Wire/wireless keyboard for use in a computer system and a method of operating the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsHee-Duck Park, Surg-June Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An advanced wire/wireless keyboard for use in a computer system, which comprises a user ID (identification) setting function. When the keyboard operates with wireless communication, the keyboard controller allows delivery of the user ID information, to which an keyboard data signal is added, to the computer main unit 10. With this keyboard, the noise generation is prevented by generating a specific wireless signal corresponding to the user ID information. The keyboard has a rechargeable battery and a battery charging circuit for charging the rechargeable battery during wire communication for subsequent use during wireless communication.
Claims16
In a computer system, comprising:
- a keyboard adapted for data transmission in either a wire communications mode or else in a wireless communications mode;
- a computer main unit comprising a main system and a power supply source, said system adapted for receiving data information from the keyboard via a one of said wire communications mode and said wireless communications mode;
- and
- a connector cable for connecting the keyboard to the computer main unit, when the keyboard and the computer main unit operate in said wire communications mode;
- said keyboard comprising a rechargeable battery and a wireless transceiver for transforming data information into wireless signals for wireless transmission to the computer main unit during said wireless communication mode;
- the improvement comprising:
- a controller adapted for controlling data information transmission from the keyboard, said data information to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver to the computer main unit during wireless communications mode and to be transmitted through the connector cable during wire communications mode;
- and adapted for causing said rechargeable battery to be charged with a power voltage supplied from the power supply source of the computer main unit via the connector cable during wire communications mode.
In a wire/wireless keyboard for use in a computer system having a computer main unit, said keyboard comprising:
- a wireless transceiver for transforming data information into wireless signals and for transmitting the wireless signals to the computer main unit;
- a socket for receiving a connector cable adapted to be connected between the keyboard and the computer main unit;
- and
- a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable circuit for charging the rechargeable battery with a power voltage supplied from the power supply source of the computer main unit during wire communications;
- the improvement comprising:
- a controller adapted for controlling data information transmission from the keyboard, said data information to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver to the computer main unit during a wireless communications mode and to be transmitted through the connector cable to the computer main unit during a wire communications mode;
- and adapted for causing said rechargeable battery to be charged with a power voltage supplied from the power supply source of the computer main unit via the connector cable during wire communications mode.
A method of improving power usage when operating a computer system having a wire/wireless keyboard, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) determining whether the keyboard is connected to a computer main unit of the computer system via a connector cable for data transmission;
- (2) when the keyboard is connected to the computer main unit via said connector cable:
- (a) transmitting key input data from the keyboard to the computer main unit via said connector cable for operation and (b) charging a rechargeable battery located in the keyboard via the connector cable, with a power supplied from the computer main unit;
- and
- (3) when the keyboard is not connected to the computer main unit via said connector cable, transmitting wireless signals corresponding to said key input data from the keyboard to the computer main unit for operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.