Chording keyboard for generating binary data

• US 4,679,030 A
• Filed: 07/03/1984
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William M. Volnak
• Original Assignee: William M. Volnak
• Inventors: Volnak, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald L.
• Application Number:
  US06/627,380
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 340/365 R, 340/365 S, 340/365 VL, 340/712, 340/407, 340/365 A, 434/112, 179/90 B, 179/90 BB, 84/1.01, 178/17 C, 200/5 A
• US Class Current: 341/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information
• 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 2221/038 Fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/008 Two different sites for one circuit, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A data entry device wherein key switches may be pressed singly and in combination to generate a binary number corresponding to specific characters and character combinations. A preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates ten key switches, each key switch corresponding to a different terminating member of an operator'"'"'s hand, such that a 10-digit binary number is generated. Other embodiments of the present invention contemplate a programmable keyboard wherein characters and character combinations generated by user operation of the keyboard are stored in a portable memory for later access by the operator. Additionally, the device may be operated in reverse such that binary numbers corresponding to characters and character combinations may be converted to patterns of tactile sensations perceived as characters and character combinations.

Claims

1. A computer data entry keyboard comprising:

exactly ten key switches, each key switch corresponding to a particular terminating member of a pair of operator'"'"'s hands, and adapted to be selectably operated by such corresponding terminating member, said switches being selectably operably singly and in combination to generate a 10-digit binary number, each digit of said binary number corresponding to a particular terminating member of said operator'"'"'s hands;

memory table means including read-only first memory means and read/write second memory means for storing and retrieving respective first and second sets of character and character combinations;

memory address table means, having an input and an output, for providing addressed in said memory table means at said output in response to 10-digit binary numbers at said input, wherein each location in said memory address table means corresponds uniquely to a different 10-digit binary number and contains an address in said first and second memory means said address corresponding to a character or character combination stored in said memory table at that address;

means, coupled to said memory table means and to the output of said memory address table means for applying the address provided at said output to said memory table means; and

means, associated with said read/write second memory means and responsive to said key switches, for allowing operation of said memory means in a write mode wherein operation of said key switches stores characters and character combinations each corresponding to a particular one of said 10-digit binary numbers, and operation in a read mode wherein operation of said key switches retrieves character and character combinations, operation in said write mode being initiated by the occurence of an access code and terminated by the occurrence of an exit code, each of said access and exit codes being particular ones of said 10-digit binary numbers.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said key switches comprises:

a switch element having normally open switch contacts; and

a fluid-filled sac, overlying said switch element so as to be interposed between said switch element and the corresponding particular terminating member, for closing said switch contact in response to pressure applied to said sac.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 or 2 wherein said read/write second memory means comprises a memory module that is readily insertable into and removable from said keyboard.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 or 2 wherein said memory table means and said memory address table means operate to provide a mapping of pairs of keys to characters as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Keys Character Keys Character ______________________________________ 4,5 space 4,8 f 5,6 e 1,4 g 3,5 t 2,3 y 4,6 a 6,8 p 3,4 o 1,6 w 5,7 n 2,7 b 2,5 r 3,8 v 3,6 i 1,3 k 4,7 s 7,8 x 2,4 h 1,7 j 5,8 d 2,8 q 6,7 l 1,2 z 1,5 u 2,6 c 3,7 m ______________________________________

where the key numbers run from 0 through 9 with the operator'"'"'s left pinky being assigned "0" and the operator'"'"'s right pinky being assigned "9."

6. The keyboard of claim 1 or 2 and further comprising means for displaying said characters and character combinations upon operation of said key switches singly and in combination so that the character or character combinations corresponding to the binary number corresponding to the combination of key switches is displayed.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 or 2 and further comprising means for generating a tone when one or more of said key switches is operated.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 or 2 and further comprising means for generating different tones, each of the tones corresponding to a particular number of key switches that have been operated.

2. A computer data entry keyboard comprising:

exactly ten key switches, each key switch corresponding to a particular terminating member of a pair of operator'"'"'s hands, and adapted to be in continuous intimate contact with and selectably operated by such corresponding terminating member, said switches being selectably operable singly and in combination to generate a 10-digit binary number, each digit of said binary number corresponding to a particular terminating member of said operator'"'"'s hands;

memory table means including read-only first memory means and read/write second memory means for storing and retrieving respective first and second sets of characters and character combinations;

memory address table means, having an input and an output, for providing addresses in said memory table means and said output in response to 10-digit binary numbers at said input, wherein each location in said memory address table means corresponds uniquely to a different 10-digit binary number and contains as address in said first and second memory means, said address corresponding to a character or character combination stored in said memory table means at the address;

means, coupled to said memory table means and to the output of said memory address table means for applying the address provided at said output to said memory table means; and

means, associated with said read/write second memory means and responsive to said key switches, for allowing operation of said second memory means in a write mode wherein operation of said key switches stores characters and character combinations, each corresponding to a particular one of said 10-digit binary numbers, and operation in a read mode wherein operation of said key switches retrieves character and character combinations, operation in said write mode being initiated by the occurence of an access code and terminated by the occurence of an exit code, each of said access and exit codes being particular ones of said 10-digit binary numbers.

9. A programmable information entry keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of key switches, each key switch corresponding to and adapted to be selectably operated by a particular terminating member of an operator'"'"'s hand, said key switches being operable singly and in combination to generate a corresponding binary number, each digit of said number corresponding to a particular terminating member of said operator'"'"'s hand, said binary numbers including an access code and an exit code;

each key switch including a switch element having normally-open switch contacts, and a fluid-filled, hemispherical sac overlying said switch element for closing said switch contact when pressure is applied to said sac by the corresponding one of said terminating members;

memory means for storing characters and character combinations at sequential memory addressed;

means, responsive to said access code, for placing said memory means in a write mode in which said key switches are operable to select a storage address and to store corresponding characters and character combinations into said memory means beginning at said storage address; and

means, responsive to said exit code, for placing said memory means in a read mode in which said key switches are operable to select a retrieval address and to retrieve corresponding characters and character combinations from said memory means beginning at said retrieval address.

10. A programmable information entry keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of key switches, each key switch corresponding to and adapted to be selectably operated by a particular terminating member of an operator, said key switches being operable singly and in combination to generate a corresponding binary number, each digit of said number corresponding to a particular terminating member of said operator, said binary numbers including as access code and an exit code;

each key switch including a switch element having normally-open switch contacts, and a fluid-filled, hemispherical sac overlying said switch element for closing said switch contact when pressure is applied to said sac by the corresponding one of said terminating members;

memory means for storing characters and character combinations at sequential memory addresses;

means, responsive to said access code, for placing said memory means in a write mode in which said key switches are operable to select a storage address and to store corresponding characters and character combinations into said memory means beginning at said storage address; and

means, responsive to said exit code, for placing said memory means in a read mode in which said key switches are operable to select a retrieval address and to retrieve corresponding characters and character combinations from said memory means beginning at said retrieval address.