Programmable Keyboard and Method Therefor

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to devices for programming computer keyboards, and more particularly to a device which enables virtually any computer keyboard to perform as a programmable keyboard by enabling a user to program selected keys of the keyboard to denote MACROs representing pluralities of frequently used user commands.

2. Discussion

Programmable keyboards have become generally available in recent years for use with a wide variety of computer systems, and particularly with personal computers. Such programmable keyboards generally permit a user to "program" a selected, particular key of the keyboard to represent a plurality or string of individual keystrokes, typically referred to as a "MACRO", representing various functions and/or commands. This can significantly enhance the productivity of the user by allowing the user to enter commands when using the computer and/or software running on the computer, via a single keystroke, where such commands may otherwise require multiple keystrokes to invoke.

Until the present time, such programmable keyboards have often been relatively expensive and/or somewhat cumbersome to program. In some instances, a programmable keyboard designed for one particular type of computer may not be entirely compatible with computers of a wide variety of manufacturers. Accordingly, there exists a need for a simple, relatively low cost apparatus for enabling virtually any computer keyboard to be turned into a "programmable" keyboard.

The above and other objects are provided by an apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention for permitting a user to program frequently used keystroke sequences (MACROs) to correspond to selected keys of a computer keyboard. The apparatus comprises a controller and a memory device and is coupled in between an output of a computer keyboard and the keyboard port of a computer, such as a personal computer.

The controller senses when the user has entered a predetermined keystroke sequence indicating that a programming mode is to be entered. At this point, the controller treats the next key entered by the user as a code key, and the keys following thereafter as the plurality of keys, that is, the MACRO, that will be associated with the code key. The controller also detects when a predetermined series of keystrokes has been entered which represents a command to the controller to store the MACRO immediately following the code key and to exit the programming mode. In this manner the user is able to designate selected keys of the keyboard as each being representative of a programmed MACRO. Each MACRO may be representative of a command, file name, etc. or any other operation or keystroke sequence which is used frequently by the user. Thereafter, when the user presses one of the keys of the keyboard which has been programmed as a code key, the MACRO associated with the selected code key is generated by the apparatus and transmitted to the computer.

The method of the present invention involves defining a command to enter a programming mode as well as a command to exit the programming mode. The keyboard is monitored and if the start programming command is detected, then the next keystroke entered by the user is designated as a code key. The keystrokes following the code key are designated as the MACRO which corresponds to that particular code key, and which will be generated if the user presses the key which has been designated as the code key during use of the keyboard. The method also involves detecting the command to exit the programming mode.

In an alternative preferred embodiment the apparatus and method of the present invention responds to a software program which provides a display which can be generated on a video monitor of a computer to provide a visual indication to the user of the keys of the keyboard which have been programmed as code keys and the MACRO's associated with each code key. In this manner, if the user is running a program, such as a spread sheet, and wishes to immediately modify one previously defined code key, the user can merely select the program via a floating window on the monitor, which then displays the MACRO. The user can then make the edits needed. The ability to be used with a computer program to facilitate editing of MACROs enables the present invention to operate as a very user friendly system and to be invoked quickly and easily should minor edits be needed to re-program the code keys.

The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and subjoined claims and by referencing the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention coupled between a computer keyboard and a computer having a video monitor;

FIG. 2 is a simplified electrical schematic diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the method of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the steps of operation of editing the programmed keystrokes associated with an existing programmed code key from the computer rather than through the keyboard.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention coupled serially in between a computer keyboard 12 and a computer 14. The apparatus 10 is coupled to a keyboard cord 16 via a port 18 and to the computer 14 via a separate keyboard cord 20 coupled to a port 22 at the rear of the apparatus 10. The other end of the keyboard cord 20 is coupled to a port 24 at the rear of the computer 14. The computer 14 is also coupled to a video monitor (i.e., a CRT) 26 via a separate cable 28.

With reference to FIG. 2, the apparatus 10 generally includes, in addition to the ports 18 and 22, a microcontroller 30 having on-board RAM and electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 32. The microcontroller 30 operates at a frequency of preferably about four MHZ and the EEPROM 32 provides preferably at least about 256 bytes of storage. Accordingly, the apparatus 10 is relatively inexpensive to construct and can be manufactured to form a very compact module having a relatively small footprint. Thus, the apparatus 10 does not require a large surface area for support and can be positioned on a desk top or a computer stand without interfering with the placement of the video monitor 26 or the keyboard 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, the method of the present invention will now be described. In general, however, it will be understood that the apparatus 10 and its method of operation, in a first preferred embodiment, operates to monitor codes sent from the keyboard 12 and to detect when a programmed key, also referred to herein as a "code" key, has been depressed by the user, and further to implement a MACRO stored by the user for that particular code key. In this manner the apparatus 10 enables a command or function which would otherwise require several keystrokes to be generated with just one keystroke from the user.

Referring to FIG. 3, the apparatus 10 monitors the codes transmitted from the keyboard 12 as the user presses various keys thereof, as indicated at step 40. Each time a key of the keyboard 12 is pressed, a "MAKE" code is generated by the keyboard 12 corresponding to that particular key which has been depressed. When the key is released, a "BREAK" code is also generated by the keyboard 12. Several MAKE codes may be generated from the keyboard 12, for example, by pressing the "SHIFT", "CONTROL" and "DELETE" keys at the same time.

Whenever a MAKE code is received a check is made, as indicated at step 42, to determine if the code defines a coded key. A coded key is a key that has been previously programmed by the user to represent a MACRO. The method of the present invention contemplates recognizing and acting on MAKE codes but, it will be appreciated, that an arrangement where BREAK codes are acted upon could just as readily be implemented. Thus, the method of the present invention is not limited strictly to recognizing MAKE codes or BREAK codes.

With further reference to FIG. 3, if the MAKE code is detected as representing a coded key, then the controller 30 retrieves the MACRO stored in association with the detected MAKE code from the EEPROM 32 and transmits the programmed codes to the computer 14, as indicated at step 44.

If the check at step 42 indicates that the MAKE code received does not correspond to a coded key, then a check is made, as indicated at step 46, to determine if the received MAKE code is the first MAKE code of a predetermined "Start Program" code sequence. The predetermined Start Program code sequence is a code sequence programmed into the RAM of the microcontroller 30 which designates that a program mode is to be entered in which the user will be permitted to program a key from the keyboard 12 as a code key to represent a user-defined MACRO. If the answer at step 46 is "no", then the MAKE code received is sent to the computer, as indicated at step 48. The apparatus 10 then continues to monitor the codes generated from the keyboard 12, as indicated at step 40.

If the check made at step 46 produces a "yes" answer, indicating that the code received is the first code of a Start Program sequence, then a check is made at step 50 to determine if the entire Start Program code sequence has been received. It will be appreciated that the Start Program code could be preprogrammed as a single MAKE code, such as the code generated when a single, particular key is depressed. It is believed that in most instances, however, it will be more preferable to require the user to depress two or more keys (and thus to generate two or more MAKE codes in sequence) to enter the programming mode to prevent the programming mode from being accidentally entered.

If the inquiry of step 50 produces a "no" answer, then the apparatus 10 continues to monitor the keyboard 12, as indicated at step 40, and checks to determine if the next code received is that of a coded key, as indicated at step 42 and, if not, checks to see if the next code received is part of the Start Program code sequence, as indicated at step 46. Only when all of the codes corresponding to the Start Program code sequence have been received in the proper sequence will the inquiry at step 50 produce a "yes" answer, in which case the apparatus 10 will enter the program mode. In the program mode, the next key depressed (and its corresponding MAKE code generated thereby) will be monitored by the microcontroller 30, as indicated at step 52, and upon receipt of a BREAK code, the just released key will be designated as a coded key and its MAKE code stored in the EEPROM 32, as indicated at step 54. The next MAKE codes received from the keyboard 12 are monitored by the apparatus 10, as indicated at step 56, and a check is made, as indicated at step 58, to determine if a predetermined Stop Program code is received. The predetermined Stop Program code is preferably one or more predetermined MAKE codes, one or more predetermined BREAK codes or a predetermined combination of MAKE and BREAK codes generated by the keyboard 12 when the user presses one or more keys. It will be appreciated that the user will be apprised of which key or keys (and what sequence if two or more keys are to comprise the Start Program or Stop Program codes) will involve a Start Program or Stop program code through a user's or operator's manual provided with the apparatus 10. When the Stop Program code is received by the microcontroller 30 it exits the program mode and stores the just received codes. If no Stop Program code is received, the microcontroller 30 stores the just-received MAKE code in the EEPROM 32 and continues to receive additional MAKE codes which are input by the user, as indicated at step 56, until the Stop Program code is detected at step 58. When the Stop Program code is detected the programming mode is exited, the just-received codes stored in the EEPROM 32, and the apparatus 1 0 then continues to monitor the MAKE and BREAK codes from the keyboard as indicated at step 40.

The above arrangement allows the user to program specific keys of the keyboard 12 to correspond to used-defined MACROs, each representing commands or functions which would otherwise require several keystrokes to initiate. Accordingly, a user can initiate various functions and commands simply by pressing an associated key. It will be appreciated that the principal limit on the number of MACROs which can be stored to correspond to single coded keys is limited principally by the amount of memory available.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a software program is illustrated which enables the user to program keys of the keyboard from the monitor 26 by viewing suitable prompts and other user-friendly inquiries which may be displayed by selecting a pop-up window on the screen of the monitor 26, and invoked by the user to make edits to already programmed MACROs. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that, in this instance, the codes being received are from the computer 14 rather than from the keyboard 12.

Referring then to FIG. 4, the apparatus 10 monitors the codes received from the computer 14, as indicated at step 64, to determine if the received code is a predetermined programming code. If not, the code is transmitted to the keyboard 12, as indicated at step 68. If so, a check is made, at step 70, to determine if the code is a predetermined code indicating that an existing MACRO is to be edited. If not, a check is made, as indicated at step 72, to determine if the code is a "change typematic rate" code indicating that the typematic rate is to be changed or some other form of code. If the inquiry at step 72 produces a "yes" answer, then the typematic rate stored in the RAM of the controller 30 is changed, as indicated at step 74. In this regard it will be appreciated that the feature of monitoring and modifying the typematic rate is not essential to the implementation of the present invention. The typematic rate, as will be appreciated by those in the art, is the rate at which the MAKE and BREAK codes are transmitted between the keyboard 12 and computer 14. If the inquiry at step 72 produces a "no" answer, then the apparatus 10 continues to monitor the codes received from the computer 14, as indicated at step 64.

If the inquiry at step 70 indicates that a code has been received indicating that a MACRO is to be edited, then a program or edit mode will be entered, as indicated at step 76. In step 76, the controller 30 receives the coded key and edited MACRO from the computer 14, as input by the user from the keyboard 12, and the program on the computer displays the information on the monitor 26. The controller 30 then stores/updates the information in the EEPROM 32, as indicated at step 78. Thus, the edits are made with the aid of the monitor 26. The software program can be written specifically for any operating system including DOS.RTM., Windows.RTM., OS/2.RTM., etc.

The apparatus and method of the present invention thereby enables MACROs to be defined and edited through the use of an independent, relatively inexpensive module, thus eliminating the need for modifications to the keyboard itself to perform as a programmable keyboard. The apparatus and method the present invention forms a generally low cost arrangement for enabling various keys of a computer keyboard to function as programmable keys to save time in entering frequently used commands, which would otherwise require several keystrokes by the user.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.