Patent EP0201628A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
EP0201628A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Programmable keyboard mechanism

Assignee: CADAM SYSTEMS COMPANY, INC
•
Filing: 1985-10-09
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-10-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract In a computer system, a keyboard (1) which is used by a user is equipped with at least one socket (S 1 ,..., S n ) to attach a ROM (R 1 , ..., R n ) in which a predetermined secret data relative to a software to be executed by this system was stored. This ROM is supplied from a software maker to the user together with the recording medium on which the software relative to the ROM was recorded. Only when this ROM is attached to the relevant socket in the keyboard, the keyboard can perform the data communication with the computer main body (2) in the computer system which is executing the software regarding this ROM. The sockets number as many as the number of softwares which are executed by the computer system may be provided in the keyboard.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masanao Kawamura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 08:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/12; G06F21/121; G06F21/123

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
A key data input apparatus for use in a computer system, comprising: key input means (12, 13) for generating an output code corresponding to a position of a key pressed by an operator; attaching means (S 1 , ..., S n ) for attaching at least one memory device in which predetermined data is stored; communicating means (14, 15) for performing a communication with a computer of the computer system; and control means (10, 11), connected to said key input means, said attaching means and said communicating means, for making it possible to transfer the output code from said key input means to said computer through said communicating means, wherein said communicating means is adapted such that it can communicate with said computer only when the memory device corresponding to a software which is executed by the computer in said computer system is properly attached to said attaching means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 149 words
A key data input apparatus for use in a computer system, comprising: key input means (12, 13) for generating an output code corresponding to a position of a key pressed by an operator; attaching means (S 1 , ..., S n ) for attaching at least one memory device in which predetermined data is stored; communicating means (14, 15) for performing a communication with a computer of the computer system; and control means (10, 11), connected to said key input means, said attaching means and said communicating means, for making it possible to transfer the output code from said key input means to said computer through said communicating means, wherein said communicating means is adapted such that it can communicate with said computer only when the memory device corresponding to a software which is executed by the computer in said computer system is properly attached to said attaching means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 74 words
A key data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls an inhibition and a permission of the communication through said communicating means between the computer in said computer system and said key data input apparatus, and only when the memory device corresponding to the software which is executed by said computer is properly attached to said attaching means, said control means permits said communicating means to communicate with said computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 57 words
A key data input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein upon initialization of said key data input apparatus, said control means sets said communicat - ing means into a first state in that the transmission data from said computer can be received but the data from said key data input apparatus cannot be transmitted to said computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
A key data input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means transmits the data stored in said memory device attached to said attaching means to said computer in response to a first predetermined code data which is transmitted from said computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 69 words
A key data input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in response to a second predetermined code data which is generated when said computer determines that the memory device attached to said attaching means corresponds to the software to be executed by reading out the data in said memory device, said control means permits said communicating means to transmit said output code from said input means to said computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 77 words
A key data input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in response to a predetermined code data which is generated when said computer determines that the memory device attached to said attaching means does not correspond to the software to be executed by reading out the data in said memory device, said control means sets said communicating means into a state such that the data from said key data input apparatus cannot be transmitted to said computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
A key data input apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said memory device is a ROM (R 1 , ..., R n ) and said attaching means is at least one ROM socket (S 1 , ..., S n ).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A key data input apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said control means includes a CPU (10).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A key data input apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said communicating means performs the communication with said computer by way of a serial transfer system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4486828A Cited
EP0080244A2 Cited
US4462076A Cited
WO1984004830A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag