Keyboard with transversely activated non-alphanumeric keys

• US 5,358,343 A
• Filed: 03/11/1992
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keyboard Advancements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keyboard Advancements, Inc.
• Inventors: Klauber, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US07/849,533
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 400/485, 400/486, 400/488, 400/489, 400/473, 400/472
• US Class Current: 400/485
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/62 for back spacing
• 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 3/0213 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: 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 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/002 having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions

Abstract

A method for controlling cursor functions on a touch typing keyboard, comprising activation of the cursor control functions via transverse force applied comfortably by thumb movement. Such activation can be accomplished more easily, more efficiently, and more ergonomically effectively than prior art methods because it can be done without averting the eyes from the text copy and does not entail moving or uncomfortable stretching of the hands.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a computer, electronic typewriter, word processor, and the like comprising:

a plurality of alphanumeric keys comprising at least twenty-six alphabetic keys and ten numeric keys arranged corresponding to touch typing position each of which alphanumeric keys automatically types a different alphanumeric character in response to downward actuation thereof; and

at least one cursor control actuator movable transversely for automatically effecting a cursor control function in response to actuation thereof, and

at least one space bar positioned within reach of a thumb of a touch typist having hands and fingers positioned on the keyboard in touch typing position, wherein said cursor control actuator is positioned outside of the area occupied by said plurality of alphanumeric keys in the row of said space bar and within reach of at least one thumb of the touch typist having hands and fingers positioned on the keyboard in touch typing position.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator has sufficiently greater height than said at least one space bar to enable transverse actuation of said cursor control actuator by touch applied to a side other than a top face of said cursor control actuator.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator comprises two transversely actuable actuators, one located on either side of said at least one spacebar.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator comprises two transversely actuable actuators, and

the two transversely actuable actuators comprise a first transversely actuable actuator which causes a cursor to move leftward when touch is applied on one side of said first transversely actuable actuator and to move in one of the upward and downward directions when touch is applied on a second side of said first transversely actuable actuator, and

a second transversely actuable actuator which causes a cursor to move rightward when touch is applied on one side of said second transversely actuable actuator, and to move in one of the upward and downward directions when touch is applied on a second side of said second transversely actuable actuator.

5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein

the first transversely actuable actuator causes another function to be effected when touch is applied to a third side of the first transversely actuable actuator, and

the second transversely actuable actuator causes another function when touch is applied to a third side of the second transversely actuable actuator.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator is a key.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator is a lever.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for activation of at least two different functions by applying pressure on at least two different sides of said actuator.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for activation of at least three different functions by applying pressure on at least three different sides of said actuator.

10. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator is located to the left of, and within reach of, a left thumb of the touch typist.

11. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator is located to the right of, and within reach of, a right thumb of the touch typist.

12. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator is located to the right of, and within reach of, a right thumb of the touch typist and

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator is located to the left of, and within reach of, a left thumb of the touch typist.

13. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for effecting a cursor right function.

14. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for effecting a cursor left function.

15. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for effecting a cursor up function.

16. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for effecting a cursor down function.

17. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for effecting a home function.

18. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator comprises means for effecting an end function.

19. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

the arrangement of alphanumeric keys conforms to ISO standards row and column designation standards, and

at least part of the cursor control actuator is located in row A.

20. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator comprises at least two such cursor control actuators wherein

one such cursor control actuator is located within reach of a left thumb of the touch typist, and

another such cursor control actuator is located within reach of a right thumb of the touch typist.

21. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

at least one of said at least one cursor control actuator is located within reach of both thumbs of the touch typist.

22. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

said at least one cursor control actuator comprises first and second transversely actuable actuators wherein

the first transversely actuable actuator is located to the right of, and within reach of, a right thumb of the touch typist and said first transversely actuable actuator effects a cursor right function in response to actuation thereof in a rightward direction, and

the second transversely actuable actuator is located to the left of, and within reach of, a left thumb of the touch typist and said second transversely actuable actuator effects a cursor left function in response to actuation thereof in a leftward direction.

23. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

the cursor control actuator effects cursor motion in effectively continuous movement.

24. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

the cursor control actuator effects cursor motion in effectively discrete movements.

25. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

a backspace/erase key is located within reach of at least one thumb.

26. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein

touch applied on a first side of one of the at least one transversely actuable actuators causes a cursor to move leftward, and

touch applied on a second side of said transversely actuable actuator causes the cursor to move rightward.