Ergonomic keyboard

• US 6,580,421 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• 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): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/104,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/156, 345/157, 364/708.1, 364/709.01, 364/709.02
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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

Abstract

A keyboard for a computer. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes a removable first input device in an upper surface and a second input device in a lower surface opposite the upper surface. A user may support the keyboard such that one finger can operate the first input device and another finger can operate the second input device. The keyboard may have either a generally unitary construction, or it may have a first portion and a second portion rotatable relative to the first portion while the user manipulates the input devices.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard, comprising:

a keyboard housing having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite die upper surface and spaced apart from the upper surface;

a plurality of input keys accessible from the upper surface of the keyboard housing;

a first input device attached to the keyboard housing, the first input device being at least proximate to and accessible from the upper surface of the keyboard housing;

a first projection extending downwardly from a first portion of the lower surface of the keyboard housing, the first projection being recessed beneath an overhanging portion of the keyboard housing, the first projection being configured to engage a plurality of digits of a first hand of a user;

a second projection extending downwardly from a second portion of the lower surface of the keyboard housing, the second projection being recessed beneath an overhanging portion of the keyboard housing, the second projection being configured to engage a plurality of digits of a second hand of the user; and

at least one second input device housed in one of the first and second projections, the second input device being at least proximate to and accessible from the one projection and configured to engage at least one digit of the user during operation, the second input device being spaced apart from the first input device.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first input device is accessible through an aperture in the upper surface of the housing.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second input device is accessible through an aperture in the one projection.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the housing has first and second adjacent concave portions, each concave portion being configured to engage an upper surface of a human leg.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the housing has a base portion at least partially parallel to the upper surface of the housing.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one projection and the second input device has a concave engaging surface configured to engage at least one digit.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one projection and the second input device has a plurality of adjacent concave engaging surfaces configured to engage a corresponding plurality of digits.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the housing has an intermediate surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, the intermediate surface having first and second opposite rounded ends, the first rounded end being proximate to the first and second input devices.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first input device and the second input device is a pointing device.

10. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the pointing device includes a sphere, a portion of which projects from the housing, the sphere being rotatable relative to the housing to receive commands from the user.

11. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the pointing device includes a touch-sensitive surface.

12. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the pointing device includes a joystick projecting from the housing.

13. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the pointing device includes an engaging surface and a force transducer coupled to the engaging surface to detect a force transmitted thereto.

14. The keyboard of claim 9 wherein the pointing device includes a thumbwheel, a portion of which projects from the housing, the thumbwheel being rotatable relative to the housing to transmit at least a portion of the signals to the computer.

15. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second input device includes an input button movable between a first position and a second position to transmit at least a portion of the signals to the computer.

16. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first input device is one of a plurality of first input devices proximate to the upper surface of the housing.

17. The keyboard of claim 16 wherein more than one of the first input devices includes a pointing device.

18. The keyboard of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first input devices includes an input button movable between a first position and a second position to transmit at least a portion of the signals to the computer.

19. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the computer includes a display having an image thereon, the first input device being coupled to the computer to control a first characteristic of the image, the second input device being coupled to the computer to control a second characteristic of the image.

20. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second input device is one of a plurality of second input devices proximate to the lower surface of the housing.

21. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the housing has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion and pivotable relative to the first portion, the first input device being housed in the second portion of the housing.

22. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the input keys are arranged generally parallel to a first axis and the second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion about a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis.

23. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a communication link operatively coupled to the first and second input devices and coupleable to a computer to transmit signals therebetween.

24. The keyboard of claim 23 wherein the communication link includes an infrared transmitting transducer coupled to the first and second input devices and an infrared receiving transducer spaced apart from the infrared transmitting transducer.

25. The keyboard of claim 23 wherein the communication link includes a radio transmitting transducer coupled to the first and second input devices and a radio receiving transducer spaced apart from the radio transmitting transducer.

26. The keyboard of claim 23 wherein the communication link includes a cable coupled between the input devices and the computer.

27. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first input device is removably attached to the housing.

28. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the housing has an aperture sized to removably receive the first input device.

29. The keyboard of claim 28, further comprising an aperture cap received by the aperture to cover the aperture when the first input device is removed from the aperture.

30. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first input device is one of two first input devices and the upper surface of the housing has a first aperture sized to receive one first input device and a second aperture sized to receive the other first input device.

31. The keyboard of claim 30 wherein the upper surface of the housing has first and second opposite ends, the first aperture being positioned toward the first end, the second aperture being positioned toward the second end.

32. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second input device includes an input button movable between a first position and a second position to transmit signal to the computer.

33. A computer keyboard, comprising:

a housing having a forward edge and a rear edge opposite the forward edge, the housing being extended in a lengthwise direction generally parallel to at least one of the forward and rear edges, the housing further having a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to a first side of the first portion to pivot about a first rotation axis relative to the first portion, the first rotation axis being generally parallel with the lengthwise direction; and

a first input device coupled to the second portion of the housing;

wherein the housing has a third portion coupled to a second side of the first portion and pivotable about a second rotation axis relative to the first portion, the second rotation axis being generally parallel to the lengthwise dimension.

34. The keyboard of claim 33, further comprising a communication link operatively coupled to the first input device and coupleable to a computer to transmit signals therebetween.

35. The keyboard of claim 33 wherein the first portion of the housing has an upper surface with input keys arranged in rows that are generally parallel to the first rotation axis.

36. The keyboard of claim 33 wherein the first input device is one of two first input devices operatively coupled to the computer, the third portion of the housing having the other first input device.

37. The keyboard of claim 33 wherein the second portion of the housing has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the lower surface having a base portion and a projection extending away therefrom, the projection housing a second input device coupleable to the computer to transmit signals therebetween.

38. The keyboard of claim 37 wherein at least one of the projection and the second input device has a concave engaging surface sized to engage at least one human digit.

39. The keyboard of claim 33 wherein the first portion of the housing is elongated along the first axis by a length sufficient to be supported on a human lap while the second portion is rotated relative to the first portion.

40. A computer keyboard, comprising:

a housing having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and spaced apart from the upper surface, the housing having a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion and pivotable relative to the first portion;

a plurality of input keys accessible from the upper surface and arranged generally parallel to a first axis, the second portion of the housing being pivotable relative to the first portion about a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis;

a first input device attached to the housing, the first input device being at least proximate to and accessible from the upper surface of the housing; and

a second input device attached to the housing, the second input device being at least proximate to and accessible from the lower surface of the housing, and the second input device being spaced apart from the first input device.

41. A computer keyboard, comprising:

a housing having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and spaced apart from the upper surface;

a plurality of input keys accessible from the upper surface;

a first input device attached to the housing, the first input device being at least proximate to and accessible from the upper surface of the housing;

a first projection extending downwardly from a first portion of the lower surface of the keyboard and positioned to engage a plurality of digits of a first hand of a user;

a second projection extending downwardly from a second portion of the lower surface of the keyboard and positioned to engage a plurality of digits of a second hand of a user; and

a second input device attached to the housing, the second input device being at least proximate to and accessible from the lower surface of the housing, and the second input device being spaced apart from the first input device.