TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of keyboards. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-language keyboard.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, keyboards are used in various electronic devices, for example computer, mobile phones, and the like. Keyboards include characters written on a surface of keyboard keys for providing various commands. These characters may be, for example, alphabets, numeric, and/or signs. Keyboards include keys on which these characters are written. Typical keyboard includes characters in one language. These keyboards may not be useful when characters in various languages are needed. For example, to translate one language into other language. Also, for example, when same electronic device is used in different countries having different languages, these keyboards may not be useful to enter the characters in different languages. Therefore, multiple keyboards having characters of different languages may be used for inputting the characters in different languages.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to provide a cost effective keyboard which can be used for inputting characters of multiple languages without changing the keyboard.

SUMMARY

[0004] In one embodiment, a multi-language keyboard is described. The multi-language keyboard includes a plurality of keys, a plurality of chambers, a plurality of characters, and a plurality of light sources. Each key includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The plurality of chambers is formed on the lower surface of each key. Each character is in a plurality of languages. A character in a language is written on a region on the upper surface associated with each chamber. The plurality of light sources is disposed in each of the plurality of chambers. The plurality of light sources enables switching between the plurality of languages.

[0005] The multi-language keyboard may include a key for switching between the plurality of light sources to switch between the plurality of languages. [0006] Switching between the plurality of languages is performed by a switching module stored in memory.

[0007] The region of the plurality of keyboard, where a character is written, is transparent.

[0008] The plurality of light sources enables switching between the plurality of languages by glowing associated characters.

[0009] The plurality of light sources enables switching between the plurality of languages by glowing associated region on the upper surface.

[0010] Each language is associated with a colour for the plurality of characters.

[0011] The device disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects and may be implemented to perform in various ways. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] Various embodiments are described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIGs. 1A and IB illustrate a keyboard having characters written in multiple languages and switchable between the multiple languages, in accordance with some embodiments of the present subject matter;

[0014] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present subject matter, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present subject matter is defined by the appended claims.

[0016] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0017] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the preferred, systems and methods are now described.

[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates a multi-language keyboard 100 having characters written in multiple languages, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The keyboard 100 includes keys, chambers (e.g., 108A and 108B), characters (e.g., 104 and 106), and light sources (e.g., 110A and HOB). Each key 102 includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The chambers 108A and 108B are formed on the lower surface of each key 102. Each character (e.g., 'Z' as shown in Fig 1) is in multiple languages (e.g., 'Z' in English is shown as 'C ³ ' in Arabic as shown in FIG. 1). A character in a language is written on a region on the upper surface associated with each chamber. For example, the character Z 104 in English is on a region on the upper surface associated with the chamber 108A. Similarly, the character 'C ³ ' ('Z' in Arabic) is on a region on the upper surface associated with the chamber 108B. Further, the light sources are disposed in each of the chambers. For example, the light source 108A is disposed in the chamber 110A and the light source 108B is disposed in the chamber HOB. The light sources 108 A and 108B may enable switching between the languages (English and Arabic in the present example). For example, as shown in Figure 1A, when the light source 110A is activated, the character in English is presented to a user. Similarly, when the light source HOB is activated, the character in Arabic is presented to the user (as shown in FIG. IB). Further, the light sources 110A and HOB may be activated using the power from the electronic device, for example, by connecting the multi-language keyboard 100 through an USB port. Alternatively, an external energy source may be used for activating the light sources 110A and HOB. For example, the external energy source may be a battery disposed in the multi-language keyboard 100.

[0001] In one example, the multi-language keyboard 100 may include a hard key for each language to switch between the light sources 11 OA and HOB for facilitating switching between the multiple languages. Alternatively, the multi-language keyboard 100 may include a switching module stored in memory for switching between the light sources 11 OA and HOB to facilitate switching between the multiple languages. For example, the switching module can be in the form of instructions stored in the memory. The memory may reside in the computer for which the multi-language keyboard 100 is used. The memory may correspond to any storage device that stores computer-implemented instructions, such as programming code or the like. For example, the memory may include non-volatile memory, volatile memory, and/or storage devices. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, electrically erasable programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to, Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), and dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). Examples of storage devices include, but are not limited to, hard disk drives, compact disc drives, digital versatile disc drives, optical drives, and flash memory devices.

[0002] Further, when the light source 110A is activated, the character 104 ('Z' in the present example) in English is presented to the user. Similarly, when the light source HOB is activated, the character 106 ('C ³ ' in the present example) in Arabic is presented to the user. In one example, the characters 104 and 106 are highlighted. In another example, the region on the upper surface (on which the characters 104 and 106 are written) is highlighted. Further, in one example, the region may be transparent. In another example, the characters may be written in different colours for representing different languages.

[0019] The multi-language keyboard 100 is described to be used in computer only for the explanation purpose. However, the multi-language keyboard 100 may be used for several other applications including computing devices, mobile phones, and the like. In one example, the multi-language keyboard 100 may communicate with these electronic devices through a USB port or any wired connection. In another example, the multi-language keyboard 100 may communicate with these electronic devices through a wireless communication protocol, for example WIFI, Bluetooth®, and the like. [0020] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied there from beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Therefore, the disclosure is not limited to the specific details, the representative embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0021] Moreover, although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.