Optimus keyboard trumped by the Display keyboard?

Artemy Lebedev might have some trouble selling his attention-grabbing Optimus keyboard here in the States — turns out some dude by the name of Elkin Acevedo beat him to the punch and received a patent for a "Display keyboard" way back in 1998. The patent abstract describes the Optimus almost exactly, too:

A display keyboard including a conventional keyboard having an upper edge, lower edge, and pair of side edges. A plurality of display keys are situated on the keyboard. Each display key has a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode display, or any future state of the art display invention situated thereon for depicting alphanumeric characters and indicia. Finally, for controlling the operation of the present invention, a conventional computer is connected to the keyboard and adapted to depict via the display keys characters and indicia relevant to the function of the key during a current software application. To prevent confusion and eliminate clutter, the display keys that are not relevant to the software are rendered blank. In essence, all of the keys of the display keyboard have display capabilities, but it is at the discretion of the manufacture which keys should be able to display.

Supposedly Elkin is trying to commercialize the Display keyboard, we're trying to get in touch with him to find out how far along he might be with that.

[Thanks, Carlos]

[Yan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I don't care who owns the patent or makes it; I just want one.

[Gordy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

This is one time I hope some half-baked company in China makes a knockoff of the Optimus design. That keyboard is awesome looking.

Then again, it's not like they'd bother to make a Mac driver. Nevermind.

[Tom Boucher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Personally I just want one, if he can license from the guy with the patent and so much the better. I've got money to buy that keyboard waiting to spend right now for my Mac. That is so perfect of a design, glad the tech is here to make it less than $1000 now ;)

[Shafiq Jetha @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Does such a patent exist in Europe/UK?
I'd love to have one of those!!!

[SASniper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Isn't there a limit on how long a patent is able to be held, before anyone can make it? 7 years? Isn't it shorter if the patent holder just sits on it and doesn't actually create the product?

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I think patents last 20 years or so? Or are lobbiticans {politician + lobby $$$} working to extend this to 50 years after the Apocalypse like copyright?

Is "sh1t or get off the pot" legally binding?

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Patents in the US (and other WTO patent convention countries) are good for twenty (20) years after the filing date (not the date it was issued). Since it takes about two to three years for a patent to be granted from the initial filing, issued patents usually have a useful life of around seventeen years. Also, if you spend some time in the Federal courts appealing a denial of patent, I think you can get some of that time back if you are successful. Formerly, patents were good for 15 or 17 years from date of issue.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Oh yeah, there is no requirement that you do anything useful with the patent; how could that be determined/enforced? The social bargain made is that you disclose your invention to the public in exchange for getting exclusive rights to it for the first few years.

[boss sauce @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Did Acevedo actually ever make a �Display keyboard�? I find it hard to believe that they could build a prototype of that design in 1998-- isn't a working model required for a US patent?

[Nelson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Let me add a bit to #6...

A patent pending is almost as useful as an issued patent (so the "useful life" might be considered closer to the 20 years). Smart inventors begin to commercialize (by either licensing or venturing) well before the patent issues.

[robby3ring @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

That is the most annoying keyboard layout ever created. I hope to god it's designed more like a mac keyboard. [double wide backspace. single row enter. ect.]

[Joseph @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Wouldn't he need to have created a working prototype in 1998 to have the patent granted? I would just make the thing anyway. And seriously though, how can this idea be patented. It's not like everyone at some point had thought this would be a cool idea. Non-complex ideas should be null and void for patenting.

This gives me an idea though, go patent everything relating to sticking an lcd onto it. I'll patent lcd coffee cups (holders), lcd display on glasses, lcd inline with a desk, lcd on someones front door/mailbox... and so many others. Eventually someone will invent it, I can sue for patent infringement and get lots of royalties!

[SASniper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#10 People do do that for a living!!! Patent every idea they can think of (no matter how crap) and hopefully some big corporate comes along and buys them out! Sucks!

[rich @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

In a patent claims are what dictate what the patentee controls. You have to do everything in the claim to fall under the patent. Here is the claim from this guy's patent:

"1. A new and improved display keyboard comprising, in combination:

a conventional keyboard having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a pair of side edges;

a plurality of function keys including a standard CTRL key, SHIFT key, CAPS LOCK key, ENTER key, and ALT key situated on the keyboard with conventional indicia situated thereon;

a plurality of display keys situated on the keyboard, each display key having a display situated thereon for depicting alphanumeric characters of various languages, symbols, special characters, pictures, icons abbreviations, short explanations and indicia, the display keys capable of changing colors and blinking to differentiate between numbers and letters and further between display keys having different functions associated therewith, wherein each display key is equipped with a light for allowing the utilization of the keyboard in the absence of ambient light; and

a computer with associated software connected to the keyboard for depicting, via the display keys, characters and indicia relevant to the function of the key during a current software application, wherein the improvement comprises: the computer controlling the display keys such that those not relevant to the software application are rendered blank and further wherein the computer displays, via the display keys, data relevant to a specific executable task associated with the combination of depressing one of the ALT, CTRL, or SHIFT keys simultaneously with one of the display keys."

As you can see, he has some limitations in there which on first blush seem fairly narrow. Specifically, his invention claims CTRL, SHIFT, CAPLOCK, ALT and ENTER keys with "conventional indicia." My guess is that means statically printed on. By my reading, if you made a keyboard without just one of these keys statically defined you would be ok.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

"Each display key has a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode display, or any future state of the art display invention situated thereon..."

How the hell is that patentable? It's tantamount to stating "It'll have X ... or anything cooler that comes along that I might not have thought of yet".

Furthermore:

"A display keyboard including a conventional keyboard having an upper edge, lower edge, and pair of side edges."

Just to piss this guy off, I'm going to build "his" keyboard, leave off a side edge, and sell it for millions.

[Jerusalem @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

the odd thing is that it took so long for someone to try and patent this, and the really odd thing is that the patent was issued. I remember reading a SF book in 1985 or so where some guy had a device with such a keyboard. I've been awating this device ever since.

[Bryant Choung @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

For all of you that are pissed about people making very broad patents that pretty much cover any possible future technology applications think how frustrated companies like RIM must get.

[Gabe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

That's a shame, even if, and i say IF the Optimus is taken from this patent design, who cares! The Optimus is way cool, as an AVID and FCP Editor the Optimus would be a dream come true, I would Love for the Optimus to hit the market.

By the way, where is Mr. Acevedos prototype? Maybe he stole the idea?

[Lukino @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#14 I've seen many similar ultra-generic definitions in past months, while we in europe was scared by a patent system reform based on american model.
This is to try to avoid escamotages likes the one you posted.. It's quite funny: if I can take a normal keybord, put in some screens and patent it, can I took a screened keyboard, put in some speakers (example) and patent it as my idea?

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

How about build the keyboard as a wireless (the patent picture has a cable) or does his vagueness of how the keyboard is connected "a computer with associated software connected to the keyboard for depicting" kill that idea?

[rich @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Folks, his patent does not protect the stuff described quoted in the post. It only protects something matching all the elements in that big long ugly claim I quoted in #13 above. While the patent may describe things that seem very broad and obvious the claim is much narrower. I'm not even saying that the claim is valid, I am saying its narrow and easily designed around. This is not a very broad patent.

[Mitch Gaylord @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Now who in their right mind would buy a keyboard with eight number 14 keys?

[Nelson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Why are so many people concerned about prototypes?

The Patent office hasn't required those for YEARS.

And to #12, just to clarify, I wasn't talking about "patent squatters" -- I was merely referring to the mistake some people make waiting until their patent issues to start trying to do something with it. Heck, the day after I filed my first patent, I started trying to license it, and started my own company to get some of the applications on the markey (my name above links to my site -- I think Engadget should consider it as a listing at some point)

[Nelson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Sorry... NOW my name links to my site.

...And I took some of my applications to MARKET - not to markey. I hate typing!

[Aaron G. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

It's kind of funny how all of you people who actually know nothing about patents like to pipe up and make unsubstantiated claims and ill-informed, indignant statements.

I believe it's called "man-facting," and yes, this is something that women can do as well. You basically sound like this, "I know a little bit about this topic, so things that I extrapolate from it must also be as true as the things I think I know."

[Project @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I think the whole patent system is such a crock. People patent the broadest ideas and then try and edge out worthy competitors (usually with better products.) What a joke.

"Each display key has a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode display, or any future state of the art display invention situated thereon for depicting alphanumeric characters and indicia."

[TRRosen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Sorry but there's a ton of prior art on this---"Star Trek the Next Generation". All input devices on the show functioned this way if anyone gets a patent on this its the folks at Paramount.

Oh and PS the 17 year patent period is over anyway.

[LeoN @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Another good example of the US patent system doing exactly the opposite of what it was intended to do. It's meant to drive innovation, right? Hopefully, being based in Mother Russia, they'll just go ahead, build it and still make $MILLIONS$ from the rest of us outside the USA. (yes - that strange mostly patent-free place called 'foreign' that so many of your websites refuse to ship to :)

I can only hope that this is indeed the case since i would, without hesitation, smack down large sums of my undervalued .za currency for a working unit. Finally we can pack away the pliers and use a software API to get rid of that pesky CAPSLOCK.

[Woolly Mittens @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Elkin Acevedo better have DONE something with his patent in 7 years, or let non-patent-squatters do the innovation.

How exactly do patent promote innovation? Because I have only seen examples of the opposit.

[Woolly Mittens @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#23 It'd more useful if you would explain exactly how patents work. Instead of saying we're all wrong, taking your toys and running home.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Pffft, I'd still buy the Optimus keyboard anyway, it looks heaps better. Trust someone in the states to rip off an original idea. Kidding! :D

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Pffft, I'd still buy the Optimus keyboard anyway, it looks heaps better. Trust someone in the states to rip off an original idea. Kidding! :D

[Samuel Lago @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

They should patent this in the EU, its only software patents that are not allowed, but even with those they are still granted for some reason.

Poster #27 is right there is a whole world outthere, I am in the UK and not the US so I wont have to worry about this crap design comming over here.

Besides all a petent does is stop someone from copying your design and look its already happened. All the Russian company has to do is release it with the best possible features and the people will buy it for what it is, the best.

[SG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Don't worry - some folks in China are no doubt working on having this baby on the market in the next couple of months. The Chinese are good like that with this kind of stuff. Bugger the red tape - just make money.
No doubt Microsoift will follow suit.
I'll buy whatever comes first.

[Nelson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

#29, I'm not sure what you mean... What didn't I explain? Are you expecting me to give you a course in patents on a gadget bullitin board? Try checking out "Patent it Yourself" by David Pressman -- It'll answer all your questions. Or try one of the many inventing web sites out there -- www.inventored.org and www.inventnet.org are two good ones.

All I was trying to explain is that it's been years since the patent office has required a working prototype. "All" you have to do is explain how it would work with enough detail that "someone skilled in the arts" (that's a USPTO term) could build it.

I'm NOT taking any of my toys, and I'm still here -- So I'm NOT running home.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

If anyone is interested, I happen to know Elkin Acevedo personally and I can ask him questions for you...

As far as I know, he's had problems getting investors to invest in his ideas for the keyboard which is why it hasn't gotten to market yet. However, I anticipate it won't be long before he himself markets something, or until he licenses the technology to someone else.

[zoom314 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

A design patent will only last for 14 years of course. So this guy and His Display Keyboard are halfway through It.
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/#design

[Ilya Bobjakov @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Trust someone in the states to rip off an original idea.

[banjo player @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Um, this is not a design patent, design patents only cover the appearance such as designs of a coke can, furniture.... so i think it'll be longer than 14 years! Also, those Russians are very good artisty people and are good with a mouse and a huge screen and powerful pcs.. i could draw a flying car... and say it'll be real.its no way possible, i waiting to buy united keys 205 pro... the optimus is likely to never come out,,, by that time we'll all be using minority report style interfaces!!! it'll never come to market... face its got some niceties.. but cmon keyboards are cheap... why fork out $500 dollars on something like that.. no thanks i dont need one.... i would rather have a 'good mobile phone'...

[Roland P. Weimer @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:47PM]

Never mind any of those patent claims. The first programmable LCD keyboard was manufactured in Germany in the mid '80s and I have sold them in the US since 1991. The United Keys keyboard is nothing new at all and the Russian keyboard is a design study not a product.