Key input apparatus using magnetic force, operating method thereof, and computer-readable recording medium storing computer programs for performing the method
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsByung-seok Soh, Yoon-sang Kim, Jun-il Sohn
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Abstract
A method of operating a key input apparatus having one or more pressable keys, and a key input apparatus to perform the method, the method including selectively controlling an electromagnetic force to support at least one of the one or more pressable keys, wherein a height of the at least one pressable key is controlled by selectively supplying electric current to an electromagnet to control the electromagnetic force.
Claims31
A key input apparatus comprising:
- at least one pressable key;
- a lower magnetic element to selectively produce a predetermined first magnetic field;
- an upper magnetic element to support the key and selectively produce a predetermined second magnetic field, thereby applying a repulsive magnetic force to the lower magnetic element;
- a magnetic controller to generate a magnetic control signal to control the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field;
- and
- a key recognizer to recognize a value of the pressed key.
A method of operating a key input apparatus having at least one pressable key, the method comprising:
- pressing the key one or more times during a predetermined time;
- determining an average extent to which the key is pressed in the predetermined time;
- and
- generating a magnetic force to support the key according to the average extent.
A method of operating a key input apparatus having at least one pressable key, the method comprising:
- storing position information of at least one of the keys intended to be used according to a working environment;
- recognizing the working environment and reading the position information corresponding to the recognized working environment from the stored position information;
- and
- generating a magnetic force to support the key corresponding to the read position information;
- wherein the position information indicates positions of the keys of the key input apparatus.
A method of operating a key input apparatus having at least one pressable key, the method comprising:
- storing information regarding a magnetic force to be generated for the key according to a working environment;
- recognizing the working environment and reading the information regarding the magnetic force corresponding to the recognized working environment from the stored magnetic force information;
- and
- generating a magnetic force for the key corresponding to the read magnetic force information to support the key.
At least one computer readable medium storing instructions that control at least one processor to perform a method of operating a key input apparatus having at least one pressable key, the method comprising:
- recognizing a working environment and reading position information corresponding to the recognized working environment from stored position information;
- and
- generating a magnetic force to support the key corresponding to the read position information;
- wherein the position information indicates positions of the keys of the key input apparatus, and the computer readable medium stores the position information of at least one of the keys intended to be used according to the working environment.
At least one computer readable medium storing instructions that control at least one processor to perform a method of operating a key input apparatus having at least one pressable key, the method comprising:
- recognizing a working environment and reading magnetic force information corresponding to the recognized working environment from stored magnetic force information;
- and
- generating a magnetic force corresponding to the read information regarding the magnetic force to support the key;
- wherein the computer readable medium stores the magnetic force information according to the working environment.
A key input apparatus comprising:
- at least one pressable key;
- a first magnetic element to selectively produce a first magnetic field;
- a second magnetic element to support the pressable key and produce a second magnetic field which repulses the first magnetic field;
- and
- a controller to control at least one of the first and second magnetic fields.
A key input apparatus comprising:
- one or more pressable keys;
- wherein at least one of the pressable keys is supported by an electromagnetic force.
A key input apparatus comprising;
- one or more pressable keys;
- wherein a height of at least one of the pressable keys is controlled by a selectively applied electromagnetic force.
A method of operating a key input apparatus having one or more pressable keys, the method comprising:
- selectively controlling an electromagnetic force to support at least one of the one or more pressable keys;
- wherein a height of the at least one pressable key is controlled by selectively supplying electric current to an electromagnet to control the electromagnetic force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.