Device, in particular a keyboard, for data or command entry

Abstract

A device, in particular a keyboard, for data or command entry is disclosed. The device is suitable for entering data or commands into an electronic processing system, in particular, into an electronic system or apparatus for controlling a respective installation, such as an entertainment centre such as a bowling centre.

1 . An entertainment unit comprising a keyboard comprising a surface having a plurality of typing elements arranged into zones and having respective identification signs defining corresponding characters or symbols, the plurality of typing elements are selectively activated and shown based on specific operating conditions present in an entertainment centre such that a single keyboard can be customizable to a plurality of entertainment centres with different operating conditions. 
     
     
         2 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the typing elements are deactivated and hidden from use when not associated with the specific operating conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The entertainment unit of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of the typing elements that are deactivated are provided in defined one or more zones. 
     
     
         4 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the selectively activated plurality of typing elements are in a typing mode in a specific zone which, when selected, provide or modify information on a display. 
     
     
         5 . The entertainment unit of  claim 4 , wherein the selectively activated plurality of typing elements are suitable for only a specific operation of the entertainment centre. 
     
     
         6 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a backlight in order to show each of the selectively activated plurality of typing elements based on the specific operating conditions present in the entertainment centre. 
     
     
         7 . The entertainment unit of  claim 6 , wherein the backlight for each of the plurality of typing elements comprises at least one of different brightness level and color which selectively corresponds to the operating condition of the plurality of typing elements. 
     
     
         8 . The entertainment unit of  claim 7 , wherein the different brightness level includes an off state for a predetermined amount of time and an on state for each of the plurality of typing elements that are active. 
     
     
         9 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , wherein any of the plurality of typing elements provide a visual feedback to a user when selected. 
     
     
         10 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system which controls the plurality of typing elements such that any of them can be selectively activated and shown or omitted and hidden based on the specific operating conditions present in the entertainment centre. 
     
     
         11 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the keyboard comprises a sequence of operating states suitable for performing a single operation or activity, there being in each of the operating states one group of the plurality of typing elements which is in key typing mode, and a second group of the plurality of typing elements which is in key non-typing mode. 
     
     
         12 . The entertainment unit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of typing elements in the key non-typing mode change in sequence to be able to perform an operation and become active when the at least one of the plurality of typing elements in the key typing mode are selected. 
     
     
         13 . The entertainment unit of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of typing elements in the key typing mode are deactivated after the at least one of the plurality of typing elements in the key typing mode are selected. 
     
     
         14 . The entertainment unit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of typing elements in the key typing mode are a minimum amount of elements used for a particular element. 
     
     
         15 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , wherein a select of the plurality of the typing elements are required for a specific mode, and remaining of the plurality of the typing elements deactivated and hidden from use. 
     
     
         16 . The entertainment unit of  claim 1 , wherein the single keyboard that is customizable includes a same hardware configuration regardless of the entertainment centres with different operating conditions. 
     
     
         17 . An entertainment unit comprising a keyboard comprising a plurality of typing elements having respective identification signs defining corresponding characters or symbols, the plurality of typing elements providing feedback to a user based on a selection of a particular key of the plurality of typing elements. 
     
     
         18 . The entertainment unit of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback includes a lighting of the key. 
     
     
         19 . The entertainment unit of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback includes a predetermined illumination intensity of the key. 
     
     
         20 . The entertainment unit of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback includes a flashing of the key. 
     
     
         21 . The entertainment unit of  claim 17 , wherein the feedback includes a color lighting of the key. 
     
     
         22 . An entertainment unit comprising a backlighting system facing a flooring system and controlled by an entertainment system, the backlighting system comprises LED lights to light the flooring behind a pedestal in a bowling centre. 
     
     
         23 . The entertainment unit of  claim 22 , wherein the LED lights comprises a red, green and blue lighting system. 
     
     
         24 . The entertainment unit of  claim 22 , wherein the LED lights are provided on a back of a console for a scoring system. 
     
     
         25 . The entertainment unit of  claim 22 , wherein the backlighting system is managed both centrally, from a management system, and locally by a lane scoring system. 
     
     
         26 . The entertainment unit of  claim 22 , wherein the backlighting system is customized and individually controled for each of red, green and blue light, of each bowler terminal.