Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/023—Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
  • G06F3/0238—Programmable keyboards
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/0202—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03M—CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
  • H03M11/00—Coding in connection with keyboards or like devices, i.e. coding of the position of operated keys
  • H03M11/02—Details
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2219/00—Legends
  • H01H2219/036—Light emitting elements
  • H01H2219/039—Selective or different modes of illumination

Definitions

• the present invention relates to electronic assemblies equipped with a keyboard with keys connected to a microprocessor comprising a memory and, more particularly, the keyboards with keys of such electronic assemblies.
• Keyboards are used in almost all electronic systems, such as mobile phones, pocket calculators, microcomputers, access devices to protected places, cash dispensers, dashboard controls a motor vehicle or an airplane, etc.
• the keys of such keyboards are often equipped with an integrated lighting means allowing them to be used in darkness or at night, or else making it possible to determine their actuation.
• each key is surrounded by a translucent plastic sleeve transmitting a light up to the front face of the keys, as provided in the document US-A-4 806 908.
• an opening is provided in each key, opening behind which is located a light emitting diode, as provided in document DE-A-29619920.
• Keyboards are also known, certain keys of which can individually have several uses. In such a case, the spot lighting or not of a key, or the color of such lighting, allows the user to know what is the exact role of the key at a given moment.
• a keyboard is, for example, described in document DE-A-29800924.
• the document EP-A-0 670 554 describes a device with a special keyboard, screen and pen, the keys having an internal light enabling the computer to highlight the expected key. This is a form of using the keyboard as a writing aid, but there is no question of using the keyboard as a display when the system is blind, i.e. without display screen.
• Document GB-A-2 167 218 simply describes a keyboard, each key of which can have several effects, a light indicating the current effect.
• the document JP-A-62235624 describes a keyboard whose operational keys are lit for a clearly tutorial purpose.
• JP-A-06020155 also describes a keyboard for beginners with sequential lighting of the next expected key.
• the present invention is situated in this context and aims to use the lighting of the keys or of some of these to provide another function in interactivity with the microprocessor of the electronic assembly.
• the invention therefore relates more precisely to an assembly comprising a keyboard with keys and a microprocessor comprising a memory and connected to it, at least some of these keys being each equipped with an integrated lighting means.
• the integrated lighting means is capable of constituting a display means for the microprocessor.
• the integrated lighting means constitutes a display means in response to a specific code typed on the keys of the keyboard.
• the microprocessor includes a clock and controls the sequential activation of the lighting means of each of the keys to visually deliver a code to the user.
• This code is preferably chosen from the status codes, error codes and calendar codes.
• the code can also correspond to a determined line of the microprocessor memory.
• FIGURE schematically represents an assembly comprising a keyboard with keys and a microprocessor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
• the invention is more particularly, but not exclusively, directed to a blind system, that is to say one not comprising a display screen.
• a blind system that is to say one not comprising a display screen.
• Such a system is generally used to control an electromechanical device, for example the bolt of a door lock in response to a determined access code.
• the invention can be implemented in systems comprising a display screen, in particular when there is a risk that this display screen may malfunction or be subject to some form of vandalism.
• a keyboard K of which at least certain keys are equipped with an integrated lighting means is connected to a microprocessor ⁇ P, which microprocessor ⁇ P controls a device D, for example the bolt previously mentioned.
• a microprocessor ⁇ P controls a device D, for example the bolt previously mentioned.
• the user taps on the keys of the keyboard K to give an instruction.
• the information is directly transmitted to the microprocessor ⁇ P via the link 8.
• the microprocessor ⁇ P then verifies the data received and, according to this data, controls the actuation of the device D.
• a technician may have to work on this assembly. He then taps his own identification code on the keypad K The microprocessor ⁇ P then recognizes that it is not a question of actuating the device D. The technician then indicates by means of appropriate codes to the microprocessor ⁇ P the nature of what 'he wishes to know, and the microprocessor returns the requested information coded by the link 12 to the keyboard K, by selective addressing of the keys comprising an integrated lighting means.
• This coded information then appears to the technician in the form of an illumination of certain keys of the keyboard K.
• a clock H connected to the microprocessor ⁇ P makes it possible to control the lighting of the keys concerned sequentially, each concerned key remaining lit successively, for example for 2 seconds each.
• the technician can thus easily obtain a status code, an error code, a calendar code or even read a determined line from the memory of the ⁇ P microprocessor.
• the same means can also be used by the technician to modify the normal operating code or codes.
• the same means can also be used by a normal user to request the microprocessor ⁇ P to issue him a new temporary code for the control of device D. This is generally useful when device D is a controlled access door and a temporary code must be provided to a guest third party.
• the microprocessor ⁇ P must first turn off the lighting means of all the keys of the keyboard K, so that no error cannot be occur when the keyboard functions as a display medium.
• the technician's identification code can be a variable code obtained, for example, in combination with temporary codes depending on the date and time, and any other code. This easily prevents vandalism and / or piracy of the data in memory of the ⁇ P microprocessor.
• the codes in memory of the microprocessor are self-destructed if the microprocessor ⁇ P detects several erroneous approach attempts. The system then becomes unusable without the intervention of the manufacturer to reload the memory.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

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ID=8846274

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

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Family Cites Families (7)

• 2000
  • 2000-04-11 WO PCT/FR2000/000915 patent/WO2001077802A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-04-11 AU AU38273/00A patent/AU3827300A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-04-11 EP EP00917178A patent/EP1317703A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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