US7525453B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer system with enhanced range passive wireless keyboard
Assignee: EZERO TECHNOLOGIES Inc
•
Filing: 2006-02-27
•
Granted: 2009-04-28
•
Expires: 2026-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A wireless keyboard and reader combination comprises a keyboard having a plurality of keys, an antenna, and a plurality of passive transponder circuits, employing backscatter transmission coded in the time domain using a reflected series of pulses, coupled to the antenna and associated with the keys. For example, SAW transponders may be employed. The passive transponder circuits are selectively coupled to the antenna and provide a coded response identifying a key in response to key activation. An associated reader includes a source of an interrogating field applied to the antenna of the keyboard and a decoder for determining the coded response from the passive transponder circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Henty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0231; G06F3/0202; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/038; G06F2203/0384
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A computer system, comprising: a monitor; a processor; a reader comprising a source of an interrogating field and a decoder; and a wireless keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of transponders to provide a reflected series of pulses wherein each series of pulses for each transponder is associated with a unique time slot, and one or more antennas adapted to selectively couple to one or more of said transponders in response to key activation to modulate said interrogating field with the series of pulses in response to key activation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer system, comprising: a monitor; a processor; a reader comprising a source of an interrogating field and a decoder; and a wireless keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of transponders to provide a reflected series of pulses wherein each series of pulses for each transponder is associated with a unique time slot, and one or more antennas adapted to selectively couple to one or more of said transponders in response to key activation to modulate said interrogating field with the series of pulses in response to key activation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer system as set out in claim 1 , wherein said transponders comprise SAW transponders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer system as set out in claim 1 , wherein said transponders operate without employing power from the interrogating field or other power source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer system as set out in claim 1 , wherein one antenna is coupled to plural keys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer system as set out in claim 4 , comprising plural antennas each respectively coupled to plural keys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer system as set out in claim 1 , wherein said one or more antennas comprise a multi-element antenna array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer system as set out in claim 1 , wherein said keyboard has a multi-layer structure and wherein said one or more antennas comprise plural antennas configured on a separate layer from said transponders.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer system as set out in claim 1 , wherein said keyboard has a multi-layer structure and wherein said one or more antennas comprise one or more patch antennas configured on a separate layer from said transponders.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system, comprising: a monitor; a processor; a combined wireless networking circuit and RFID reader comprising at least a shared antenna, said combined circuit providing an interrogating field, receiving a reflected field and providing wireless network transmission and reception; and a wireless keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of transponders to provide a reflected series of pulses wherein each series of pulses for each transponder is associated with a unique time slot, and one or more antennas adapted to selectively couple to one or more of said transponders in response to key activation to modulate said interrogating field with the series of pulses in response to key activation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system, comprising: a monitor; a processor; a combined wireless networking circuit and RFID reader comprising at least a shared antenna, said combined circuit providing an interrogating field, receiving a reflected field and providing wireless network transmission and reception; and a wireless keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of transponders to provide a reflected series of pulses wherein each series of pulses for each transponder is associated with a unique time slot, and one or more antennas adapted to selectively couple to one or more of said transponders in response to key activation to modulate said interrogating field with the series of pulses in response to key activation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer system as set out in claim 9 , wherein said a combined wireless networking circuit and RFID reader comprises WiFi or Bluetooth wireless transmission and reception circuitry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system, comprising: a monitor; a processor; a reader comprising a source of an interrogating field and a decoder; a wireless mouse including an antenna and backscatter transmission circuitry to selectively reflect said interrogating field with a coded signal; and a wireless keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of transponders to provide a reflected series of pulses wherein each series of pulses for each transponder is associated with a unique time slot, and one or more antennas adapted to selectively couple to one or more of said transponders in response to key activation to modulate said interrogating field with the series of pulses in response to key activation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system, comprising: a monitor; a processor; a reader comprising a source of an interrogating field and a decoder; a wireless mouse including an antenna and backscatter transmission circuitry to selectively reflect said interrogating field with a coded signal; and a wireless keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of transponders to provide a reflected series of pulses wherein each series of pulses for each transponder is associated with a unique time slot, and one or more antennas adapted to selectively couple to one or more of said transponders in response to key activation to modulate said interrogating field with the series of pulses in response to key activation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer system as set out in claim 11 , wherein said wireless keyboard transponders comprise passive transponders and wherein said wireless mouse comprises a battery and said backscatter transmission circuitry is powered by said battery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system as set out in claim 11 , wherein said reader reads and decodes said mouse and wireless keyboard reflected signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer system as set out in claim 11 , further comprising a wireless networking circuit and wherein said reader shares an antenna with said wireless networking circuit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for short range wireless transmission of data between a freely moveable keyboard, having a plurality of manually activated keys and one or more antennas, wherein the one or more antennas are adapted to reflectively couple to the interrogating field, and a receiver, the method comprising: providing an electromagnetic interrogating field; reflecting the interrogating field from one or more antennas configured in the keyboard; modulating the reflected field with a coded response in response to activation of one or more keys wherein the coded response for each key is using a unique time slot; and detecting the modulated reflected field at the receiver.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for short range wireless transmission of data between a freely moveable keyboard, having a plurality of manually activated keys and one or more antennas, wherein the one or more antennas are adapted to reflectively couple to the interrogating field, and a receiver, the method comprising: providing an electromagnetic interrogating field; reflecting the interrogating field from one or more antennas configured in the keyboard; modulating the reflected field with a coded response in response to activation of one or more keys wherein the coded response for each key is using a unique time slot; and detecting the modulated reflected field at the receiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for short range wireless transmission of data as set out in claim 15 , wherein said modulating comprises providing a series of reflected pulses coded in the time domain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for short range wireless transmission of data as set out in claim 15 , wherein said modulating employs a surface acoustic wave modulator.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of short range wireless transmission of input or control signals between a device having a receiver and an input device having a plurality of manually activated inputs, comprising; transmitting an interrogating field to the input device; transmitting a backscatter modulated return field to the receiver employing an antenna, configured and dimensioned in the input device, to reflectively couple to the interrogating field in response to activation of at least one manually activated input on the input device wherein the modulated return field is assigned a unique time slot for each manually activated input; and detecting the backscatter modulated return field at the receiver.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of short range wireless transmission of input or control signals between a device having a receiver and an input device having a plurality of manually activated inputs, comprising; transmitting an interrogating field to the input device; transmitting a backscatter modulated return field to the receiver employing an antenna, configured and dimensioned in the input device, to reflectively couple to the interrogating field in response to activation of at least one manually activated input on the input device wherein the modulated return field is assigned a unique time slot for each manually activated input; and detecting the backscatter modulated return field at the receiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for short range wireless transmission as set out in claim 18 , wherein said modulated return field comprises a series of reflected pulses coded in the time domain.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for short range wireless transmission as set out in claim 18 , wherein said transmitting employs a surface acoustic wave modulator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5911529A
Cited
US6388561B1
Cited
US6133833A
Cited
US6373469B1
Cited
US6650254B1
Cited
US6982658B2
Cited
US6791478B2
Cited
US20030093791A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-04-27 | 2012-10-27 | 2013-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-04-27 | 2016-10-27 | 2017-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-04-27 | 2020-10-27 | 2021-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |