Device for the prevention of RSI symptoms

• US 5,902,257 A
• Filed: 11/14/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Korth, Hans-Erdmann
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/748,774
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 128/739, 128/774, 364/508, 341/34, 702/176, 702/41, 702/56, 706/924, 706/926, 601/23, 601/37, 601/40, 434/227-232
• US Class Current: 601/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/044 Repetitive strain injury [RSI] considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/024 Common site to all actuators, e.g. auxiliary
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/048 comprising microphone or speaker

Abstract

The present invention describes a device and a method to prevent RSI symptoms when keys are operated, and it contains a measuring device (4) to determine the force acting on the key, a device to compare the measured force with a finger stress model, and a device to make critical finger impact values (14, 16) perceptible. The inventive device may be positioned directly on the keyboard (2) as a stand-alone device, or it may be designed as part of a data processing system.

Claims

1. A system for preventing RSI symptoms when keys of a keyboard are operated, said keyboard supported by plural supports, and comprising:

a force sensor comprising at least one said support;

means for signalling a user of said keyboard; and

a processor coupled to said force sensor and responsive to a time progression of sensed force signals therefrom, to determine force values applied to a respective key, in part, based upon a location of said key with respect to said force sensor, and for comparing said time progression of force values to a force stress model and for generating a user perceivable output from said means for signalling if a force value on said respective key exceeds said force stress model.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor derives an average of force values for a key and causes said user perceivable output if said average exceeds said force stress model.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

means for altering a required key pressure to activate a key in response to said average exceeding said force stress model.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured in a form to be user-removable from said keyboard.