EP0226392A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display key and keyboard
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-12-03
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Display elements are associated with the keys of the keyboard for displaying information. Display commands indicative of information to be displayed on the display elements are sent to the keys, each such command identifying which of the keys are intended recipients of the command. Associated with each key is a receiving means which determines whether such key is an intended recipient of a particular command. If so, the information is displayed on the associated display element.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry C. Meadow
- 👤 Arthur Schleifer Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0238
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for displaying information on a keyboard comprising display elements associated with keys of said keyboard for displaying information, transmitting means for sending display commands to said keys, said commands being indicative of information to be displayed on said display elements, each said command identifying which of said keys are intended recipients of said command, and receiving means associated with each said key for receiving each said command, for determining whether said key is an intended recipient of said command, and if so for displaying said information on the associated said display elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for displaying information on a keyboard comprising display elements associated with keys of said keyboard for displaying information, transmitting means for sending display commands to said keys, said commands being indicative of information to be displayed on said display elements, each said command identifying which of said keys are intended recipients of said command, and receiving means associated with each said key for receiving each said command, for determining whether said key is an intended recipient of said command, and if so for displaying said information on the associated said display elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a common communication medium between said transmitting means and the receiving means associated with all of said keys for carrying said commands simultaneously to all of said keys.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said medium comprises at least one wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said medium comprises a wire bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said medium comprises at least one optical fiber element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for displaying information on a keyboard comprising display elements associated with keys of said keyboard for displaying information, transmitting means for sending display commands to said keys, said commands being indicative of information to be displayed on said display elements, and a receiver associated with each said key for receiving each said command, said transmitting means and each said receiver being linked by a communications medium that does not include an uninterrupted hard physical connection between said transmitting means and said receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for displaying information on a keyboard comprising display elements associated with keys of said keyboard for displaying information, transmitting means for sending display commands to said keys, said commands being indicative of information to be displayed on said display elements, and a receiver associated with each said key for receiving each said command, said transmitting means and each said receiver being linked by a communications medium that does not include an uninterrupted hard physical connection between said transmitting means and said receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said communications medium is shared in common by said transmitting means and said receivers of all said keys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 6 wherein said medium comprises air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transmitting means sends said commands by modulating an RF carrier or light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transmitting means sends said commands by modulating acoustic waves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said key is assigned a unique address and each said command comprises an address identifying which key is the intended recipient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said commands comprises a broadcast symbol identifying all said keys as intended recipients.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said commands comprises a group symbol identifying more than one but fewer than all said keys as intended recipients.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said command includes a display image code from an available set of display image codes and said receiving means of each intended recipient of said command displays the corresponding said display image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiving means for each said key stores a set of selected display images from an available set of display images and said commands intended for said key identify which said image should be displayed at a given time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said display images stored in said key may be changed in accordance with information provided in said display commands.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said commands include instructions indicative of the format in which said information is to be displayed on said display elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information for display comprise alphanumeric characters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
A key device for inclusion in a keyboard of the kind in which the keys display information based on commands sent from a transmitting means, each said command identifying which keys it is intended for, said key comprising means for receiving each said command, and means for determining whether said key is an intended recipient of said commands.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A key device for inclusion in a keyboard of the kind in which the keys display information based on commands sent from a transmitting means, each said command identifying which keys it is intended for, said key comprising means for receiving each said command, and means for determining whether said key is an intended recipient of said commands.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
A key device for inclusion in a keyboard of the kind in which the keys display information based on commands sent from a transmitting means, said key comprising a receiver coupled to a communications medium on which said commands are carried, said medium not including an uninterrupted hard physical connection between said transmitting and receiving means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
A key device for inclusion in a keyboard of the kind in which the keys display information based on commands sent from a transmitting means, said key comprising a receiver coupled to a communications medium on which said commands are carried, said medium not including an uninterrupted hard physical connection between said transmitting and receiving means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
A key of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, said key being adapted for use with a display device that generates a visible image, said key comprising a translucent surface that is visible to said user and is spaced apart from said display device, and a lens for focusing said image on said translucent surface for viewing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
A key of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, said key being adapted for use with a display device that generates a visible image, said key comprising a translucent surface that is visible to said user and is spaced apart from said display device, and a lens for focusing said image on said translucent surface for viewing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
A key of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, said key being adapted for use with an electro-optical display device that generates a visible image, said key comprising a touch surface for activating said key, and a display surface oriented at an angle to said touch surface for displaying said image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
A key of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, said key being adapted for use with an electro-optical display device that generates a visible image, said key comprising a touch surface for activating said key, and a display surface oriented at an angle to said touch surface for displaying said image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The key of claim 21 further comprising a three-dimensional key body mounted for substantially vertical movement in response to the user's contact, said display device having a stationary position relative to said key body, said key body including a channel leading from said display to said translucent surface, said lens being disposed in said channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The key of claim 23 wherein said key body comprises a top touch surface for contact by said user, and said display device is positioned beneath the bottom of said key.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The key of claim 21 wherein said display device is of the electro-optical type arranged for displaying characters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The key to claim 21 wherein said key comprises a touch surface for activating said key and said translucent surface is oriented at an angle to said touch surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The key to claim 22 further comprising a three-dimensional key body bearing said touch surface on its top and said display surface adjacent to, and at an oblique angle to, said touch surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The key to claim 22 wherein said display device is spaced apart from said display surface, said display surface comprises a translucent surface, said key defines an optical path for projecting said optical image onto said translucent surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
76 words
A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys each of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, each said key being adapted for use with an associated display device that generates a visible image, each said key comprising a translucent surface that is visible to said user and is spaced apart from said display device, and a lens for focusing said image on said translucent surface for viewing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
76 words
A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys each of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, each said key being adapted for use with an associated display device that generates a visible image, each said key comprising a translucent surface that is visible to said user and is spaced apart from said display device, and a lens for focusing said image on said translucent surface for viewing.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
70 words
A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys each of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, each said key being adapted for use with an associated electro-optical display device that generates a visible image, each said key comprising a touch surface for activating said key, and a display surface oriented at an angle to said touch surface for displaying said image.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
70 words
A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys each of the kind that provides an electrical signal in response to a user's contact with said key, each said key being adapted for use with an associated electro-optical display device that generates a visible image, each said key comprising a touch surface for activating said key, and a display surface oriented at an angle to said touch surface for displaying said image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The keyboard of claim 29 or 30 wherein said keys are arranged in an array and said display devices are arranged in a corresponding array beneath said array of keys.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The keyboard of claim 31 wherein said keys comprise three-dimensional key bodies mounted to move vertically relative to said display devices.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The keyboard of claim 29 or 30 further comprising means for altering said visible images in response to user's contact with said keys.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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