Input keyboards

• US 3,929,216 A
• Filed: 09/04/1973
• Issued: 12/30/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvey Einbinder
• Original Assignee: Harvey Einbinder
• Inventors: Einbinder, Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Application Number:
  US05/394,516
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 197/9,98,99,100
• US Class Current: 400/484
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

Input keyboards are disclosed for typewriters, computer terminals, and other devices processing alphanumeric information that maximize entry rates and stroking accuracy, and minimize finger motions and the time needed to master the keyboard. A general method is also disclosed of designing such keyboards for any alphabetic language. The invention places the space key and four common vowels directly under the fingers of the left hand, and five common consonants directly under the fingers of the right hand. Two-finger chord strokes generate common twocharacter sequences belonging to the same hand. The keyboards are split into rotated halves containing curved key rows and slanted key tops of variable height to follow the architecture of the hand. The invention includes keyboards for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Claims

1. An input keyboard for the transfer of information to a machine by a human operator, comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in transversely oriented key rows as viewed by the operator;

the number key row being situated at the greatest distance from the operator;

the upper letter key row being situated closer to the operator than the number key row;

the home key row being situated closer to the operator than the upper letter key row;

the lower letter key row being situated closer to the operator than the home key row; and

the thumb key row being situated closer to the operator than the lower letter key row;

wherein the upper letter key row comprises twelve keys;

six keys on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator, and six keys on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

wherein the home key row comprises twelve keys;

six keys on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator, and six keys on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

wherein the thumb key row comprises six keys;

three keys on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator, and three keys on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

wherein the keys on the upper letter key row are designated in serial order along the upper letter key row as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard from the center of the keyboard as follows;

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-the first upper letter key, the second upper letter key, the third upper letter key, the fourth upper letter key, the fifth upper letter key, and the sixth upper letter key, respectively; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-the seventh upper letter key, the eighth upper letter key, the ninth upper letter key, the tenth upper letter key, the eleventh upper letter key, and the twelfth upper letter key, respectively;

wherein the keys on the home key row are designated in serial order along the home key row as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows;

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-the first home key, the second home key, the third home key, the fourth home key, the fifth home key, and the sixth home key, respectively; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-the seventh home key, the eighth home key, the ninth home key, the tenth home key, the eleventh home key, and the twelfth home key, respectively;

wherein the keys on the thumb key row are designated in serial order along the thumb key row as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows;

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-the first thumb key, the second thumb key, and the third thumb key, respectively; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-the fourth thumb key, the fifth thumb key, and the sixth thumb key, respectively;

wherein the upper and lower case forms of a single letter are assigned to the same key;

wherein space and letter keys are arranged on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator as follows;

the space key, which generates the separation between words, is assigned to the second thumb key;

one high frequency vowel is assigned to the second home key;

a second high frequency vowel is assigned to the third home key;

a third high frequency vowel is Assigned to the fourth home key; and

a fourth high frequency vowel is assigned to the fifth home key;

wherein each of these four high frequency vowels is a different letter; and

wherein letter keys are arranged on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator as follows;

one high frequency consonant is assigned to the fifth thumb key;

a second high frequency consonant is assigned to the eighth home key;

a third high frequency consonant is assigned to the ninth home key; and

a fourth high frequency consonant is assigned to the tenth home key; and

a fifth high frequency consonant is assigned to the eleventh home key;

wherein each of these five high frequency consonants is a different letter.

2. A keyboard, as in claim 1 for the English language comprising space and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

the space key is assigned to the second thumb key, I is assigned to the second home key, O is assigned to the third home key, E is assigned to the fourth home key, and A is assigned to the fifth home key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

N is assigned to the fifth thumb key, R is assigned to the eighth home key, S is assigned to the ninth home key, T is assigned to the tenth home key, and H is assigned to the eleventh home key.

3. A keyboard, as in claim 1, for the Italian language comprising space and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

the space key is assigned to the second thumb key, O is assigned to the second home key, I is assigned to the third home key, A is assigned to the fourth home key, and E is assigned to the fifth home key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

N is assigned to the fifth thumb key, L is assigned to the eighth home key, S is assigned to the ninth home key, T is assigned to the tenth home key, and R is assigned to the eleventh home key.

4. A keyboard, as in claim 1, for the Spanish language comprising space and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

the space key is assigned to the second thumb key, O is assigned to the second home key, I is assigned to the third home key, A is assigned to the fourth home key, and E is assigned to the fifth home key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

R is assigned to the fifth thumb key, S assigned to to the eighth home key, T is assigned to the ninth home key, N is assigned to the tenth home key, and D is assigned to the eleventh home key.

5. A keyboard, as in claim 1, for the French language comprising space and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

the space key is assigned to the second thumb key, A is assigned to the second home key, I is assigned to the third home key, E is assigned to the fourth home key, and U to the fifth home key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

N is assigned to the fifth thumb key, S is assigned to the eighth home key, T is assigned to the ninth home key, R is assigned to the tenth home key, and L is assigned to the eleventh home key.

6. A keyboard, as in claim 1, for the German language comprising space and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

the space key is assigned to the second thumb key, A is assigned to the second home key, U is assigned to the third home key, E is assigned to the fourth home key, and I is assigned to the fifth home key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

N is assigned to the fifth thumb key, R is assigned to the eighth home key, S is assigned to the ninth home key, T is assigned to the tenth home key, and H is assignEd to the eleventh home key.

7. A keyboard, as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of keys:

wherein the keys as viewed by the operator are arranged in two separate groups of keys;

one group of keys being situated on the left hand side of the keyboard;

the other group of keys being situated on the right hand side of the keyboard;

with an area in the center of the keyboard separating these two groups of keys;

wherein the keys on the number key row, the upper letter key row, and the home key row on each side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator are arranged in a curved convex arc in each key row; and

these curved convex arcs on each side of the keyboard are parallel to each other;

wherein the number key row, the upper letter key row, the home key row, the lower letter key row, and the thumb key row as viewed by the operator are rotated clockwise on the left hand side of the keyboard, and are rotated counterclockwise on the right hand side of the keyboard, wherein the key tops belonging to the second home key, the third home key, the fourth home key, the fifth home key, the eighth home key, the ninth home key, the tenth home key, and the eleventh home key are each parallel to the base of the machine to which the keyboard is attached-so that when the machine rests on a horizontal surface, each of these home key tops is horizontally oriented;

wherein the heights of the key tops belonging to the second home key, the third home key, the fourth home key, the the fifth home key, the eighth home key, the ninth home key, the tenth home key, and the eleventh home key vary to compensate for differences in finger length, so that when the height of these key tops are measured perpendicular to the plane on which the machine attached to the keyboard rests;

the heights of the second home key and the eighth home key, which are equal, are tallest;

the heights of the fifth home key and the eleventh home key, which are equal, are shorter than the heights of the second home key and the eighth home key;

the heights of the third home key and the ninth home key, which are equal, are shorter than the heights of the fifth home key and the eleventh home key; and

the heights of the fourth home key and the tenth home key, which are equal, are shorter than the heights of the third home key and the ninth home key;

wherein keys on the number key row, the upper letter key row, and the home key row are arranged so that when a plane passes through the center of the second home key, the third home key, the fourth home key, the fifth home key, the eighth home key, the ninth home key, the tenth home key, and the eleventh home key, respectively-and this plane is perpendicular to the transverse arc that passes through the center of home keys along the home key row from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard, this plane passes through the center of a key on the upper letter key row and through the center of a key on the number key row;

wherein the stroking surface of the first thumb key and the third thumb key each slope toward the second thumb key, so that the second thumb key rests in a trough on the left hand thumb row as viewed by the operator;

wherein the stroking surface of the fourth thumb key and the sixth thumb key each slope toward the fifth thumb key, so that the fifth thumb key rests in a trough on the right hand thumb row as viewed by the operator; and

wherein the stroking surfaces on the number key row, the upper letter key row, and the lower letter key row slope toward the home key row, so that when the heights of stroking surfaces are measured in terms of their perpendicular distance from the base of the machine to which the keyboard is attached;

for individual keys on the number key row-the edge of the stroking surface that is farthest from the operator is taller than the edge of the stroking surface on the same key that is nearest to the operator;

for individual keys on the upper letter key row-the edge of the stroking surFace that is farthest from the operator is taller than the edge of the stroking surface on the same key that is nearest to the operator; and

for individual keys on the lower letter key row-the edge of the stroking surface that is nearest to the operator is taller than the edge of the stroking surface on the same key that is farthest from the operator.

8. A keyboard, as in claim 2, for the English language comprising shift and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

U assigned to the first thumb key, and shift key assigned to the fourth upper letter key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

L assigned to the fourth thumb key, D assigned to the twelfth home key, C assigned to the ninth upper letter key, M assigned to the tenth upper letter key, and F to the eleventh upper letter key.

9. A keyboard, as in claim 3, for the Italian language comprising shift and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

U assigned to the first thumb key, and shift key assigned to the fourth upper letter key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator-M assigned to the fourth thumb key, D assigned to the twelfth home key, P assigned to the ninth upper letter key, C assigned to the tenth upper letter key, and H assigned to the eleventh upper letter key.

10. A keyboard, as in claim 4, for the Spanish language comprising shift and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

U assigned to the first thumb key, and shift key assigned to the fourth upper letter key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

L assigned to the fourth thumb key, C assigned to the twelfth home key, V assigned to the ninth upper letter key, M to the tenth upper letter key, and P to the eleventh upper letter key.

11. A keyboard, as in claim 5, for the French language comprising shift and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

O assigned to the first thumb key, and shift key assigned to the fourth upper letter key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

M assigned to the fourth thumb key, D assigned to the twelfth home key, P assigned to the ninth upper letter key, C assigned to the tenth upper letter key, and H to the eleventh upper letter key.

12. A keyboard, as in claim 6, for the German language comprising shift and letter keys arranged as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

O assigned to the first thumb key, shift key assigned to the fourth upper letter key, and (lower case;

umlaut;

upper case;

umlaut) assigned to the fourth upper letter key; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

L assigned to the first thumb key, D assigned to the twelfth home key, G assigned to the ninth upper letter key, C assigned to the tenth upper letter key, and B assigned to the eleventh upper letter key.

13. A keyboard, as in claim 8, for the English language comprising character and control keys arranged in serial order along key rows as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

U assigned to the first thumb key, the space assigned to the second thumb key, and the carriage return assigned to the third thumb key;

along the home key row;

Y assigned to the first home key, I assigned to the second home key, O assigned to the third home key;

E assigned to the fourth home key, A assigned to the fifth home key, and (lower case;

comma;

upper case;

comma) assigned to the sixth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

(lower case;

colon;

upper case;

Open parenthesis) assigned to the first upper letter key, (lower case;

question mark;

upper case;

semi-colon) assigned to the second upper letter key, X assigned to the third upper letter key, the shift assigned to the fourth upper letter key, (lower case;

period;

upper case;

period) assigned to the fifth upper letter key, and (lower case;

hyphen;

upper case;

underline) assigned to the sixth upper letter key;

on the lower letter key row;

J assigned to the first lower letter key situated between the second home key and the operator, Z assigned to the second lower letter key situated between the fifth home key and the operator, and (lower case;

apostrophe, upper case;

exclamation point) assigned to the third lower letter key situated between the sixth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the shift lock assigned to the thumb key situated between the second thumb key and the operator, and the margin release assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

L assigned to the fourth thumb key, N assigned to the fifth thumb key, and W assigned to the sixth thumb key;

along the home key row;

G assigned to the seventh home key, R assigned to the eighth home key;

S assigned to the ninth home key;

T assigned to the tenth home key, H assigned to the eleventh home key, and D assigned to the twelfth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

(lower case;

double quotation marks;

upper case;

close parenthesis) assigned to the seventh upper letter key, B assigned to the eighth upper letter key, C assigned to the ninth upper letter key, M assigned to the tenth upper letter key, F assigned to the eleventh upper letter key, and K assigned to the twelfth upper letter key;

along the lower letter row;

V assigned to the fourth lower letter key situated between the eighth home key and the operator, P assigned to the fifth lower letter key situated between the eleventh home key and the operator, and Q assigned to the sixth lower letter key situated between the twelfth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the backspace assigned to the thumb key situated on between the fifth thumb key and the operator, and the tabulator assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator.

14. A keyboard, as in claim 9, for the Italian language comprising character and control keys arranged in serial order along key rows as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

U assigned to the first thumb key, space assigned to the second thumb key, and carriage return assigned to the third thumb key;

along the home key row;

(lower case;

accent acute;

upper case;

accent acute) assigned to the first home key, O assigned to the second home key, I assigned to the third home key, A assigned to the fourth home key, and E assigned to the fifth home key; and

(lower case;

apostrophe) assigned to the sixth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

(upper case;

accent grave;

lower case;

accent grave) assigned to the third upper letter key, the shift assigned to the fourth upper letter key, and (lower case;

hyphen;

upper case;

underline) assigned to the fifth upper letter key; and

on thumb keys;

the shift lock assigned to the thumb key situated between the second thumb key and the operator, and the margin release situated on the thumb key at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

M assigned to the fourth thumb key, N assigned to the fifth thumb key, and F assigned to the sixth thumb key;

on the home keY row;

B assigned to the seventh home key, L assigned to the eighth home key, S assigned to the ninth home key, T assigned to the tenth home key, R assigned to the eleventh home key; and

D assigned to the twelfth home key;

on the upper letter key row;

(lower case;

period;

upper case;

period) assigned to the seventh upper letter key;

V assigned to the eighth upper letter key, P assigned to the ninth upper letter key, C assigned to the tenth upper letter key, H assigned to the eleventh upper letter key, and (lower case;

comma;

upper case;

comma) assigned to the twelfth upper letter key; and

on the lower letter row;

Z assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eighth home key and the operator, (lower case;

colon;

upper case;

exclamation point) assigned to the lower letter key situated between the ninth home key and the operator;

(lower case;

question mark;

upper case;

semi-colon) situated between the tenth home key and the operator, G assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eleventh home key and the operator, and Q situated between the twelfth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the backspace assigned to the thumb key situated between the fifth thumb key and the operator, and the tabulator assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator.

15. A keyboard, as in claim 10, for the Spanish language comprising character and control keys arranged in serial order along key rows as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

U assigned to the first thumb key, the space assigned to the second thumb key, and the carriage return assigned to the third thumb key;

along the home key row;

(lower case;

hyphen;

upper case;

underline) assigned to the first home key, O assigned to the second home key, I assigned to the third home key, A assigned to the fourth home key, E assigned to the fifth home key, and (lower case;

comma;

upper case;

comma) assigned to the sixth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

X assigned to the second upper letter key, (lower case;

question mark;

upper case;

inverted question mark) assigned to the third upper letter key, the shift assigned to the fourth upper letter key, (upper case;

period;

lower case;

period) assigned to the fifth upper letter key, and (lower case;

exclamation point;

upper case;

inverted exclamation point) assigned to the sixth upper letter key;

along the lower letter row;

(lower case;

accent acute;

upper case;

accent acute) assigned to the lower letter key situated between fifth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the shift lock assigned to the thumb key situated between the second thumb key and the operator, and the margin release situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

L assigned to the fourth thumb key row, R assigned to the fifth thumb key, and H assigned to the sixth thumb key;

along the home key row;

Y assigned to the seventh home key, S assigned to the eighth home key, T assigned to the ninth home key, N assigned to the tenth home key, D assigned to the eleventh home key, and C assigned to the twelfth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

F assigned to the eighth upper letter key, V assigned to the ninth upper letter key, M assigned to the tenth upper letter key, P assigned to the eleventh upper letter key, and Q assigned to the twelfth upper letter key;

along the lower letter key row;

G assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eighth home key and the operator, Z assigned to the lower letter key situated between the ninth home key and the operator, N assigned to the lower letter key situated between the tentH home key and the operator, B assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eleventh home key and the operator, and J assigned to the lower letter key situated between the twelfth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the backspace assigned to the thumb key situated between the fifth thumb key and the operator, and the tabulator assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator.

16. A keyboard, as in claim 11, for the French language comprising character and control keys arranged in serial order along key rows as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

O assigned to the first thumb key, the space assigned to the second thumb key, and the carriage return assigned to the third thumb key;

along the home key row;

Y assigned to the first home key, A assigned to the second home key, I assigned to the third home key, E assigned to the fourth home key, U assigned to the fifth home key, and (lower case;

comma;

upper case comma) assigned to the sixth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

(lower case;

circumflex;

upper case circumflex) assigned to the second upper letter key, X assigned to the third upper letter key, the shift assigned to the fourth upper letter key, (lower case;

period;

upper case;

period) assigned to the fifth upper letter key; and

(lower case;

hyphen;

upper case;

underline) assigned to the sixth upper letter key;

along the lower letter row;

(lower case;

question mark) assigned to the lower letter key situated between the second home key and the operator, and (lower case;

accent acute;

upper case;

accent acute) assigned to the lower letter key situated between the fifth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys, the shift lock assigned to the thumb key situated between the second thumb key and the operator, and the margin release assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

M assigned to the fourth thumb key, N assigned to the fifth thumb key, and F assigned to the sixth thumb key;

along the home key row;

G assigned to the seventh home key, S assigned to the eighth home key, T assigned to the ninth home key, R assigned to the tenth home key, L assigned to the eleventh home key, and D assigned to the twelfth home key;

along the upper letter row;

X assigned to the seventh upper letter key, V assigned to the eighth upper letter key, P assigned to the ninth upper letter key, and C assigned to the tenth upper letter key, H assigned to the eleventh upper letter key, and J assigned to the twelfth upper letter key, and along the lower letter key row;

B assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eighth home key and the operator, and C situated between the tenth home key and the operator, Q situated between the eleventh home key and the operator, and Z situated between the twelfth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the backspace situated between the fifth thumb key and the operator, and the tabulator assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the lower letter row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator.

17. A keyboard, as in claim 12, for the German language comprising character and control keys arranged in serial order along key rows as viewed by the operator from the outer edge of the keyboard to the center of the keyboard as follows:

on the left hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

O assigned to the first thumb key, the space assigned to the second thumb key, and the carriage return assigned to the third thumb key;

along the home row;

A assigned to the second home key, U assigned to the third home key, E assigned to the fourth home key, I assigned to the fifth home key, and the shift assigned to the sixth home key;

along the upper letter row;

(lower case;

question mark) assigned to the second upper letter key, (lower case;

period;

upper case;

period) assigned to the third upper letter key, (lower case;

umlaut;

upper case;

umlaut) assigned to the fourth upper letter key, (lower case;

comma;

upper case;

comma) assigned to the the fifth upper letter key, and (lower case;

hyphen;

upper case;

underline) assigned to the sixth upper letter key; and

on thumb keys;

the shift lock assigned to the thumb key situated between the second thumb key and the operator, and the margin release situated at the inner end of the lower letter key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator; and

on the right hand side of the keyboard as viewed by the operator;

along the thumb key row;

L assigned to the fourth thumb key, N assigned to the fifth thumb key, M assigned to the sixth thumb key;

along the home key row;

W assigned to the seventh home key, R assigned to the eighth home key, S assigned to the ninth home key, T assigned to the tenth home key, H assigned to the eleventh home key, and D assigned to the twelfth home key;

along the upper letter key row;

(lower case;

Beta ) assigned to the seventh upper letter key, F assigned to the eighth upper letter key, G assigned to the ninth upper letter key, C assigned to the tenth upper letter key, B assigned to the eleventh upper letter key, and Z assigned to the twelfth upper letter key;

along the lower letter key row;

V assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eighth home key and the operator, K assigned to the lower letter key situated between the eleventh home key and the operator, and P assigned to the lower letter key situated between the twelfth home key and the operator; and

on thumb keys;

the backspace assigned to the thumb key situated between the fifth thumb key and the operator, and the tabulator assigned to the thumb key situated at the inner end of the thumb key row in the center of the keyboard as viewed by the operator.