Stealthy keyboard

• US 6,429,854 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John W. Mckown
• Original Assignee: John W. Mckown
• Inventors: McKown, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/604,822
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163, 345/169, 345/168, 345/173, 345/179, 345/184, 341/21, 341/22, 341/23, 341/176, 400/100, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489, 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/5.B, 200/5.C, 200/5.D
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0221 the switches being fixed to the operator's hand, e.g. integrated in a glove or fixed to a ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held

Abstract

A stealthy, one-hand keyboard suitable for pedestrians is implemented as a frame held between thumb and palm, to which is attached an adjustable array of keyswitches. The configuration is such that the fingers play no part in supporting the keyboard against gravity, nor in retaining it within the hand. This property facilitates faster typing. The keyboard is strapless and leaves the fingers near their relaxed positions. The hand hides the keyboard on one side and chords are entered by small motions of the fingers, actuating contact being via the flesh on the palm sides of the middle and distal phalanges. These properties reduce the keyboard'"'"'s observability.

Claims

1. A method for entering input data into an electronic apparatus, comprising the steps of

(a) providing, for each one of a plurality of keying fingers, a corresponding pair of keyswitches, said fingers and said pairs corresponding one to one, each one of said keyswitches comprising a key part and a momentary-contact, two-state switch part,

(b) positioning, for each one of said fingers, an inner keyswitch member of the corresponding keyswitch pair on the palm side of the middle phalanx part of said one finger, such that said inner keyswitch can be activated by pressing said side of the middle phalanx part of said one finger against the key part of said inner keyswitch with sufficient, predetermined force,

(c) positioning, for each one of said fingers, an outer keyswitch member of the corresponding keyswitch pair on the palm side of the distal phalanx part of said one finger such that said outer keyswitch can be activated by pressing said side of the distal phalanx part of said one finger against the key part of said outer keyswitch with sufficient, predetermined force,

(d) providing means to support the switch parts of said keyswitches in said positions such that said switch parts are not substantially displaced by forces applied by the keying fingers,

(e) entering a chord by contemporaneously activating a set of said keyswitches so as to define an ordered combination of activated and non-activated keyswitches,

(f) providing means to convert ordered combinations of activated and non-activated keyswitches to input data,

(g) providing means to transmit said input data to said apparatus, said apparatus including means to receive and process said input data,

(h) repeating step (e) until all desired input data have been entered.

2. A one-hand, chording keyboard comprising

(a) a keyswitch array, said array comprising

(1) a plurality of keyswitch pairs, said pairs corresponding one to one with an equal plurality of keying fingers on a hand operating said keyboard, each one keyswitch comprising a key part and a momentary-acting, two-state switch part, each one keyswitch pair comprising

(i) an inner keyswitch positioned on the palm side of the middle phalanx part of a corresponding keying finger, such that said inner keyswitch can be activated by pressing said side of the middle phalanx part of said corresponding keying finger against the key part of said inner keyswitch with sufficient, predetermined force,

(ii) an outer keyswitch positioned on the palm side of the distal phalanx part of said corresponding keying finger, such that said outer keyswitch can be activated by pressing said side of the distal phalanx part of said corresponding keying finger against the key part of said outer keyswitch with sufficient, predetermined force,

(2) spacer means to fix the switch parts of said keyswitches in said positions, such that the separations and relative orientations of said switch parts are not substantially changed by forces applied by the keying fingers,

(b) a frame configured to be gripped between the thumb and the palm of said hand, said frame securely attached to said keyswitch array,

such that said frame while so gripped supports said keyswitch array against gravity and forces applied by the keying fingers, whereby any combination of said keyswitches can be concurrently activated and released by appropriate small movements of the keying fingers.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 further including means to vary, within a predetermined range, the separation of the member keyswitches of at least one pair, such that said separation can be adjusted to best fit the corresponding operating finger, whereby achieving an improved fit to an individual hand.

4. A keyboard for one-handed typing of chords, said keyboard held in the operating hand, said chords being formed by the simultaneous pressing of one or more keys on the keyboard to produce one or more characters, the keyboard comprising

(a) an array of keys for being operated by the fingers of one hand, electrical or optical switch means being connected to the keys in the array of keys, a particular switch combination of closed and open switching paths in the switch means being provided for each chord pressable on the array of keys,

(b) means for interpreting chords, comprising

(i) means to generate coded signals representing members of a set of characters,

(ii) switching and logical circuit means to sense the particular switch combinations of closed and open switching paths of a chord to select character signals that correspond to a respective chord,

(iii) output circuit means to issue the character signals,

wherein the improvement comprises

means to vary, within a predetermined range, the separation of keys which are pressable by any one finger, such that said separation can be adjusted to best fit the size of said one finger, whereby achieving an improved fit to an individual hand.