Computer keyboard with thumb-actuated edit keys
First Claim
1. A keyboard (10) for a computer having a monitor for displaying characters, and having a cursor that is movable in left and right horizontal directions and in up and down vertical directions on said monitor, which keyboard comprises:
- an operator side (12) and a distal side (14);
a left end (16a) and a right end (16b) as viewed by an operator;
a plurality of character keys (18) being disposed between said operator side and said distal side, and being disposed in an array wherein said character keys may be struck while the hands (42a and 42b) of said operator are generally in left-hand and right-hand home positions (40a and 40b);
cursor-control means (60), comprising a cursor-control key (52), for moving said cursor in all four of said directions without the necessity of moving either of said hands from said home positions; and
said cursor-control means further comprises means for actuating said cursor-control key with the thumb (48a or 48b) of either of said hands without the necessity of moving either of said hands from said home positions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard (10) is provided for use with computer type devices. The keyboard (10) provides thumb-actuated keys (52, 54, 56, and 58) for controlling the cursor in all four directions without removing either hand (42a or 42b) from its home position (40a or 40b); and the keyboard (10) includes thumb-actuated keys (62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, and 78) for performing other text-control operations without removing either hand (42a or 42b) from its home position (40a or 40b). The character keys (18) are divided into two spaced-apart groups (28a and 28b); and a function-control pad (34), which includes function keys (38), is disposed in longitudinally-disposed and laterally-staggered rows (36a, 36b, and 36c), and is interposed between the groups (28a and 28b) of the character keys (18). Some of the function keys (90a and 90b) include heights (80), top-surface profiles (88a or 88b), and/or side-surface profiles (92a or 92b), as an aid in positioning the hands (42a and 42b) in the home row (20) and in home positions (40a and 40b), and as an aid in distinguishing the various rows (36a, 36b, and 36c) of function keys (38) by feel.
91 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A keyboard (10) for a computer having a monitor for displaying characters, and having a cursor that is movable in left and right horizontal directions and in up and down vertical directions on said monitor, which keyboard comprises:
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an operator side (12) and a distal side (14); a left end (16a) and a right end (16b) as viewed by an operator; a plurality of character keys (18) being disposed between said operator side and said distal side, and being disposed in an array wherein said character keys may be struck while the hands (42a and 42b) of said operator are generally in left-hand and right-hand home positions (40a and 40b); cursor-control means (60), comprising a cursor-control key (52), for moving said cursor in all four of said directions without the necessity of moving either of said hands from said home positions; and said cursor-control means further comprises means for actuating said cursor-control key with the thumb (48a or 48b) of either of said hands without the necessity of moving either of said hands from said home positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A keyboard (10) for a computer having a monitor for displaying characters, and having a cursor that is movable in left and right horizontal directions and in up and down vertical directions on said monitor, which keyboard comprises:
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an operator side (12) and a distal side (14); a left end (16a) and a right end (16b) as viewed by an operator; a plurality of character keys (18) being disposed between said operator side and said distal side, and being disposed in an array wherein said character keys may be struck while the hands (42a and 42b) of said operator are generally in left-hand and right-hand home positions (40a and 40b); first and second thumb-actuated SPACE keys (46a and 46b) being interposed between said character keys and said operator side of said keyboard; thumb-actuated cursor-control means (60), comprising an UP cursor-control key (52), a DOWN cursor-control key (54), a LEFT cursor-control key (56), and a RIGHT cursor-control key (58), and being interposed partially between said SPACE keys, for moving said cursor in all four of said directions without the necessity of moving either of said hands from said home positions; and said thumb-actuated cursor-control means includes means for actuating two of said cursor-control keys (52 and
54) with either thumb (48a or 48b) without the necessity of moving either of said hands from said home positions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A keyboard (10) for a computer having a monitor for displaying characters, and having a cursor that is movable in left and right horizontal directions and in up and down vertical directions on said monitor, which keyboard comprises:
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an operator side (12) and a distal side (14); a left end (16a) and a right end (16b) as viewed by an operator; a plurality of character keys (18) being disposed between said operator side and said distal side, and being disposed in an array wherein said character keys may be struck while the hands (42a and 42b) of said operator are generally in left-hand and right-hand home positions (40a and 40b); thumb-actuated means (60), comprising LEFT and RIGHT cursor-control keys (56,
58) that are disposed substantially equal distances from said operator side, for moving said cursor left and right without moving either of said hands from said keyboard; andsaid thumb-actuated means (60) comprises UP and DOWN cursor-control keys (52,
54), that are disposed at substantially equal distances from both of said hands, for moving said cursor up or down by the thumbs (48a or 48b) of either of said hands without moving either of said hands from said home positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification