Keyboard for inputting to computer means

• US 5,936,556 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Masami Sakita
• Original Assignee: Masami Sakita
• Inventors: Sakita, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/891,738
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 344/28, 345/171, 341/26, 341/22, 400/110
• US Class Current: 341/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters

Abstract

This novel computer input system consists of a keyboard with gojyuon-based key arrangements and software that is used in conjunction with the keyboard. The novel key arrangement of the keyboard of this invention uses the basic characteristics of the gojyuon table, but each key on the keyboard shows notations for both the Japanese gojyuon and English alphabet letter. For inputting Japanese, the column (or consonant) and the row (or vowel) of the gojyuon table are input in sequence. The gojyuon column keys are placed substantially on the right half of the keyboard, and the gojyuon row keys are placed substantially on the left half. The only letter consisting of a consonant in Japanese, (N), which is called hatsu-on, is input by pressing the key that represents the (NA) column of the gojyuon table with no vowels after it. Each letter of the English alphabet is assigned to the key that represents the same (or a similar) sound in the Japanese gojyuon row or column. For example, the English letter K is assigned to the key that represents the (KA) column of gojyuon. The keys for those English letters that are not found in the Japanese letter system are assigned to keys close to keys that represent similar sounds in a gojyuon row or column. The software used in conjunction with the keyboard enables the user to input the data through the keyboard to the computer, processes the input data, converts the input data into the form specified by the user, and displays the converted input data on the computer display.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys for operation by an operator for use with a first, gojyuon, table of Japanese letters for inputting original Japanese words to computer means in a first mode of operation,

said keyboard including a home row of keys, a bottom row of keys closer to the operator than said home row of keys, and a top row of keys further from the operator than said home row of keys,

some of said keys comprising gojyuon row keys for use in specifying a row in said first table and others of said keys comprising gojyuon column keys for use in specifying a column in said first table,

said gojyuon column keys being located substantially at one of the right half and left half of said keyboard and said gojyuon row keys being located substantially at the other of said right half and left half of said keyboard,

said gojyuon row keys being located in said home row of keys and having Japanese gojyuon row notations O, E, U, I and A thereon, and

said gojyuon column keys being located in said home, bottom and top rows of keys and having Japanese gojyuon column notations KA, SA, TA, NA, HA, MA, GA, ZA, DA, BA, RA, WA, YA and PA thereon.

2. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said keys having said Japanese gojyuon row notations are in sequence O,E,U,I and A from left to right in said home row of keys.

3. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said keys having said Japanese gojyuon column notations KA, SA, TA, NA and HA are included in said home row of keys in sequence from left to right.

4. A keyboard as defined in claim 3 wherein said keys having said Japanese gojyuon column notations GA, ZA and DA are included in said top row of keys substantially directly above said keys having said Japanese gojyuon column notations KA, SA and TA, respectively.

5. A keyboard as defined in claim 1 wherein said keys having said Japanese gojyuon column and row notations GA, ZA, DA, BA, RA, KA, SA, TA, NA, HA, MA, WA, YA, PA, O, E, U, I and A include thereon English alphabet letters G, Z, D, B, R, K, S, T, N, H, M, W, Y, P, O, E, U, I and A, respectively, for use with a second table of Japanese letters for inputting foreign-origin Japanese words to said computer means in a second mode of operation, said some of said keys comprising row keys for use in specifying a row in said second table and said others of said keys comprising column keys for use in specifying a column in said second table in said second mode of operation, and means for use in switching between said first and second modes of operation.

6. A keyboard as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for use in switching between said first and second modes of operation includes key means on said keyboard.

7. A keyboard as defined in claim 6 including keys having English alphabet letters V, L, X, Q, J, C and F thereon adjacent keys having said Japanese gojyuon row and column notations thereon for use in said second mode of operation.

8. A keyboard as defined in claim 7 wherein said key having said English alphabet letter J thereon is located adjacent said key having said Japanese gojyuon column notation SA thereon, said key having said English alphabet letter C thereon is located adjacent said key having said Japanese gojyuon column notation TA thereon, and said key having said English alphabet letter L thereon is located adjacent said key having said Japanese gojyuon column notation RA thereon.

9. A keyboard as defined in claim 8 wherein said keys having said English alphabet letters V and L thereon are located in said top row of keys, and said keys having said English alphabet letters J, C and F thereon are located in said bottom row of keys.

10. A keyboard as defined in claim 9 wherein said key having said English alphabet letter L thereon is located in said top row of keys, and said key having said English alphabet letter X thereon is located in said bottom row of keys.

11. A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys for operation by an operator for use with a first, gojyuon, table of Japanese letters for inputting original Japanese words to computer means in a first mode of operation and for use with a second table of Japanese letters for inputting foreign-origin Japanese words to said computer means in a second mode of operation,

said keyboard including a home row of keys, a bottom row of keys closer to the operator than said home row of keys, and a top row of keys further from the operator than said home row of keys,

some of said keys comprising row keys for use in specifying a row in said first table in said first mode of operation and for use in specifying a row in said second table in said second mode of operation,

others of said keys comprising column keys for use in specifying a column in said first table in said first mode of operation and for use in specifying a column in said second table in said second mode of operation,

said row keys having English alphabet row notations O,E,U,I and A thereon and said column keys having English alphabet column notations G, Z, D, B, R, K, S, T, N, H, M, W, Y, and P thereon for use in identifying said rows and columns of both said first and second tables, and

means for use in switching between said first and second modes of operation.

12. A keyboard as defined in claim 11 wherein said English alphabet column keys are located substantially at one of the right half and left half of said keyboard and said English alphabet row keys are located substantially at the other of said right half and left half of said keyboard.

13. A keyboard as defined in claim 12 said row keys having said English alphabet row notations are in sequence O,E,U,I and A from left to right in said home row of keys.

14. A keyboard as defined in claim 13 wherein said column keys having said English alphabet column notations K, S, T, N and H are included in said home row of keys in sequence from left to right.

15. A keyboard as defined in claim 14 wherein said column keys having said English alphabet column notations G, Z and D are included in said top row of keys substantially directly above said keys having said English alphabet column notations K, S and T, respectively.

16. A keyboard as defined in claim 11 wherein additional others of said keys have English alphabet notations C, F, J, L, Q, V and X thereon for use with means operable in an English language mode of operation for generating English letters together with said keys having English alphabet notations O,E,U,I,A,G,Z,D,B,R,K,S,T,N,H,M,W,Y, and P thereon, and means for use in switching between said English language mode of operation and said first and second modes of operation.