Alpha-numeric keyboard

• US 4,913,573 A
• Filed: 08/18/1988
• Issued: 04/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dale J. Retter
• Original Assignee: Dale J. Retter
• Inventors: Retter, Dale J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEATING, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/233,451
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/479, 400/485, 400/489, 400/479.2, 400/715, 400/473, 400/472, 400/480-486, 400/488, 400/489, 400/490, 400/492, 340/710, 340/711, 340/365 A, 340/712, 341/22, 178/17 A,R,C
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition

Abstract

An ergometrically improved computer of typewriter keyboard having the keys arranged and designated so that they are operated using finger movements which substantially mimic those currently employed by a typist using a standard "QWERTY" keyboard. The keyboard is divided into two separate sections, one of which is intended to be used by the right hand of the operator and the other of which is intended to be used by the left hand to permit independent positioning of the two sections relative to one another. Each keyboard section includes a housing having a raised central portion designed to ergometrically support and steady the hands of the operator, in a natural relaxed position from which all of the keys may be operated without significant hand movement. The fingers and thumb are positioned in respective cavities each having a plurality of push button key switches arranged therein for engagement by the thumb and fingers, with a minimal and unique finger movement required to actuate any key. Each key touches a different part of each finger, providing differential tactile feedback. The fingers and thumbs never need to be moved from the cavities which eliminates all "float", and the hands are continually supported in one comfortable position. Extensive utilization of the thumbs is provided. The device is smaller and more versatile than a conventional keyboard.

Claims

1. A keyboard for controlling data input characters of a full set of desired including in combination:

a keyboard housing having a raised central portion devoid of keys and adapted to generally underlie and fit against the palm of a hand thereon for supporting the hand through the palm thereof resting on said raised central portion and having thumb and finger positions adjacent the raised central portion arranged in a pattern generally corresponding to the relaxed position of a hand with the fingers extending downwardly from a generally horizontal plane when the palm of the hand is placed on said raised central portion with the palm of the hand remaining in one basic position resting on said raised portion throughout operation of said keyboard;

a plurality of key switch means arranged in an overall pattern corresponding substantially to a non-chording QWERTY style key arrangement wherein each data input character is produced by actuation of a single discrete key switch means, and also arranged in additional predetermined patterns at each of said thumb and finger positions for separate actuation by the thumb and finger at each such position, with the palm of the hand remaining on said raised central portion, the key switch means at said finger positions being arranged in a first predetermined pattern at each finger position and the key switch means at said thumb position being arranged in a second predetermined pattern at such thumb position, at least each of said finger positions comprising individual, substantially vertical open-top fingertip wells in said housing for freely receiving the fingertips of an operator, each of said wells having substantially vertical walls and a bottom, with first key switch means located in the bottom of each of said wells, and at least one other key switch means located on a vertical wall of each of said wells, such that each key switch means in each well is actuated by movement of the fingertips alone without requiring movement of the hand relative to said raised central portion, each key switch means being actuated by a distinct and different portion of the fingertip in each such well to provide a different tactile feedback to the operator for each different key switch means contacted by the fingertips in each well, sufficient key switch means being provided in said wells so that the full set of desired characters and functions are accessible without requiring movement of the hand from said one basic position;

the thumb position comprising a thumb cavity having bottom and upright sides located, respectively, adjacent the end and sides of a thumb placed in said thumb cavity, with the key switch means at said thumb position comprising keys arranged in the bottom and on the upright sides of the thumb cavity in said second predetermined pattern, such that upon actuation, each such key switch touches a distinct and different portion of the thumb to provide a different tactile feedback to the operator for each different key switch contacted by the thumb; and

means for coupling each of said key switch means with a processing device.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said keyboard housing has an upper surface, and each of said wells extends downwardly a predetermined depth from said upper surface of said keyboard housing and is of a generally four sided shape, with said first key switch means comprising a first key in the bottom of each of said wells and second, third, fourth, and fifth keys on the four sides, respectively, of each well surrounding the bottom thereof, so that selected switches corresponding to each key in each of said wells are operated by a finger pressing downwardly to operate the key in the bottom of the well and pressing forward, backward, left and right to selectively operate each of the respective other ones of the second, third, fourth and fifth keys.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said thumb position is located on one side of said raised central portion of said housing to permit said raised central portion to be grasped by the thumb of an operator.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said predetermined pattern of keys at said thumb position comprises at least first and second thumb keys on one of the upright sides of said thumb receiving cavity.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said thumb receiving cavity has three upright sides, and each of said three upright sides of said thumb receiving cavity has two keys located side-by-side thereon for engagement by said thumb, and the bottom of said thumb receiving cavity has a bottom key therein.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said keys all comprise push button switch means.

7. The combination according to claim 6, further including a mode shift key switch means to select an operation mode and operated by a thumb to change the operating mode of said keyboard, such that for at least one finger in one operating mode of said keyboard grouped about that finger in one operating mode of said keyboard become cursor control keys corresponding to upward, downward, left and right cursor keys.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein each two adjacent cursor control keys are capable of simultaneous activation by one fingertip simultaneously depressing both adjacent keys to produce a diagonal cursor control signal composed of directional movement which is the mathematical sum of the two activated cursor control keys.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined pattern of keys at said thumb position comprises at least first and second thumb keys on one of the upright sides of said thumb receiving cavity.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said thumb receiving cavity has three upright sides and each of said three upright sides of said thumb receiving cavity has two keys located side-by-side thereon for engagement by a thumb, and the bottom of said thumb receiving cavity has a bottom key therein.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said thumb position is located on one side of said raised central portion of said housing to permit such raised central portion to be grasped by the thumb of an operator placed in said thumb position.

12. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said key switch means all comprise push button switch means.

13. An improved keyboard for operating typewriters, computers and the like for controlling the data input thereto including in combination:

physically separate, independently movable, right and left keyboard housings, each having an overall external configuration substantially the size of a human hand and each having a raised central portion adapted to generally underlie the palm of a hand therein for supporting the hand through the palm thereof resting on said raised central portion, each of said right and left keyboard housings having thumb and finger positions adjacent the raised central portion thereon with such positions generally corresponding to the positions of the thumb and fingers of the respective hand of an operator placed on said raised central portion of each of said right and left keyboard housings with palm of the hands remaining in one basic position resting on said central portions throughout the operation of said keyboard, said left and right keyboard housings being mechanically independent of one another and separately movable with respect to one another;

a plurality of key switch means arranged in an overall pattern corresponding substantially to a non-chording QWERTY style key arrangement and also arranged in additional predetermined patterns at each of said thumb and finger positions of said right and left keyboard housings for separate actuation by the respective thumb and fingers of a hand placed on each of said right and left keyboard housings at such positions with the palms of the hands resting on said raised central portions, the key switch means at said finger positions arranged in a first predetermined pattern and the switch means at said thumb positions arranged in a second predetermined pattern, at least each of said finger positions comprising individual fingertip wells for freely receiving the ends of the fingers of an operator, said fingertip wells having substantially vertical walls and a bottom, with first key switch means located in the bottom of each of said wells and at least one other key switch means located on a vertical wall of each of said wells, such that each key switch means in each well is operated by movement of the fingertip alone without requiring movement of the hands relative to said raised central portions, each key switch means being actuated by a distinct and different portion of the fingertip in each such well to provide a different tactile feedback to such operator for each different key switch means contacted by the fingertips in each well.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein each of said keyboard housings has an upper surface, and each of said wells extends downwardly a predetermined depth from the upper surface of said keyboard housing and is of a generally four sided shape, with said first key switch means comprising a first key in the bottom of each of said wells and second, third, fourth, and fifth keys on the four sides, respectively, of each well surrounding the bottom thereof, so that selected switches corresponding to each key in each of said wells are operated by a finger pressing downwardly to operate the key in the bottom of the well and pressing forward, backward, left and right to selectively operate each of the respective other ones of said second, third, fourth and fifth keys.

15. The combination according to claim 14 further including a mode shift key switch means operated by at least one of the thumbs to change the operating mode of said keyboard, such that in one operating mode of said keyboard, the four key switch means which are grouped about each of at least two fingers become cursor control keys corresponding to upward, downward, left and right cursor keys;

and one finger causes cursor movement to be effectuated relatively more rapidly, and the other finger causes cursor control to be effectuated relatively more slowly.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein each two adjacent cursor control keys are capable of simultaneous activation by one fingertip simultaneously depressing both adjacent keys to produce a diagonal cursor control signal composed of directional movement which is the mathematical sum of the two activated cursor control keys.

17. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said predetermined pattern of keys at said thumb position comprises at least first and second thumb keys on one of the upright sides of the thumb receiving cavity.

18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein each of said thumb receiving cavities has three upright sides, with two keys located side-by-side thereon for engagement by a thumb, and the bottom of each of said thumb receiving cavities has a bottom key therein.

19. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said thumb position is located on one side of said raised central portion of each of said housings to permit such raised central portion to be grasped by the thumb of an operator placed in said thumb position.

20. A keyboard for controlling data input including in combination:

physically separate keyboard sections for the left and right hands each having support surfaces for underlying and fitting against the palm of a hand;

individual fingertip wells and thumb wells located adjacent said support surfaces at the positions of relaxed hands placed with the palms resting on said support surfaces, each of said fingertip wells freely receiving the fingertips of an operator and each of said wells having an open-top with substantially front, back, left and right vertical walls and a bottom, with the palms of the hands remaining in one basic position resting on said support surfaces throughout the operation of said keyboard sections;

key switch means arranged three dimensionally about the fingers and thumbs in said wells in the bottom and on the walls thereof, the pattern of placement of said key switch means within said wells being such that downward finger movements actuate first key switch means at the bottom of said fingertip wells which represent the same key characters normally operated by such fingers in the "home" position of a standard QWERTY keyboard;

second key switch means located on the front vertical walls of said fingertip wells so that forward motion of each fingertip directed away from the operator causes the fingertip to freely travel forward and impact the second key switch means such that said second key switch means thereby actuated represent the same key characters the same corresponding fingers normally actuated on a standard QWERTY keyboard when the actuating fingers move to the key directly above the "home" row of keys on a standard QWERTY keyboard;

third key switch means located on the back vertical walls of said fingertip wells such that contracting motions of each fingertip directed toward the operator allow the fingertips to freely travel to impact and actuate said third key switch means, such that said third key switch means thereby actuated represent the same key characters the same corresponding fingers normally actuated on a standard QWERTY keyboard for the keys directly below the "home" row of keys;

a fourth key switch means located on the left vertical wall of said fingertip well corresponding to the right index finger, where actuation of the right index fingertip to the left within said well operates said fourth key switch means to represent the character "H"; and

a fifth key switch means on the right vertical wall of said fingertip well corresponding to the left index finger such that movement of the left index fingertip to the right within the well causes actuation of said fifth key switch means to represent the character "G".

21. The combination according to claim 20, further including a mode shift key switch means operated by one of the thumbs and fingers to change the operating mode of said keyboard, such that numerical characters normally present on the top row of a standard QWERTY keyboard are now represented by said first key switch means in the bottoms of each of the fingertip wells which, prior to operation of said mode shift key means, corresponded to alphabetic characters of the home row of keys of a standard QWERTY keyboard.

22. The combination according to claim 20, further including a mode shift key switch means operated by one of the thumbs and fingers to change the operating mode of said keyboard, such that the characters present on the top row of a standard QWERTY keyboard are now represented by said first key switch means in the bottoms of each of the fingertip wells which correspond to the home row of keys of a standard QWERTY keyboard with the result that the characters present on a standard QWERTY keyboard at the fourth row of character keys, namely the numbers, sequentially from left to right:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, are now actuated by the same key switch means that, when the mode shift key switch is not operated, are used to actuate the characters present on a standard QWERTY keyboard at the middle home row of keys, which are from left to right;

A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, and ;

, while in such mode shift state the characters present as uppercase shifted QWERTY fourth row character keys, which are from left to right;

!, @, #, $, %, ©

, &

, *, (, ), and , are operated by the same finger in the same finger well that operates the corresponding number key switch means.