Micro word-pad with tactile multifunctional keys
First Claim
1. A portable, word processor, key and keyboard arrangement comprising the combination of:
- a) a portable word processor microcomputer having first and second keyboard portions, said keyboard portions being hinged and electrically connected for folding one over the other, at least one of said portions containing a display screen;
b) a single row of multifunctional, toggle keys located on an inner face of each said first and second portions, said toggle keys having a distance between adjacent keys sufficient to permit unhindered, tactile operation by an operator'"'"'s finger, each of said keys having a plurality of switching elements, and a means connected thereto to produce a different, distinguishable functional response to displacement of said toggle key by an operator'"'"'s finger, corresponding to each of said switching elements , said single row of multifunctional, keys comprises six keys on each of said first and second portions, each key having manual means for selectively activating up to seven functions; and
c) a plurality of thumb keys arranged linearly along a vertical side of said first and second portions adjacent said multifunctional keys in a manner sufficient to permit unhindered operation by an operator'"'"'s thumbs when the operator'"'"'s fingers are in contact with said multifunctional toggle keys, said multifunction, keys are comprised of;
i) a first, polymeric layer having a plurality of conductive toggle pins extending perpendicularly through said layer, said toggle pins having heads projecting above said layer;
ii) a second, polymeric, layer overlaying said heads secured to said first polymeric layer;
iii) a conductive material layer pierced by and in sliding contact with said toggle pins, located adjacent said first polymeric layer opposite said pin heads;
iv) a non-conductive material layer pierced by said toggle pins adjacent said third conductive material layer; and
v) a printed circuit board layer having sockets therein for receiving said toggle pins, located adjacent said non-conductive layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved key and keyboard arrangement for a compact word processor, the keyboard arrangement consisting of only twelve toggle keys with each key capable of seven functions, six of the keys being operated in a tactile manner by the finger tips of each hand. Additional keys are provided along a vertical edge adjacent to the twelve keys for operation by the users thumbs. A second embodiment includes a pair of similar keyboards hinged together, each keyboard having a single row of six toggle keys movable in six directions and a center depressable function, and a plurality of keys perpendicular to the six toggle keys located along a vertical edge adjacent to the six toggle keys, each of the six toggle keys having seven functions operated by tactile manipulation. The six toggle keys on each keyboard portion and the associated perpendicular keys represent all of the functions of one half of a standard QWERTY computer keyboard.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A portable, word processor, key and keyboard arrangement comprising the combination of:
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a) a portable word processor microcomputer having first and second keyboard portions, said keyboard portions being hinged and electrically connected for folding one over the other, at least one of said portions containing a display screen; b) a single row of multifunctional, toggle keys located on an inner face of each said first and second portions, said toggle keys having a distance between adjacent keys sufficient to permit unhindered, tactile operation by an operator'"'"'s finger, each of said keys having a plurality of switching elements, and a means connected thereto to produce a different, distinguishable functional response to displacement of said toggle key by an operator'"'"'s finger, corresponding to each of said switching elements , said single row of multifunctional, keys comprises six keys on each of said first and second portions, each key having manual means for selectively activating up to seven functions; and c) a plurality of thumb keys arranged linearly along a vertical side of said first and second portions adjacent said multifunctional keys in a manner sufficient to permit unhindered operation by an operator'"'"'s thumbs when the operator'"'"'s fingers are in contact with said multifunctional toggle keys, said multifunction, keys are comprised of; i) a first, polymeric layer having a plurality of conductive toggle pins extending perpendicularly through said layer, said toggle pins having heads projecting above said layer; ii) a second, polymeric, layer overlaying said heads secured to said first polymeric layer; iii) a conductive material layer pierced by and in sliding contact with said toggle pins, located adjacent said first polymeric layer opposite said pin heads; iv) a non-conductive material layer pierced by said toggle pins adjacent said third conductive material layer; and v) a printed circuit board layer having sockets therein for receiving said toggle pins, located adjacent said non-conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A compact portable, word processor key and keyboard arrangement comprising the combination of:
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a) a word processing, microcomputer having a keyboard and a display screen; and b) a single row of twelve, multifunctional, toggle keys, located on a face of said keyboard, said toggle keys having a distance between adjacent keys sufficient to permit unhindered, tactile operation by an operator'"'"'s finger, each of said keys having a plurality of switching elements, and a means connected thereto to produce a different distinguishable functional response to tactile displacement of said switching elements by an operator'"'"'s finger tips; and
a plurality of thumb keys arranged linearly along a vertical side of said keyboard adjacent said multifunctional keys in a manner sufficient to permit unhindered operation by an operator'"'"'s thumbs when the operator'"'"'s fingers are in contact with said multifunctional toggle keys, said multifunctional keys comprising;a) a first, polymeric layer having a plurality of conductive toggle pins extending perpendicularly through said layer said toggle pins having heads projecting above said layer; b) a second, polymeric layer overlaying said heads secured to said first polymeric layer; c) a conductive material layer pierced by and in sliding contact with said toggle pins, located adjacent said first polymeric layer opposite said pin heads; d) a non-conductive material layer pierced by said toggle pins adjacent to said third conductive material layer; and e) a printed, circuit-board layer having conductive sockets therein for receiving said toggle pins, located adjacent to said nonconductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. A compact portable, word processor key and keyboard arrangement comprising the combination of:
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a) a portable word processing, microcomputer having a self-contained keyboard and a display screen integral with said keyboard; and b) a single row of twelve, multifunctional toggle keys capable of performing all the functions of a QWERTY type computer key board including the function keys and number pad in a single mode, located on a face of said keyboard, said toggle keys having a distance between adjacent keys sufficient to permit unhindered, tactile operation by an operator'"'"'s finger, each of said keys having a plurality of switching elements having up to nine functions, and a means connected thereto to produce a different distinguishable functional response to tactile displacement of said switching elements by an operator'"'"'s finger tips; and
a plurality of thumb keys arranged linearly along a vertical side of said keyboard adjacent said multifunctional keys in a manner sufficient to permit unhindered operation by an operator'"'"'s thumbs when the operator'"'"'s fingers are in contact with said multifunctional toggle keys.
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14. A foldable, portable, pocket, word processor comprising:
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a) a folding, portable, pocket computer having integral keyboards and display screen; b) a single row of six keys arranged on each of two similar said keyboards which are hinged and electrically connected together for folding one over the other, said keys having a distance between adjacent keys equivalent to the natural spacing on a user'"'"'s hand; c) a means for toggling each of said keys tactilely in six directions relative to a center position and a means to produce a different distinguishable letter or numeric function in response to toggle movements of said keys in each of said six directions; d) a means for activating a seventh function on each of said keys by depression of said keys; and e) a single row of at least three keys located perpendicularly along an edge parallel and adjacent to said means for toggling said keys.
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15. A method for entering data into a compact, portable, pocket type word processor computer comprising the steps of
a) manipulating a set of toggle keys on said portable pocket type word processing computer having an integral keyboard portion comprising a single row of twelve toggle keys, on a face of said keyboard portion, arranged to correspond to the finger spacing on each of a user'"'"'s hands, each of said twelve keys having seven functions operated tactilely by each of said user'"'"'s finger tips and wherein six of said twelve keys are operated with the fingers tips of each hand; - and
b) manipulating, with the user'"'"'s thumbs, a single row of keys, located along a vertical edge of said keyboard parallel and adjacent to said twelve keys, operable with the fingers tips of each hand placed on said twelve keys.
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16. A method for entering data into a compact, portable word processor computer comprising the steps of:
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a) unfolding a pocket size, micro, word processing computer having a self contained keyboard and integral display screen; b) manipulating tactilely, a single row of six toggle keys, arranged on each of two hinged and electrically connected similar keyboard portions of said computer, with the fingers tips of each hand, said computer comprising a display screen integral with one said keyboard portion, each of said six keys having seven functions operated tactilely by each of a user'"'"'s finger tips; and c) manipulating, with a user'"'"'s thumbs, a single row of keys located vertically along an edge of said keyboard portions, adjacent to each of said six keys.
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Specification