Adjustable ergonomic keyboard for use with stationary palm and elements thereof

• US 7,324,019 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David J. Levenson
• Original Assignee: David J. Levenson
• Inventors: Levenson, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/169,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,582 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 400/488, 400/493, 400/489, 400/486, 345/157, 345/168
• US Class Current: 341/22
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0257 Multisided remote control, comprising control or display elements on at least two sides, e.g. front and back surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/028 on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/034 Support for hands or arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/04 Gadget

Abstract

An ergonomic keyboard as shown in FIG. 3A for use with a stationary palm wherein the keys (15) of the keyboard are actuated only by motion of the joints in the digits. The keyboard may have a thumb region (20), a palm rest region (8) and a hypothenar rest region which are discrete parts and are adjustable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis. Some keys may be actuated by the back surface of the digits. The keyboard may be on an upper portion (2) which is mounted on a base (1) such that three dimensional rotational adjustment is possible between the upper portion and base. The position of the keyboard relative to a user may be adjusted. The spacing of the keys on the keyboard may be spaced at different intervals and have different forces for actuation.

Claims

1. A keyboard with a keypad mounted thereupon, wherein the keypad is comprised of a plurality of finger key arrays adjacent to one another on the keyboard, wherein the fingers are identified as the index, long, ring and short fingers of a hand with a palm and wherein each finger key array has associated with it specific keys and wherein each finger key array has a different curvature to accommodate the range of motion of that finger to actuate the respective keys when the wrist and palm are in a stationary position and wherein the keys of each key array are positioned along an arc located between the maximum and the minimum range of flexion of finger motion through the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints without any wrist motion;

wherein at least one key in each array is defined by the location of a finger tip when the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints for that finger are all in flexion and wherein the keyboard further includes a palm support adapted to support the palm in a stationary position relative to the keyboard while permitting free motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint and wherein each key has a top surface and wherein a projection perpendicular to the key top surface of at least one key in a finger key array will intersect within the bounds of the arc of that finger key array.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the curvature for any shorter finger of the finger key array is less than the curvature for any longer finger of the finger key array.

3. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein each finger key array is aligned with a plane defined by the path of the finger associated with that array as the finger moves from the clenched position to the fully extended position.

4. The keyboard according to claim 3 wherein the planes diverge as they extend away from the clenched hand.

5. The keyboard according to claim 3 further including at least one additional finger key array positioned laterally on either side of a respective key array plane, thereby providing at least one additional key actuatable by a finger.

6. The keyboard according to claim 5 wherein an additional finger key array for a single finger is positioned on each side of the plane associated with that finger.

7. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein each key array has at least three keys.

8. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the arc upon which the keys of each key array are positioned is located between the maximum and the minimum range of flexion and extension of finger motion through the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints without any wrist motion and wherein a key positioned to be activated by a front surface of a finger has a top surface which forms an angle of less than 135 degrees with the top surface of a key adapted to be activated by a back surface of the same finger when the hand is grasping the keyboard.

9. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein at least one key positioned along the arc is actuated by flexion at the joints of the finger and at least one other key positioned along the arc is actuated by a combination of extension and flexion of the three joints of the finger.

10. The keyboard according to claim 9 wherein each key in a key array has a top surface and the top surfaces of all keys in an array together form a non-planar surface and wherein actuation of each key requires a force perpendicular to the top surface of the respective key.

11. The keyboard according to claim 9 wherein any finger key array may have a cursor controller.

12. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the curvature is concave.

13. The keyboard according to claim 1 further including a thumb key array positioned adjacent to but separate from the finger key arrays and having a contour to accommodate the thumb range of motion.

14. The keyboard according to claim 13 wherein the thumb key array may have a cursor controller.

15. The keyboard according to claim 13 wherein the thumb range of motion is defined by an arc extending between the maximum and minimum range of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction of the thumb joints.

16. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the finger key arrays are contiguous with a palm rest region on a keyboard supporting the keypad.

17. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein home key positions are defined for each finger in the position that finger would assume in a relaxed position.

18. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the keys associated with each finger key array are spaced apart at smaller distances for smaller fingers and larger distances for larger fingers.

19. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein the keys associated with each finger key array are smaller for smaller fingers and larger for larger fingers.

20. The keyboard according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of keys are adapted to be activated by the front surface of a finger on a hand securing the keyboard while at least one other key is adapted to be activated by the back surface of a finger on a hand.

21. A keypad on a keyboard comprised of a plurality of finger key arrays adjacent to one another on the keyboard, wherein the fingers are identified as the index, long, ring and short fingers and wherein each finger key array has associated with it specific keys and wherein each finger key array has a different curvature to accommodate the range of motion of that finger to actuate the respective keys when the wrist and palm are in a stationary position and wherein the keys of each key array are positioned along an arc located between the maximum and the minimum range of flexion of finger motion through the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints without any wrist motion;

wherein at least one key in each array is defined by the location of a finger tip when the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints for that finger are all in flexion; and

wherein each key has a top surface and wherein a projection perpendicular to the top surface of at least one key in a finger key array will intersect within the bounds of the keys in the arc.

22. The keypad according to claim 21, wherein each key has a top surface and wherein a projection perpendicular to the key top surface of at least one key in each finger key array will intersect within the bounds of the keys in the arc of that finger key array.

23. A keypad on a keyboard comprised of a plurality of finger key arrays adjacent to one another on the keyboard, wherein the fingers are identified as the index, long, ring and short fingers and wherein each finger key array has associated with it specific keys and wherein each finger key array has a different curvature to accommodate the range of motion of that finger to actuate the respective keys when the wrist and palm are in a stationary position and wherein the keys of each key array are positioned along an arc located between the maximum and the minimum range of flexion and extension of finger motion through the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints without any wrist motion and wherein at least one key in each array is defined by the location of a finger tip when the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints for that finger are all in flexion and wherein at least two keys are positioned along the arc and separated from each other by an angle of at least 135 degrees and wherein the angle is measured from angle lines extending through the keys and perpendicular to the key support surface and wherein each key has a top surface and wherein a projection perpendicular to the key top surface of at least one key in a finger key array will intersect within the bounds of the arc of that finger key array.