Computer keyboard with power control key
US5629694A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 13, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/81
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer is provided with a power provisioning system for connection to an external power source and comprising a main power supply, a standby power supply, and control circuitry that selectively places the system in an ON state in which the main power supply is energised from the external power source and supplies power to main circuitry (C) of the computer, and a STANDBY state in which the standby power supply is energised from the external power source but the main power supply and the main circuitry (C) are de-energised. In order to make it easy for a user to ensure that the main cicuitry (C) is powered up, one of the standard keys of the computer keyboard, for example the space bar key, is provided with an additional set of contacts not associated with the key scanning arrangement of the keyboard. This additional contact set is directly connected to the control circuitry such that following operation of the switch the power provisioning system will reside in its ON state, regardless of its previous state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.