"We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology."
Carl Sagan
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7332688 | Active material based lockout mechanisms Control mechanisms and methods of use include the use of active materials as a blocking element. The control mechanisms generally include a tactile control in operative communication with an electrical circuit, wherein actuation of the tactile control closes the ele... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7270602 | Keyboard game program and keyboard game device A game program KGP for playing a game by operating a keyboard connected with a computer in response to a picture displayed on a monitor 9 has a procedure for detecting and computing number of keys (S2 through S9), for detecting and computing num... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7261481 | UV feature illumination In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems for providing an input device are disclosed. In an aspect of the present invention, the input device includes a symbol and a UV light source is provided to direct UV light on the symbol. The symbol includes ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7247788 | Integrated computer and music keyboard module An integrated computer and music keyboard module includes a key assembled base, on a first side of which a plurality of music keys are parallelly arranged. The key assembled base is provided on at least one lateral end with a connecting member for turnably connectin... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7217900 | Cooking stove A cooking stove in which an operation circuit board formed with an electrode pattern is placed on a back surface of a glass top plate so as to suppress the formation of an air layer. The cooking stove includes a display mark and a switch mark provided on a front sur... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7160043 | Keyboard having lighting device A keyboard includes a housing having a number of cavities to slidably receive shanks of a number of key pads, and a light device for lighting the key pads. The lighting device includes a number of light members engaged in the shanks of the key pads, the housing incl... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7063471 | Access control apparatus A keypad unit for an access system including an outer housing having an integral bezel. A carrier is mounted within the housing, and an overlay including key zones is mounted to the carrier. A PCB assembly is suspended within the carrier by a non-compressive, but co... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7045722 | Key structure of computer keyboard A key structure is provided. The present key structure includes a key cap, a scissor-type frame, an elastic contact body, a membrane circuit board, and a bottom board. A plurality of flanges is provided on the bottom of the elastic contact body, with the surface of ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7034718 | Keyboard with elevated keys A keyboard with elevated keys for a notebook computer. The keys of the keyboard are elevated when the notebook computer is opened, and can be depressed when the flat display is closed. The keyboard has keys movably connected to the foundation sheet through scissors-... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6950038 | Collapsible keyboard A collapsible keyboard. The collapsible keyboard includes a keyboard chassis, a right track frame, a right key set and a main key set. The right track frame is disposed on the keyboard chassis and slides rightward and leftward. The right track frame has a first slop... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6864881 | Key switch-replaceable keyboard mounting arrangement A key switch-replaceable keyboard mounting arrangement. The arrangement includes a keyboard shell having an array of contacts on its inside. Rows of keys are suspended in the keyboard shell and adapted for triggering the contacts to produce a signal. Resilient locat... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6857800 | Method for inputting different characters by multi-directionally pressing a single key more than one time The invention is to provide a method for inputting different characters by multi-directionally pressing one single key of a portable electronic device more than one time, the key having a plurality of protuberances on an underside and a circuit board having a plural... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6774888 | Personal digital assistant including a keyboard which also acts as a cover A personal digital assistant (PDA) which includes a body portion and a keyboard adapted to be coupled to the body portion. The keyboard is a standard keyboard size when in use. The keyboard is also foldable to act as a cover for the body portion. In a preferred embo... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6762697 | Keyboard with function keys A keyboard has a processor, a scan matrix coupled to the processor, a first set of keys coupled to the scan matrix, a logic control circuit, and a second set of keys coupled to the logic control circuit. The processor decodes the identity of a pressed key from the s... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6705783 | Ruggedized keyboard with cursor positioning device A rugged keyboard and cursor positioning device with an inherent restiveness from external fluids to interior keyboard fluid contamination. The key interrupters and cursor positioning device block optical beams for key and cursor positioning detection thus eliminati... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6698957 | Foldable keyboard with point stick The present invention relates to a foldable keyboard, and more particularly, to a foldable keyboard adapted for a point stick and/or at least one hot key. Two or more keypad portions are hingably connected by a connection board on which a point stick or a... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6648531 | Simultaneous keyboard key press An apparatus and method of simultaneously pressing different keyboard keys mechanically. The apparatus includes a displacement mechanism that is held by a main carrier that may slide back and forth along an elevated track. The displacement mechanism holds... | 11/18/2003 |
| 6612761 | Electronic apparatus In an electronic apparatus, a pressing of keys other than a print key is detected when the key is continuously in a pressed state for at least two periods in a key scan period. The pressing of the print key is detected when the print key is continuously i... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6491456 | Keyboard thin film circuit board with trenches to release air from hollow rubber domes A key signal-generating device has a thin film circuit board to generate key signals and a plurality of hollow rubber domes set on the thin film circuit board that are compressed by their corresponding keys to activate the thin film circuit board to gener... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6331850 | Collapsible keyboard A collapsible keyboard assembly having, in one embodiment, a plurality of keys each of the plurality of keys having a top portion and a portion of the plurality of keys displaced adjacent one another to form at least one row. A plurality of keys are coupl... | 12/18/2001 |
| 6111527 | Expandable keyboard A keyboard assembly for handheld and subnotebook computers that offers the functionality and comfort of a full-size keyboard and increases the effective screen display area without affecting the footprint of the closed computer. The keyboard assembly incl... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6107995 | Inflatable keyboard An inflatable keyboard having a base and a keypad is provided. The base includes an embedded conduit having apertures or valves extending from a top surface of the base and pressure transducers surrounding the valves. Conductors connect the pressure trans... | 08/22/2000 |
| 6056458 | Computer keyboard with Z-axis input means A computer keyboard with Z-axis input means is characterized in that at least one scrolling means compatible with that of a mouse, a cursor moving means and at least one mouse button are integrated on a keyboard with or without multimedia hotkeys. The nov... | 05/02/2000 |
| 5971635 | Piano-style keyboard attachment for computer keyboard The present invention is a piano-style attachment apparatus for a computer keyboard comprising a base, a plurality of piano-styled keys hinged to said base, and anchors for anchoring the apparatus over the computer keyboard. Each piano-styled key has a pr... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5897257 | Keyboard with expandable function keys The subject invention relates to a type of keyboard with expandable function keys, on the keyboard are a number of expanded function keys, said function keys are connected to the additional I/O cable for the microprocessor in the circuit structure in the ... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5818357 | Chair with a supplemental keyboard and a keyboard system A chair having keyboard halves arranged in the armrests. The keys in the keyboard halves can be operated by left and right hands, respectively. The keyboard provided in the chair can be used as a supplemental keyboard in a keyboard system comprising a mai... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5813778 | Key underboard structure of computer keyboard A key underboard structure adapted to be used in a computer key board assembly having a plurality of movable keys, includes a lower board and an upper board connected together by means of bayonet engagement to sandwich therebetween a rubber pad with an el... | 09/29/1998 |
| 5772342 | Tape printing apparatus capable of inputting and printing graphics After an input width setting mode has been entered by operating an input width set switch, an upper-end position and a lower-end position of an input width are set by an input pen to define an input width of an input width area for inputting a graphic int... | 06/30/1998 |
| 5674018 | Weatherproof electronic keypad with replaceable graphics overlay A weatherproof electronic keypad includes a molded plastic housing, a plurality of transducers attached to the inside surface of the front wall of the housing, an electronic circuit mounted within the housing and connected to the transducers, and a graphi... | 10/07/1997 |
| 5432510 | Ambidextrous single hand chordic data management device An ambidextrous, single hand data management device that has been ergonomically optimized to facilitate multiple key per character input, chording. The device has an arrangement of multiple keys which are so situated that the device can be held in either ... | 07/11/1995 |
| 5192152 | Switch actuator An automatic switch actuator is disclosed which may be used to test press-to-actuate type switches--for example, the key actuated switches of a computer keyboard. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a system of electrically operated valves are... | 03/09/1993 |
| 4795888 | Variable keystroke pressure apparatus A keybaord which is capable of varying the pressure required for the keystroke is provided and comprises an inflatable arrangement being a variable pressure bladder which fits over the keyboard between the base plate and the keys. The operator may vary th... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4765764 | Keyboard A keyboard for use with a stenographic transcription and translating assembly possessing word processing capabilities having horizontal and vertical groupings of keys indicating the generation of signals characterizing consonant and vowel letters or non-p... | 08/23/1988 |
| 4564751 | Wrap-around auxiliary keyboard A wrap-around auxiliary keyboard having (1) housing, (2) keys positioned in the housing and (3) circuitry means in the housing. The housing has a base and at least one extension extending from the base. The base and extension(s) are shaped and positioned ... | 01/14/1986 |
| 4543000 | Latching actuator A keyboard actuator for actuating the keys of a keyboard-operated apparatus including a plurality of fluid latching actuators supported to controllably and selectively actuate a key. In the preferred embodiment, each fluid actuator includes a latch and a ... | 09/24/1985 |
| 4469461 | Low profile keyboard actuator A low profile keyboard actuator for a typewriter in which L-shaped levers are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft mounted immediately in front of the typewriter. The levers have generally horizontal arms of various lengths, the ends of which contact t... | 09/04/1984 |
| 4441833 | Keyboard actuator A keyboard actuator for actuating the keys of a keyboard-operated apparatus including a plurality of fluid actuators supported by a frame, a first plurality of fluid conduits in communication with one or more selected fluid actuators, and first and second... | 04/10/1984 |
| 4307970 | Key extension for shorthand typewriting machine A shorthand typewriting machine includes a standard keyboard having two rows of upper keys respectively corresponding to consonant characters and an asterisk character all positioned for operation by the fingers, and a lower row of keys respectively corre... | 12/29/1981 |
| 4297044 | Additional attachment for all types of key operated machines Additional attachment for key operated machines comprises a frame which covers the keyboard and which holds the desired entire number of symbols. The frame has the shape of a perforated plate which is fixed to the keyboard. Additional keys are located in ... | 10/27/1981 |
| 4265557 | Keyboard apparatus A keyboard apparatus construction (FIG. 1) is provided which clusters the keys operated by each finger closely about the finger in its "home row" position on the home row of the generally accepted keyboard configuration. The upper or "number" row is opera... | 05/05/1981 |