8-bit binary code for use as an 8-dot braille arrangement and data entry system and method for 8-key chordic binary keyboards

• US 5,993,089 A
• Filed: 02/03/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James William Iv Burrell
• Original Assignee: James William Iv Burrell
• Inventors: Burrell, James William IV
• Primary Examiner(s): EICKHOLT, EUGENE H
• Application Number:
  US08/792,798
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/477, 400/479, 400/479.1, 400/479.2, 400/482, 400/483, 400/484, 400/485, 400/486, 400/488, 400/489, 341/22, 341/23, 341/21, 364/709.12, 364/709.15, 364/709.16, 364/189
• US Class Current: 400/100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/06 Multiple-character selection
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/002 Writing aids for blind persons devices for Braille writing G09B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/025 wherein one tactile input is associated to a single finger

Abstract

An alphanumeric data entry system for chordic keyboards permits the entry of vowels with the thumb and digits of the left hand and the entry of consonants with the thumb and digits of the right hand in combination with vowel chords from the left hand. Only the thumb, index, middle and ring digits of the left and right hands, respectively, are necessary for manipulation of 2 four-key sets. The keyboard can either be a conventional side-by-side keyboard or, alternatively, an 8 dot braille keyboard in which the two sets are arranged in two rows in a substantially parallel relationship to each other. The number mode is initiated by depressing all four digits of the right hand and then entering numbers beginning with the ring digit of the left hand as the lowest integer and proceeding in a reverse binary fashion from left to right with the numbers 0 through 9 entered by the left hand. The system can switch functions by depressing the index, middle and ring digits of the right hand and then entering the desired function code with the digits of the left hand. Some of the other functions possible are common math operators, containment chords, movement chords, operating chords, monetary and graphic chords, foreign language chords, etc. Because of the left to right nature of the data entry, the system is relatively easy to learn and fast to use. It is especially suited for handicapped and sight disabled individuals as a substitute for braille.

Claims

1. An eight bit binary code used as a data entry system for a binary eight key or sensor chordic keyboard consisting of:

a first set of four binary sensors for use by four digits of a first hand group; and

, means for producing a vowel whenever at least one of said four binary sensors of said first set of four binary sensors is activated by a digit of said first hand group, combined with an unused second set of four binary sensors for a second hand group.

2. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 1 further comprising:

a said second set of four binary sensors for use by four digits of a second hand group, wherein activation of at least one of said binary sensors of said second set of four binary sensors by a digit of said second hand group in simultaneous combination with the desired consonant'"'"'s preceding vowel representation produced on at least one of said four binary sensors of said first set of four binary sensors produces a consonant.

3. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 1, wherein said first set of four binary sensors is located for use by four digits, the thumb, index, middle and ring digits of the said first hand group.

4. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 2, wherein said second set of four binary sensors is located for use by four digits, the thumb, index, middle and ring digits of the said second hand group.

5. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 3, wherein numbers are assigned binary abacus numeric values and are produced from left to right starting with the left most binary digit, the said ring digit of the said first hand group, as the lowest positive binary integer and progressing towards the said thumb digit of the said first hand group producing numbers in a reverse binary code fashion.

6. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 5 wherein said data entry system is shifted to a numeric mode when the said four digits, the thumb, index, middle and ring digits of the said second hand group, activate all of the four binary sensors of said second set of four binary sensors, and wherein numbers are produced in accordance with claim 5, in a reverse binary fashion with the said ring, middle, index and thumb digits of the said first hand group activating or depressing said first set of four binary sensors.

7. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 5 wherein said system is shifted to a numeric multifunction mode by the substantially simultaneous activation of the three highest binary valued binary sensors of said second set of four binary sensors by the said index, middle and ring digits of the said second hand group and wherein multifunction mode binary numbers are produced in a said reverse binary fashion with the said ring, middle, index and thumb digits of the said first hand group in accordance with claim 5.

8. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 1 wherein the vowel u is produced by the substantially simultaneous activation of the two inner binary sensors of the said first set of four binary sensors by the said two inner middle and index digits of the said first hand group of four digits.

9. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 1 wherein the vowel y is produced by the substantially simultaneous activation of the two outer binary sensors of the said first set of four binary sensors by the said outer ring and thumb digits of the said first hand group of four digits.

10. The eight bit binary code used as a data entry system of claim 2 wherein said eight sensor chordic binary keyboard comprises a said first set of four binary sensors and a said second set of four binary sensors arranged in two rows in a substantially parallel and mirror imaged vertical fashion simulating an 8-dot braille cell arrangement.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said first set of four binary sensors produces vowels, when used in simultaneous combination with an unused second set of four binary sensors, produces a logical four left bit combined with a four right bit readable eight bit binary code arrangement operating system.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein said first set of four binary sensors produces vowels, and said second set of four binary sensors produces consonants, when used in simultaneous combination with the consonants preceding vowel representation produced on said first set of four binary sensors, producing a logical four left bit combined with a four right bit readable eight bit binary code arrangement operating system.

13. A method of producing eight bit binary data into an apparatus consisting of a first set of four binary sensors for use by a first hand group and a second set of four binary sensors for use by a second hand group, said method comprising the step of:

producing a vowel by activating at least one of the binary sensors of said first set of four sensors with at least one digit from said first hand group.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

producing a consonant by activating at least one of the said binary sensors of said second set of four binary sensors with at least one digit of said second hand group in simultaneous combination with the activation of at least one of the said binary sensors of said first set of four binary sensors that produces the consonant'"'"'s preceding vowel entry with said first hand group.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said first set of four binary sensors comprises four binary sensors for activation by the thumb, index, middle and ring digits of said first hand group and said first hand group comprises the left hand group.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said second set of four binary sensors comprises four binary sensors for activation by the thumb, index, middle and ring digits of said second hand group and said second hand group comprises the right hand group.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

shifting into a numeric mode by activating all said four binary sensors of said second set of four binary sensors with the said thumb, index, middle and ring digits of the said second hand group.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein numbers are produced in said numeric mode on said first set of four binary sensors, from left to right, starting with the lowest and left most ring digit of the said first hand group as the lowest possible positive binary integer and progressing towards the right, producing binary numbers in a reverse binary fashion.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

shifting into a multifunction mode by activating the three highest possible binary value binary sensors of said second set of four binary sensors by the three highest possible positive binary integer digits, the index, middle and ring digits of the said second hand group, and then producing the binary numeric code for the specific numeric function desired by activating at least one binary sensor of said first set of four binary sensors with at least one digit of said first hand group.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

producing the vowel u by activating the two inner binary sensors of said first set of four binary sensors with the said middle and index digits of the said first hand group.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

producing the vowel y by activating the two outer binary sensors of said first set of four binary sensors with the said ring and thumb digits of the said first hand group.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein said first and second set of four binary sensors comprises an 8-dot braille cell arrangement in which said first set of four binary sensors and said second set of four binary sensors are arranged in two substantially vertical rows, where the lowest possible positive binary integer is located on the bottom of the first left set of the 8-dot braille cell, and where the highest possible positive binary integer is located on the bottom of the second right set of the 8-dot braille cell.