GB2366411A

GB2366411A - Computer keyboard system having radio integrated therein

Info

Publication number: GB2366411A
Application number: GB0021810A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yen-Liang Kuan
Original assignee: Behavior Technical Computer Corp
Current assignee: Behavior Technical Computer Corp
Priority date: 2000-09-05
Filing date: 2000-09-05
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: GB0021810D0

Abstract

A computer keyboard system includes a keyboard 30 having a conventional keyboard circuit and a radio circuit 40 integrated in the keyboard, both coupled to a computer 10 via a USB interface and related circuit 20. Operating software 11 of the keyboard and radio is installed in the computer 10 for controlling and operating the radio. A speaker 50 is mounted in the computer for broadcasting sound signals received by the radio. A sound processing circuit 12 is mounted in the computer for processing and handling the sound signals from the radio. An additional speaker may be mounted in the keyboard for broadcasting purposes.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> COMPUTER KEYBOARD SYSTEM HAVING RADIO INTEGRATED THEREIN The present invention generally relates to a computer keyboard, and in particular to a computer keyboard with a radio integrated therein for enhancing multi-inedia input of a computer.

A keyboard is a most commonly used input device of a computer. A keyboard allows a user to key in data, to enter cormnands, to select icons and so on. Most application software is designed to work with a keyboard. Thus, a keyboard is of vital importance for a computer system.

Most of the computer peripheral devices have only a single function. For example, a keyboard only inputs characters and numerals into a y computer. A mouse only controls the movement of a display cursor and makes selection of icons. This is not suitable for a multimedia computer system in which music or sound signal is integrated in the data system of the computer. A microphone may be connected to 4he computer to serve as a sound source. It is, however, still of very limited function.

A radio with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface may be readily connected to a computer to provide inulti-inedia data to the computer. The USB radio, however, requires an independent USB interface and associated hardware control circuit. A keyboard or a mouse is required for actually manipulating and handling the multi-inedia data from a USB-based radio.

It is thus desirable to provide a keyboard in which a USB-based radio is integrated for solving the above problem.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer keyboard in which a radio is integrated whereby the keyboard possesses two different functions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer keyboard with a radio mounted therein whereby the radio is readily controlled via the keyboard.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a computer keyboard and a radio integrated with the keyboard whereby a single USB interface may simultaneously control the keyboard and radio, simplifying the operation thereof.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a multimedia keyboard.

To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a computer keyboard system includes a keyboard having a conventional keyboard circuit and a radio circuit integrated in the keyboard and connected to a computer via a USB interface and related circuit that couples the keyboard to the computer. Operating software of the keyboard and radio is installed in the computer for controlling and operating the radio. The USB interface and related circuit convert signals between the computer and the radio and the keyboard. A speaker is mounted in the computer for broadcasting sound signals received by the radio. A sound processing circuit is mounted in the computer for processing and handling the sound signals from the radio. An additional speaker may be optionally mounted in the keyboard for broadcasting purposes.

In the drawings: The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the sole drawing, Figure 1, showing a block diagram of a computer keyboard system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, a computer keyboard system constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a keyboard 30 having a conventional structure and a radio 40 integrated in the keyboard 30. Preferably, the keyboard 30 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) based peripheral device capable to be connected to a USB port of a computer 10. The radio 40 is also connected to the computer 10 via the same USB port.

Operating software 11 for controlling and operating the keyboard 30 and the radio 40 is installed in the computer 10 which executes software 11 to allow a user to control the keyboard 30 and the radio 40. A hardware control circuit 20, such as an IC (integrated circuit) chip, comprising a USB interface is arranged between the computer 10 and the keyboard 30 for converting signals between the computer 10 and the keyboard 30 and the radio 40 for controlling the keyboard 30 and the radio 40 whereby by operating keys of the keyboard 30, a user is allowed to control the radio 40 readily.

Preferably, a sound processing circuit 12 is added in the computer 10 for processing and amplifying sound signals received by the radio 40. A speaker system 50 is connected to the computer 10 for output of the sound signals received by the radio 40.

The operating software I I may be of any desired form based on any suitable computer languages, such as C++ and Delphi. The software is executed in the computer for controlling the radio 40.

It is apparent that basic circuits of the radio 40, such as tuning circuit and demodulating circuit, are accommodated in the keyboard 30. It is, however, also possible to arranged some parts of the radio 40 outside the keyboard 30. For example, an antenna (not shown) may extend beyond the keyboard 30. It is also noted that key actuation circuit that is essential to the keyboard 30 itself is also accommodated in the keyboard, similar to a conventional keyboard.

In accordance with the present invention, a single USB interface may simultaneously transmit keyboard signals and sound signals received by the radio 30 to the computer 10. Furthermore, analog signal from the radio 30 may also be transmitted to the computer 10 via the sound processing circuit 12.

If desired, an additional speaker (not shown) may be mounted to the keyboard 30 and in connection with the computer and/or the radio 40.

It is apparent from the above description that a single USB interface is allowed to control both the keyboard and the radio thereby the overall structure is simplified. Furthermore, radio signal may be readily incorporated in computer multimedia applications.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A computer keyboard system comprising a keyboard, a radio circuit mounted in the keyboard, operating software adapted to be installed in a computer to which the keyboard is coupled for operating the keyboard and the radio, and a USB-based interface arranged between the keyboard and the computer for converting signals between the computer and the keyboard system.
2. The computer keyboard system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a speaker system for broadcasting sound signals received by the radio.
3. The computer keyboard system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a sound processing circuit for processing and amplifying sound signals received by the radio.
4. The computer keyboard system as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a speaker mounted to the keyboard.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A computer system comprising: a computer; a keyboard connected to the computer via a USB interface; a radio circuit integrated within the keyboard; and operating software installed in the computer for operating the keyboard and th-= radio circuit; wherein the USB interface is arranged to convert signals between the computer and the keyboard and between the computer and the radio circuit thereby to control both the keyboard and the radio circuit. 2. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising a speaker system for broadcasting sound signals received by the radio circuit. 3. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising a sound processing circuit for processing and amplifying sound signals received by the radio circuit. 4. A computer system according to claim 1 further comprising a speaker mounted on the keyboard.

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5. A computer system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.