GB2435450A

GB2435450A - Computer keyboard having keys adapted to produce control signals which are analogue in nature

Info

Publication number: GB2435450A
Application number: GB0603951A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Joseph Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-28
Filing date: 2006-02-28
Publication date: 2007-08-29
Also published as: GB0603951D0

Abstract

A computer keyboard (100) is provided with keys (101) adapted to provide control signals which are analogue in nature. Said keyboard (100) is adapted to facilitate the playing of computer games and may be a conventional QWERTY keyboard. There may also be a means for enabling the keys (101) to operate as conventional computer keyboard keys. This may be achieved by providing a removable latch, or stop, which limits the movement of the keys (101) to a region in which the keys (101) function in the conventional way. Alternatively, an electronic selector switch could be provided.

Description

1 2435450

COMPUTER KEYBOARD

The present invention relates to computer keyboards and more specifically to a computer keyboard which is adapted to facilitate the playing of computer games.

The keys of a conventional computer keyboard provide a train of digital pulses for as long as any given key is depressed, each pulse causing the symbol corresponding to that key to be produced. When computers are used to play a game, pulse trains from selected keys of the keyboard (Usually W,A,S,D, the shift and the space bar) are used to initiate and control appropriate functions of the program which forms the basis of the game concerned. As computer games have become more sophisticated, this form of control operation is reaching its effective limits.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer keyboard which is particularly adapted to facilitate the playing of computer games.

According to the present invention there is provided a computer keyboard incIudiig keys adapted to provide control signals which are analogue in nature.

According to the present invention in a particular aspect, there is provided a computer keyboard adapted to facilitate the playing of computer games, wherein the computer keyboard includes keys which are adapted to provide control signals which are analogue in nature.

Preferably the analogue control signals are a function pf the depression of the keys from an initial position.

The said keys may be selected keys of a conventional computer keyboard, or specially dedicated keys. In the former case, it is necessary to provide means for inhibiting the analogue function of the selected keys, so that the computer keyboard can be used conventionally.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic plan view of a conventional computer keyboard.

Referring to the drawing, a computer keyboard 100 has all the normal keys of a QWERTY' type computer keyboard. Selected keys 101, for example, those corresponding to the letters W,A,S,D, and the shift, control and space bar functions, are adapted to provide control signals which are analogue in form and functions of the depression of the keys 101 from their initial positions.

This facilitates the playing of certain types of computer games in which the keys 101 referred to above are used to control the game itself rather than the movements of a marker on the screen of the monitor of the computer being used to play the game concerned, although such use is not precluded.

In order that he computer keyboard 100 can be used conventionally, the selected keys 101 are provided with means for inhibiting their analogue function. One way of achieving this could be to provide a removable latch, or stop, which limits the movement of the keys 101 to a region in which thv keys 101 function in the conventional way. Alternatively, an electronic selector switch could be provided.

The computer keyboard keys indicated above are those which, conventionally, are used for playing computer games, but other, or more, keys could be modified to provide analogue signals, if so desired; indeed all the keys could be adapted to provide analogue rather than pulse train signals.

As an alternative to providing modified QWERTY' keys, specially dedicated additional keys could be provided, in which case, the inhibiting latch would not be required.

Although it is envisaged that keyboards according to the invention will be used primarily to facilitate the playing of computer games, they could be used in other 4tumstance where delicacy of control is required.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A computer keyboard including keys adapted to provide control signals which are analogue in nature.

2. A computer keyboard adapted to facilitate the playing of computer games, wherein the computer keyboard includes keys which are adapted to produce control signals which are analogue in nature.

3. A computer keyboard according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the ana1oue control signals are a function of the depression of the said keys from an initial position.

4. A computer keyboard according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the said keys are selected keys of a conventional QWERTY' computer keyboard.

5. A computer keyboard according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein there is included means for enabling the said keys to operate as conventional computer keyboard keys.

6. A computer key board according to any of claims I to 4 wherein the said keys are specially dedicated keys.

7. A computer keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.