Word output device and matrix keyboard for use therein
First Claim
1. A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of keys of a first common color and arranged in a first matrix, wherein keys of the first matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the first common color indicating a common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character; and
a plurality of keys of a second common color, different from the first common color, and arranged in at least one additional matrix, wherein keys of the at least one additional matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the second common color indicating a second common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, the second common number of actuations being different from the first common number of actuations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard utilizing a matrix arrangement of word, character, numerical (print medium) keys to enhance a standard print medium keyboard. Instead of utilizing keys with letters and numbers, and instead of utilizing iconic symbols (or for use in combination with iconic symbols), the keyboard includes a plurality of keys arranged in at least two matrices. The keys of the first matrix are associated with each other in some manner, as are keys in at least one additional matrix. The matrices can include keys grouped together and grammatically associated with one another, by part of speech for example; and/or can include keys associated with a common color and a common number of selections necessary to access an associated word or word phrase. By use of such a keyboard, preferably in conjunction with a word output device, both manual and scanning input can be enhanced in a print medium environment, without the need to invest substantial time in memorizing complex iconic structures.
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Citations
130 Claims
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1. A keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of keys of a first common color and arranged in a first matrix, wherein keys of the first matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the first common color indicating a common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character; and a plurality of keys of a second common color, different from the first common color, and arranged in at least one additional matrix, wherein keys of the at least one additional matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the second common color indicating a second common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, the second common number of actuations being different from the first common number of actuations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A virtual keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of keys of a first common color arranged in a first matrix, wherein keys of the first matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the first common color indicating a common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character; and a plurality of keys of a second common color arranged in at least one additional matrix, wherein keys of the at least one additional matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, wherein upon selection of a key in one matrix, keys of another matrix are differentiated from other keys of the keyboard, the second common color indicating a second common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, the second common number of actuations being different from the first common number of actuations. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A keyboard, comprising:
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a plurality of keys arranged in a first matrix, keys of the first matrix being similarly grammatically associated and associated with a common first color, the first common color indicating a common number of selections necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character; and a plurality of keys arranged in a second matrix, keys of the second matrix being similarly grammatically associated and associated with a common second color, different from the first color, the second common color indicating a common second number of selections, different from the first number, necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A word output device, comprising:
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a keyboard including, a plurality of keys of a first common color and arranged in a first matrix, wherein keys of the first matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the first common color indicating a common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, and a plurality of keys of a second common color, different from the first common color, and arranged in at least one additional matrix, wherein keys of the at least one additional matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the second common color indicating a second common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, the second common number of actuations being different from the first common number of actuations; a memory, adapted to store words, word phrases or characters in association with one or more of the plurality of keys; a controller, adapted to access a stored word, word phrase or character in response to selection of one or more of the plurality of keys; and an output unit, adapted to output the accessed word, word phrase or character. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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97. A word output device, comprising:
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a virtual keyboard including, a plurality of keys of a first common color arranged in a first matrix, wherein keys of the first matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the first common color indicating a common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, and a plurality of keys of a second common color arranged in at least one additional matrix, wherein keys of the at least one additional matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the second common color being different from the first common color and indicating a second common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, the second common number of actuations being different from the first common number of actuations; a memory, adapted to store words, word phrases or characters in association with one or more of the plurality of keys; a controller, adapted to access a stored word, word phrase or character in response to selection of one or more of the plurality of keys; and an output unit, adapted to output the accessed word, word phrase or character, wherein, upon selection of a first key, the controller differentiates display of at least one key from other keys on the keyboard. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108)
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109. A word output device, comprising:
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a keyboard including, a plurality of keys of a first color arranged in a first matrix, wherein keys of the first matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the first color indicating a common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, and a plurality of keys of a second color arranged in at least one additional matrix, wherein keys of the at least one additional matrix are similarly grammatically associated and at least a portion thereof are grouped together, the second color being different from the first color and indicating a second common number of actuations necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, the second common number of actuations being different from the first common number of actuations; a memory, adapted to store words, word phrases or characters in association with one or more of the plurality of keys; a controller, adapted to access a stored word, word phrase or character in response to selection of one or more of the plurality of keys; and an output unit, adapted to output the accessed word, word phrase or character, wherein the memory is adapted to store a plurality of word phrases, stored in association with a sequence of at least two keys including one key of one matrix and at least one key of a different matrix. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112)
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113. A word output device, comprising:
a keyboard including, a plurality of keys arranged in a first matrix, keys of the first matrix being similarly grammatically associated and associated with a common first color, the first common color indicating common number of selections necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character, and a plurality of keys arranged in a second matrix, keys of the second matrix being similarly grammatically associated and associated with a second color, different from the first color, the second common color indicating a second number of selections, different from the first number, necessary to access an associated word, word phrase or character; a memory, adapted to store words, word phrases or characters in association with one or more of the plurality of keys; a controller, adapted to access a stored word, word phrase or character in response to selection of one or more of the plurality of keys; and an output unit, adapted to output the accessed word, word phrase or character. - View Dependent Claims (114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130)
Specification