Data entry system

• US 5,793,312 A
• Filed: 04/09/1997
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frogpad, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ryozo Tsubai
• Inventors: Tsubai, Ryozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/838,700
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 364/189, 364/709.12, 364/709.15, 364/709.16, 345/168, 341/20, 341/22, 341/26, 341/21, 341/23, 341/24, 341/25, 341/173, 341/176, 400/485
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/14 by using additional keys, e.g. shift keys, which determine the function performed by the multifunction key

Abstract

A data entry system for use with one hand that includes nine primary keys and four secondary keys. The nine primary keys are arranged in three symmetrical rows of three keys each and, thereby, form three symmetrical columns of three keys each. These primary keys are positioned and constructed for operation by the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger of a user. Two secondary keys are positioned proximal the primary keys so that when the user'"'"'s hand is properly positioned on the keypad, the user'"'"'s thumb is naturally proximal the thumb keys (for right hand use). Likewise, two secondary keys are positioned proximal the primary keys such that when the user'"'"'s hand is properly positioned on the keypad, the user'"'"'s pinky finger is naturally proximal the secondary key (for right hand use). For left handed users, the data entry system is also provided with a selector switch which inverts the characteristics of the two sets of secondary keys. Depending on whether a primary or a secondary key has been depressed and on whether two keys are concurrently depressed, the data entry system permits entry of a pre-programmed character or function at the release of one key, at the concurrent and non-sequential depression of one primary and one secondary key, or at the concurrent sequential depression of two primary or two secondary keys. Thereby, the thirteen key layout described provides for efficient, comprehensive data entry using one hand.

Claims

1. A data entry system operated with one hand, comprising:

a plurality of primary keys;

each of said plurality of primary keys capable of being depressed and released;

each of said plurality of primary keys generating a distinct primary code upon depression;

at least one secondary key;

each of said at least one secondary key capable of being depressed and released;

each of said at least one secondary key generating a distinct secondary code upon depression;

wherein the sum of each of said primary codes and each of said secondary codes is distinct from each such other sum and from each of said primary codes and each of said secondary codes;

wherein the sum of any two of said secondary codes is distinct from each such other sum and from each of said primary codes and each of said secondary codes;

a controller;

said controller in electrical communication with said keys;

said controller generating output codes;

said output codes generated by said controller depending on which of said primary and secondary codes are generated by the depression of said keys;

said controller transmitting characters or functions;

each of said output codes corresponding to one of said characters or functions so that the generation of one of said output codes results in the transmission of said corresponding character or function;

said controller generating said output codes and transmitting said characters or functions under four sets of circumstances;

said first set of circumstances occurring upon the release of a prior to depressed key, if no other of said keys is concurrently depressed;

wherein said output code generated by said controller is equivalent to said primary or secondary code generated by the depression of said released key;

said second set of circumstances occurring upon the concurrent depression of one of said plurality of primary keys and one of said at least one secondary key, regardless of which of said keys is depressed first in time;

wherein said output code generated by said controller is equivalent to the sum of said primary and secondary codes generated by said depressed primary and secondary keys;

said third set of circumstances occurring upon the concurrent depression of two of said plurality of primary keys;

wherein said output code generated by said controller is equivalent to said primary code generated by said primary key depressed first in time; and

said fourth set of circumstances occurring upon the concurrent depression of two of said at least one secondary keys;

wherein said output code generated by said controller is equivalent to the sum of said secondary codes generated by said depressed secondary codes.

2. A data entry system as in claim 1, wherein

said controller including a storing means, an output code generation means, a cancellation means, an assignment means, and a transmission means;

said storing means storing said primary and secondary codes generated by the depression of said keys;

said storing means concurrently storing no more than two of said primary and secondary codes;

said storing means in electrical communication with said output code generation means;

said output code generation means generating said output code;

said output code generated by said output code generation means depending on which of said primary and secondary codes are stored by said storing means;

said output code generation means comprising a release output code generation means, a non-sequential depression output code generation means, a primary sequential depression output code generation means, and a secondary sequential depression output code generation means;

said release output code generation means generating said output code when said storing means stores one of said primary or one of said secondary codes and said key generating said primary or secondary code is subsequently released, if no other of said keys is concurrently depressed;

wherein said output code generated by said release output code generation means is equivalent to said primary or secondary code stored by said storing means;

said non-sequential depression output code generation means generating said output code when said storing means stores one of said primary codes and one of said secondary codes, regardless of which of said codes is stored first in time;

wherein said output code generated by said non-sequential depression output code generation means is equivalent to the sum of said primary and secondary codes stored by said storing means;

said primary sequential depression output code generation means activated when said storing means stores two of said primary codes;

wherein said output code generated by said sequential depression output code generation means is equivalent to said primary code stored first in time by said storing means;

said secondary sequential depression output code generation means activated when said storing means stores two of said secondary codes;

wherein said output code generated by said sequential depression output code generation means is equivalent to the sum of said secondary codes stored by said storing means;

said output code generation means in electrical communication with said cancellation means;

said cancellation means canceling a determinative code from said storing means;

said determinative code comprising one of said primary or secondary codes stored by said storing means;

wherein the value of said determinative code depending on whether said output code is generated by said release output code generation means, said non-sequential depression output code generation means, said primary sequential depression output code generation means, or said secondary sequential depression output code generation means;

said output code generation means in electrical communication with said assignment means;

said assignment means assigning said corresponding character or function to said output code generated;

said assignment means in electrical communication with said transmission means; and

said transmission means transmitting said character or function.

3. A data entry system as in claim 2, wherein

said storing means comprising a first storing means, a second storing means, a first code identification means, a second code identification means, a key release detection means, and a timing sequence detection means;

said first storing means activated by the generation of one of said primary or secondary codes;

said first storing means storing said primary or secondary code generated;

said first code identification means activated once first storing means stores one of said primary or secondary codes;

said first code identification means identifying whether said primary or secondary code stored by said first storing means is one of said primary codes or one of said secondary codes;

said second storing means activated only if first storing means has already stored one of said primary or secondary codes;

said second storing means activated by the generation of one of said primary or secondary codes;

said second storing means storing said primary or secondary code generated;

said second code identification means activated once second storing means stores one of said primary or secondary codes;

said second code identification means identifying whether said primary or secondary code stored by said second storing means is one of said primary codes or one of said secondary codes;

said key release detection means detecting when only one of said primary or secondary codes is stored by said first and second storing means and subsequently said key generating said one stored primary or secondary code is released prior to a second of said primary or secondary codes being stored by said first and second storing means; and

said timing sequence detection means detecting which of two of said codes being concurrently stored by said first and second storing means was stored first in time by said storing means.

4. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said release output code generation means generating said output code if said key release detection means is activated;

and

wherein said output code generated by said release output code generation means is equivalent to said primary or secondary code stored by said first and second storing means.

5. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said non-sequential depression output code generation means generating said output code if said first and second code identification means identify that said first and second storing means have stored one of said primary codes and one of said secondary codes and if key release detection means has not been activated;

and

wherein said output code generated by said non-sequential depression output code generation means is equivalent to the sum of said primary and secondary codes stored by said first and second storing means.

6. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said primary sequential depression output code generation means generating said output code if said first and second code identification means identify that said first and second storing means have each stored one of said primary codes and if said key release detection means has not been activated;

and

wherein said output code generated by said primary sequential depression output code generation means is equivalent to said primary code stored first in time by said first and second storing means, as detected by said timing sequence detection means.

7. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said secondary sequential depression output code generation means generating said output code if said first and second code identification means identify that said first and second storing means have each stored one of said secondary codes and if said key release detection means has not been activated;

and

wherein said output code generated by said secondary sequential depression output code generation means is equivalent to the sum of said secondary codes stored by said first and second storing means.

8. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said assignment means comprising an assignment reading means and an assignment allocation means;

said assignment reading means reading said output code generated by said output code generation means; and

said assignment allocation means allocating said corresponding character or function to said generated output code.

9. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said cancellation means comprising a cancellation reading means and a cancellation identification means;

said cancellation reading means reading said output code generated by said output code generation means;

said cancellation identification means identifying said determinative code;

said cancellation identification means canceling said determinative code from said first and second storing means.

10. A data entry system as in claim 9, wherein

said cancellation identification means identifying said determinative code depending on whether said output code is generated by said release output code generation means, said non-sequential depression output code generation means, said primary sequential depression output code generation means, or said secondary sequential depression output code generation means;

so that if said release output code generation means generates said output code, said cancellation identification means identifying that said determinative code is equivalent to said primary or secondary code stored by said first and second storing means;

so that if said non-sequential depression output code generation means generates said output code, said cancellation identification means identifying that said determinative code is equivalent to either said primary or secondary code stored by first and second storing means, depending on a pre-programmed instruction; and

so that if said primary sequential depression output code generation means generates said output code, said cancellation identification means identifying that said determinative code is equivalent to said primary code stored first in time by said first or second storing means, as detected by said key release detection means; and

so that if said secondary sequential depression output code generation means generates said output code, said cancellation identification means identifying that said determinative code is equivalent to said secondary code stored first in time by said first or second storing means, as detected by said key release detection means.

11. A data entry system as in claim 3, wherein

said transmission means transmitting said character or function assigned to said output code by said assignment means.

12. A data entry system as in claim 11, wherein

the activation of said storing means, said release output code generation means, said cancellation means, said assignment means, and said transmission means comprising a release transmission means;

the activation of said storing means, said non-sequential depression output code generation means, said cancellation means, said assignment means, and said transmission means comprising a non-sequential depression transmission means;

the activation of said storing means, said primary sequential depression output code generation means, said cancellation means, said assignment means, and said transmission means comprising a primary sequential depression transmission means; and

the activation of said storing means, said secondary sequential depression output code generation means, said cancellation means, said assignment means, and said transmission means comprising a secondary sequential depression transmission means.

13. A keyboard as in claim 3, further comprising

a plurality of modes;

each of said plurality of modes activated upon the generation of one of said output codes and corresponding functions;

each of said plurality of modes assigning each of said plurality of primary keys a distinct primary code and each of said at least one secondary key a distinct secondary code;

so that said keys generate distinct primary and secondary codes when each of said plurality of mode switches is activated.

14. A keyboard as in claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes comprising

a shift mode;

a symbol mode; and

a number mode.

15. A keyboard as in claim 14, wherein

said plurality of primary keys comprising thirteen primary keys;

and

said at least one secondary key comprising one secondary key.

16. A keyboard as in claim 14, wherein

said plurality of primary keys comprising nine primary keys;

and

said at least one secondary key comprising two secondary keys.

17. A keyboard as in claim 14, wherein

said plurality of primary keys comprising nine primary keys;

and

said at least one secondary key comprising four secondary keys.

18. A keyboard as in claim 17, wherein

each of said nine primary keys identically constructed;

said nine primary keys arranged in three aligned rows; and

each of said three aligned rows containing three of said primary keys.

19. A keyboard as in claim 18, wherein

each of said two secondary keys identically constructed;

said four secondary keys arranged in sets of two; and

said sets positioned on either side of the bottom row of said primary keys.