Patent · US Expired

Hands-free hardware keyboard

US5426450A · kind A · utility

93Cited by
10References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 1994
Grant dateJun 20, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0338
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer system is provided which allows keyboard access in a hands-free environment. An orientation sensor is mounted on a headset and provides a cartesian positional input to an interface. The device functions in either a cursor control mode or a keyboard simulation mode. In keyboard simulation mode, positional inputs are converted to keyboard input codes which are input to a standard keyboard controller. The key codes generated are displayed to a user on an LED display. A microphone on the headset connects to voice control circuitry of the interface which allows input selections to be made through voice commands. A user locates the desired keyboard input by observing the LED display and selects the input with a vocal command. RAM memory storage of keyboard inputs allows the system to appear as a manual keyboard from the perspective of the keyboard controller.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.