INPUT DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE
An input device for use with a first electronic device and a second electronic device includes a frame, a plurality of manually depressible input members supported by the frame, a communication module supported by the frame and operable to selectively communicate with the first electronic device and the second electronic device, and a switch supported by the frame and coupled to the communication module. The switch is operable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device. The input device also includes a light source coupled to the switch and positioned at least partially within the frame. The light source is operable to provide a backlight for the plurality of input members. The backlight is modified in response to actuation of the switch.
The present invention relates to electronic input devices. More particularly, the invention relates to indicators for electronic input devices such as keyboards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides, in one aspect, an input device for use with a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The input device includes a frame, a plurality of manually depressible input members supported by the frame, a communication module supported by the frame and operable to selectively communicate with the first electronic device and the second electronic device, and a switch supported by the frame and coupled to the communication module. The switch is operable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device. The input device also includes a light source coupled to the switch and positioned at least partially within the frame. The light source is operable to provide a backlight for the plurality of input members. The backlight is modified in response to actuation of the switch.
The invention provides, in another aspect, an input device for use with a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The input device includes a frame, a plurality of manually depressible input members supported by the frame, a communication module supported by the frame and operable to selectively communicate with the first electronic device and the second electronic device, and a switch supported by the frame and coupled to the communication module. The switch is operable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device. The input device also includes a haptic feedback device coupled to the switch and supported by the frame. The haptic feedback device provides tactile feedback in response to actuation of the switch.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONWith continued reference to
The input devices 10A-C may be computer keyboards, computer mouse devices, game controllers, remote controls (e.g., a presentation remote or a remote for a home entertainment system), or the like. Likewise, the first and second electronic devices may be desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smart phones, televisions, video game systems, or other media players or presenters. Further, though the input devices 10A-C communicate with two electronic devices 12, 14, the input devices 10A-C may be further capable of communicating with and switching between more than two electronic devices (e.g., three or more electronic devices).
As shown in
With reference to
When the keyboard 136 provides input to the first computer 40 via user input, the light source 158 has a first characteristic, such as color or intensity. When a user transitions the switch 152 from the first position to the second position, the light source 158 has a second characteristic, different from the first characteristic. For example, when the switch 152 is in the first position, and the user provides input to the first computer 40, the light source 158 is green. When the user moves the switch 152 to the second position, the light source 158 transitions to blue, thereby indicating to the user that the keyboard 136 is providing input to the second computer 42. Moving the switch 152 back to the first position resets to the original green colored light source 158.
Alternatively, when the switch 152 is in the first position, and the user provides input to the first computer 40, the light source 158 is at a first intensity. When the user moves the switch 152 to the second position, the light source 158 transitions to a greater or lesser intensity, thereby indicating to the user that the keyboard 136 is providing input to the second computer 42. Moving the switch 152 back to the first position resets to the original backlight intensity. Variations may include only affecting the intensity when the switch 152 is moved to the other position and transitioning to the original intensity after a set duration of time (e.g., a few seconds). In some embodiments, one of the intensities may be when the light source 158 is off, and the other intensity may be when the light source 158 is on.
As shown in
The projection 266 is operatively coupled to the switch 252 to move between the retracted and extended positions in response to movement of the switch 252. For example, when a contact member or slider of the switch 252 is in a first position (similar to the contact member 154 shown in
In some embodiments, the projection 266 may be coupled to the switch 252 by a mechanical linkage to move the projection 266 between the retracted and extended positions in response to physical movement of the switch 252. In other embodiments, the projection 266 may be coupled to a solenoid or other small motor that moves the projection 266 between the retracted and extended positions in response to an electrical signal from the switch 252.
The input device 310 (e.g., keyboard 336) shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the vibrational element 372 is activated when the switch 352 is moved from the first position to the second position. Once activated, the vibrational element 372 may provide a vibration upon every keystroke, may provide a vibration after a set latency period (e.g., 5 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.) without keystrokes, or may only provide a vibrational output when the contact member 354 is initially moved to the second position. In some embodiments, the vibrational element 372 may be delayed in providing a haptic output after the contact member 354 is moved until the user contacts one of the plurality of keys 338.
Alternatively, the vibrational element 372 may be activated when the switch 352 is moved to either position. If the switch 352 is capable of translating between more than two positions (each position relating to a different electronic device and/or an OFF-position to power down the input device), the vibrational element 372 may provide a number of vibrational bursts (e.g., short, repeatable patterns of outputs) relating to the specific position of the switch 252. For example, when the switch 352 is in the first position, the vibrational element 372 may provide a single vibrational burst; when the switch 352 is in the second position, the vibrational element 372 may provide two vibrational bursts; and the like. The vibrational bursts may or may not be tied to a user actuating one of the keys 338. Alternatively, the frequency of the vibrations produced by the vibrational element 372 may be changed depending on the position of the switch 352. For example, when the switch 352 is in the first position, the vibrational frequency produced by the vibrational element 372 may be a high frequency; when the switch 352 is in the second position, the vibrational element 372 may produce a low vibrational frequency (i.e., relative to the high frequency).
As shown in
The illustrated rocker 482 is pivotally coupled to the wrist support portion 476. The rocker 482 rotates about a pinned axis 484 between a first position (
When in the first position, as shown in
When in the second position, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The button 596 is supported by the wrist support portion 576. The button 596 is movable (e.g., slidable) between a first position (
As shown in
Both the rocker 482 (
It should be appreciated that the various features associated with the embodiments of
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. An input device for use with a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the input device comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of manually depressible input members supported by the frame;
- a communication module supported by the frame and operable to selectively communicate with the first electronic device and the second electronic device;
- a switch supported by the frame and coupled to the communication module, the switch operable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device; and
- a light source coupled to the switch and positioned at least partially within the frame, the light source operable to provide a backlight for the plurality of input members, the backlight being modified in response to actuation of the switch to identify which one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is connected to the input device.
2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard and the plurality of input members is a plurality of keys.
3. The input device of claim 1, wherein a color of the backlight is modified in response to actuation of the switch.
4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the switch is movable between a first position, in which the communication device communicates with the first electronic device, and a second position, in which the communication device communicates with the second electronic device, and wherein the backlight is modified in response to movement between the first position and the second position.
5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the light source provides the backlight in a first color when the switch is in the first position and provides the backlight in a second color that is different than the first color when the switch is in the second position.
6. The input device of claim 1, wherein an intensity of the backlight is modified in response to actuation of the switch.
7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the communication module includes a wireless transceiver that selectively communicates with the first electronic device.
8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the switch includes a contact member that is manually actuatable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device.
9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the contact member is movable between a first position associated with the first electronic device, and a second position associated with the second electronic device.
10. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of input members is actuatable to send an input command to the first and second electronic devices, and wherein the switch is a separate actuator from the plurality of input members.
11. An input device for use with a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the input device comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of manually depressible input members supported by the frame;
- a communication module supported by the frame and operable to selectively communicate with the first electronic device and the second electronic device;
- a switch supported by the frame and coupled to the communication module, the switch operable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device; and
- a haptic feedback device coupled to the switch and supported by the frame, the haptic feedback device providing tactile feedback in response to actuation of the switch to identify which one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is connected to the input device.
12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the input device is a keyboard and the plurality of input members is a plurality of keys.
13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the frame includes a wrist support portion formed adjacent a row of the plurality of keys, and wherein the input device includes a button supported on the wrist support portion.
14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the button is a rocker pivotally coupled to the wrist support portion of the frame, wherein the rocker includes a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface, and wherein the rocker is pivotable relative to an upper surface of the wrist support portion between a first position, in which the first engagement surface extends above the upper surface and at least part of second engagement surface is positioned below the upper surface, and a second position, in which at least part of the first engagement surface is positioned below the upper surface and the second engagement surface extends above the upper surface.
15. The input device of claim 13, wherein the button is slidable relative to an upper surface of the wrist support portion between a first position, in which at least part of the button extends above the upper surface, and a second position, in which the button is recessed below the upper surface.
16. The input device of claim 11, wherein the switch is movable between a first position, in which the communication module communicates with the first electronic device, and a second position, in which the communication module communicates with the second electronic device, and wherein the haptic feedback device provides tactile feedback in response to movement between the first position and the second position.
17. The input device of claim 11, wherein the haptic feedback device is located on one of the plurality of input members, and wherein the haptic feedback device extends outwardly from the one of the plurality of input members in response to actuation of the switch.
18. The input device of claim 11, wherein the haptic feedback device includes a motor that vibrates the frame in response to actuation of the switch.
19. The input device of claim 11, wherein the communication module includes a wireless transceiver that selectively communicates with the first electronic device.
20. The input device of claim 11, wherein the switch includes a contact member that is manually actuatable to change whether the communication module communicates with the first electronic device or the second electronic device, and wherein the contact member is movable between a first position associated with the first electronic device, and a second position associated with the second electronic device.
21. The input device of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of input members is actuatable to send an input command to the first and second electronic devices, and wherein the switch is a separate actuator from the plurality of input members.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 16, 2017
Inventors: Todd Robinson (San Mateo, CA), Alex Klinkman (Hayward, CA)
Application Number: 15/155,927