Heated computer keyboard
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorLarry E Reitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard includes a plurality of keys mechanically and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, the plurality of keys are arranged in a keyboard defining air gaps around the plurality of keys. The keyboard also includes a keyboard housing for containing the printed circuit board, the keyboard housing further including an opening on at least a portion of a top surface thereof for usably exposing the plurality of keys therethrough. The keyboard also includes a heating element located within the keyboard housing, the heating element and the printed circuit board deriving power from a keyboard port of a computer when the keyboard is coupled to the computer.
Claims22
A keyboard, comprising:
- a plurality of keys mechanically and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, said plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard defining air gaps around said plurality of keys;
- a keyboard housing for containing said printed circuit board, said keyboard housing further including an opening on at least a portion of a top surface thereof for usably exposing said plurality of keys therethrough;
- and
- a heating element located within said keyboard housing, said heating element and said printed circuit board deriving power from a keyboard port of a computer when said keyboard is coupled thereto.
A computer system, comprising:
- a computer including a keyboard port comprising at least a pair of signal lines about which power is generated;
- and
- a keyboard coupled to said computer via said keyboard port, said keyboard including:
- a plurality of keys mechanically and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, said plurality of keys arranged in a keyboard grid defining air gaps around each of said plurality of keys;
- a keyboard housing for containing said printed circuit board, said keyboard housing further including an opening on at least a portion of a top surface thereof for usably exposing said plurality of keys therethrough;
- and
- a heating element located within said keyboard housing, said heating element and said printed circuit board deriving power from said keyboard port of said computer when said keyboard is coupled thereto.
A method of heating a computer user's hands while operating a computer, comprising:
- coupling a plurality of keys to a printed circuit board in a manner defining air gaps around said plurality of keys;
- forming a keyboard housing around said printed circuit board with an open portion of a surface of said keyboard housing for exposing said plurality of keys therethrough;
- and
- integrating a heating element into said keyboard housing, said heating element capable of deriving power from said computer via a keyboard port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.