Tactile Force Sensor and Hybrid Stenotype Keyboards and Method of Use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of key positions defining a stenotype keyboard, each key position comprising at least one region of a pressure sensitive material, said pressure sensitive material being responsive to lateral and horizontal pressures;
a means for determining if a contact of one or more of said key positions occurs by measuring an applied pressure on said at least one region of said pressure sensitive material;
a means for interpreting said contact of one or more of said key positions into one or more interpreted keystrokes; and
a means for outputting said interpreted keystrokes.
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Abstract
A stenotype keyboard utilizes pressure sensitive tactile sensors to register key presses and output interpreted keystrokes. The pressure sensitive tactile sensors are illuminated internally and create detectible changes to the electromagnetic radiation when compressed. The detectible changes are picked up by sensors and analyzed to determine which keys are pressed and the appropriate keystrokes are generated. Keystrokes are then either output or stored in memory for later retrieval. The pressure sensitive tactile sensors facilitate creating keyboard configurations such as combination hybrid keyboards that have both computer style layouts and stenotype keyboard layouts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of key positions defining a stenotype keyboard, each key position comprising at least one region of a pressure sensitive material, said pressure sensitive material being responsive to lateral and horizontal pressures; a means for determining if a contact of one or more of said key positions occurs by measuring an applied pressure on said at least one region of said pressure sensitive material; a means for interpreting said contact of one or more of said key positions into one or more interpreted keystrokes; and a means for outputting said interpreted keystrokes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of key positions defining a stenotype keyboard and a computer keyboard, said computer keyboard substantially overlapping said stenotype keyboard; a means for selecting a mode for the keyboard, wherein said mode is a stenotype keyboard mode or a computer keyboard mode; a means for determining a contact of one or more of said key positions; a means for interpreting said contact of one or more of said key positions into one or more interpreted keystrokes based on said mode; and a means for outputting said interpreted keystrokes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of detecting keystrokes on a keyboard, comprising:
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illuminating a region of a compressible foam; accepting a key press from the keyboard, said key press compressing said region of said compressible foam and creating a detectible change in a returned illumination; sensing said detectible change in said returned illumination; and interpreting said detectible change into a keystroke. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification