Cybernetic interface for a computer that uses a hand held chord keyboard

• US 5,267,181 A
• Filed: 11/03/1989
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Handykey Corporation
• Original Assignee: Handykey Corporation
• Inventors: George, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/431,611
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 364/709.15, 364/709.12, 364/708, 364/705.03
• US Class Current: 708/142
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/048 Inductive or infrared coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held

Abstract

The cybernetic interface of the present invention contemplates a remote hand-held, data input unit which communicates as an input device to a computer. The data input unit has the following broad features; an ergonomically correct handle, a symmetrical design so that the handle may be operated by either the right or left hand of the user, a chord keyboard on the handle that is operated by the four fingers of a hand of a user, a shift keyboard that is operated by the thumb of the same hand of the user, an integral means for generating pointer control information, a strap or band to support the unit in the hand, and a communications means to communicate the input from the data input unit to the computer either by wired or wireless means.

Claims

1. A data input device for interfacing with a computer, comprising:

an ergonomically designed handle that can be operated by a hand of a user by curling the fingers of the hand around the handle and pressing keys with the tips of the fingers;

a chord keyboard integral with the handle for generating character data, the chord keyboard being mounted on the handle so that input data for the computer can be generated when the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand are curled around the handle, the chord keyboard including a first keypad mounted on the handle and located adjacent the four fingers of the hand of the user when the fingers are curled around the handle to type;

a second keypad mounted on the handle and located adjacent the thumb of the user when the thumb is curled around the handle to type; and

a support band adapted to fit around the hand of the user, the band being attached to the handle for pressing the handle into the palm of the hand of the user so the device may be held in the hand without the hand gripping the device without other means of support and operated by depressing and releasing the keys with the tips of the fingers of the hand supporting the device,

wherein the handle has a left-right symmetry and the first and second keypads are arranged on the handle with a left-right symmetry and the support band can support either the left or right hand so that the data input device can be operated by either the right hand or left hand of the user.

2. The data input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a microprocessor for generating the input data.

3. A data input device as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer includes a look-up table in which is stored character information correlated to the chords, wherein the computer reads character information from said lookup table based on the input data generated by the microprocessor.

4. A data input device as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the first keypad comprises an array of individual keys in rows and columns; and

wherein the look-up table provides an assignment of the characters to the keys and chords on the first keypad in alphabetical order.

5. A data input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a display for generating visual symbols corresponding to information received by the data input device from the computer.

6. A data input device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a sensor coupled to the microprocessor for generating pointer position information for the computer.

7. The data input device of claim 6 wherein said sensor comprises a tilt sensor.

8. The data input device as recited in claim 6 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

9. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said support band is adjustable in length and in angular position with respect to a circumference of the ergonomically designed handle to custom fit the grip of the device to the size of the hand of the user.

11. A data input device as recited in claim 8, wherein the chord keyboard further comprises:

a first keypad including a plurality of keys mounted on the handle at a location adjacent where the four fingers of the hand of the user curl around to operate by pressing and releasing; and

a second keypad including a plurality of keys mounted on the handle at a location adjacent where the thumb of the user curls around the handle to operate by pressing and releasing; and

wherein the handle further comprises,

a first set of labels for indicating which keys on the first keypad will generate a given character; and

a second set of labels identifying keys on the second keypad.

12. A data input device as recited in claim 11 wherein the labels of said first and second sets of labels are embossed on the handle of the data input device.

13. The data input device of claim 9 wherein said first and second set of labels comprise templates.

10. A data input device, having a plurality of keys, for interfacing with a computer, comprising:

an ergonomically designed handle that can be operated by a hand of a user by curling the fingers of the hand around the handle and depressing and releasing the keys with the tips of the fingers;

a chord keyboard integral with the handle for generating input data for the computer, the chord keyboard being integral with the handle and mounted so that the input data can be generated when the fingers of the hand are curled around the handle and the keys are depressed and released,

wherein the handle has a left-right symmetry and the keys of the chord keyboard are arranged with left-right symmetry on the handle, so that the data input device can be operated by either the right or left hand of the user.

14. A data input device as recited in claim 10 wherein the keys of the chord keyboard are of such number and arrangement that any of a plurality of keys is accessible to and can be pressed and released by each of the five digits of the hand.

15. A data input device as recited in claim 10 wherein the ergonomically designed handle comprises a plurality of keypads, all of the keys of which may be released without any contact required between keystrokes.

16. A data input device as recited in claim 10 wherein the ergonomically designed handle further comprises an adjustable support and adjustment band traversing the back of the operating hand.

17. A support and adjustment band as recited in claim 16 wherein the band is attached to the handle so as to press the handle into the palm of the operating hand without the user having to grip the handle.

18. A support and adjustment band as recited in claim 16 wherein the band is adjustable in both length and orientation to fit the hands of different users.

19. A data input device as recited in claim 10 wherein the chord keyboard further comprises keypads having keys with labels which are visible to the user between keystrokes during normal operating use.

20. A data input device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a microprocessor coupled to the keyboard for generating the input data for the computer.

21. A data input device as recited in claim 20, wherein a look-up table stores character information correlated to the chord, wherein the computer reads character information from said look-up table generated by the keyboard based on the input data generated by the microprocessor.

22. A data input device as recited in claim 21, wherein:

the first keypad includes an array of individual keys in rows and columns; and

wherein the look-up table provides an assignment of the characters to the keys and chords on the first keypad in alphabetical order.

23. A data input device as recited in claim 20, further comprising a sensor coupled to the microprocessor for generating pointer position information for the computer.

24. The data input device of claim 23 wherein said sensor comprises a tilt sensor.

25. The data input device as recited in claim 23 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

26. A data input device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a display for generating visual symbols corresponding to information received by the data input device from the computer.

28. A cybernetic interface for use with a computer, comprising:

an ergonomically designed handle, adapted to be operated by a hand of a user;

a chord keyboard integral with the handle for generating input data for the computer;

a support and adjustment band adapted to fit around the hand of the user, the band being mounted on the handle so as to press the handle into the palm of the hand without the user having to grasp the handle so as to adjust to fit the hand of the user; and

a communications link coupled to the keyboard and the computer, the communications link enabling transfer of the input data from the keyboard to the computer,

wherein the handle has a left-right symmetry and the keys of the chord keyboard are arranged with left-right symmetry on the handle so that the interface can be operated by either hand of the user.

27. The cybernetic interface of claim 28, wherein said support band is adjustable in length and angular position with respect to a circumference of said ergonomically designed handle to custom fit the grip of the device to the hand of the user.

29. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 28, wherein the chord keyboard further comprises:

a first keypad mounted on the handle at a location below where the four fingers of the hand of the user curl around the handle to operate by pressing and releasing the keys; and

a second keypad mounted on the handle at a location below where the thumb of the user is positioned to operate by pressing and releasing the keys.

30. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 29 wherein said first and second keypads each include a plurality of keys and wherein the handle further comprises:

a first set of labels for indicating which keys or combination of keys on the first keypad produce a given character; and

a second set of labels for identifying keys on the second keypad.

31. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 30 wherein the labels of said first and second sets of labels are embossed on the handle.

32. The cybernetic interface of claim 30 wherein said first and second set of labels comprise templates.

33. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 28, further comprising a microprocessor for generating the input data for the computer.

34. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 33, further comprising a look-up table in which character information correlated to the chords generated by the keyboard based on the input data is stored.

35. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 34, wherein:

chord keyboard includes a first keypad including an array of individual keys in rows and columns; and

wherein the look-up table provides an assignment of the characters to the keys and chords on the first keypad in alphabetical order.

36. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 28, wherein the communications link comprises;

data transmission means for transmitting the input data generated by the chord keyboard; and

data receiving means for receiving the input data from the transmission means, the receiving means being adapted for transferring the input data to the computer.

37. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 28, further comprising means for displaying symbols corresponding to information received by the interface from the computer.

38. A cybernetic interface as recited in claim 28, wherein the handle further comprises a sensor for generating a pointer position information.

39. The cybernetic device of claim 38 wherein said sensor comprises a tilt sensor.

40. The cybernetic device as recited in claim 38 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

41. A data input device for a computer, comprising:

a chord keyboard means for generating input data for the computer adapted to be operated by a hand of a user so that input data can be generated by movement of the fingers of the hand; and

means for supporting the keyboard in the hand of the user when the user operates the keyboard means, the supporting means pressing the keyboard means into the palm of the operating hand of the user,

wherein the chord keyboard means has a left-right symmetry so that the data input device can be operated by either the right or left hand of the user.

42. A data input device as recited in claim 41, wherein the chord keyboard means further comprises:

character keys arranged in an array of rows and columns on the chord keyboard means; and

means for assigning characters to the character keys and chords on the keyboard means in alphabetical order based on the input data generated by the keyboard means.

43. A data input device as recited in claim 42, wherein the chord keyboard means further comprises means for indicating the keys to be pressed to produce a given character.

44. A data input device as recited in claim 41, further comprising sensor means for generating pointer information.

45. The cybernetic device of claim 44 wherein said sensor comprises a tilt sensor.

46. The cybernetic device as recited in claim 44 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

47. A hand held computer interface device comprising:

a base;

a first generally planar wall extending upwardly from said base;

a contoured surface cooperating with said base and first wall to form a closed three dimensional elongate member in the form of a handle with a circumference;

a first keyboard disposed on said first wall; and

a second keyboard on said contoured surface at a point accessible to a thumb of the user,

wherein the second keyboard is disposed on said contoured surface so as to be accessible by a user'"'"'s left thumb if the device is held in the left hand and is accessible by a user'"'"'s right thumb if the device is held in the right hand.

48. The hand held computer interface of claim 47 wherein said circumference is selected so that a human hand can curl about said handle with a finger tip being positioned above said first keyboard.

49. The hand held computer interface device of claim 47 wherein said first keyboard comprises a plurality of keys activated by depression by a finger tip of fingers of a hand operating the device.

50. The hand held computer interface of claim 47 further comprising a support band adapted to fit around the hand of the user, the band being attached to the handle for pressing the handle into the palm of the hand of the user so the handle may be held in the hand and operated by depressing keys on the first keyboard with the tips of the fingers of the hand supporting the device with the band without other means of support.

51. The hand held computer interface device of claim 50 wherein said support band is adjustable in length and in angular position along the contoured surface to custom fit the grip of the device to the hand of the user.

52. The hand held computer interface of claim 51 comprising a microprocessor for generating input data for a computer coupled to the interface device.

53. The hand held computer interface of claim 47 comprising a microprocessor for generating input data for a computer coupled to the interface device.

54. The hand held computer interface device of claim 53 further comprising a sensor coupled to the microprocessor, for generating pointer position information for the computer.

55. The cybernetic interface as recited in claim 54 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

56. The cybernetic device as recited in claim 54 wherein said sensor comprises a tilt sensor.

57. A hand held computer interface unit comprising:

an elongated handle having a first and a second face, and a contoured body supporting said first and second faces, the contours of the body being adapted to fit in the operating hand of a user; and

a first and second keyboard, for the fingers and thumb respectively, positioned on the first and second faces, wherein the fingers and thumb of the operating hand curl around the contoured body to position the tips of the fingers and thumb of the operating hand above said first and second keyboards; and

a plurality of keys disposed on said first and second keyboards, said plurality of keys adapted to be activated when depressed by the tips of said fingers and thumb, and said keys generating input and control information when depressed and released wherein said fingers and thumb are above said first and second keyboard when not operating the keys of the respective keyboards,

wherein the second keyboard is disposed on said contoured surface so as to be accessible by a user'"'"'s left thumb if the device is held in the left hand and is accessible by a user'"'"'s right thumb if the device is held in the right hand.

58. The hand held computer interface of claim 57 further comprising a support band adapted to fit around the hand of the user, the band being attached to the handle for pressing the handle into the palm of the hand of the user so the handle may be held in the hand and operated by depressing keys on the keyboard with the tips of the fingers of the hand supporting the device with the band without other means of support.

59. The hand held computer interface device of claim 58 wherein said support band is adjustable in length and in angular position along the contoured surface to custom fit the grip of the device to the hand of the user.

60. The hand held computer interface device of claim 59 comprising a microprocessor for generating input data for a computer coupled to the interface device.

61. The hand held computer interface device of claim 57 comprising a microprocessor for generating input data for a computer coupled to the interface device.

62. The hand held computer interface device of claim 61 further comprising a sensor coupled to the microprocessor, for generating pointer position information for the computer.

63. The cybernetic device as recited in claim 62 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

64. A hand held computer interface unit comprising:

an elongated handle having a first face, and a contoured body supporting said first face, the contours of the body being adapted to fit in the operating hand of a user; and

,

a first keyboard positioned on said first face, wherein the fingers of the operating hand curl around the contoured body to position the tips of the fingers of the operating hand over a plurality of keys disposed on said first keyboard, said plurality of keys generating input and control information when depressed and released and wherein the design of said handle is such that is it maintained in position in the hand while the tips of the fingers of the operating hand are positioned above but not in contact with the keys disposed on said first keyboard; and

a second keyboard positioned on a second surface of said handle and having a plurality of keys which can be manipulated by the thumb of the operating hand, wherein the keys of said second keyboard are adapted to be activated when depressed and released by the thumb of the operating hand,

wherein the second keyboard is disposed on said contoured surface so as to be accessible by a user'"'"'s left thumb if the device is held in the left hand and is accessible by a user'"'"'s right thumb if the device is held in the right hand.

65. The hand held computer interface of claim 64 further comprising a support band adapted to fit around the hand of the user, the band being attached to the handle for pressing the handle into the palm of the hand of the user so the handle may be held in the hand and operated by depressing keys on the keyboard with the tips of the fingers of the hand supporting the device with the band without other means of support.

66. The hand held computer interface device of claim 65 wherein said support band is adjustable in length and in angular position along the contoured surface to custom fit the grip of the device to the hand of the user.

67. The hand held computer interface device of claim 66 comprising a microprocessor for generating input data for a computer coupled to the interface device.

68. The hand held computer interface device of claim 64 comprising a microprocessor for generating input data for a computer coupled to the interface device.

69. The hand held computer interface device of claim 68 further comprising a sensor coupled to the microprocessor, for generating pointer position information for the computer.

70. The cybernetic device as recited in claim 69 wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of angular accelerometers.

71. The cybernetic device as recited in claim 69 wherein said sensor comprises a tilt sensor.