System, apparatus, and method for displaying variable legends on key buttons
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorCarlos Pironio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard includes a number of key buttons, each of which is mounted to move vertically above a display panel, such as an LCD. Each of the key buttons includes a transparent central portion, through which an area of the display panel is viewed. A computer system drives the display panel to produce variable legends, indicating the characters that will be added to a document being generated in response to the depression of the key buttons as a function of an operating state of the computer system. The computer system may additionally be programmed to display information provided by the user to indicate the functions assigned by the user to the key buttons.
Claims37
Apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of key buttons, wherein each of the key buttons includes a transparent central portion;
- a support structure mounting each of the key buttons to move vertically;
- a plurality of resilient members, wherein each of the resilient members holds one of the key buttons upward within the support structure;
- a plurality of traducers, each producing an electrical signal in response to downward movement of a key button in the plurality of key buttons;
- a display screen extending under each of the key buttons and under the support structure to provide changeable display patterns visible through the central portion of each of the key buttons.
A computer system comprising:
- a keyboard including a plurality of key buttons, each including a transparent central portion, a support structure mounting each of the key buttons to move vertically, a plurality of resilient members, each holding one of the key buttons upward within the support structure, a plurality of transducers, each producing an electrical signal in response to downward movement of one of the key buttons, and a display screen extending under each of the key;
- data and instruction storage storing a plurality of data structures, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing one of the key buttons with the computer system in a particular state of operation;
- a microprocessor programmed to determine a particular state of operation of the computer system, to select a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system, and to generate a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to particular state of operation of the computer system.
A method for providing a user interface indicating multiple uses of a plurality of key buttons within a computer system, wherein the method includes:
- maintaining a plurality of data structures within data storage, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing a key button within a plurality of key buttons in a keyboard with the computing system in a particular state of operation;
- determining a particular state of operation of the computer system;
- selecting a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system;
- and
- generating a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system.
A computer readable medium having computer usable code stored thereon causing a processor to perform a method for providing a user interface indicating multiple uses of a plurality of key buttons within a computer system, wherein the method includes:
- maintaining a plurality of data structures within data storage, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing a key button within a plurality of key buttons in a keyboard with the computing system in a particular state of operation;
- determining a particular state of operation of the computer system;
- selecting a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system;
- and
- generating a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system.
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave including computer usable code causing a processor to perform a method for providing a user interface indicating multiple uses of a plurality of key buttons within a computer system, wherein the method includes:
- maintaining a plurality of data structures within data storage, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing a key button within a plurality of key buttons in a keyboard with the computing system in a particular state of operation;
- determining a particular state of operation of the computer system;
- selecting a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system;
- and
- generating a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.