(12) United States Patent
`Moreno
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006351225Bl
`US 6,351,225 Bl
`Feb.26,2002
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) MULTIMEDIA PC KEYBOARD EXTENDED
`WITH MUSIC CONTROL KEYS
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent,
`Property Services, Inc.
`
`or Firm-Lumen
`
`Intellectual
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Enrique I. Moreno, 103 Kellogg Ave.,
`Palo Alto, CA (US) 94301
`
`(73) Assignee: Enrique I. Moreno, Palo Alto, CA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/369,228
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 5, 1999
`
`Int. Cl? ................................................ H03K 17/94
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................. 341!22; 84/744; 84/745
`(58) Field of Search .............................. 341/22; 84/744,
`84/745, 600; 345/168
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,565,641 A * 10/1996 Gruenbaum ................. 84/615
`5,646,648 A * 7/1997 Bertram ....................... 341!22
`6,063,994 A * 5!2000 Kew et a!. .................... 84/600
`* cited by examiner
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A dual mode keyboard system with a modified keyboard
`arrangement allows PC users to have real-time control of
`MDI data. By toggling the keyboard system between a MIDI
`data input mode and an alphanumeric data input mode. The
`key board used in the current invention may either be a
`separate unit connected to a PC through a keyboard port or
`may be integrated as a single unit with PC hardware. The
`keyboard preferably has keys that are capable of operating
`in MIDI input mode and that are positioned at the top portion
`of the keyboard. The MIDI input keys are arranged to
`represent a keyboard instrument, such as a piano. The
`keyboard also has a MIDI control section for toggling
`between the MIDI input mode and the alphanumeric input
`mode, wherein the control section also has keys for choosing
`operating transposition octave levels of MIDI input keys.
`The keyboard is typically interfaced with the keyboard
`driver program and operating system or CPU of the PC.
`MIDI data inputted from the keyboard can directed through
`a sound card or music application software, before being
`played by and audio system or being sent to an external
`MIDI instrument. The dual mode keyboard system of the
`current invention provides for a simple and low cost alter(cid:173)
`native to current MIDI data manipulation systems.
`
`Primary Examiner-Timothy Edwards
`
`13 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`10
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`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1050-0001
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 26,2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 6,351,225 Bl
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`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1050-0003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 26,2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 6,351,225 Bl
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1050-0004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Feb.26,2002
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`Exhibit 1 050-0005
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`US 6,351,225 B 1
`
`1
`MULTIMEDIA PC KEYBOARD EXTENDED
`WITH MUSIC CONTROL KEYS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to computer keyboards, and
`more particularly to a PC, laptop, or notebook computer
`keyboard having a set of additional function keys built-in for
`music control of a soundcard, on-board sound
`microprocessor, or other MIDI-driven installed devices or
`software.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`As PC soundcards or on-board sound microprocessors
`with synthesis capabilities and a MID I interface have 15
`become an indispensable component of most PC systems in
`the multimedia-driven market, the real-time control that a
`user can exert over such soundcard synthesizers is currently
`ignored in the majority of cases due to the lack of an
`unobtrusive MIDI control interface. At the same time, both 20
`amateur or professional music publishing and sequencing
`are accomplished nowadays by means of specialized soft(cid:173)
`ware running on desktop or laptop systems, which enabled
`by a soundcard with a MIDI interface, or by a stand-alone
`MIDI interface allow an editor to enter raw MIDI data. 25
`Currently, the available devices in the market that can be
`used to send external, real-time MIDI control data to either
`a soundcard's synthesizer or to a stand-alone MIDI interface
`serving editing/publishing software are relatively large and
`bulky musical instruments or miniature performance 30
`controllers, which in many cases are still inconvenient,
`inappropriate, or impossible to manage on the usually
`reduced desktop space setting in which most home and office
`PC or portable systems are set. The same situation is
`becoming more and more poignant as software-based DSP 35
`synthesis systems running on PCs begin to appear in the
`market because as personal computers become more
`powerful, users will no longer need to depend on dedicated
`hardware for sound generation. Software synthesizers will
`perform the same functions at a lower cost, and will allow 40
`for simple upgrades as technology changes.
`In addition, the wide variety of existing external MIDI
`instruments tend to have higher market prices because their
`main purpose is to provide high-quality audio signals and/or
`a natural performance interface full of features and useful to 45
`professional musicians. But given that the price of available
`external MIDI instruments or controllers could be compa(cid:173)
`rable or even greater than that of a complete multimedia PC
`system, it is frivolous, for most general users, to purchase a
`MIDI instrument or a professional controller just to provide 50
`some musical means of control over their soundcard's
`synthesizer (given that most general PC multimedia users
`are not professional musicians) and, as mentioned before, in
`any case, their size makes them generally inconvenient on a
`desktop setting. On the other hand, for professionals of 55
`music publishing or sequencing, a MIDI input interface is as
`necessary as a computer mouse and an alphanumeric
`keyboard, so, again, the bulk and size of a MIDI musical
`instrument make simple data entry a somewhat awkward
`and space-demanding undertaking. It is therefore one pur- 60
`pose of this invention to provide a new type of PC keyboard
`which gives its users access to MIDI real-time control
`without the extra space demands that an additional, physi(cid:173)
`cally separate control device unit necessarily requires.
`It is another purpose of this invention to provide for said 65
`new type of PC keyboard in a manner which permits the
`normal and simultaneous use of both, MIDI control
`
`2
`functions, and the customary alphanumeric functions of a
`PC or laptop keyboard on a single unit device.
`One more purpose of this invention is to provide said new
`type of PC keyboard device for MIDI control in such an
`5 absolutely basic manner of design and simplicity of
`operation, that users not acquainted with the multiplicity of
`functions associated with full or professional MIDI instru(cid:173)
`ments (such as tone generation, MIDI-in, MIDI-thru, system
`messages, channel messages, bulk dumps, etc., and all the
`10 buttons, sliders, panels, displays, inputs, outputs, jacks,
`cables and peripherals that go with them) may not find
`themselves in the necessity of learning about such
`operations, interfaces, and peripherals in order to properly
`operate this invention.
`Yet another purpose of this invention is to provide said
`new type of keyboard with such simple and basic design for
`its construction that its final price to the multimedia mass
`consumer may be comparable to other inexpensive standard
`PC keyboards.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is a new kind of multimedia com(cid:173)
`puter keyboard, which, in addition to the alphanumeric
`typing keys that are customary to most PC's typing key(cid:173)
`boards possesses a built-in set of additional keys arranged
`and designed in a manner suitable for music control, as well
`as device-driving software capable of translating said addi(cid:173)
`tional music control keys' signals into MIDI messages for
`real-time control of a soundcard or an internal on-board
`sound chip, or for real-time control of music software
`installed in the host, or for real-time control of an MIDI
`instrument external to the computer unit to which said new
`multimedia computer keyboard with additional music con(cid:173)
`trol keys is connected.
`All embodiments of this invention consist of a PC
`keyboard, which may be a separate unit or an integrated
`component of a portable laptop, notebook or palmtop
`computer, and which contains all the components of a usual
`PC alphanumeric typing keyboard, including its usual soft(cid:173)
`ware device driver, the usual cable bringing in power to the
`unit from a and conveying the unit's alphanumeric interrupt
`signals to a PC's keyboard port PC (in the case of a separate
`unit), an extra set of standard keys placed on the posterior
`part of the unit in an arrangement and design reminiscent of
`a piano keyboard, and three more standard keys with asso(cid:173)
`ciated indicator lights used to switch octave-transposition
`levels. Underneath all keys, there lies a correspondingly
`extended interruption detection matrix, which is exactly the
`same one used to detect actuation from the other alphanu(cid:173)
`meric keys, and which lies on the same circuit board. Such
`extension consists of the addition of several more interrup(cid:173)
`tion circuits, corresponding to the added keys for music
`control, and several output-state octave-transposition indi(cid:173)
`cator lights. One of those added keys that are particular to
`this invention, imprinted with the words "MIDI Lock", or
`similar indicative words, is used to activate or deactivate the
`musical function of all other added keys, which, when not
`activated, are interpreted by the keyboard device driver
`program as standard keyboard-Fl-to-F12 "function and
`lock" keys. Other two keys are used to switch octave(cid:173)
`transpositions of the music keys (when these are active). A
`set of underlying indicator lights displays the current active
`(MIDI control) or non-active (normal "function keys"
`control) state of the added set of keys, as well as the current
`transposition state of the music keys.
`The music keys actuate on the posterior part of the
`underlying extended detection matrix in the same usual
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1050-0006
`
`

`

`US 6,351,225 B 1
`
`5
`
`3
`manner as the alphanumeric keys do on their underlying
`anterior portion of it. As the music keys (previously acti(cid:173)
`vated in MIDI control mode) actuate on their underlying
`detection matrix, keyboard interruption signals with codes
`different from those already assigned to the usual alphanu-
`meric keys are generated in the usual manner at the unit's
`main microprocessor-which contains additional code to
`handle signals from the added keys-and sent in the usual
`manner (through the usual cable and usual PC's keyboard
`port, in the case of a separate unit) to the keyboard's driving 10
`software. The keyboard device driver software program or
`software program set manages the tasks of translating those
`appropriately coded interruption signals corresponding to
`the additional the music control keys into basic Note-On
`MIDI data, which by means of the host PC's operating 15
`system and CPU are ultimately conveyed to an active device
`connected to the host (such as a soundcard or an on-board
`sound microprocessor or an external MIDI port) or an active
`installed application (such as a sound synthesis software
`program or a music publishing/sequencing software 20
`program) actively waiting for MIDI input and possibly ready
`to pass it along to other internal or external hardware.
`The driver software implements only one kind of MIDI
`message, a "Note-On" message, consisting of three bytes, to
`each of which a "0" "start" bit is prepended, and a "1" bit 25
`appended. The first byte is always transmitting on MIDI
`Channel One, and is always a Note-On message, and is
`always equal to 10010000, in binary notation, or 90h, in
`hexadecimal notation (144, in decimal). The second and
`third bytes represent MIDI Note Number and MIDI Velocity 30
`respectively. Since the alphanumeric keyboard mechanism
`on which the operation of all music control keys will most
`likely lack velocity-detecting circuits, the possible values for
`the third byte are restricted to either zero or 64 only. A
`velocity value of 64 is always automatically generated for a 35
`Note-On, indicating that a music key has been depressed (if
`the keyboard's output state is in MIDI Lock mode). If the
`keyboard's output state is in MIDI Lock mode, a velocity
`value of zero is automatically generated by the driver
`whenever the keyboard's microprocessor detects that a 40
`previously-depressed music control key has been released.
`In this manner, and unless the keyboard unit is specifically
`built with velocity-detecting circuitry-in which case veloc-
`ity values can be made to range normally
`The driver software implements only one kind of MIDI 45
`message, a "Note-On" message, consisting of three bytes, to
`each of which a "0" "start" bit is prepended, and a "1" bit
`appended. The first byte is always transmitting on MIDI
`Channel One, and is always a Note-On message, and is
`always equal to 10010000, binary notion , or 90h, in 50
`hexadecimal notation (144, in decimal). The second and
`third bytes represent MIDI Note Number and MIDI Velocity
`respectively. Since the alphanumeric keyboard mechanism
`on which the operation of all music control keys will most
`likely lack velocity-detcting circuits, the possible values for 55
`the third byte are restricted to either zero or 64 only. A
`velocity value of 64 is always automatically generated for a
`Note-On, indicating that a music key has been depressed (if
`the keyboard's output state is in MIDI Lock mode). If the
`keyboard's output state is in MIDI Lock mode, a velocity 60
`value of zero is automatically generated by the driver
`whenever the keyboard's microprocessor detects that a
`previously-depressed music control key has been released.
`In this manner, and unless the keyboard unit is specifically
`built with velocity-detecting circuitry-in which case veloc- 65
`ity values can be made to range normally from 0 to 127, the
`receiving sound-generating hardware can control the onset
`
`4
`and duration of music sounds. This manner of operation
`makes possible polyphonic playing (that is, the playing of
`simultaneous notes perceived to be sounding at the same
`time) which becomes possible as long as the user holds one
`or more of the keyboard's music control keys down.
`One of said indicator lights particular to this invention
`displays the active or inactive output state mode of the music
`control keys. Thus, in order to cause the driver to send MIDI
`data to the operating system/CPU, the user must first activate
`MIDI Lock mode by depressing once the key that is
`imprinted with the words "MIDI Lock", or by assessing that
`said corresponding indicator light is on. If said indicator
`light is off, those of the added music control keys which are
`imprinted with the "Fl" -to-"Fl2", etc. labels will cause the
`driver to interpret signals corresponding to them as standard
`keyboard "Fl" -to-"Fl2" -etc. "function-and-lock" keys.
`If said indicator light is on, the driver will generate and
`output MIDI data corresponding to MIDI note numbers
`within the range indicated by the currently lit transposition
`indicator light, which range can be physically switched
`several octaves up or down the musical scale by means of
`the two aforementioned added transposition keys. Octave
`transposition is a result of computation in the driver soft(cid:173)
`ware; the octave transposition music control keys will set
`appropriate software flags that cause the driver program to
`add (transposition up) or subtract (transposition down) a
`numerical constant to the MIDI Note-Number value of a
`particular MIDI-active music control key. Thus, neither the
`keyboard hardware nor the sound hardware need to do
`octave-transpositions, since the driver keeps track of the last
`transposition level key depressed by the user on the
`keyboard, and uses this value to compute and send a
`transposed (or un-transposed) MIDI Note-Number code to
`the target sound hardware or software or external MIDI port.
`Alternatively, if the MIDI Lock light is currently lit, some
`of the music control keys can still be used to cause the driver
`to interpret "Fl" -to-"Fl2" -etc. "function-and-lock" signals
`by pressing one of the "function-and-lock" keys at the same
`time that one of the "Shift" or "Command" keys is held---{)r
`other such similar standard control key.
`The size, width, and length of this invention when built as
`a separate unit (e.g. not as the keyboard of a laptop, etc.) do
`not need exceed that size, width, or length which are
`customary of most standard alphanumeric PC typing key(cid:173)
`boards (about 17 to 20 inches in length from left to right, and
`7 to 9 inches in width form front to back).
`The operation of the alphanumeric keys of this invention
`is entirely equal to that of the music keys, since both input
`and output are the same for all keys of the unit. On the other
`hand, the physical components and construction of the
`keyboard conform to those of any standard PC alphanumeric
`keyboard, which construction, components, and operation
`are well understood and have been described before in many
`other active and expired patents and disclosures, and there(cid:173)
`fore are not relevant to this disclosure, since it is up to a
`manufacturer of this invention to choose among the great
`variety of active or expired components and modes of
`construction and operation for PC keyboards.
`Similarly, the manner in which the device driver sorts and
`translates signals in general from the keyboard's keys, and
`the manner in which these data are conveyed by the oper(cid:173)
`ating system/CPU to the soundcard or MIDI-receiving
`music software depends on the great variety of keyboard
`designs, keyboard microprocessors, operating systems and
`CPUs, and is already well understood.
`This invention does not specify the contents and layout of
`the alphanumeric section of the keyboard, which are
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1 050-0007
`
`

`

`US 6,351,225 B 1
`
`5
`assumed to be standard for a given operating system, and
`which may include a variety of non-related layouts (such as
`the so-called "ergonomic") or a variety of related features or
`devices (such as pointing devices).
`The uniqueness of this invention, therefore, stems from 5
`the original manner in which the standard typing keyboard
`has been extended with additional hardware music control
`keys, from the particular musical, "piano-style" arrangement
`and layout of such extra music control keys, form the fact
`that these music control keys are used to ultimately send
`MIDI messages to music hardware or software, from the fact
`that some of these music control keys can be toggled to
`operate as normal PC "function" keys or simultaneously
`music and function keys, from the fact that the keyboard
`device driver software is specifically used and written to
`include translation and control of data from said music
`control keys, from the use and management which the
`keyboard's device driver makes of the extra music keys'
`control signals to obtain octave transposition and polyphony,
`and from the fact that the keyboard's device driver sends
`MIDI messages to hardware or software installed in the
`keyboard's host PC or other external MIDI device.
`Consequently, the essence of this invention is the evolu(cid:173)
`tion of a standard PC alphanumeric typing keyboard into an
`input device capable of providing complete real-time mul(cid:173)
`timedia control to its associated computer-including music
`control input-while maintaining the usual size,
`characteristics, and expected manner of operation of any
`standard computer keyboard.
`
`Brief Description of Drawings
`
`10
`
`6
`signals to a PC's keyboard port 22. In another variant of the
`preferred embodiment, such as one where the keyboard is
`built onto a portable computer (laptop, notebook, or palmtop
`computer) the cable 20 is unnecessary, and 22 is internal.
`Inside the box 32, symbolizing a PC, a diagram box 34
`represents the flow of signals and data, where a keyboard
`driver program 24 translates incoming keyboard signals
`from 22, and when these correspond to activated music keys,
`translates them into corresponding MIDI Note-On data,
`which by means of the operating system/CPU 26 reach their
`intended hardware (soundcard/on-board music chip 28) or
`software 30 target. MIDI control data can be further
`re-routed from an application or from sound hardware (or
`both) to an external MIDI-enabled device through an output
`15 port 38 (generally a MIDI/audio port found on most
`soundcards) or through a similar dedicated MPU-401-type
`port or a MIDI interface connected to a serial port.
`In the preferred embodiment, the added keys 12 are built
`with an elongated appearance, some of them being smaller
`20 and of a darker plastic hue (corresponding to a piano's
`"black" keys) and some longer (corresponding to the piano
`"white" keys) and with a lighter hue. The number of all the
`keys 12 in the preferred embodiment is 37, or three complete
`octaves plus one more key of the musical scale, where key
`25 #13 corresponds to middle "C" or MIDI Key Number 60.
`The "white" keys in 12 are imprinted on their anterior
`surfaces with the "Esc", "F1", "F2", "F3", etc, to "F12",
`"Print Scrn/SysRq", "Scroll Lock", "Pause/Break", "Insert",
`"Home", "Page Up", "Delete", "End", "Page Down" labels
`30 of the traditional PC keyboard function keys. Such imprints
`indicate the expected output control signal when the keys 12
`are not in MIDI lock mode or when, despite of the key(cid:173)
`board's current output state being on MIDI lock mode, one
`of the "Shift" keys is depressed and held while at the same
`35 time depressing one of the above mentioned "function"
`keys. In this latter case, the driver interprets the signal so
`elicited as a dual instruction which causes a MIDI message
`to be sent, and a "function" interrupt instruction(cid:173)
`corresponding to the function imprinted on the key-to be
`sent also. The additional "black" keys in 12 can also have
`dual functions and may bear different imprints correspond(cid:173)
`ing to other optional functions, such as control over other
`multimedia devices integrated or peripheral to the host PC.
`In another embodiment, the number of the keys 12 is not
`45 exactly 37-though all embodiments of this invention share
`some form of the geometrical arrangement of "black and
`white" piano style keys, and this is a distinct characteristic
`of this invention.
`In yet another embodiment, the traditionally rectangular
`50 and elongated form of the keys 12 has been suppressed in
`favor of a more space-economic form by restricting the size
`and form of all the keys 12 to that standard smaller size and
`square form of such traditional alphanumeric keys as the
`"Q", "W", "E", etc. keys.
`Thus, referring now to FIG. 2, therein is shown a sche(cid:173)
`matic representation of said other embodiment of this
`invention, which is particularly suited, but not restricted to
`a smaller, portable computer where the keyboard is not
`physically separated from the computer, and where the
`extended typing keyboard 40 has been built with the addi(cid:173)
`tional keys 42, which are made square and smaller in form
`rather than rectangular and larger. In one more embodiment,
`the form of the keys 42 is circular, and in yet one more
`embodiment the hues of the keys 42 are inverted, such that
`the traditionally "white" piano-style keys appear darker, and
`the traditionally "black" piano-style keys appear lighter. In
`yet one other embodiment, the color hues of the keys 42 are
`
`Other objects, features and particularities of this invention
`will occur from the ensuing detailed descriptions and
`appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accom(cid:173)
`panying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a preferred
`embodiment of this invention along with a related diagram
`indicating signal flow
`FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the external 40
`appearance of another embodiment of this invention
`FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the external
`appearance of yet another embodiment of this invention
`FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the MIDI Lock and
`transposition keys of a preferred embodiment this invention,
`along with their associated indicator lights
`FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the MIDI Lock and
`transposition keys of another embodiment this invention,
`along with their associated indicator LED
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic repre(cid:173)
`sentation of a preferred embodiment of this invention, where 55
`an extended PC typing keyboard unit 10 has been built with
`additional keys 12, 16, and 18, and their corresponding
`underlying mechanisms and detection switches on a corre(cid:173)
`spondingly extended underlying board (not shown in the
`FIG.). There is also an additional set of indicator lights 14 60
`used to display whether the added keys 12 and 16 are
`currently active in MIDI mode, and if so, at which transpo(cid:173)
`sition level. The rest of the keys and indicator lights on the
`unit 10, and their general arrangement correspond to what is
`normally found and expected in various standard PC key- 65
`boards. A cable 20 (needed only when the keyboard is a
`physically separated unit) conveys the keyboard interrupt
`
`Verizon Wireless
`Exhibit 1050-0008
`
`

`

`20
`
`25
`
`30
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`US 6,351,225 B 1
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`15
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`7
`varied and colorful, such as in a design made to appeal to
`children, where every pitch class of the musical scale is cast
`in a different color.
`Referring to FIG. 3, therein is shown one more embodi(cid:173)
`ment of this invention, where the extended keyboard 50 has 5
`been built with the additional "black and white" piano-style
`keys 52 that are characteristic to this invention, and which,
`when "white", they are made square and smaller in form
`rather than rectangular and larger, and when "black", they
`are made rectangular and elongated. This mixed-size design 10
`constitutes the second-preferred embodiment, if that may be
`said, given that it is a compromise between the desirable
`economy of space afforded by the all-small-and-square-keys
`embodiment, and the desirable more musical appearance of
`the all-rectangular-and-long-key embodiment.
`Referring back to FIG. 1, the keys 16, 18, and associated
`indicator lights 14 occupy, in the preferred embodiment, that
`area of the keyboard which is usually assigned in most PC
`keyboards to the traditional six "function" keys "Insert",
`"Home", "Page Up", "Delete", "End", and "Page Down",
`which, as noted above, have been made to share a physical
`key with the so-called "white" music keys of 12. Such
`sharing of the same physical keys has freed space for the
`keys 16, 18, and associated indicator lights 14 which are
`characteristic of this invention, and also for the three tradi-
`tional indicator lights 36 usually labeled "Num Lock",
`"Caps Lock", and "Scroll Lock".
`A detailed view of said area is shown in FIG. 4, to which
`now reference is made, and where the central key 64,
`imprinted with the words "MIDI Lock" is flanked by the
`octave transposition keys 62, which bear the imprints
`"Transp" and respective right or left pointing arrows to
`indicate the direction of transposition. A series of nine
`continuous, horizontally arranged plastic windows 60 serve
`to cover and protect their underlying indicator lights and 35
`switches used to display a selected current transposition
`level of the music keys. Every one of the small windows has
`an ideal length of about three sixteenths of an inch from left
`to right in a separate-keyboard unit embodiment.
`Alternatively, in another smaller (portable) embodiment, 40
`a continuous window strip of approximately one and five
`sixteenths of an inch is used to house the underlying
`indicator lights. In other embodiments, said window length
`may vary.
`In the preferred embodiment, indicator lights 60 are 45
`labeled with imprints 66 bearing the ciphers from -4 to zero
`to +4. The keys 62, each bearing an imprint of an arrow in
`opposite directions are used to toggle the current octave
`transposition level of the music control keys and to cause the
`appropriate indicator light to light up underneath its corre- 50
`spondingly labeled window or portion of the window. By
`actuating on the arrow keys 62 an appropriate number of
`times, or simply by keeping one of these keys 62 depressed,
`the user steps up or down a transposition state-which is
`concurrently shown by the lighting of the appropriate indi- 55
`cator light-and enables the user to select the final transpo(cid:173)
`sition output state of the music control keys. The output state
`codes for the music keys are switched internally in the same
`manner as the "Shift" or "Ctrl+Shift", etc., keys alter the
`output state of the standard alphanumeric keys (for example, 60
`from small-case to capitalized characters).
`In another embodiment, the transposition keys 62, their
`indicator lights 60 and corresponding labels 66 are found at
`a different place on the unit, their exact location being
`irrelevant to their function and operation.
`In yet one more embodiment, the nine indicator lights 60
`are substituted by a single LED numerical display and
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`8
`underlying circuits, which, when lit, displays not only the
`negative, zero, or positive number corresponding to the
`current transposition state of the music keys, but also the fact
`that the music keys are currently in MIDI Lock mode.
`Referring now to FIG. 5, therein is shown the appearance
`and arrangement of the transposition and MIDI Lock keys
`72, and said numerical LED display 70 in the preferred
`embodiment.
`Referring back to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment,
`the manner of interaction between the physical music con(cid:173)
`trol keys of the keyboard 12, 16, 18, and their driver
`software 24 starts when a user depresses the unlit, inactive
`MIDI Lock music control key 18. Then a corresponding flag
`in the driver program is set to TRUE. As long as this flag is
`TRUE, the driver program assigns a TRANSPOSITION_
`LEVEL variable a value between -4 and +4 whenever the
`user toggles octave transposition level by means of the
`transposition music control arrow keys 16, or, if these
`transposition music control arrow keys 16 have not been
`toggled yet, the TRANSPOSITION_LEVEL variable
`remains at its default value =0. Then, whenever the driver
`program 24 detects an incoming signal from the music
`control keys 12 of the keyboard, the current
`TRANSPOSITION_LEVEL value is multiplied by twelve
`and the result of this multiplication added to the MIDI Note
`Number value correspondingly mapped to the incoming
`signal from said music control key 12; this final MIDI
`Note-Number value is what the driver outputs to a
`soundcard, a sound chip, or an active music software pro(cid:173)
`gram currently controlling the sound hardware.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A dual mode keyboard system for inputting MIDI data
`to a MIDI data processor and inputting alphanumeric data to
`an alphanumeric data processor, said keyboard system com(cid:173)
`prising:
`a) an extended keyboard unit with data input keys for
`inputting key stroke data, wherein the extended key(cid:173)
`board comprises a lower section and an upper section,
`t