Identification of key information of keyboard
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorMasahiro Uemura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer keyboard which enables a computer to automatically recognize nomenclature information (ID) of keys is provided. Preferably, the keyboard contains a first memory which stores a table in which nomenclature information (ID) of keys and resistance values are associated with each other, a resistor having a resistance value substantially equal to any one of the resistance values, and a controller connected to the first memory and the resistor. The controller detects the resistance value of the resistor and reads the ID of the key corresponding to the resistance value from the table.
Claims11
A keyboard operatively connectable to a computer body, said keyboard comprising:
- a first memory which stores a table in which identification codes of nomenclature layouts and resistance values are associated with each other;
- a resistor having a resistance value substantially equal to any one of the resistance values;
- and
- a controller connected to said first memory and said resistor, said controller detecting the resistance value of said resistor and reading the identification code of the nomenclature layout corresponding to the resistance value from the table.
A method for causing a computer to recognize an identification code of a nomenclature layout of a keyboard connected to the computer, wherein:
- the keyboard has a memory which stores a table in which identification codes and resistance values are associated with each other, a resistor having a resistance value substantially equal to any one of the resistance values, and a controller connected to the resistor;
- and
- the controller performs the steps of
- detecting the resistance value of the resistor when the keyboard is activated,
- reading the identification code corresponding to the detected resistance value from the table;
- and
- transmitting the read identification code to the computer to cause the computer to recognize the identification code.
A program product for causing a computer to recognize nomenclature information of keys of a keyboard connected to a computer, wherein the keyboard includes a memory which stores a table in which the nomenclature information and resistance values are associated with each other, a resistor having a resistance value substantially equal to any one of the resistance values, and a controller connected to the resistor, said program product causing the controller to perform the steps of:
- detecting the resistance value of the resistor, when the keyboard is activated;
- reading the nomenclature information corresponding to the detected resistance value from the table;
- and
- transmitting the nomenclature information read from the table to the computer.
A method for manufacturing a keyboard connectable to a computer body, said method comprising the steps of:
- preparing a bottom cover including a substrate in which a resistive layer is provided therein;
- combining a top cover on which keys are arranged with the bottom cover;
- and
- irradiating the resistive layer with a laser beam through an opening preliminarily provided on the top cover to adjust a resistance value of the resistive layer to a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value responds to an identification code of the nomenclature layout.
The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of adjusting the resistance value to the predetermined value is carried out by adjusting the resistance value depending on an amount of trimming by the laser beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.