Ergonomic keyboard apparatus

• US 5,673,040 A
• Filed: 06/02/1993
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kinesis Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kinesis Corporation
• Inventors: Farrand, William P., Hargreaves, William R., Lunde, Shirley A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/128,325
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/27, 341/29, 400/486, 400/488, 400/489, 400/482-484, 434/227, 434/231, D14/100, D14/114, D14/115, D17/1, D17/2, D17/9, D18/1, D18/7, D18/12
• US Class Current: 341/22
• 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 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• 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 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition

Abstract

A keyboard for use with a standard personal computer includes an alphanumeric key array having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a generally orthogonal, concave array. A home row of keys defines a reference position for the fingers of the operator. A linear array of function keys is provided and positioned above the reference position and tilted toward the operator. A generally orthogonal array of auxiliary keys is also positioned above the reference position. The array of auxiliary keys is rotated with respect to the reference position to accommodate the natural angle of the thumb of the operator to the index finger. A palm rest is provided for receiving the palm of the operator while the operator is manipulating the plurality of alphanumeric keys. The palm rest is positioned above the reference position defined by the home row so that during operation of the alphanumeric keys, the fingers of the operator extend downward from the palm rest in a natural curved manner. Further, during operation of the auxiliary keys, the thumbs of the operator are generally coplanar with the palm of the operator and are naturally angled therefrom.

Claims

1. A keyboard for interfacing the fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand with a data processing device comprising:

first and second laterally spaced apart alphanumeric key arrays having a plurality of alphanumeric key means for identifying alphanumeric characters to the data processing device by a non-pivoting, linear movement in a direction of actuation, said key means including a home row having home keys wherein the home keys have keycaps oriented to be manipulated by the fingers of the operator, said home key keycaps defining a reference surface substantially perpendicular to the direction of actuation of said home keys, said alphanumeric key array having a first end and a second opposed end positioned on opposite sides of said reference surface wherein said first end is closer to the operator when the keyboard is being used than the second end a hand of the operator defining a reference position when the fingers of said hand of the operator are adjacent the reference surface; and

first and second laterally spaced apart function key arrays each having a plurality of function key means for identifying functions to be performed by the data processing device, said first and second laterally spaced apart function key arrays being substantially aligned, respectively, with said first and second spaced apart alphanumeric key arrays, said plurality of function key means being farther from said operator than said second end of the alphanumeric key array, said function keys having function key keycaps for manipulation by the fingers of the operator, vertically displaced above said reference surface, said plurality of function key means accessible to the fingers of the operator without moving the hand of the operator a substantial distance from the reference position.

2. The keyboard as recited in claim 1 wherein said alphanumeric key means include a plurality of keys arranged in a generally orthogonal, substantially concave array.

3. The keyboard as recited in claim 1, further including palm rest means for receiving the palm of said hand of the operator, said palm rest means being vertically displaced above said reference surface defined by said keycaps so that the fingers of the operator extend downward from said palm rest means during operation of the keyboard.

4. The keyboard as recited in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary key array including a plurality of auxiliary key means for identifying auxiliary key means performed by the data processing device, said auxiliary key means including a plurality of auxiliary keys arranged in a generally orthogonal array, said auxiliary key means being vertically displaced above said reference surface defined by said keycaps and positioned to be operated by the thumb of said hand of the user so that during operation the fingers extend downward from the thumb.

5. The keyboard as recited in claim 4 where said plurality of auxiliary keys include first and second keys positioned to be linearly aligned along the thumb of the operator so that the thumb of the operator can simultaneously contact both of said first and second keys when the operator'"'"'s hand is in the reference position, said first and second keys being constructed to move between first remote and second proximate positions remote from and proximate to the keyboard, respectively, said first key being positioned so that its thumb-contacting surface is vertically displaced above the thumb-contacting surface of said second key when said first key is in said second proximate position and said second key is in said first remote position while the thumb of the operator is contacting both of said first and second keys, in the absence of inadvertent activation of said second key.

6. The keyboard as recited in claim 4, wherein said alphanumeric key array comprises first and second alphanumeric key arrays separated for manipulation by the left and right hands of the operator, respectively, said function key array comprising first and second function key arrays separated for manipulation by the left and right hands of the user, respectively, and wherein said auxiliary key array comprises first and second auxiliary key arrays separated for manipulation by the left and right hands of the user, respectively.

7. A keyboard, as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said function key keycaps are aligned in a substantially linear row.

8. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said function key keycaps are oriented at substantially the same angle, different from the orientation of the home key keycaps, and angled toward the operator at an angle of between about 15°

and about 35°

with respect to said reference surface.

9. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function key means are spaced closer together than said alphanumeric key means.

21. A keyboard, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said palm rests are configured to be substantially in contact with the palms of the user while the user is manipulating the keys.

22. A keyboard, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said palm rests are configured to accommodate clip-on pads.

23. A keyboard, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said palm rests are configured to accommodate self-adhesive pads.

10. Data input apparatus for interfacing the fingers of the hand of an operator with a data processing device comprising:

first and second key arrays having a plurality of key means constructed for manipulation by the fingers of the operator for providing input to the data processing device, said plurality of key means including home keys having surfaces that define a reference surface, said home keys further defining a reference position for a hand of the operator wherein the index finger of the operator defines a reference line when said hand of the operator is positioned in the reference position;

first and second auxiliary key arrays including a plurality of auxiliary key means constructed for manipulation by the thumb of said hand of the operator for providing input to the data processing device by depressing said auxiliary key means and with no substantial lateral movement of said auxiliary key means, said auxiliary key means being vertically displaced from the reference surface defined by said home keys and positioned so that the fingers of the operator extend downward from the thumb when said hand of the operator is in the reference position, each of said first and second auxiliary key arrays including first and second elongated keys positioned at an angle with respect to the reference line so that the thumb of the operator may be positioned along the surface of said elongated keys; and

palm rest means for receiving the palm of the operator.

11. The data input apparatus as recited in claim 10, said palm rest means being vertically displaced from the reference position defined by said home keys so that the fingers of the operator extend downward from said palm rest means during operation of the data input apparatus, said auxiliary key means being positioned so that the thumb of said hand of the operator is generally coplanar with the palm of said hand of the operator during operation.

12. The data input apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of auxiliary keys include first and second keys positioned to be linearly aligned along the thumb of the operator when the operator'"'"'s hand is in the reference position, said first and second keys being constructed to move between first remote and second proximate positions remote from and proximate to the data input apparatus, respectively, said first key being positioned so that its surface is vertically displaced from the surface of said second key when said first key is in said second proximate position and said second key is in said first remote position.

13. The data input apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said key means includes a plurality of keys arranged in a generally orthogonal, substantially concave array.

14. The data input apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a function key array having a plurality of function key means for identifying functions to be performed by the data processing device, said first key array having a first end and a second opposed end positioned on opposite sides of said reference surface wherein said first end is closer to the operator when the keyboard is being used, said plurality of function key means being farther from said operator than said second end of the first key array, vertically displaced from said reference surface and angled toward a hand of the operator thereby making said plurality of function key means accessible to the fingers of the operator without moving the hand of the operator a substantial distance from the reference position.

15. The data input apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said key array comprises an alphanumeric key array.

16. The data input apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said alphanumeric key array comprises first and second alphanumeric key arrays separated for manipulation by the left and right hands of the operator, respectively, said function key array comprising first and second function key arrays separated for manipulation by the left and right hands of the user, respectively, and wherein said auxiliary key array comprises first and second auxiliary key arrays separated for manipulation by the left and right hands of the user, respectively.

17. A data input apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said angle with respect to the reference line is between about 20°

and about 30°

.

18. Data input apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elongated key is positioned at an angle of between about 20°

and about 30°

with respect to the reference line.

19. Data input apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said data input apparatus has a lower surface for support on a support surface and wherein said auxiliary key array is sloped downward, with respect to said support surface, at no more than about 10°

in a direction toward the operator.

20. A data input device, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said data input apparatus has an operator end and a distal end with the operator end being proximate the operator when the keyboard is being used, said key array and said auxiliary key array comprising an alphanumeric keyboard array also having an operator end and a distal end;

said input apparatus having a left edge and a right edge each extending between said input apparatus distal end and said input apparatus operator end;

said input apparatus having a midline about midway between said left edge and said right edge and

wherein said palm rest means includes left and right palm rests

said left palm rest configured to support a user'"'"'s hand at an angel which slopes vertically downward in first and second directions, the first direction being from said second end of said alphanumeric keyboard array toward said operator end of said input device, the second direction being from said midline toward said left edge; and

said right palm rest configured to support a user'"'"'s hand at an angle which slopes vertically downward in said first direction and a third direction different from said second direction, said third direction being from said midline toward said right edge.

24. A data input device, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said data input apparatus has a first end and a second end with the first end being closer to the operator when the keyboard is being used, said first key array also having a first end and a second end;

said first key array having a medial edge and a lateral edge each extending between said first key array second end and said first key array first end; and

a palm rest configured to support the palm of said hand of said operator at an angle which slopes vertically downward in first and second directions, the first direction being from said second end of said first key array toward said first end of said input device, the second direction being from said medial edge toward said lateral edge.

25. A data input apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plurality of auxiliary keys includes a third key constructed to move between remote and proximate positions and positioned so that when said first, second and third keys are in said remote positions, the keycap surface of said third key is vertically displaced from both said first key and said second key and the keycap surface of said first key is vertically displaced from said second key.

26. A data input apparatus and claimed in claim 10, wherein said palm rest means positions the palm of the operator generally coplanar with the auxiliary key means during use of the keyboard by the operator.

27. A data input apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and second elongated keys are positioned so that they are substantially parallel with the axis of the thumb during use of the keyboard when the hand of the operator is in the reference position.

28. A data input device for interfacing the hands of an operator with a data processing device comprising:

first and second pall rests configured to support the palms of the operator; and

first and second key arrays each including at least two elongated keys positioned to be aligned along the thumb of the operator when the palms of the operator are supported by said palm rests during operation of the keyboard, first and second keys in each of said first and second key arrays being constructed to move between first remote and second proximate positions remote from and proximate to the data input device, respectively, said first key being positioned so that its surface is vertically displaced from the surface of said second key when said first key is in said second proximate position and said second key is in said first remote position.

29. A method for data input, comprising:

providing a data input device having first and second laterally spaced apart alphanumeric key arrays and first and second laterally spaced apart function key arrays, said first and second function key arrays being substantially aligned with said first and second alphanumeric key arrays, said alphanumeric key arrays comprising home keys, said function key arrays having a plurality of function keys aligned in a substantially linear row, each having a keycap;

actuating said home keys by movement in a non-pivoting fashion in a first linear direction of actuation, said first linear direction of actuation defining a reference surface perpendicular thereto; and

actuating said function keys by moving the surface of said functional keycaps in a direction different from said first linear direction.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein each of said keycaps is angled toward the user between about 15°

and about 35°

.

31. Data input apparatus for interfacing the fingers of the hand of an operator with a data processing device comprising:

a first key array having a plurality of key means constructed for manipulation of the fingers of the operator for providing input to the data processing device, said plurality of key means including home keys having surfaces that define a reference position for a hand of the operator, wherein the index finger of the operator defines a reference line when said hand of the operator is positioned in the reference position; and

an auxiliary key array including a plurality of auxiliary key means constructed for manipulation by the thumb of said hand of the operator for providing input to the data processing device by depressing said auxiliary key means with no substantial lateral movement of said auxiliary key means, said auxiliary key means including at least first and second auxiliary keys which are elongated along first and second axes.

32. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 31, wherein said first elongated auxiliary key is a backspace key.

33. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 31, wherein said first elongated auxiliary key is an enter key.

34. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 31, wherein said second elongated auxiliary key is a space key.

35. A data input device for interfacing the hands of an operator with a data processing device comprising:

palm rest means for receiving the palms of the hands of the operator during operation of the data input device; and

a key array including key means for providing input to the data processing device, said key means including first and second keys positioned to be aligned along the thumb of the operator, said first and second keys being constructed to move between first remote and second proximate positions remote from and proximate to the data input device, respectively, said first key being positioned so that its surface is vertically displaced from the surface of said second key when said first key is in said second proximate position and said second key is in said first remote position.

36. A keyboard for interfacing the fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand with a data processing device, comprising:

an alphanumeric key array having a plurality of alphanumeric keys for identifying alphanumeric characters to the data processing device, said alphanumeric keys movable in a non-pivoting fashion in a linear direction of actuation, said alphanumeric keys including a home row having home keys wherein the home keys have keycaps, said home key keycaps defining a reference surface substantially perpendicular to the direction of activation of said home keys, said alphanumeric key array having an operator end and a distal end positioned on opposite sides of said reference surface wherein said operator end is proximate the operator when the keyboard is being used, a hand of the operator defining a reference position when the fingers of said hand of the operator are proximate the reference surface; and

a function key array having a plurality of function keys for identifying functions to be performed by the data processing device, said plurality of function keys being distal said distal end of the alphanumeric key array, said function keys having function key keycaps, all of said function keys keycaps aligned in a substantially linear row and vertically displaced from said reference surface a distance of between about 3 cm and about 5 cm, all of said function key keycaps oriented at substantially the same angle, different from the orientation of the home key keycaps, and angled toward the hand of the operator.

37. Data input apparatus for interfacing the fingers of the hand of the operator with a data processing device comprising:

a key array having a plurality of keys, said plurality of keys including home keys having surfaces that define a reference surface, said home keys further defining a reference position for a hand of the operator wherein the index finger of the operator defines a reference line when said hand of the operator is positioned in the reference position;

an auxiliary key array including a plurality of auxiliary keys, activatable by depression with no substantial lateral movement of said auxiliary keys, said auxiliary keys being vertically displaced above the reference surface defined by said home keys and positioned so that the fingers of the operator extend downward from the thumb when the hand of the operator is in the reference position, said auxiliary keys including an elongated key positioned at an angle with respect to the reference line so that the thumb of the operator may be positioned along the surface of said elongate key; and

palm rest means for receiving the palm of the operator generally coplanar with said auxiliary key means.

38. A method for data input, comprising:

providing a data input device having first and second palm rests and a key array with first and second keys constructed to move between first remote and second proximate positions remote from and proximate to the data input device, respectively;

supporting the hands of an operator with said lust and second pall rests; and

moving said first key, with the thumb of the operator, to said second proximate position while contacting the second key with the thumb of the operator and maintaining said second key in said first remote position, said first key being vertically displaced above said second key.