Ergonomic keyboard entry system

• US 5,790,103 A
• Filed: 10/04/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Willner
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Willner
• Inventors: Willner, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/538,642
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/21, 341/22, 341/23, 341/27, 341/28, 345/168, 345/171, 345/172, 364/709.12, 364/709.14, 364/709.15, 400/477, 400/487
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard entry system (100) is provided. The system (100) includes a base (200) on which is provided a set of first control keys (120) for assigning an output function selected by simultaneously operating one of a plurality of multifunction character keys. In particular, alphabetic character output functions are selected utilizing one of a set of first character keys (220), the particular assignment of alphabetic characters to the particular character keys (222, 224, 226, 228 and 230) being made to provide QWERTY compatibility. Each of the sets of keys (120, 220) are irregularly arranged on the base (200) to be located under the fingertips of a user'"'"'s bent hands. Further, each of the sets of keys (120, 220) are configured about respective axes (276, 286 and 278, 288), the two axes being disposed at different angles with respect to a horizontal reference, permitting a miniaturized keyboard to be implemented with full size keys.

Claims

1. An ergonomic keyboard entry system, comprising:

a longitudinally extended base;

a plurality of multifunction character keys coupled to said base, said plurality of multifunction character keys including a set of six or less first multifunction character keys, five of said set of first multifunction character keys being irregularly arranged on said base to be located under finger tips of a first bent human hand, said irregular arrangement of said five first multifunction character keys being disposed about a first axis extending at a first predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal direction, each of said set of first multifunction character keys being operative to generate an alphabetic character output function; and

,

a plurality of control keys coupled to said base, said plurality of control keys including a set of five or less first control keys irregularly arranged on said base to be located under finger tips of a second bent human hand, said irregular arrangement of said set of first control keys being disposed about a second axis extending at a second predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal direction, each of said set of first control keys being operative to generate a predetermined assignment of output functions to said plurality of multifunction character keys, each of said plurality of multifunction character keys designates a base character output function responsive to an absence of simultaneous operation of any of said set of first control keys, at least a portion of said plurality of multifunction character keys designate at least four alternate character output functions responsive to operation of a respective one of said first control keys simultaneous therewith for each said alternate character output function, each of said set of first control keys having an indicia indication disposed at a predetermined position thereon, said predetermined position being different for each of said set of first control keys.

2. The ergonomic keyboard entry system as recited in claim 1 where each of said portion of said plurality of multifunction character keys has indicia formed thereon representing said base character and said alternate characters, each of said alternate character indicia being located at a position corresponding to a position of a respective one of said indicia indications of said set of first control keys to indicate which of said character output functions are generated with the simultaneous actuation of said multifunction character key and a respective one of said set of first control keys.

3. An ergonomic keyboard entry system, comprising:

a longitudinally extended base;

a plurality of multifunction character keys coupled to said base, said plurality of multifunction character keys including a set of six or less first multifunction character keys, five of said set of first multifunction character keys being irregularly arranged on said base to be located under finger tips of a first bent human hand, said irregular arrangement of said five first multifunction character keys being disposed about a first axis extending at a first predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal direction, each of said set of first multifunction character keys being operative to generate an alphabetic character output function; and

,

a plurality of control keys coupled to said base, said plurality of control keys including a set of five or less first control keys irregularly arranged on said base to be located under finger tips of a second bent human hand, said irregular arrangement of said set of first control keys being disposed about a second axis extending at a second predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal direction, each of said set of first control keys being operative to generate a predetermined assignment of output functions to said plurality of multifunction character keys, each of said plurality of multifunction character keys designates a base character output function responsive to an absence of simultaneous operation of any of said set of first control keys, at least a portion of said plurality of multifunction character keys designate at least five alternate character output functions responsive to operation of a respective one of said set of first control keys simultaneous therewith for each said alternate character output function, each of said set of first control keys having an indicia indication disposed at a predetermined position thereon, said predetermined position being different for each of said set of first control keys.

4. The ergonomic keyboard entry system as recited in claim 3 where each of said portion of said plurality of multifunction character keys has indicia formed thereon representing said base character and said alternate characters, each of said alternate character indicia being located at a position corresponding to a position of a respective one of said indicia indications of said set of first control keys to indicate which of said character output functions are generated with the simultaneous actuation of said multifunction character key and a respective one of said set of first control keys.

5. The ergonomic keyboard entry system as recited in claim 4 where said set of first multifunction character keys includes a sixth character key located to one side of said fourth character key for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters F, H, M, V, and Y.

6. An ergonomic keyboard entry system, comprising:

a longitudinally extended base;

a plurality of multifunction character keys coupled to said base, said plurality of multifunction character keys including a set of six or less first multifunction character keys, five of said set of first multifunction character keys being irregularly arranged on said base to be located under finger tips of a first bent human hand, said irregular arrangement of said five first multifunction character keys being disposed about a first axis extending at a first predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal direction, each of said set of first multifunction character keys being operative to generate an alphabetic character output function, said set of first multifunction character keys including;

a first character key located under a user'"'"'s fifth finger tip of the first hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters A, G, P, Q, and Z;

a second character key located under the user'"'"'s fourth finger tip of the first hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters L, O, S, W, and X;

a third character key located under the user'"'"'s third finger tip of the first hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters C, D, E, I, and K;

a fourth character key located under the user'"'"'s second finger tip of the first hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters J, N, R, T, and U; and

,

a fifth character key located under the user'"'"'s first finger tip of the first hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic character B and a SPACE function; and

,

a plurality of control keys coupled to said base, said plurality of control keys including a set of five or less first control keys irregularly arranged on said base to be located under finger tips of a second bent human hand, said irregular arrangement of said set of first control keys being disposed about a second axis extending at a second predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal direction, each of said set of first control keys being operative to generate a predetermined assignment of output functions to said plurality of multifunction character keys.

7. An ergonomic keyboard entry system, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of multifunction character keys coupled to said base, said plurality of multifunction character keys including;

a. a first character key positionally located to be operable by a user'"'"'s fifth finger of one hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters A, G, P, Q, and Z;

b. a second character key positionally located to be operated by a user'"'"'s fourth finger of one hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters L, O, S, W, and X;

c. a third character key positionally located to be operated by a user'"'"'s third finger of one hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters C, D, E, I, and K;

d. a fourth character key positionally located to be operated by a user'"'"'s second finger of one hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic characters J, N, R, T, and U;

e. a fifth character key positionally located to be operated by a user'"'"'s first finger tip of one hand for generating output functions representing at least the alphabetic character B and a SPACE function; and

,

f. a plurality of control keys coupled to said base, said plurality of control keys including a plurality of character selection keys, each of said character selection keys being operative to assign a selected alphabetic output function to said first, second, third, fourth and fifth character keys.