Alpha-numeric keyboard
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A keyboard for controlling data input characters of a full set of desired including in combination:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An improved keyboard for operating typewriters, computers and the like for controlling the data input thereto including in combination:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A keyboard for controlling data input including in combination:
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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". - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification