Method for operating an ergonomic keyboard

• US 6,288,706 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Leman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/104,941
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/167, 345/160, 345/157, 341/22
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A method for operating an ergonomic computer keyboard. The keyboard may include a housing with a removable first input device in an upper surface of the housing and a second input device in a lower surface of the housing. Users may generate first and second input signals by manipulating the first and second input devices, respectively. The users may support the keyboard by grasping a projection projecting away from the lower surface of the keyboard housing. The users may also pivot end portions of the keyboard relative to a central portion of the keyboard while manipulating the first and second input devices.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting signals from a computer keyboard to a computer, the keyboard having a first axis, the method comprising:

supporting a first portion of the keyboard with a first hand of a user and supporting a second portion of the keyboard with a second hand of the user, an intermediate portion of the keyboard being positioned between the first and second portions, the first axis extending transversely from the first hand of the user to the second hand of the user;

rotating the second portion of the keyboard relative to the intermediate portion of the keyboard about a second axis generally parallel to the first axis;

rotating the first portion of the keyboard relative to the intermediate portion of the keyboard about a third axis generally parallel to the first axis;

manipulating an input device coupled to the second portion of the keyboard to generate a signal; and

transmitting the signal to the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising grasping the second portion of the keyboard.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of manipulating the input device is concurrent with the act of rotating the second portion of the keyboard.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device includes an input button movable relative to a housing of the keyboard and the act of manipulating the input device includes moving the input button relative to the housing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device includes a pointing device and the act of manipulating the input device includes manipulating the pointing device.