Recognition of simultaneous key presses in keyboards
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorShihFeng Yen
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Abstract
The present subject matter relates to recognition of simultaneous key presses in a keyboard. The keyboard includes a first group of keys, which includes keys that are to be individually recognized when pressed simultaneously with at least one other key of the first group. Keys of a first sub-group of the first group are connected to key switches that are to be connected to general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. Keys of a second sub-group of the first group are connected to key switches on at least one of mutually different columns and mutually different rows of a matrix of electrical interconnections. The second sub-group includes at least one key that is not a modifier key.
Claims14
A keyboard comprising:
- a matrix of electrical interconnections having rows and columns;
- key switches arranged at intersections of the rows and columns;
- and
- a first group of keys, each key of the first group of keys to be individually recognized when pressed simultaneously with at least one other key of the first group of keys, the first group of keys comprising a first sub-group of keys and a second sub-group of keys, wherein
- each key of the first sub-group of keys is connected to a key switch that is to be connected, outside of the matrix, to a general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of a controller having a plurality of GPIO pins,
- the second sub-group of keys comprises at least one key that is not a modifier key, and
- keys of the second sub-group of keys are connected to key switches on at least one of:
- mutually different columns and mutually different rows of the matrix.
A computing device comprising:
- a controller comprising general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins;
- and
- a keyboard comprising:
- a keyboard matrix comprising key switches arranged in rows and columns;
- and
- a first set of keys, wherein each key of the first set of keys s connected to a key switch connected to a GPIO pin of the controller and is not connected to the key switches of the keyboard matrix;
- and
- a second set of keys, each key of the second set of keys connected to a key switch of the keyboard matrix, the second set of keys comprising a subset of keys, wherein
- the subset of keys comprises at least one key that is a not a modifier key,
- each key of the subset of keys is to be individually recognized when pressed simultaneously with at least one other key of the subset of keys, and
- keys of the subset of keys are connected to key switches on mutually different columns of the keyboard matrix.
A method for providing electrical connections to keys of a keyboard, the method comprising:
- connecting keys of a first set of keys to switches that are to be connected to general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins of a controller outsde of a keyboard matrix;
- and
- connecting keys of a second set of keys to switches of the keyboard matrix, the keyboard matrix comprising a plurality of switches arranged in rows and columns, wherein
- the second set of keys comprises a subset of keys, a simultaneous pressing of at least two keys of which are to be individually recognized,
- the subset of keys comprises at least one key that is not a modifier key, and
- connecting keys of the second set of keys comprises connecting keys of the subset of keys to switches on at least one of:
- mutually different columns and mutually different rows.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.