Ergonomically condensed QWERTY keyboard

• US 5,660,488 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miller, Timothy M.
• Original Assignee: Miller, Timothy M.
• Inventors: Miller, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, Eugene H.
• Application Number:
  US08/311,842
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 400/486, 400/489, 400/487, 400/488, 400/472, 400/473, 400/493, 400/493.1, 400/485, 361/680, 235/145 R, 235/146, 340/407.2, 364/189, 364/709.12
• US Class Current: 400/486
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

An ergonomically improved, reduced size keyboard having a QWERTY keyboard layout allows maintenance of the same typing speed and accuracy associated with conventional keyboards. In one embodiment, the keys of the keyboard are divided into two sections, the sections being arranged to form a V-shape such that the centermost key in each row of each section approximately contacts the centermost key of the corresponding row in the other section. The V-shaped key layout allows the keyboard to maintain nearly all of the interkey spacing of a full-size keyboard while reducing overall keyboard width. The V-shaped key layout also alleviates wrist and finger strain that may otherwise occur during prolonged use of a keyboard. In another embodiment, further ergonomic improvement and size reduction of the keyboard is obtained by arcing each row of keys. Keys not on the row of home row keys are placed in the same positions relative to home row keys as found on a standard QWERTY keyboard. As a result, typists may switch easily between standard QWERTY keyboards and the keyboard according to the invention. A keyboard with a V-shaped keyboard layout and arced key rows according to the invention has a width 22.7% smaller than a typical full-size keyboard, while maintaining 95% of the interkey spacing. This keyboard according to the invention also has approximately the same width as a comparable reduced size keyboard, while increasing interkey spacing 18.75%.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a first group of keys located on a main keyboard surface for accepting commands from a user;

wherein said first group of keys includes keys A, S, D, F, and G arranged in a QWERTY format and said first group of keys have a common shape; and

a second group of keys located on the main keyboard surface for accepting commands from the user;

wherein said second group of keys includes keys L, K, J, and H arranged in a QWERTY format;

the second group is arranged at an angle with respect to the first group so that the first and second groups form a V-shape wherein a vertex of said V-shape is closest to a bottom edge of said main keyboard surface and sides of said V-shape extend from said vertex towards an Upper edge of said main keyboard surface;

said key G of the first group that is nearest said key H in the second group being the same shape as the key H;

a plurality of keys in said first group are arranged in a first arc about one side of said V-shape;

a plurality of keys in said second group are arranged in a second arc about another side of said V-shape and said first and second arcs are the same; and

said key G of the first group and said key H of the second group are positioned adjacent to said vertex of said V-shape and said key G approximately contacts said key H.

2. A keyboard as in claim 1, wherein a first angle formed between the side of said V-shape defined by the first group of keys and a line substantially parallel to said bottom edge of said main keyboard surface is between 20.6°

and 75°

.

3. A keyboard as in claim 2, wherein a second angle formed between the side of said V-shape defined by the second group of keys and said line substantially parallel to said bottom edge of said main keyboard surface is between 20.6°

and 75°

.

4. A keyboard as in claim 2, wherein the first angle is 37.5°

.

5. A keyboard as in claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of keys are substantially rectangular.

6. A keyboard as in claim 1, wherein the keys are round.

7. A keyboard as in claim 1, wherein a protusion is formed on a finger contacting surface of each key in said first and second groups of keys.

8. A keyboard as in claim 1, further comprising a space bar, the space bar located on a surface substantially perpendicular to the main keyboard surface.

9. A keyboard as in claim 1 further comprising a space bar located on the main keyboard surface.

10. A keyboard as in claim 1, wherein the main keyboard surface measures no more than 8.5 inches in width;

no more than 4.5 inches in height; and

has a total interkey spacing of about 7.125 inches.

11. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of keys in said first group is said keys A, S, D, and F wherein said alphanumeric key A defines a first end of said first arc and said alphanumeric key F defines a second end of said arc.

12. A keyboard as in claim 11 wherein said plurality of keys in said second group is said keys J, K, and L wherein said alphanumeric key J defines a first end of said second arc.

13. A keyboard as in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second arcs are circular.

14. A keyboard as in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second arcs are elliptical.

15. A keyboard as in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second arcs are parabolic.

16. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of keys in said first group is said keys A, S, D, F, and G wherein said alphanumeric key A defines a first end of said first arc and said alphanumeric key G defines a second end of said first arc.

17. A keyboard as in claim 16 wherein said plurality of keys in said second group is said keys H, J, K, and L wherein said alphanumeric key H defines a first end of said second arc.

18. A keyboard as in claim 17, wherein each of the first and seconds arcs are circular.

19. A keyboard as in claim 17, wherein each of the first and second arcs are elliptical.

20. A keyboard as in claim 17, wherein each of the first and second arc are parabolic.

21. A keyboard comprising:

a first group of primary home row keys located on a main keyboard surface for accepting commands from a user and including a key G, wherein a set of center points of a plurality of keys in said first group of primary home row keys define a first arc having a first chord; and

said first group of primary home row keys have a common shape; and

a second group of primary home row keys located on the main keyboard surface for accepting commands from the user and including a key H, wherein a set of center points of a plurality of keys in said second group of primary home row keys define a second arc having a second chord;

wherein said first and second groups of primary home row keys are arranged according to the QWERTY format;

the first and second chords form a V-shape wherein a vertex of said V-shape is closest to a bottom edge of said main keyboard surface and said first and second chords are sides of said V-shape that extend from said vertex towards an upper edge of said main keyboard surface; and

said key G of the first group and said key H of the second group are positioned adjacent to said vertex of said V-shape so that said key G approximately contacts said key H.

22. A keyboard as in claim 21, wherein the first and second chords form first and second angles, respectively, with a line substantially parallel to said bottom edge of the main keyboard surface, and each of the angles measuring between 20.6°

and 75°

.

23. A keyboard as in claim 22, wherein the first and second angles each measure 37.5°

.

24. A keyboard as in claim 21 wherein said plurality of keys in said first group is keys A, S, D, and F wherein said key A defines a first end of said first arc and said key F defines a second end of said arc.

25. A keyboard as in claim 24 wherein said plurality of keys in said second group is alphanumeric keys J, K, and L wherein said alphanumeric key J defines a first end of said second arc.

26. A keyboard as in claim 25, wherein each of the first and second arcs are circular arcs.

27. A keyboard as in claim 26, wherein the magnitude of the radius of curvature of each of the first and second arcs is between twice an interkey spacing of adjacent primary home row keys and the radius of curvature of a straight line.

28. A keyboard as in claim 26, wherein each of the first and second arcs has a radius of curvature of 1.5 inches.

29. A keyboard as in claim 25, wherein each of the first and second arcs are elliptical.

30. A keyboard as in claim 25, wherein each of the first and second arcs are parabolic.

31. A keyboard as in claim 21, wherein alphabetical keys other than the primary home row keys are placed relative to the primary home row keys in approximately the same position as found in a standard QWERTY keyboard layout such that, when typing on the keyboard, the same finger motions are maintained as when typing on a standard QWERTY keyboard.

32. A keyboard as in claim 21, wherein the keys are substantially rectangular.

33. A keyboard as in claim 21, wherein the keys are round.

34. A keyboard as in claim 21, wherein a numeric keypad is superimposed on selected ones of the alphanumeric keys.

35. A keyboard as in claim 21, further comprising a space bar, the space bar formed on a surface substantially perpendicular to the main keyboard surface.

36. A keyboard as in claim 21, further comprising a space bar located on the main keyboard surface.

37. A keyboard as in claim 21, wherein the main keyboard surface measures no more than 8.5 inches in width and no more than 4.5 inches in height.

38. A keyboard as in claim 21 wherein said plurality of keys in said first group is alphanumeric keys A, S, D, F, and G wherein said alphanumeric key A defines a first end of said first arc and said alphanumeric key G defines a second end of said arc.

39. A keyboard as in claim 38 wherein said plurality of keys in said second group is alphanumeric keys H, J, K, and L wherein said alphanumeric key H defines a first end of said second arc.

40. A keyboard as in claim 39, wherein each of the first and second arcs are circular.

41. A keyboard as in claim 39, wherein each of the first and second arcs are elliptical.

42. A keyboard as in claim 39, wherein each of the first and second arcs are parabolic.