Data input arrangement with a shaped interface

• US 8,100,594 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Chaumont, Chad, MacGregor, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): CULLER, JILL E
• Application Number:
  US11/609,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20080101840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/006 Different feeling for different switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A data input arrangement may include a first array of input keys defining a first shape extending across a first typing surface thereof; and a second array of input keys defining a second shape extending across a second typing surface thereof. The first and second arrays are contiguous with one another so that the first and second shapes create a non-linear surface extending across the data input arrangement. The non-linear surface enables users to tactilely locate individual keys of the first and second arrays.

Claims

1. A data input arrangement of a computing device, comprising:

a first row of input keys defining a first wave shape extending across a first typing surface thereof, a shape of a first input key in the first row of input keys being convex, a shape of an adjacent second input key in the first row of input keys being concave, and a shape of an adjacent third input key in the first row of input keys being convex; and

a second row of input keys defining a second wave shape extending across a second typing surface thereof, a shape of a first input key in the second row of input keys being convex, a shape of an adjacent second input key in the second row of input keys being concave, and a shape of an adjacent third input key in the first row of input keys being convex,

the first and second rows being contiguous with one another so that the first and second wave shapes create a non-linear surface extending across the data input arrangement, the non-linear surface enabling users to tactilely locate individual keys of the first and second rows, wherein a surface underlying the first and second rows is a substantially linear surface.

2. The data input arrangement of claim 1, further comprising:

a third row of input key defining a third wave shape extending across a third typing surface thereof,

the second and third rows being contiguous with one another so that the third row lengthens the non-linear surface across the data input arrangement.

3. The data input arrangement of claim 1, wherein an amplitude of at least one wave shape of the non-linear surface is one of maintained, increasing, decreasing, and a combination thereof.

4. The data input arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one wave shape of the non-linear surface includes one of a full period, two full periods, a half period, and a combination thereof.

5. The data input arrangement of claim 1, wherein indicia is included on at least one input key of the first and second rows.

6. The data input arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a contoured area to rest an object adjacent to the non-linear surface.

7. The data input arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first and second rows have different wave shapes.

8. A system, comprising:

a housing;

a data input arrangement at least partially disposed within at least a portion of the housing, the data input arrangement including a plurality of rows of input keys that define a wave shape extending across each row of the data input arrangement, a shape of a first input key in a first of the plurality of rows being convex, a shape of an adjacent second input key in the first of the plurality of rows being concave, and a shape of an adjacent third input key in the first of the plurality of rows of input keys being convex, the plurality of rows being contiguous with one another so that the wave shapes create a non-linear surface extending across the data input arrangement, the non-linear surface enabling users to tactilely locate individual input keys of the data input arrangement, wherein a surface underlying the plurality of input keys is a substantially linear surface; and

a data acquisition device selected from the group consisting of an imaging scanner, a laser scanner, a radio frequency identification reader, and a barcode reader.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first, second, and third input keys are arranged in at least one row defining a portion of the non-linear surface.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein an amplitude of at least one wave shape of the non-linear surface is one of maintained, increasing, decreasing, and a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one wave shape of the non-linear surface includes one of a full period, two full periods, a half period, and a combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein indicia is included on at least one of the first, second, and third input keys.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a contoured area to rest an object adjacent to the non-linear surface.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the non-linear surface comprises a plurality of different wave shapes.