Replaceable faceplates for peripheral devices
US6786731B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0213
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Automatically determining which one of a plurality of functions is to be associated with a movable member of an electronic device, depending on which one of a plurality of faceplates is coupled to the electronic device. A selected faceplate is coupled to a keyboard or other electronic device with movable members such as keys, buttons, knobs, etc. Protrusions or other configuration characteristics of the faceplate interface with one or more faceplate sensors, such as switches, that detect which faceplate is coupled to the electronic device. Based on the state of the faceplate sensors, the electronic device selects a predefined code, such as a scan code, that represents the coupled faceplate. The selected predefined code is communicated to a host computing device according to a keyboard protocol such as PS/2 or universal serial bus (USB). Consequently, an individual function is associated with each movable member based on the coupled faceplate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.