Portable keyboard operated alpha computer system with few keys and visual keystroke instructions

• US 4,999,795 A
• Filed: 03/29/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Original Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Inventors: Lapeyre, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/330,988
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 364/709.16, 364/709.15, 341/22
• US Class Current: 708/146
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/28 Multiple-action keys, e.g. keys depressed by two or more amounts or movable in two or more directions to effect different functions or selections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/027 for insertion of the decimal point
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/127 Details of the key cap concerning the actuation by fingernails or having provision to allow usage with long fingernails
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/036 Plural multifunctional miniature keys for one symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/011 with integrated photo- or thermovoltaic cell as power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/08 by operating selected combinations of multifunction keys

Abstract

Alphameric electronic computers are made with fewer keys in keyboard assemblies for selection of a large range of input characters and instructions. To achieve this the computer and keyboard operates in two modes with one providing for example decimal digit processing from single keystroke entries and the other providing for example alphabetic character processing from two successive keystroke entries. The keys, strokes and instructions are cooperatively integrated by means of a visual display integrally located on the computer with coded indicia representing the entries and identifying the key or keys to be stroked and in the case of successive keystrokes representing the sequence of stroking. Accordingly reference to external manuals for computer operating or data entry instructions is rarely necessary.

Claims

1. The method of operating computer-keyboard systems having alphanumeric capability from a keyboard having a plurality of manually operated keys coupled on-line with the computer for entering numeric digits, alphabetic characters and computer instructions, including computer instructions for processing numeric digits and computer control functions in a numeric mode and for processing alpha data and computer control functions in the computer in an alpha mode, comprising the steps of:

operationally separating said plurality of keys into at least two different groupings with different corresponding functional operations, one said grouping comprising one subset of keys for input of numeric digits, and another said grouping comprising an alpha input subset of significantly fewer than n of said keyboard keys for entering a full set of n alphabetic characters into the computer,

establishing a control mode in the computer for processing two-stroke digital signals generated from the keyboard keys to effect predetermined control functions,

establishing in response to a keyboard entry of one of said computer instructions said alpha mode to enable the alpha input subset of said keys to enter for processing by said computer the n alphabetic characters responsive to at least two successive keystrokes from keys in said alpha input subset of keys, and

processing in the computer said digital signals representing the alphabetic characters entered by said alpha input subset of keys and further digital signals representing numeric digits and computer instructions entered from the keyboard keys in the numeric mode of computer operation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing no more than six keys in said alpha input subset of keys for entering a set of n alphabetic characters equal to twenty six for the English language, and ten keys in the further said subset for input of numeric digits.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of providing nine keys in said alpha input subset of keys operable to produce digital signals from two successive keystrokes representing twenty six alphabetic characters (n=26), and

coding the keys to provide an initial keystroke of the two successive keystrokes from three of the keys in the subset of nine keys for entry of all twenty six alphabetic characters.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing said alpha mode in response to a computer instruction requiring a sequence of two successive keystrokes from said plurality of keys.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of displaying indicia visible with the keyboard comprising first coded indicia designating the initial one of the two individual keys to be selected for the two successive keystrokes, further coded indicia visible with the keyboard designating the second successive keystroke for each of said n characters, and wherein said indicia visible with the keyboard further comprises means for designating the sequence of selection of the two successive keystrokes.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of providing indicia at a site visible with said computer keyboard designating the first successive key to be stroked for said two successive keystrokes to select each of the n alphabetic characters in the set.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of positioning said indicia for identifying particular alphabetic characters in said set in a position in proximity to a respective key location thereby to signify that key to be stroked first for the two successive keystrokes required to enter that character into the computer.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of providing at the site of the indicia a visual marker designating the second successive key to be stroked in said two successive keystrokes to select each particular alphabetic character in the set in a format signifying that it is to be stroked in sequence after the first of the two successive keystrokes.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing visual markers identifying each of the two keys in said alpha input subset to be stroked for selection of individual alphabetic characters in said set in a format signifying the sequence of selection of the two successive keystrokes.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of producing computer generated temporary display means for displaying visual indicia to indicate that the computer is in the alpha node.

11. THe method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing for entry of the numeric digits in said alpha mode with a single keystroke per digit entry from said one subset of keys for the input of numeric digits.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising in the step of separating keyboard keys into said two different subset groupings for the entry of alphabetic characters and decimal digits the substep of selecting common keys for the two subset groupings.

13. The method of operating a keyboard controlled portable hand carried computer system from an on-line in-situ keyboard having at least eleven manually operated keys effective to enter directly into the computer system digital keystrokes representing data and instructions including numeric digits and computer commands comprising the steps of:

establishing a subset of between three and nine of said keys effective to enter individual alphabetic characters of a character set into the computer system in response to two successive keystrokes of the keys in the subset,

operating the computer system from the keys to initiate an alpha operating mode for entering and processing said two successive keystrokes to represent alphabetic characters, and

establishing visual display means for identifying for selection in the alpha operating mode the individual alphabetic characters in said character set with separate indicia markers for providing identification of each of the two of said keys in said subset effective to enter individual alphabetic characters to be stroked for entry of respective individual characters and providing identification of the stroking sequence of those two keys to be selected for entry of each of the alphabetic characters.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of producing different computer modes of operation from the computer commands effected by said keystrokes wherein different computer functions are assigned to individual ones of the keys in the subset in said different computer modes of operation.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of providing no more than six keys in said subset and operably coupling the subset keys with the computer in an operating mode for making computer entries only in response to two successive keystrokes per entry.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of providing a further subset of ten of said keys operably coupled with the computer, and operating the subset of ten of said keys in a numeric mode of computer operation requiring a single keystroke for entry of a corresponding set of ten decimal digits from the ten keys in said further subset.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of operating said further subset of ten keys in a second mode of computer operation for producing a further set of computer input entries in response to two successive strokes per entry.

18. The method of operating a manual keyboard controlled computer system having a set of at least eleven keyboard keys connected at the computer site for on-line computer control by entry of data and computer commands from the keys comprising the steps of:

providing an arithmetic processing mode of computer operation responsive to a subset of ten of said keys for entering decimal digits with a single keystroke per entry, providing an alpha data processing mode of computer operation responsive to a further subset of less than ten of the keys for entry of a set of alphabet characters into the computer with at least two successive keystrokes from the keys in said further subset required for entry of individual alphabet characters, and providing indicia visible to a keyboard operator identifying both the first and subsequent successive keystroke required for selection of the alphabet characters in said set.

19. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of providing the indicia as alphabet characters in a multiple choice menu chart displaying a plurality of alphabetic characters positioned in proximity to at least some of the keys in said further subset to identify the location of a first key to be stroked for initiating said successive keystrokes for entry of individual alphabet characters provided on said menu chart.

20. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising the steps of providing said computer commands in response to two successive strokes of selected keyboard keys and a further menu chart therefor, with one said chart in a visible configuration on the keys on the keyboard, and with both said menu charts containing visual indicia designating and identifying a first and second keystroke required to make particular entries.

21. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising the steps of operating the computer system in a default single keystroke per entry numeric mode of keyboard operation, and permitting control from the keyboard in the default mode for entering said alpha data processing mode of operation for activating the keys in said further subset to enter said alphabet characters in response to said successive keystrokes.

22. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of operating the computer system in the alpha data processing mode from the keyboard to enter spaces between words with a single stroke of one of said keys.

23. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of operating the computer system from the keyboard in the alpha mode of operation with a single keystroke to establish said arithmetic processing mode of operation for entering decimal digits with a single keystroke per entry.

24. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of providing further keys operable for selecting different computer arithmetic program operating subroutines with a single keystroke.

25. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the steps of providing a default mode of computer operation, and entering the default mode from the alpha data processing mode of computer operation in response to a computer command instruction entered with two successive keystrokes from keys on the keyboard.

26. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of providing by a computer command entered from the keyboard a further two-stroke-per-entry mode of computer operation of the individual keys in said further subset permitting entry of a different set of computer commands and data than employed for the same individual key in said alpha data processing mode of computer operation.

27. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of providing an additional temporary visual indication generated by said computer to signify that the computer is operating in the alpha mode.

28. The method defined in claim 27 further comprising the step of providing in the alpha mode for entry of said computer commands and displaying further temporary visual indications in the alpha mode of computer operation signifying further operating conditions established by said entry of the computer commands in the alpha mode.

29. The method defined in claim 27 further comprising the step of providing a temporary visual indication for indicating entry of alpha characters in the lower case and in the upper case.