Ergonomic keyboard

• US 20030190182A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Chou-Nan
• Application Number:
  US10/406,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/490
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/044 Repetitive strain injury [RSI] considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard. The keyboard includes a main body and first, second and third key groups disposed thereon. The third key group is arranged between the first key group and the second key group. The top surfaces of the keys of the first key group and the second key group are inclined to the third key group by a first angle, such that the keyboard can be more ergonomically sound.

Claims

1. A key structure, comprising:

a key cap, having a top surface with a plurality of top edges and a plurality of side surfaces extending from the top edges, each side surface having a bottom edge, the bottom edges forming a bottom surface;

wherein the projection of the top edge on the bottom surface and the bottom edge of the same side surface form a first included angle.

2. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first included angle is less than 30°

.

3. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the key cap have a similar geometric figure.

4. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface is a cambered surface.

5. A keyboard, comprising:

a main body;

a first key group, having a plurality of first keys with a first key cap and a first connection portion, the first keys movably connected to the main body through the first connection portions, each of the first key caps having a first top surface with a plurality of first top edges and a plurality of first side surfaces extending from the first top edges, each of the first side surfaces having a first bottom edge, the first bottom edges forming a first bottom surface; and

wherein the projection of each of the first top edges is inclined clockwise to the first bottom edge of the same first side surface by an included angle.

6. The keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first included angle is less than 30°

.

7. The keyboard as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a second key group, having a plurality of second keys with a second key cap and a second connection portion, the second keys movably connected to the main body through the second connection portions, each of the second key caps having a second top surface with a plurality of second top edges and a plurality of second side surfaces extending from the second top edges, each of the second side surfaces having a second bottom edge, and the second bottom edges forming a second bottom surface; and

wherein the projection of each of the second top edges is inclined counterclockwise to the second bottom edge of the same second side surface by the included angle.

8. The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a third key group, having a plurality of third keys with a third key cap and a third connection portion, the third keys movably connected to the main body through the third connection portions and disposed between the first key group and the second key group, each of the third key caps having a third top surface with a plurality of third top edges and a plurality of third side surfaces extending from the third top edges, each of the third side surfaces having a third bottom edge, and the third bottom edges forming a third bottom surface; and

wherein the projection of each of the third top edges on the third bottom surface is parallel to the third bottom edge of the same third side surface.

9. The keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first top surface and the first bottom surface, the second top surface and the second bottom surface, and the third top surface and the third bottom surface have similar geometric figures.

10. The key structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first top surface, the second top surface, and the third top surface are cambered surfaces.

11. A keyboard, comprising:

a main body;

a first key group, having a plurality of first keys with a first key cap and a first connection portion, the first keys movably connected to the main body through the first connection portions along a predetermined line, each of the first key caps having a first top surface with a first symmetrical axis; and

wherein each of the first symmetrical axes is inclined to the predetermined line by a first acute angle.

12. The keyboard as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a second key group, having a plurality of second keys with a second key cap and a second connection portion, the second keys movably connected to the main body through the second connection portions along the predetermined line, each of the second key caps having a second top surface with a second symmetrical axes; and

wherein each of the second symmetrical axes is inclined to the predetermined line by a second acute angle.

13. The keyboard as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a third key group, having a plurality of third keys with a third key cap and a third connection portion, the third keys movably connected to the main body through the third connection portions along the predetermined line and disposed between the first key group and the second key group; and

wherein each of the third symmetrical axis is perpendicular to the predetermined line.

14. The keyboard as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first acute angle and the second acute angle are between 30°

and 50°

.

15. The key structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first top surface, the second top surface, and the third top surface are cambered surfaces.