Computer keyboard assembly

• US 20020070922A1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lynne Zarek
• Original Assignee: Lynne Zarek
• Inventors: Zarek, Lynne
• Granted Patent: US 6,670,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

A keyboard assembly for a personal computer. In one embodiment, the keyboard assembly has a housing and an actuator coupled to the housing. The housing may have an elongated front edge, an elongated rear edge, a lower surface, and an upper surface. A plurality of keys may project from the upper surface of the housing. The actuator is coupled to the housing to rotate the housing about a rotational axis for changing the inclination of the housing and the keys during operation. For example, the actuator may continuously rotate the housing about a rotational axis during operation in a manner that causes a computer operator to continuously flex his/her wrists. In another embodiment, the housing may be attached to a separate base that has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface. The base may also have a top surface with a channel extending along the rotational axis that is defined by a curved surface with a circular cross-section. The housing may have a tube or a portion of cylindrical surface depending downward from its lower surface and running longitudinally across its lower surface to fit within the channel of the base. The actuator may be coupled to either the base or the housing to rotate the tube within the channel for changing the inclination of the housing. The actuators for rotating the housing may also have several embodiments. In one particular embodiment, an actuator has a motor attached to either the base or the housing, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached by the shaft to engage either the tube or the channel. The rotation of the wheel accordingly causes the housing to rotate with respect to the base.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

a housing having a front edge, a rear edge, a lower surface, and an upper surface, the housing carrying a plurality of input keys arranged in a selected configuration and projecting from the upper surface; and

an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator pivoting the housing about a rotational axis to change an inclination of the housing and the input keys during operation.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a base under the housing, the base being pivotally attached to the housing at a joint.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein:

the base has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface and a top surface with a channel extending along the elongated axis, the channel being defined by a curved surface with a circular cross section;

the housing has a lower surface with a cylindrical surface depending from the lower surface and extending longitudinally across at least a portion of the lower surface along the rotational axis; and

the actuator is coupled to the base and the housing, the actuator rotating the cylindrical surface within the channel to change the inclination of the housing.

4. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached to the shaft, the motor being attached to one of the base or the housing and the wheel engaging the other of the base or the housing to rotate the cylindrical surface within the channel.

5. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein:

the channel has a plurality of teeth arranged in a row; and

the actuator comprises motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the housing and the gear being engaged with the teeth in the channel, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

6. The keyboard of claim 5 wherein the gear is a worm gear.

7. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein:

the cylindrical surface has a plurality of teeth arranged in a row; and

the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the base and the gear being engaged with the teeth on the cylindrical surface, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

8. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein the gear is a worm gear.

9. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator attached to a rear portion of the base and the housing, the linear actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a contracted position to pivot the housing about the rotational axis.

10. The keyboard of claim 3 wherein:

the actuator comprises a linear actuator with a rod that moves between an extended position and contracted position and a link having a first end fixedly coupled to the housing to extend along a radius of the cylindrical surface and a second end pivotally coupled to the rod.

11. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the front and rear edges of the housing are curved.

12. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the input keys include a set of keys with slanted faces inclined downward toward the front edge of the housing.

13. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator pivotally attached to a rear portion of the housing, the actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a retracted position to pivot the housing about a rotational axis proximate to the front edge of the housing.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, further comprising a base under the board, the base being pivotally attached to the board at a joint.

16. The keyboard of claim 15 wherein:

the base has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface and a top surface with a channel extending along the rotational axis, the channel being defined by a curved surface with a circular cross section;

the board has a lower surface with a portion of a cylindrical surface depending from the lower surface and extending longitudinally across at least a portion of the lower surface along the rotational axis; and

the actuator is coupled to the base and the board, the actuator rotating the cylindrical surface within the channel to change the inclination of the board.

17. The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached to the shaft, the motor being attached to one of the base or the board and the wheel engaging the other of the base or the board to rotate the cylindrical surface within the channel.

18. The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator attached to a rear portion of the base and the board, the linear actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a contracted position to pivot the board about the rotational axis.

19. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator pivotally attached to a rear portion of the board, the actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a retracted position to pivot the board about a rotational axis proximate to the front edge of the board.

14. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

a board having a front edge, a rear edge, and a plurality of keys arranged in a selected configuration; and

an actuator coupled to the board, the actuator continuously rotating the board about a rotational axis between a forward position and a rearward position in a manner that causes a user to change wrist positions during operation.

20. A keyboard for a computer, comprising:

a base;

a housing having a front edge, a rear edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface, the housing carrying a keypad and the housing being pivotally attached to the base to rotate about a rotational axis;

a drive assembly coupled to the housing, the drive assembly moving the housing about the rotational axis for changing an inclination of the housing and the keypad as a user selectively depresses keys of the keypad.

21. The keyboard of claim 20 wherein:

the base has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface and a top surface with a channel extending along the rotational axis, the channel being defined by a curved surface with a circular cross section;

the housing has a lower surface with a curved projection depending from the lower surface and extending along the rotational axis; and

the drive assembly is coupled to the base and the housing, the drive assembly rotating the curved projection within the channel to change the inclination of the housing.

22. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached to the shaft, the motor being attached to one of the base or the housing and the wheel engaging the other of the base or the housing to rotate the curved projection within the channel.

23. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein:

a plurality of teeth are arranged in a row in the channel; and

the drive assembly comprises motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the housing and the gear being engaged with the teeth in the channel, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

24. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein:

a plurality of teeth are arranged in a row on the curved projection; and

the drive assembly comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the base and the gear being engaged with the teeth on the curved projection, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

25. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the drive assembly comprises a linear actuator attached to a rear portion of the base and the housing, the linear actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a contracted position to pivot the housing about the rotational axis.

26. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein:

the drive assembly comprises a linear actuator with a rod that moves between an extended position and contracted position and a link having a first end fixedly coupled to the housing and a second end pivotally coupled to the rod.

27. The keyboard of claim 20 wherein the drive assembly comprises a linear actuator pivotally attached to a rear portion of the housing, the actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a retracted position to pivot the housing about a rotational axis proximate to the front edge of the housing.

29. The computer system of claim 28, further comprising a base under the housing, the base being pivotally attached to the housing at a joint.

30. The computer system of claim 29 wherein:

the base has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface and a top surface with a channel extending along the rotational axis, the channel being defined by a curved surface with a circular cross section;

the housing has a lower surface with a portion of a cylindrical surface depending from the lower surface and extending longitudinally across at least a portion of the lower surface along the elongated axis; and

the actuator is coupled to the base and the housing, the actuator rotating the cylindrical surface within the channel to change the inclination of the housing.

31. The computer system of claim 30 wherein the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached to the shaft, the motor being attached to one of the base or the housing and the wheel engaging the other of the base or the housing to rotate the cylindrical surface within the channel.

32. The computer system of claim 30 wherein:

a plurality of teeth are arranged in a track to project from the cylindrical surface; and

the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the base and the gear being engaged with the teeth on the cylindrical surface, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

33. The computer system of claim 30 wherein the gear is a worm gear.

34. The computer system of claim 30 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator attached to a rear portion of the base and the housing, the linear actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a contracted position to pivot the housing about the rotational axis.

35. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the front and rear edges of the housing are curved.

36. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the input keys include a set of keys with slanted faces inclined downward toward the front edge of the housing.

37. The computer system of claim 28 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator pivotally attached to a rear portion of the housing, the actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a retracted position to pivot the housing about a rotational axis proximate to the front edge of the housing.

39. The computer system of claim 38, further comprising a base under the board, the base being pivotally attached to the board at a joint.

40. The computer system of claim 39 wherein:

the base has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface and a top surface with a channel extending along the rotational axis, the channel being defined by a curved surface with a circular cross section;

the board has a lower surface with a portion of a cylindrical surface depending from the lower surface and extending longitudinally approximately parallel to the lower surface along the rotational axis; and

the actuator is coupled to the base and the board, the actuator rotating the cylindrical surface within the channel to change the inclination of the board.

41. The computer system of claim 40 wherein the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached to the shaft, the motor being attached to one of the base or the board and the wheel engaging the other of the base or the board to rotate the cylindrical surface within the channel.

42. The computer system of claim 40 wherein:

a plurality of teeth are arranged in a track on the cylindrical surface; and

the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the base and the gear being engaged with the teeth, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

43. The computer system of claim 42 wherein the gear is a worm gear.

44. The computer system of claim 40 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator attached to a rear portion of the base and the board, the linear actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a contracted position to pivot the board about the rotational axis.

45. The computer system of claim 38 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator pivotally attached to a rear portion of the board, the actuator having a rod that extends between an extended position and a retracted position to pivot the board about a rotational axis proximate to the front edge of the board.

47. The computer system of claim 46 wherein:

the base has a bottom surface for resting on a support surface and a top surface with a channel extending along the rotational axis, the channel being defined by a curved surface with a circular cross section;

the housing has a lower surface with a portion of a cylindrical surface depending from the lower surface and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the lower surface along the rotational axis; and

the actuator is coupled to the base and the housing, the actuator rotating the cylindrical surface within the channel to change the inclination of the housing.

48. The computer system of claim 47 wherein the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a wheel attached to the shaft, the motor being attached to one of the base or the housing and the wheel engaging the other of the base or the housing to rotate the cylindrical surface within the channel.

49. The computer system of claim 47 wherein:

a plurality of teeth are arranged in a track and project from the cylindrical surface; and

the actuator comprises a motor, a shaft rotationally driven by the motor, and a gear on the shaft, the motor being attached to the base and the gear being engaged with the teeth projecting from the cylindrical surface, the motor rotating the gear to rotate the housing.

50. The computer system of claim 49 wherein the gear is a worm gear.

51. The computer system of claim 47 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator attached to a rear portion of the base and the housing, the linear actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a contracted position to pivot the housing about the rotational axis.

52. The computer system of claim 46 wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator pivotally attached to a rear portion of the housing, the actuator having a rod that moves between an extended position and a retracted position to pivot the housing about a rotational axis proximate to the front edge of the housing.

28. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit; and

a keyboard assembly including a housing carrying a plurality of keys arranged in a selected configuration and an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator pivoting the housing about a rotational axis to change an inclination of the housing and the keys as a user selectively depresses keys of the plurality of keys.

38. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit; and

a keyboard having a board carrying a plurality of keys arranged in a selected configuration and an actuator coupled to the board, the actuator pivoting the board about a rotational axis to continually rotate the board in a manner that causes a user to change wrist positions as the user depresses keys of the plurality of keys.

46. A computer system, comprising:

a computer processing unit; and

a keyboard assembly having a base, a housing pivotally attached to the base to rotate about a rotational axis, a keypad on the housing, and a drive assembly having an actuator coupled to the housing, wherein the actuator drives the housing about the rotational axis in a manner that causes a user to change wrist positions during operation.