KEYBOARD AND KEYS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for electronically inputting letters or characters, the apparatus comprising:
- a reduced size keyboard;
a plurality of key elements of the keyboard each having a letter or character associated therewith;
a predetermined standard touch typing arrangement of the key elements and the letters associated therewith;
eight groups of key elements that collectively include all the letters within the predetermined standard touch typing arrangement; and
a plurality of the eight groups each having multiple key elements disposed in a generally single- or double-columnar configuration on the keyboard with the eight groups being laterally adjacent to each other on the keyboard so that centers of intergroup laterally adjacent key elements are spaced by a predetermined intergroup spacing therebetween and centers of intra-group adjacent key elements in each single- or double-columnar multiple key element group have less than the predetermined intergroup spacing therebetween to minimize finger movements therebetween during typing therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a preferred form, a keyboard has a single row of eight multi-position keys or groups of key elements with the letters arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard configuration. The eight keys or key element groups 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 or key element group while typing. In certain forms, 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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for electronically inputting letters or characters, the apparatus comprising:
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a reduced size keyboard; a plurality of key elements of the keyboard each having a letter or character associated therewith; a predetermined standard touch typing arrangement of the key elements and the letters associated therewith; eight groups of key elements that collectively include all the letters within the predetermined standard touch typing arrangement; and a plurality of the eight groups each having multiple key elements disposed in a generally single- or double-columnar configuration on the keyboard with the eight groups being laterally adjacent to each other on the keyboard so that centers of intergroup laterally adjacent key elements are spaced by a predetermined intergroup spacing therebetween and centers of intra-group adjacent key elements in each single- or double-columnar multiple key element group have less than the predetermined intergroup spacing therebetween to minimize finger movements therebetween during typing therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for electronically inputting letters or characters, the apparatus comprising:
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a keyboard having eight keys that collectively include all the letters of a predetermined alphabet arranged in a predetermined standard touch typing arrangement thereon; a surface of the keyboard extending between and including the eight keys; and a distinct activation position for each letter on the eight keys arranged consistently with the predetermined standard touch typing arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for electronically inputting letters or characters, the apparatus comprising:
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a reduced-size keyboard; eight keys of the keyboard that collectively include all the letters of a predetermined alphabet arranged in a predetermined standard touch typing arrangement thereon; a distinct activation position for each letter on the eight keys corresponding to the predetermined standard touch typing arrangement of the letters thereon that allows for individual fingers to move on a corresponding one of the eight keys in a manner corresponding to finger movements used for touch typing with standard keyboards without having to operate more than one of the eight keys; wherein the predetermined standard touch typing arrangement of the letters on the keys assigns to each finger'"'"'s corresponding key the same letters that finger would type when touch typing on a standard keyboard with the same standard touch typing arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification