High speed keyboard for computers

• US 5,828,323 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Juan F. Bartet
• Original Assignee: Juan F. Bartet
• Inventors: Bartet, Juan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/697,881
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/21, 341/22, 341/26, 341/23, 345/168, 364/189, 364/709.12, 364/709.15, 364/709.16, 400/87, 400/91-94, 400/100, 400/472, 400/473, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/08 by operating selected combinations of multifunction keys

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard utilizing ten keys which are activated in pairs to produced coding signal representing alphabetic symbols of a conventional computer keyboard. The keyboard is operated as a replacement or in parallel with a conventional computer keyboard. Each key corresponds in position with each finger on a hand. By pressing two keys, unique letters and functions are produced. As the number of unique binary combinations of ten elements is 45, the ten-key keyboard system is capable of representing at least 26 characters plus the function keys of a standard 101-key computer keyboard. The structure enables greater speed through efficiency in finger movement and easy learning.

Claims

1. An auxiliary keyboard system for providing information to a computer, characterized by a keyboard unit including ten ergonomical piano-like shaped keys, one for each finger, circuit means for translating activation of paired keys into unique electrical signals, and a source of power to supply the auxiliary keyboard system.

2. A keyboard system as recited in claim 1 wherein the keys of the keyboard system are elongated to readily adapt to hands of different sizes.

3. A keyboard system as recited in claim 2 characterized by being programmed to implement a typing code wherein said keyboard system includes keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 positioned from left to right and wherein the keys 1 to 5 correspond to fingers of the left hand such that the little finger corresponds to key No. 1,the ring finger corresponds to the No. 2 key, the middle finger corresponds to key No. 3, the index finger corresponds to key No. 4, and the thumb corresponds to key No. 5, and wherein keys 6 to 0 oppositely correspond respectively to fingers of the right hand, such that pressing key 1 together with one of keys 2 to 0 activates one of characters W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, and P in such a way where pressing simultaneously said key 1 with said key 2, the letter W is formed;

pressing said key 1 with said key 3, the letter E is formed and thus, successively until the pair of said key 1 with said keys through key 0 to form the last letter P in a first sequence of letters; and

pressing key 2 with one of the keys from 3 to 0 generates letters D, F, G, H, J, K, L, and N such that pressing key 2 with said key 3, D is generated, pressing said key 2 with said key 4, F is generated; and

thus successively until the pair of key 2 with said keys through key 0 form the last letter N in a second sequence of letters;

pressing said key 3 with one of the keys from 4 to 0 generates keys Z, X, C, V, B, N and M whereby pressing said key 3 with said key 4, the letter Z is generated, pressing said key 3 with said key 5, the letter X is generated, and thus successively until the pair of said key 3 with said keys through key 0 in order to form the last letter M in a third sequence;

pressing simultaneously said key 4 with said key 5 the letter Q is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 6 the letter A is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 7 the letter S is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 8 a period is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 9 a colon is generated, pressing said key 4 with said 0 a semi-colon is generated, pressing said key 5 with said key 6 a space is generated, pressing said key 5 with said key 7 a return is generated, pressing said key 5 with said key 9 a function is generated, and pressing said key 5 with said key 0 a dash is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 7 an opening question mark is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 8 a closing question mark is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 9 an opening exclamation mark is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 0 a closing exclamation mark is generated;

pressing said key 7 with said key 8 capital letters are generated;

pressing said key 7 with said key 9 capital letters are removed, and pressing said key 7 with said key 0 forms the open parenthesis symbol;

pressing said key 8 with said key 9 a comma symbol is generated; and

pressing said key 8 with said key 0 a closing parenthesis symbol is generated; and

pressing said key 9 with said key 0 a quotation mark is generated.

4. A keyboard system as recited in claim 1 characterized by being programmed to implement a mnemonic typing code wherein said keyboard system includes keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 positioned from left to right and wherein the keys 1 to 5 correspond to fingers of the left hand such that the little finger corresponds to key No. 1, the ring finger corresponds to the No. 2 key, the middle finger corresponds to key No. 3, the index finger corresponds to key No. 4, and the thumb corresponds to key No. 5, and wherein keys 6 to 0 oppositely correspond respectively to fingers of the right hand, such that pressing key 1 together with one of keys 2 to 0 activates one of characters W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, and P in such a way where pressing simultaneously said key 1 with said key 2, the letter W is formed;

pressing said key 1 with said key 3, the letter E is formed and thus, successively until the pair of said key 1 with said keys through key 0 to form the last letter P in a first sequence of letters; and

pressing key 2 with one of the keys from 3 to 0 generates letters D, F, G, H, J, K, L, and N such that pressing key 2 with said key 3, D is generated, pressing said key 2 with said key 4, F is generated; and

thus successively until the pair of key 2 with said keys through key 0 form the last letter N in a second sequence of letters;

pressing said key 3 with one of the keys from 4 to 0 generates keys Z, X, C, V, B, N and M whereby pressing said key 3 with said key 4, the letter Z is generated, pressing said key 3 with said key 5, the letter X is generated, and thus successively until the pair of said key 3 with said keys through key 0 in order to form the last letter M in a third sequence;

pressing simultaneously said key 4 with said key 5 the letter Q is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 6 the letter A is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 7 the letter S is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 8 a period is generated, pressing said key 4 with said key 9 a colon is generated, pressing said key 4 with said 0 a semi-colon is generated, pressing said key 5 with said key 6 a space is generated, pressing said key 5 with said key 7 a return is generated, pressing said key 5 with said key 9 a function is generated, and pressing said key 5 with said key 0 a dash is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 7 an opening question mark is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 8 a closing question mark is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 9 an opening exclamation mark is generated, pressing said key 6 with said key 0 a closing exclamation mark is generated;

pressing said key 7 with said key 8 capital letters are generated;

pressing said key 7 with said key 9 capital letters are removed, and pressing said key 7 with said key 0 forms the open parenthesis symbol;

pressing said key 8 with said key 9 a comma symbol is generated; and

pressing said key 8 with said key 0 a closing parenthesis symbol is generated; and

pressing said key 9 with said key 0 a quotation mark is generated.

5. A keyboard system as recited in claim 1 adapted to be installed in parallel with a standard keyboard of the computer and to permit individual use of said auxiliary keyboard system and said standard keyboard.

6. A keyboard systems as recited in claim 1 including a switch operable with said keyboard for effecting alternative translations between key-pairs and alphabetic characters.

7. A keyboard system as recited in claim 1 having a mnemonic code diagram located in the upper part of a casing thereof in order to facilitate the learning and use of said keyboard system.