Programmable multiple output force-sensing keyboard

Keyboard apparatus comprising:

• a key structure supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to said key structure;
• a force receiving structure operative to receive at least portions of the key structure depression forces and responsively generate key force signals each having a magnitude related in a predetermined variable manner to its associated key stroke depression force;
• and
• a control system operative to utilize key force output signals from said force receiving structure to responsively generate a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating a plurality of different output functions for said key structure in sole response to its depression,
• said control system being further operative to sense the duration of a depression of said key structure caused by a force within a selected one of said depression force ranges and responsively alter the corresponding key stroke output signal when said duration is longer than a predetermined time period.

Electronic apparatus comprising:

• a screen on which generated indicia may be displayed;
• and
• keyboard apparatus for use in generating indicia on said screen, said keyboard apparatus including:
• a plurality of key structures each supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to the key structure, and
• control means for sensing the magnitudes of the key depression forces and responsively generating a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating a plurality of different output functions for each key structure in sole response to its depression,
• said control means being further operative to sense the duration of a depression of at least one of said key structures caused by a force within a selected one of said depression force ranges and responsively alter the corresponding key stroke output signal when said duration is longer than a predetermined time period.

Electronic apparatus comprising:

• a screen on which generated indicia may be displayed;
• and
• keyboard apparatus for use in generating indicia on said screen, said keyboard apparatus including:
• a plurality of key structures each supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to the key structure, and
• control means for sensing the magnitudes of the key depression forces and responsively generating a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating a plurality of different output functions for each key structure in sole response to its depression,
• said control means being selectively operable to detect incorrect characters in typed text and the depression force range associated with each detected incorrect character, and automatically delete each detected incorrect character which was generated in response to a key stroke depression force within a predetermined one of said key stroke depression force ranges.

Electronic apparatus comprising:

• a screen on which generated indicia may be displayed and
• keyboard apparatus for use in generating indicia on said screen, said keyboard apparatus including:
• a plurality of key structures each supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to the key structure, and
• control means for sensing the magnitudes of the key depression forces and responsively generating a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating a plurality of different output functions for each key structure in sole response to its depression, said control means being further operable, in response to the typing of an access password on said keyboard apparatus by a prospective user of said electronic apparatus, to:
• detect the character content and sequence of the typed-in password,
• detect the key stroke depression force range associated with each typed-in password character, and
• permit the prospective user operative access to said electronic apparatus only if:
• (1) the character content and sequence of the typed-in password matches the character content and sequence of a predetermined password, and
• (2) the key stroke depression force range of each typed-in character matches a predetermined key stroke depression force range associated with the corresponding character of the predetermined password.

A computer comprising:

• a screen on which generated indicia may be displayed;
• and
• keyboard apparatus for use in generating indicia on said screen, said keyboard apparatus including:
• key structures supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to said key structures,
• force receiving structures associated with said key structures and operative to receive at least portions of the key stroke depression forces and responsively generate key force signals each having a magnitude related in a predetermined variable manner to its associated key stroke depression force;
• and
• a control system operative to utilize key force output signals from said force receiving structures to responsively generate, for each key structure, a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating different output functions for the key structure in sole response to its depression,
• said control system being further operative to sense the duration of a depression of at least one of said key structures caused by a force within a selected one of said key stroke depression force ranges and responsively alter the corresponding key stroke output signal when said duration is longer than a predetermined time period.

A computer comprising:

• a screen on which generated indicia may be displayed;
• and
• keyboard apparatus for use in generating indicia on said screen, said keyboard apparatus including:
• key structures supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to said key structures,
• force receiving structures associated with said key structures and operative to receive at least portions of the key stroke depression forces and responsively generate key force signals each having a magnitude related in a predetermined variable manner to its associated key stroke depression force;
• and
• a control system operative to utilize key force output signals from said force receiving structures to responsively generate, for each key structure, a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating different output functions for the key structure in sole response to its depression,
• said control system being selectively operable to detect incorrect characters in typed text and the depression force range associated with each detected incorrect character, and automatically delete each detected incorrect character which was generated in response to a depression force within a predetermined one of said depression force ranges.

A computer comprising:

• a screen on which generated indicia may be displayed:
• and
• keyboard apparatus for use in generating indicia on said screen, said keyboard apparatus including:
• key structures supported for depressions through operative strokes by selectively variable forces applied by a user to said key structures,
• force receiving structures associated with said key structures and operative to receive at least portions of the key stroke depression forces and responsively generate key force signals each having a magnitude related in a predetermined variable manner to its associated key stroke depression force;
• and
• a control system operative to utilize key force output signals from said force receiving structures to responsively generate, for each key structure, a plurality of different key stroke output signals which correspond in a predetermined manner to a plurality of different ranges of key stroke depression force and may be utilized in creating different output functions for the key structure in sole response to its depression,
• said control system being further operative, in response to the typing of an access password on said keyboard apparatus by a prospective user of said computer, to:
• detect the character content and sequence of the typed-in password,
• detect the key stroke depression force range associated with each typed-in password character, and
• permit the prospective user to operatively access said computer only if:
• (1) the detected character content and sequence of the typed-in password matches the character content and sequence of a predetermined password, and
• (2) the detected key stroke depression force range for each typed-in password character matches a predetermined key stroke depression force range associated with the typed-in password character.