Computer keyboard

• US 5,339,097 A
• Filed: 03/06/1992
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ergonomics, Inc.
• Inventors: Grant, Alan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US07/846,710
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/710, 340/711, 340/709, 341/20, 341/21, 341/23, 341/22, 248/917, 248/918, 248/920, 248/922, 400/486, 400/487, 400/488, 400/489, 400/472, 400/91, 400/92, 400/195, 235/144, 235/146, 364/709.14, 364/709.15, 345/156, 345/157, 345/167, 345/168, D14/100, D14/101, D14/115
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane

Abstract

A keyboard for a computer is used with the hands of a user disposed substantially in a prehensile position with the thumb opposed to the fingers in a grasping position. The keyboard includes a first slanting keyboard surface for locating keys to be activated by a user'"'"'s left hand adjacent and sloping downwardly away from a second slanting keyboard surface for locating keys to be activated by a user'"'"'s right hand. The first and second keyboard surfaces are joined at a peaked central edge forming a V-shape which slopes downwardly toward a user and laterally away from the user. Twelve numbered function keys are positioned in a circular array toward an outward end of the first keyboard surface. A keypad for locating numeric keys is positioned toward an outward end of the second keyboard surface. A cursor control unit on a front surface of the keyboard, below the space bar, is used for controlling the movement of a cursor and is operated by the thumb of the user in a direction transverse to the direction of operation of the keys. The space bar may also be operated in the transverse direction or at a selected angle. Ulnar abducted deviation and hand-pronation are reduced by using the keyboard, thus reducing the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a computer for operating with hands of a user disposed in a prehensile position, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

keyboard means located at an upper surface of said keyboard body and having keys for depressing by movement of fingers of a user in a first direction;

spacing means mounted at a forward edge of said keyboard means for operating by movement of a thumb of the user;

activating means mounted on said keyboard body on a surface transverse to said upper surface, located centrally with respect to a length of said keyboard means for movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by movement of at least one thumb of a user in a second direction transverse to said first direction for engagement of said keyboard means and said activating means by the user'"'"'s hands disposed substantially in a prehensile alignment position with the thumb opposed to the fingers in a substantially grasping motion between the thumb and fingers of the user to cause actuation of said keyboard means and said activating means while the thumb and fingers are in close proximity in prehensile alignment when using the keyboard and whereby ulnar abducted deviation and hand-pronation are reduced.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1 further comprising:

circular means for locating twelve numbered function keys disposed toward a first outward end of said surface means; and

keypad means for locating numeric keys disposed toward a second outward end of said surface means.

3. A keyboard according to claim 2 wherein said twelve numbered function keys are positioned circumferentially around said circular means in numerical positions corresponding to numbers on a clock.

4. A keyboard according to claim 3 further comprising alternate, control and shift function keys positioned in a central portion of said circular means.

5. A keyboard according to claim 4 wherein each of the centrally positioned keys substantially occupies a 120°

segment of the central portion of said circular means.

6. A keyboard according to claim 3 wherein the function keys positioned at three-, six-, nine- and twelve- o'"'"'clock comprise domed upper surfaces.

7. A keyboard according to claim 6 wherein other numbered function keys comprise flat upper surfaces.

8. A keyboard according to claim 2 wherein said keyboard means comprises first slanting keyboard surface means comprising keys for depressing by fingers of the user'"'"'s left hand and second slanting keyboard surface means comprising keys for depressing by fingers of the user'"'"'s right hand, said first and second keyboard surface means joined at a peaked central edge forming a V-shape which slopes downwardly toward the user and laterally away from the user.

9. A keyboard according to claim 8 wherein said spacing means comprises means positioned on said first slanting keyboard surface means and on said second slanting keyboard surface means.

10. A keyboard according to claim 9 wherein said spacing means further responds to thumb pressure in said first direction.

11. A keyboard according to claim 9 wherein said spacing means further responds to thumb pressure at a selected angle.

12. A keyboard according to claim 8 further comprising key means for locking alphabet keys in upper case or lower case mode comprising a first raised portion, actuation of which causes said key means to stay in a locked position.

13. A keyboard according to claim 12 wherein said locking key means further comprises a second raised portion, depression of which releases said key means from said locked position.

14. A keyboard according to claim 13 wherein said locking means is located on the right hand side of the keyboard.

15. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises a plurality of areas responsive to thumb pressure whereby pressure on one of said areas moves the cursor in a selected direction.

16. A keyboard according to claim 1 wherein said activating means is positioned below said spacing means.

17. A keyboard for a computer, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

first activating means located on at least one first upper surface of said keyboard body for actuation by movement of fingers of a user; and

second activating means fixed and projecting from a second surface of said keyboard body, located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means for movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by at least one thumb of the user,

said second surface extending transverse to said at least one first surface for engagement of said first activating means and said second activating means by hands of a user positioned in a prehensile alignment so that a substantially grasping motion between the at least one thumb and fingers of the user can cause actuation of both said first activating means and said second activating means while said at least one thumb and fingers are in a close proximity in prehensile alignment.

18. A keyboard according to claim 17 wherein said second activating means is adapted for controlling by both thumbs of a user substantially simultaneously.

19. A keyboard for a computer, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

first activating means located on first and second upper slanting keyboard surfaces of said keyboard body comprising keys for depressing by fingers of a user'"'"'s left and right hands respectively, said first and second slanting keyboard surfaces joined at a peak central edge forming a V-shape which slopes downwardly toward the user and laterally away from the user; and

second activating means on a third surface of said keyboard body, located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means for movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by at least one thumb of the user,

said third surface extending transverse to said first and second upper slanting keyboard surfaces for engagement of said first activating means and said second activating means by hands of a user disposed in a substantially prehensile alignment position with substantially straight wrist during use so that a substantially grasping motion between the at least one thumb and fingers of the user can cause actuation of said first activating means and said second activating means while said at least one thumb and fingers are in a close proximity in prehensile alignment.

20. A keyboard according to claim 19 wherein said second activating means comprises a ball-shaped surface for activating by the at least one thumb of the user.

21. A keyboard according to claim 20 further comprising

circular means for locating twelve numbered function keys disposed toward an outward end of said first slanting keyboard surface, and

keypad means for locating numeric keys disposed toward an outward end of said second slanting keyboard surface.

22. A keyboard for a computer for operating with hands of a user disposed in a prehensile position, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

keyboard means located at an upper surface of said keyboard body comprising first and second transverse surfaces with a common edge located centrally with respect to a length of said keyboard means, said common edge located through the entire width of said keyboard means, and having keys for depressing by movement of fingers of a user in a first direction;

spacing means mounted at a forward edge of said keyboard means for operating by movement of a thumb of the user;

activating means mounted on said keyboard body on a third surface transverse to each of said first and second transverse surfaces, located centrally with respect to a length of said keyboard means for rotational movement of said activating means in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by movement of at least one thumb of a user in a second direction transverse to said first direction for engagement of said keyboard means and said activating means by the user'"'"'s hands disposed substantially in a prehensile alignment position with the thumb opposed to the fingers in a substantially grasping motion between the thumb and fingers of the user to cause actuation of said keyboard means and said activating means while the thumb and fingers are in close proximity in prehensile alignment when using the keyboard and whereby ulnar abducted deviation and hand-pronation are reduced.

23. A keyboard for a computer, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

first activating means located on at least one first upper surface of said keyboard body comprising first and second transverse surfaces with a common edge located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means, said common edge located through the entire width of said first activating means, for actuation of said first activating means by movement of fingers of a user; and

second activating means fixed and projecting from a third surface of said keyboard body, located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means for rotational movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by at least one thumb of the user,

said third surface extending transverse to said first and second transverse surfaces for engagement of said first activating means and said second activating means by hands of a user positioned in a prehensile alignment so that a substantially grasping motion between the at least one thumb and fingers of the user can cause actuation of both said first activating means and said second activating means while said at least one thumb and fingers are in a close proximity in prehensile alignment.

24. A keyboard for a computer, said keyboard comprising:

a keyboard body,

first activating means located on first and second upper slanting keyboard surface of said keyboard body comprising keys for depressing by fingers of a user'"'"'s left and right hands respectively, said first and second slanting keyboard surfaces joined at a peak central edge forming a V-shape which slopes downwardly toward the user and laterally away from the user, said peak central edge located through the entire width of said first activating means; and

second activating means on a third surface of said keyboard body, located centrally with respect to a length of said first activating means for rotational movement in all directions to control all directions of movement of a cursor on a display screen of the computer by at least one thumb of the user,

said third surface extending transverse to said first and second upper slanting keyboard surfaces for engagement of said first activating means and said second activating means by hands of a user disposed in a substantially prehensile alignment position with substantially straight wrist during use so that a substantially grasping motion between the at least one thumb and fingers and said second activating means while said at least one thumb and fingers are in a close proximity in prehensile alignment.