Ergonomic computer keyboard
First Claim
1. An efficient data entry device having an improved character layout, comprising:
- a first hand member including twelve switches for generating respective first signals, five of which first signals are representative of all the English language vowels; and
a second hand member including twelve switches for generating respective second signals, wherein each signal by itself represents a consonant, wherein the switches of each member are arranged in three rows of four switches each, with a first row of the first hand member defining the letters "I", "A", "O", and "E", a second row of the first hand member defining the letters "F", "U", "G", and "Y", a third row of the first hand member defining the letters "K" and "V" and two symbols, and wherein first, second, and third rows of the second hand member respectively define the letters "L", "P", "D", "W", "H", "T", "S", "N", and "R", "M", "C", "B".
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ergonomic, efficient unitary pyramidal-shaped data entry device includes left and right hand members separated from each other by a thumb control surface. Each hand member is formed with four cavities for receiving the four fingers of the left and right hands, respectively, of a user, with the user'"'"'s thumbs being juxtaposed with the thumb control surface. Each cavity contains three switches, with one switch being operated when the user extends the appropriate finger, a second being operated when the user depresses the finger, and a third being operated when the user retracts the finger. Each switch generates a signal representative of a character of a character set, with thumb switches being operable by the user'"'"'s thumbs to invoke one of a plurality of sets. The sets include a character set that mimics the conventional QWERTY layout, and also include sets which represent language-optimized layouts. The device can also assume the function of a telephone and a cursor control pad.
72 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An efficient data entry device having an improved character layout, comprising:
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a first hand member including twelve switches for generating respective first signals, five of which first signals are representative of all the English language vowels; and a second hand member including twelve switches for generating respective second signals, wherein each signal by itself represents a consonant, wherein the switches of each member are arranged in three rows of four switches each, with a first row of the first hand member defining the letters "I", "A", "O", and "E", a second row of the first hand member defining the letters "F", "U", "G", and "Y", a third row of the first hand member defining the letters "K" and "V" and two symbols, and wherein first, second, and third rows of the second hand member respectively define the letters "L", "P", "D", "W", "H", "T", "S", "N", and "R", "M", "C", "B". - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification