Method of encoding alphabetic characters for a chord keyboard

• US 5,281,966 A
• Filed: 01/31/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walsh A. Peter
• Original Assignee: Walsh A. Peter
• Inventors: Walsh, A. Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/830,337
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/23, 341/20, 400/91-94, 400/100, 400/482, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489, 364/709.12, 364/709.15, 364/709.16, 364/706, 364/189
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of encoding alphabetic characters and inputting electrical signals defining those characters to a computer includes the use of a keyboard having five individual alpha input keys, one alpha input key being operatively associated with an operator'"'"'s thumb and the remaining keys each being dedicated for operation by one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand. The keys are actuable either individually or in chord combinations for encoding the alphabetic characters and inputting electrical signals to the computer. Each of the alpha input keys are designated to represent one of the five vowels. Therefore, when these keys are actuated individually they generate electrical signals corresponding to the vowels. The consonants of the alphabet are designated to correspond to chord combinations of key actuations. Unique electrical signals are generated in response to the actuation of one or more of the alpha keys to selectively input the electrical signals defining the alphabetic characters to the computer.

Claims

1. A method of encoding alphabetic characteristics and inputting electrical signals defining those characters to a computer comprising the steps of:

a) providing a keyboard having five adjacent individual alpha input keys, one alpha input key being operatively associated with an operator'"'"'s thumb and the remaining keys each being dedicated for operation by one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, said keys being actuable either individually or in chord combinations for encoding said alphabetic characters and inputting said signals to the computer;

b) designating each alpha input key to represent one of the five vowels "a", "e", "i", "o", "u" when actuated individually without actuation of any other alpha keys in combination therewith, the designation of the alpha input keys being such that in an operative position of the operator'"'"'s hand the thumb activates the "a" or first key, the index finger actuates the "e" or second key, the middle finger activates the "i" or third key, the ring finger activates the "o" or fourth key and the pinky activates the "u" or fifth key;

c) designating chord combinations of the same five alpha input keys to represent each consonant letter of the alphabet, said chord combinations designated to represent a consonant including an alpha input key representing the last vowel preceding that consonant in alphabetical order, successive consonants moving in alphabetical order being defined by a chord combination which includes the addition of the next successive alpha key moving seriatim from the thumb to the little finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, whereby the sequential movement of the operator'"'"'s fingers functions as a memory aid to the operator of the chord combinations; and

d) generating unique electrical signals in response to the actuation of one or more of said alpha keys to selectively input the electrical signals defining the alphabetic characters to the computer.

2. A method of inputting electrical signals relating to alphabetic character data to a computer comprising the steps of:

a) providing a keyboard having five individual alpha input keys, one alpha input key being operatively associated with an operator'"'"'s thumb and the remaining keys each being dedicated for operation by one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, said keys being actuable either individually or in chord combinations for encoding said alphabetic characters and inputting said signals to the computer;

b) designating each alpha input key to represent one of the five vowels "a", "e", "i", "o", "u" when actuated individually without actuation of any other alpha keys in combination therewith, the designation of the alpha input keys being such that in an operative position of the operator'"'"'s hand the thumb activates the "a" or first key, the index finger actuates the "e" or second key, the middle finger activates the "i" or third key, the ring finger activates the "o" or fourth key and the pinky activates the "u" or fifth key;

c) designating cord combinations of the same five alpha input keys to represent each consonant letter of the alphabet, said chord combinations designated to represent a consonant including an alpha input key representing the last vowel preceding that consonant in alphabetical order, successive consonants moving in alphabetical order being defined by a chord combination which includes the addition of the next successive alpha key moving seriatim from the thumb to the little finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, whereby the sequential movement of the operator'"'"'s fingers functions as a memory aid to the operator of the chord combinations; and

d) generating unique electrical signals in response to the actuation of one or more of said alpha keys to selectively input the electrical signals defining the alphabetic characters to the word processor.

3. A method of defining alphabetic characters for a chord keyboard comprising the steps of:

a) providing a keyboard having five individual alpha input keys, one alpha input key being operatively associated with an operator'"'"'s thumb and the remaining keys each being dedicated for operation by one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, said keys being actuable either individually or in chord combinations for encoding said alphabetic characters and inputting said signals to a computer;

b) designating each alpha input key to represent one of the five vowels "a", "e", "i", "o", "u" when actuated individually without actuation of any other alpha keys in combination therewith, the designation of the alpha input keys being such that in an operative position of the operator'"'"'s hand the thumb activates the "a" or first key, the index finger actuates the "e" or second key, the middle finger activates the "i" or third key, the ring finger activates the "o" or fourth key and the pinky activates the "u" or fifth key;

c) designating chord combinations of the same five alpha input keys to represent each consonant letter of the alphabet, said chord combinations designated to represent a consonant including an alpha input key representing the last vowel preceding that consonant in alphabetical order, successive consonants moving in alphabetical order being defined by a chord combination which includes the addition of the next successive alpha key moving seriatim from the thumb to the little finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, whereby the sequential movement of the operator'"'"'s fingers functions as a memory aid to the operator of the chord combinations; and

d) generating unique electrical signals in response to the actuation of one or more of said alpha keys to selectively input the electrical signals defining the alphabetic characters to a computer.

4. A method of defining alphabetic characters for a chord keyboard comprising the steps of:

a) providing a keyboard having five individual alpha input keys, one alpha input key being operatively associated with an operator'"'"'s thumb and the remaining keys each being dedicated for operation by one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand, said keys being actuable either individually or in chord combinations for encoding said alphabetic characters and inputting said signals to a computer, the keys being numbered "1" for the thumb, "2" for the index finger, "3" for the middle finger, "4" for the ring finger and "5" for the pinky;

b) designating each alpha input key to represent one of the five vowels "a", "e", "i", "o", "u" when actuated individually without actuation of any other alpha keys in combination therewith, the designation of the alpha input keys being such that in an operative position of the operator'"'"'s hand the thumb activates the "a" or first key, the index finger actuates the "e" or second key, the middle finger activates the "i" or third key, the ring finger activates the "o" or fourth key and the pinky activates the "u" or fifth key and designating chord combinations of alpha input keys to represent each consonant letter of the alphabet, whereby electrical signals defining letters A to K are generated by individual or combined actuation of said keys "1" to "5" as follows,

A=1

B=1,2

C=1,2,3

D=1,2,3,4

E=2

F=2,3

G=2,3,4

H=2,3,4,5

I=3

J=3,4

K=3,4,5

c) designating individual or combined actuations of keys "1" to "5" to represent the remaining letters of the alphabet as follows;

L=1,3

M=1,3,4

N=1,3,4,5

O=4

P=1,4

Q=1,2,4

R=1,2,4,5

S=2,4,5

T=4,5

U=5

V=1,5

W=1,2,5

X=1,2,3,5

Y=2,3,5

Z=3,5;

and

d) generating unique electrical signals in response to the foregoing individual or combined actuations of said alpha keys to selectively input the electrical signals defining the alphabetic characters to a computer.