Finger activated keyboard for a computer

• US 5,477,223 A
• Filed: 08/12/1992
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald Destremps
• Original Assignee: Gerald Destremps
• Inventors: Destremps, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US07/928,898
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/31, 345/167, 345/168, 345/170, 250/221, 400/477, 400/479
• US Class Current: 341/31
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/12 Construction of key buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/943 using a plurality of optical emitters or detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

A keyboard in which each key includes a light source and photodetector in a region such as a depression in a panel. The key signal is activated by inserting the finger into the depression so as to interrupt the beam. In one embodiment, the depressions are molded into a plastic surface. In another embodiment, the key support structure is a pair of closely spaced parallel panels. An array of key holes are formed in in one panel. An array of detecors and light sources is mounted on the second panel such that when the panels are assembled together, a light source detector pair is located with each key hole providing that the beam between the light source and photodetector will be interrupted when the user inserts his finger in the hole. In another embodiment, the key board has a pyramidal shape and armrests are provided to reduce repetitve motion stress. In a further modification, the pyramidal keyboard is provided with a computer ball so that the ball can be moved at the same time that varioosu combinations of keys are depressed to perform a selected one of a number of operations such as measuring the length of a line, coloring in an enclosure, etc.

Claims

1. A keyboard for eliciting any selected one signal of a plurality of signals, each said signal corresponding to one symbol of a group of symbols, which comprises:

a support structure means having a surface for defining a plurality of key regions, each key region being a depression in said surface;

a plurality of pairs, each pair being one photodetector paired with one light source;

each said depression having a bottom surface and two of said plurality of pairs of a photodetector and light source located within each depression, one of said two pairs located at a first level with respect to said bottom surface and another one of said two pairs located at a second level with respect to said bottom surface and operably arranged such that one signal is elicited when said user'"'"'s finger is inserted into said depression to said first level and another signal is elicited when said finger is inserted into said depression to said second level.

2. A keyboard for eliciting any selected one signal of a plurality of signals, each said signal corresponding to one symbol of a group of symbols, which comprises:

a support structure means having a surface for defining a plurality of key regions, each key region being a depression in said surface;

a plurality of pairs, each pair being one photodetector paired with one light source;

each light source arranged to shine a light beam on its paired photodetector and provided with means for elicting a respective one of said signals when said light beam is interrupted;

two pairs of said photodetector and light source positioned in each depression, one pair positioned in one area of said depression and said other pair positioned in another area of said depression providing that two separate signals may be elicited by inserting a finger in one said area and said another area.

3. A keyboard having keys for eliciting any selected one signal of a plurality of signals, each said signal corresponding to one symbol of a group of symbols, which comprises:

a first panel means having a surface for supporting a plurality of pairs, each said pair being a photodetector and light source;

each said light source arranged to send a light beam through a respective one key region of a plurality of key regions and incident on its respective photoconductor;

a second panel substantially parallel to said surface having holes arranged in operable combination with said first panel means and said photodetectors and light sources for defining key regions, each said key region corresponding to one of said keys, respectively;

said plurality of photodetectors and light sources arranged in operable combination with one another and said key regions of said support structure to permit a user to insert a finger into a selected one of said key regions thereby modifying a respective one of said light beams from said plurality of light sources causing at least one photodetector of said plurality of photodetectors to elicit one of said plurality of signals; and

wherein a space between said first and second panels is encapsulated.

4. A keyboard as in claim 3 which comprises means for supporting forearms of a user while operating said keyboard.

6. A keyboard as in claim 3 wherein each said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

7. A keyboard as in claim 3 wherein each said photodetector comprises a phototransistor.

8. A keyboard as in claim 3 wherein each said light source is a light emitting diode.

9. A Keyboard as in claim 3 wherein each said photodetector is a phototransistor.

5. A keyboard for eliciting any selected one signal of a plurality of signals, each said signal corresponding to one symbol of a group of symbols, which comprises:

a support structure being a pyramidal structure having at least four sides including a first oblique side, a second oblique side and a third oblique side and a base side wherein said oblique sides have a plurality of key regions;

each key region being a depression in said contoured surface and associated with one of said signals;

a plurality of light sources supported by said support structure means, each said light source arranged to send a light beam through at least one of said regions;

a plurality of photodetectors supported by said support structure means, each said photodetector arranged to detect modification of at least one of said light beams;

said plurality of photodetectors and light sources arranged in operable combination with one another and said key regions of said support structure to permit a user to insert a finger into a selected one of said key regions thereby modifying at least one light beam from said plurality of light sources causing at least one photodetector of said plurality of photodetectors to elicit one of said plurality of signals.