality of touchpoints greater than the keys and the circuit board having no fixed touchpoints for the keys, the customizing according to:
- defining by the virtual keyboard assistant the functional mapping of the keys;
- defining by the virtual keyboard assistant combinations of functional keys;
- defining by the virtual keyboard assistant the symbol displayed on each key;
- and
- programming by the virtual keyboard assistant the functional mapping of the keys, the combinations of functional keys and the symbol displayed on each key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.