Keyboard and keys

• US 20050058492A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven B. Hirsch
• Original Assignee: Steven B. Hirsch
• Inventors: Hirsch, Steven B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/485
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions

Abstract

A keyboard has a single row of eight multi-position keys with the letters arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard configuration. The eight keys correspond to the eight fingers used when touch typing; each finger operates one key, and that key contains all the letters that the finger normally accesses when touch typing on a standard QWERTY keyboard. With this design, no finger has to move to a different key while typing. When depressed at different locations on its key face, each key either moves straight down, or down while tilting slightly about one of a plurality of axes. Three-position keys have two tilt axes and six-position keys have five tilt axes. The switches utilize contacts located on the bottom of the switches which may be conductive or nonconductive.

Claims

1. An alphabetical keyboard consisting of eight multi-position keys which contain letters A through Z arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard pattern.

2. The alphabetical keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keys are arranged in a horizontal sequence.

3. The alphabetical keyboard according to claim 1,

wherein the fourth of said multi-position keys from the right-hand side activates at least the letters U,Y,J,H,M, and N;

and

wherein the fourth of said multi-position keys from the left-hand side activates at least the letters R,T,F,G,V, and B.

4. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 1, wherein at least one of said keys contains other characters in addition to letters.

5. An alphabetical keyboard comprising in combination:

a first group of 6, three-position keys; and

a second group of 2, six-position keys.

6. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 5, wherein letters A through Z are arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard pattern.

7. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 6, wherein the keys are arranged in a linear sequence, from left to right, as follows:

3, three-position keys;

followed by

2, six-position keys;

followed by

3, three-position keys.

8. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 6, wherein at least one of said keys also contains other characters in addition to letters.

9. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 7, wherein one of said six-position keys activates the letters R, T, F, G, V, and B and another of said six-position keys activates the letters U, Y, J, H, M and N.

10. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 5, wherein said key positions are arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard pattern and said second group of 2, six-position keys activates at least the letters R, T, Y and U.

11. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 5, wherein said key positions are arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard pattern and said first group of 6, three-position keys activates at least the letters Q, W, E, I, O, and P.

12. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 5, wherein each of said 2, six-position keys provides a different output signal when the key is:

1) pressed downward at a first position where it does not tilt,

2) pressed downward at a second position where it tilts about a first substantially horizontal axis,

3) pressed downward at a third position where it tilts about a second substantially horizontal axis,

4) pressed downward at a fourth position where it tilts to one side about a substantially vertical axis,

5) pressed downward at a fifth position where it tilts diagonally about a first diagonal axis which is diagonal to both said first horizonal axis and said vertical axis, and

6) pressed downward at a sixth position where it tilts diagonally about a second diagonal axis which is diagonal to said second horizontal axis and said vertical axis.

13. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 12, wherein said substantially horizontal and vertical axes are respectively perpendicular and parallel to vertical edges of a key.

14. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 5 wherein each of said 6, three-position keys provides a different output signal when the key is:

1) pressed downward at a first position where it does not tilt,

2) pressed downward at a second position where it tilts about a first substantially horizontal axis, and

3) pressed downward at a third position where it tilts about a second substantially horizontal axis.

15. An alphabetical keyboard comprising in combination;

a first group of 5, three-position keys; and

a second group of 3, six-position keys.

16. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 15, wherein letters A-Z are arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard pattern

17. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 15, wherein the keys are arranged in a linear sequence, from left to right, as follows:

3, three-position keys;

followed by

2, six-position keys;

followed by

2, three-position keys; and

followed by

1, six-position key.

18. The alphabetical keyboard of claim 16, wherein at least one of said keys also contains other characters in addition to letters.

19. A three-position key actuated switch comprising:

a key having a plurality of feet on an underside of said key which provide for pivot axes for said key and for closure of circuits placed beneath said key.

20. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 19, wherein said feet on the underside of the key prevent closure of more than one of said circuits at a time.

21. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 19,

wherein there are four feet on the underside of said key, and

wherein when the key is actuated in any one of three positions, two of the four feet each close one of said circuits placed beneath the key.

22. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 19,

wherein there are four feet on the underside of the key,

wherein when the key is actuated in one of three positions two of the four feet each close one of the circuits placed beneath the key, and

wherein when the key is actuated in two of said three positions one of said four feet closes one of the circuits placed beneath the key.

23. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 19,

wherein there are three feet on the underside of said three-position switch;

and

wherein a center foot has a base which comprises an edge portion at each side, said base preventing closure of other circuits when a circuit is closed by the center foot.

24. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 23, wherein the top surface of the key tilts about said edge portions when the key is pressed at a top area or in a bottom area, away from the center of the key.

25. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 24, wherein said tilting prevents the center foot from closing a circuit when the key is in said tilted positions.

26. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 19, wherein said feet are electrically conductive.

27. A three-position key actuated switch comprising in combination:

a key having a foot on the underside of the key,

wherein said foot has a plurality of facets,

a plurality of circuits placed beneath the key, and

wherein a circuit is completed when one of said facets closes one of the circuits placed beneath the key.

28. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 27,

wherein the foot is comprised of three facets,

wherein said plurality of circuits comprises three circuits, and

wherein when the key is actuated in any one of three positions, only one of the three facets closes one of the circuits placed beneath the key.

29. The three-position switch according to claim 27, wherein said feet are electricaly conductive.

30. The three-position switch according to claim 28, wherein said feet are electricaly conductive.

31. A three-position key actuated switch comprising in combination:

a key having a plurality of feet on the underside of said key;

a top non-electrically conductive flexible layer;

a top conductive trace pattern on said top non-electrically conductive layer;

a non-electrically conductive spacer having openings at locations corresponding to the feet of said key;

a bottom non-electrically conductive layer;

a bottom conductive trace pattern on said bottom non-electrically conductive layer, and

wherein depression of said key causes at least one, but not all of said feet to press on said top non-electrically conductive flexible layer to close a circuit between at least one top conductive trace and at least one bottom conductive trace.

32. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 31, wherein the bottom non-electrically conductive layer comprises a support substrate.

33. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 31, wherein there are six feet located on the underside of said key.

34. The three-position key actuated switch according to claim 33, wherein when said key is pressed down, at least three of said six feet cause circuits to close.

35. A six-position key actuated switch comprising:

a key having a plurality of feet on the underside of said key which provide for pivot axes for said key and for closure of circuits beneath said key.

36. A six-position key actuated switch according to claim 35,

wherein said key provides a different output signal when the key is:

1) pressed downward at a first position where it does not tilt,

2) pressed downward at a second position where it tilts about a first substantially horizontal axis,

3) pressed downward at a third position where it tilts about a second substantially horizontal axis,

4) pressed downward at a fourth position where it tilts to one side about a substantially vertical axis,

5) pressed downward at a fifth position where it tilts diagonally about a first diagonal axis which is diagonal to both said first horizonal axis and said vertical axis, and

6) pressed downward at a sixth position where it tilts diagonally about a second diagonal axis which is diagonal to said second horizontal axis and said vertical axis.

37. A six-position key actuated switch comprising in combination:

a key having a plurality of feet wherein said feet have lengths which are long, medium and short and depend downward from a bottom surface of the key;

wherein when said key is pressed downward at a home position along a first axis perpendicular to a plane of the top of the key, at least one of said long feet engages a switching device to complete at least one circuit;

wherein when said key is pressed downward in an area immediately above said home position, the key tilts about a second axis which passes through at least one long foot end and switching contact is completed by a medium foot;

wherein when said key is pressed downward in an area immediately below said home position, the key tilts about a third axis which passes through at least one long foot end and switch contact is completed by a medium foot;

wherein when said key is pressed downward in an area adjacent to and at one side of said key home position, the key tilts about an axis defined by at least one long foot end and switch contact is completed by a medium foot; and

wherein when said key is pressed downward at a key corner diagonal from said key home position, the key tilts about an axis defined by ends of at least two medium length feet and switch contact is completed by a short foot.

38. A three-position key actuated switch comprising in combination:

a key having a plurality of feet on the underside of said key;

a plurality of circuits placed beneath said key;

a support substrate;

a plurality of supports located beneath said key and on said support substrate;

wherein when said key is depressed in a central area, the key moves downward and contacts said plurality of supports and at least one of said feet causes closure of a circuit in the central area;

wherein when said key is depressed at a top or bottom portion, the key contacts a subset of said plurality of supports and at least one of said feet causes closure of a circuit which is not under the central key area.

39. The three-position key actuated switch in accordance with claim 38, wherein said feet are electrically conductive.