Ergonomic keyboard

• US 4,824,268 A
• Filed: 08/27/1987
• Issued: 04/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diernisse H. V
• Original Assignee: Diernisse H. V
• Inventors: Diernisse H. V
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Moshe I.
• Application Number:
  US07/091,290
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 400/488, 400/489, 400/481, 400/484
• US Class Current: 400/486
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard that is suitable for all devices interfacing with a keyboard; and that is able to transmit on unlimited amount of information including the more than 50 alphabets of the world, numbers, other symbols, programing, and operational information. All information is grouped into modes, such as the capital letters of the Latin alphabet, and any information bit in a particular mode that the keyboard is in can be entered with one keystroke. The keyboard is ergonomically designed to take maximum advantage of the shape, dexterity, and strength of the hands and fingers so that the majority of the fingers on both hands are always naturally positioned on the home keys, and so the reaching to the other keys is natural and effortless. The ergonomic design and optimum distribution of the information bits on the keys makes the transfer of information on this keyboard the fastest possible with the least amount of effort and the least amount of errors, and it also makes the learning the fastest and easiest possible.

Claims

1. A keyboard for the transmission of information and instructions comprising:

a plurality of keys irregularly arranged according to the shape of the hands in such a manner that when the bent non-thumb fingers of both hands are placed on the keyboard, each of eight home keys are located under the tip of each of the non-thumb fingers;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when the non-thumb fingers are extended from their respective home keys, each of four top center keys on each keyboard half is located under the tip of each of the non-thumb fingers;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when the non-thumb fingers are bent toward their respective wrists from their respective home keys, each of four bottom center keys on each key board half is located under the tip of each of the non-thumb fingers;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when each index finger is moved from its respective home key and toward the center of the keyboard, an inner center key is located under the tip of each index finger;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when each index finger is moved away from its home key at an angle between each respective inner center key and each respective top center key operated by the respective index finger, an inner top key is located under the tip of each index finger;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when each index finger is moved away from its home key at an angle between each respective inner center key and each respective bottom center key operated by the respective index finger, an inner bottom key is located under the tip of each index finger;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when each little finger is moved away from its home key and toward the outside of the keyboard at an upward angle, an outer center key is located under the tip of each little finger;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when each little finger is moved away from its home key at an angle between each respective outer center key and each respective top center key operated by each respective little finger, an outer top key is located under the tip of each little finger;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when each little finger is moved away from its home key at an angle between each respective outer center key and each respective bottom center key operated by each respective little finger, an outer bottom key is located under the tip of each little finger;

a plurality of keys for operation by the index fingers and located further away from the home key of each respective index finger than the respective top center key operated by the respective index finger;

a plurality of keys arranged in such a manner that when the non-thumb fingers rest on their respective home keys, the outer phalange of each thumb rest on its respective thumb home key;

a plurality of keys for operation by each thumb and arranged together with each thumb home key on an irregular home key curve on each half of the keyboard;

a plurality of keys for operation by each thumb and irregularly arranged farther away from the operator and outside each thumb home key curve; and

a plurality of keys for operation by each thumb and irregularly arranged closer to the operator and inside each thumb home key curve.

2. A keyboard for the transmission of information and instructions comprising:

a plurality of keys on each half of the keyboard for the operation by the non-thumb fingers, arranged in an irregulaar curve and extended irregularly at both ends for an additional key, and called the home key curve;

a plurality of keys on each half of the keyboard for the operation by the non-thumb fingers, arranged in an irregular curve farther away from the operator than the home key curve, equal to the number of keys on the home key curve, and called the top key curve;

a plurality of keys on each half of the keyboard for the operation by the non-thumb fingers, arranged in an irregular curve closer to the operator than the home key curve, equal to the number of keys on the home key curve, and called the bottom key curve;

a plurality of keys for operation by the index fingers arranged farther away from the operator than the top key curve;

a plurality of keys on each half of the keyboard for the operation by the thumbs, arranged in an irregular concave curve, when viewed by the operator, and called the thumb home key curve;

a plurality of keys on each half of the keyboard for the operation by the thumbs, and arranged on the convex side of the thumb home key curve;

a plurality of keys on each half of the keyboard for the operation by the thumbs and arranged on the concave side of the thumb home key curve.

3. A keyboard as in claim 2:

wherein the keys for operation by the non-thumb fingers are for the transmission of an unlimited number of information bits consisting of symbols, operations, and combinations arranged in preprogramed and operator programed modes, with the number of bits in each mode equal to or less than the number of keys operated by the non-thumb finger;

and wherein the keys for operation by the thumbs are for the transmission of preprogramed and operator programed instructions for the control of the keyboard and associated hardware and software.

4. A keyboard as in claim 2:

wherein the information bits in any mode are assigned to the keys for optimum speed and ease of operation in the transfer of said information bits according to the dexterity of each finger in such a manner that the most frequent occurring bit is assigned to the home key of the most dexterious non-thumb finger, with each next most frequent occuring bit assigned to the home key of each next most dexterious non-thumb finger, and thereafter with each next most frequent occurring bit assigned to each next most easily reached key;

and wherein the instruction bits for any keyboard and associated hardware and software are assigned to the keys operated by the thumbs in such a manner that the most frequent bit is assigned to the home key operated by the most dexterious thumb, with the next most frequent occurring bit assigned to the home key of the other thumb, and with each next most occuring bit assigned to each next most easily reached thumb-operated key.

5. A keyboard as in claim 2:

wherein all information and instruction bits which are positive, even, or normal right-hand symbols and operations are assigned to keys on the right half of the keyboard;

and wherein all information and instruction bits which are negative, odd, or normal left-hand symbols and operations are assigned to keys on the left half of the keyboard.

6. A keyboard as in claim 2:

wherein the most used consonants in a Latin alphabet mode is assigned to one side of the keyboard, and the vowels are assigned to the other side.

7. A keyboard as in claim 2:

wherein the maximum number of sequenced entries are entered on alternate hands, and of the remaining sequenced entries, the maxmum is entered on alternate fingers;

of the remaining one finger sequenced entries, the maximum is entered with at lest one part located on a home key.

8. A keyboard as in claim 2:

wherein the Lower Case Mode key assignments, beginning with the left key on the top key curves and progressing right are;

x, k, c, f, g, b, p, l, m, w, v, and q; and

on the home key curves are;

j, i, o, a, e, u, d, r, s, n, t, and z; and

on the bottom key curves are;

(, !, /, ., ;

, y, h, -(hyphen), (comma, '"'"', _-- (underline), and);

wherein the Upper Case Mode key assignments are the same as the Lower Case Mode key assignments except that;

is substituted for (, &

for !, ? for /, ;

for ;

, --(m bar) for -(hyphen), " for '"'"', * for _-- (underline), and for);

wherein the Number Mode key assignments, beginning with the left key on the top key curves and progressing right are;

{, #, π

, , -(minus), +, $, ¢

, @, }; and

on the home key curves are;

[, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1, ÷

, ×

(multiplication), 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, ]; and

on the bottom key curves are;

(, ^-- (bar), /, ., blank (programable), %, =, °

, ,(comma), ±

, and √

.