Data entry device

• US 20030030625A1
• Filed: 07/20/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christian Zengel, Oliver Kauk
• Original Assignee: Christian Zengel, Oliver Kauk
• Inventors: Kauk, Oliver, Zengel, Christian
• Application Number:
  US10/199,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

The data entry device especially designed for computers consists of two joysticks or control handles (2) that are equipped with keys so that they combine the functions of a keyboard and a mouse. The main keys (3c) contain the alphabet (5a). Using special shift keys (3b, 5u) that are operated by the thumb, their assignment is switched to numbers (5b), special characters (5c, d), text cursor functions (5e), or control functions. Other assignments can be programmed and activated with the system key. The displacement of the control handles (2) moves the mouse cursor or triggers control functions (6a, b, c), such as Enter/Escape or PageUp/PageDown. These mouse cursor or text cursor functions can be activated or deactivated with the push of a button (3a, b). The handle parts (2a) of the control handle units (1) can be adjusted in size and position (FIGS. 5 and 6) and can be located at the end of arm rests (4d).

The data entry device according to the invention thus abandons the conventional approach of positioning key elements on a plane. The design respects the natural, relaxed position of the hand so that a pronation movement of the hand to press key elements is completely done away with.

Claims

1. A data entry device comprising

at least one holding and/or control handle that is held with one hand,

at least one operating element that creates a control signal when operated, and

a connection element for the transmission of the control signal to a computer or other signal-controlled devices,

characterized in that

this data entry device includes a holding and/or control handle (1) and one or several key elements (2) with numbers, letters, or special characters, which are positioned in an arrangement plane (A), wherein the longitudinal axis (A′

) of the arrangement plane (A) of the key elements (2) assumes an angle between 0° and

90°

with respect to the longitudinal axis (1′

) of the control handle (1).

2. A data entry device according to claim 1 characterized in that the holding and/or control handle (1) is movably supported and creates control signals when displaced.

3. A data entry device according to claim 1 characterized in that the arrangement plane (A) defined by the key elements (2) is spherical.

4. A data entry device according to claim 1 characterized in that tow data entry devices (D) are provided and arranged in a manner that one is operable with the left hand and the other is operable with the right hand, wherein the key elements (2) together recreate at least part of a conventional data entry device (computer keyboard).

5. A data entry device according to claim 1 characterized in that the key elements (2) are arranged in a manner that at least one shift key or special key or a spacebar is operable with the thumb while the other key elements are operable with the remaining four fingers.

7. A data entry device according to at least one of the previous claims characterized in that the holding and/or control handle (1) includes a rest divide or a wrist support (2d) for resting and supporting the user'"'"'s hand, wrist or lower arm.

8. A data entry device according to claim 1 characterized in that the holding and/or control handle (1) forms a single piece together with the arrangement plane (A) of the key elements (2).

6. A data entry device according to claim 6 characterized in that at least one special key is operable with the thumb of one hand and another special key is operable with the thumb of the other hand.

9. A data entry device comprising

at least one housing,

at least one keyboard area provided on the housing, including main key elements, which are located in a first arrangement plane,

at least one other keyboard area provided on the housing with function key elements in another arrangement plane,

a rest area for resting at least part of one hand, as well as

a connection element for the transmission of the control signal to a computer or other signal-controlled devices,

characterized in that

the additional keyboard area(53) with the function key elements is located at a distance from the keyboard area (52) with the main key elements (3c) and in another arrangement plane so that the additional keyboard area(53) is preferably operable by the thumb and the keyboard area (52) with the main key elements (3c) is operable with the remaining four fingers of one hand.

10. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that in between the keyboard area (52) with the main keys (3c) and the rest area (58), there is a support area (59), which in the cross section is higher than the level of the keyboard area (52) and the rest area (58).

11. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that the arrangement of the additional key elements (thumb control 2b) in the keyboard area (53) is spherical.

12. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that there is a trackball in the keyboard area (53).

13. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that in the keyboard area (53) there is a shift key, a special key or a spacebar as an additional key element.

14. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that a data entry device (50) is provided for each hand, and these data entry devices are connected via a swiveling mechanism (55) the axis of which (56) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the data entry device (50).

15. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that in the support area (59), a function element in the form of a scroll wheel (57) is provided.

16. A data entry device according to claim 9 characterized in that the plane defined by the keyboard area (52) is positioned at an ergonomic angle with respect to the plane of the key elements in the additional keyboard area (53).