COMPUTER KEYBOARD INCLUDING A CONTROL UNIT AND A KEYBOAD SCREEN

• US 20150103007A1
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adaptable Keys A/S
• Original Assignee: Adaptable Keys A/S
• Inventors: Forshaug, Rune
• Granted Patent: US 9,335,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An ergonomic writing apparatus including a keyboard screen integrated in the ordinary screen image, alternatively an independent keyboard screen, which interacts with a control unit. When the control arm/lateral joystick is moved, then two cursors which can be moved independently of each other and simultaneously, are displaceable over the columns of characters in the keyboard image. A choice of keys in the keyboard windows and control of the ordinary PC functions is realized by finger keys.

Claims

1. Ergonomic writing apparatus for a PC/refinement of a traditional keyboard, comprising

a control unit (60),

working in combination with a keyboard screen (2) integrated in the ordinary PC screen (1),

wherein characters and other functions which are shown in the screen image on the keyboard screen can be chosen with the aid of the control unit, the integrated keyboard image (2)/alternatively the independent keyboard screen (3) comprising a complete alphabet+one or more symbols, the keyboard is clearly visible and occupies little space in the lower part of an ordinary PC screen, placement of keys in the keyboard image is approximately the same as the placement of keys in an ordinary keyboard,

wherein two separate control arms, alternatively two separate joysticks, which, with the aid of an arm, hand or another body movement, each control a respective cursor in the left and right half of the keyboard image,

wherein the cursors can be displaced simultaneously and independently of each other, choice of keys on the keyboard screen and control of the ordinary PC functions is made by finger keys (72, 73, 74, 75, 6, 7, 8, 63+76, 77, 78, 79, 9, 10, 11, 64) on a manual control (50),

wherein characters can be chosen in the field which is highlighted in the keyboard image by that individual finger on the manual control which corresponds to the chosen key in the keyboard image,

wherein the physical placement of finger keys on the manual control is arranged such that this placement is easy to associate with the physical placement of the keys in the keyboard screen (2), i.e. all the fingers are activated and dedicated to specific functions,

wherein it is possible to shift between three keyboard windows which each have a fixed set of characters, and

wherein the number of keyboard images can be extended if so desired, the other functions for a PC are present as keys on a mini keyboard (44,45), via a stationary mouse which controls a cursor (58), or via two foot pedals (29) which control a cursor.

2. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1, wherein the two cursors in the keyboard image are stood vertically, when the control arm or lateral joystick is moved, then the two vertical cursors (12) are displaced over the columns of characters (17, 18, 19, 20, 21+22, 23, 24, 25, 26) in the keyboard image, a character in the topmost row (13), at the site of the cursor (12), can be chosen by pressing of an index finger key (75 or 76) on the manual control, a choice of keys in the second row (14) in the keyboard image can be made with a long finger key (74 or 77) on the manual control, a choice of keys in the third row (15) in the keyboard image with a ring finger key (73 or 78) on the manual control, and a choice of keys in the fourth row (16) in the keyboard image with a little finger key (72 or 79) on the manual control, a choice and a switch between different keyboard images can be made with simple key presses with the thumb:

small letters, large letters, numbers/symbols and possibly other keyboard images.

3. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

further comprising software for a keyboard screen,

wherein the control unit communicates with the PC through a standard USB by using interface electronics for standard joysticks and is based on using standard drivers from the different operating systems, the system employs 2 analogous axes, an axis, 8 finger keys (72, 73, 74, 75, 6, 7, 8, 63) for the left hand, 8 finger keys (76, 77, 78, 79, 9, 10, 11, 64) for the right hand, the software uses the axis position (17, 18, 19, 20, 21+22, 23, 24, 25, 26) for positioning of cursor and the finger keys for choice of character in the highlighted area, the finger keys are used also to shift between keyboard windows (6), Shift (7), Caps Lock (8), as well as Backspace (9), Delete (11), Enter (10), Space (63) and Full Stop (64), the character set is based on the choice of language which is made at system level,

wherein the main function of the software is to combine axis position with finger keys so as thereafter to forward the chosen character to the active program window/application, in an integrated keyboard screen there is a possibility for both standard screen division and a transparent solution which can be placed over the actual application, the keyboard screen (2) shall be clearly visible on the screen (1), but must not disturb the choice of active program/application by the user, and

wherein it is possible to displace the integrated keyboard window to the right or left side of the screen and drop it onto the taskbar if so desired.

4. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein the character set is based on the choice of language which is made at system level, and

wherein the characters in the screen image are adaptable to different languages, different language signs, symbols, pictorial signs, numbers, and other expressions of language.

5. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein the standard size of the keyboard screen (2), that is to say the number of columns and rows in the screen image, is adaptable according to requirement, or

wherein the size of characters in the keyboard window is adjustable.

6. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

further comprising an integrated keyboard (2) in an ordinary PC screen,

wherein the standard size for the integrated keyboard screen is 3×

10=30 keys, here there are two cursors (12) which shall be able to be displaced independently of each other and simultaneously, the primary region (4) shows the different screen keys, we can ourselves choose whether the secondary region (5) shall be shown in the keyboard screen, the secondary region is a tool for seeing the placement of thumb keys on the manual control (50) or thumb keys on the lateral joystick (42), the secondary region shows three or more thumb keys depending on which solution is chosen.

7. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein standard placement of keys on the manual control (50) and the lateral joystick (42) shall be able to changed, and the number of keys on the manual control and the joystick shall be able to be adapted according to requirement.

8. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein the manual control (50) has four thumb keys mounted on each hand as a standard number and placement, on the left thumb:

delete, numbers, space and key, on the right thumb there are placed four keys;

full stop, enter, backspace and key, in this solution for the manual control the thumb also plays a part in controlling characters in the keyboard image, wherefrom the designation;

“

key”

, delete is an erasure key, numbers key makes it possible to choose between keyboard images;

small letters, large letters and number symbols, space ensure interspaces between words, full stop, enter and backspace are self-explanatory.

9. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein the control arm (43) or the joystick (42) has 5 positions, which correspond to the cursor (12) on the keyboard screen, these are 5 standard positions, wherein the number of positions is adaptable according to requirement.

10. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit (60) for the screen image is mounted such that the arms hang straight down, and wherein arm movement is a to-and-fro movement (71), the control unit is mounted on an office chair with elbow shape (53), hand shape (51), control arm (52), and a manual control (50) for each hand, the axis (33) and the ball bearing are mounted such that the arm is moved to and fro, the cursor (12) on the keyboard screen is moved when the arm is displaced to and fro, the control unit which is fitted for hanging arms can also be adjusted up and down, and the angle of the arm can be lifted up to 90°

, an adjustable weight (35) is fitted in the rear of the control unit in order to balance the arm, a spring (34) for to-and-fro movement is adjustable, the armrest (56) can be height-adjusted in relation to the seat (54).

11. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used together with:

a stationary hand mouse having a ball which controls a cursor (58), which hand mouse is primarily mounted on one of the control arms, or in some other usable place, the writing apparatus can also be used together with other types of hand mouse, or

a foot mouse (29), wherein one foot controls a cursor (58) and the other controls a right and left click.

12. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor (36) which registers arm movement and the use of finger keys,

wherein the signal appears in a combination of arm positioning and use of finger keys, which signal is forwarded to a transmitter (27), which relays a wireless signal (37) that goes to a receiver and a signal processor (30), this signal passes on to a disk (31), which relays this to the keyboard screen (2, 3) and PC screen (1), a battery and a charging station (28) are fitted as a part of the transmitter, the transmitter and the receiver are mounted such that optimal contact is opened, the sensor for arm movement can be laterally adjusted such that it opens a good arm position.

13. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein signals between control unit and PC go directly through a standard USB and not via a transmitter (27) and a receiver (30).

14. Writing apparatus for a PC according to claim 1,

wherein a small side panel/mini keyboard (44, 45) is fitted, and

wherein the writing apparatus is mounted on a control arm (43) for a control unit, here can be inserted 4 arrow keys, tabulator, escape, change of language for character set, adjustment of the size of the keyboard image, and other specific functions, a mini keyboard can have a configuration other than that which has been proposed, the number of keys on a mini keyboard can vary based on requirement.

15. Ergonomic writing apparatus for a PC, comprising

two manual controls (3) with dedicated finger keys (1) for each finger, which control the choice of keys/characters, symbols and functions in a virtual keyboard (6) integrated in the keyboard image,

wherein the manual controls have a plurality of sensor (4) types built in registering different movements of the hand in different positions, and wherein these movements and signals from the sensors move the cursors (12) in the keyboard image/the control panel and make it possible to move between keyboard images.

16. Writing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the manual controls are strapped (2) to the hand.

17. Writing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein connection can also be made to two simple wireless rocker foot switches (11) or foot sensors (11), which control movement of the cursors in the keyboard image.

18. Writing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein there are 5 keys (1) on each hand which control the choice of keys in the keyboard image, and in that there are some other keys on the manual controls which control the most ordinary PC functions, these being principally controlled by thumb keys.

19. Writing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising sensors (4) which directly register the actual movement of the manual control and transfer this hand movement to displacement of a cursor in the keyboard image, or transfer a hand movement to shifting between the different keyboard images (6).

20. Writing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising sensors (4) which register the angle of the manual control (1) on the basis of horizontal and vertical position, or compass position, where the sensors will have a different function in position 1, hanging arms versus positions 2, 3 and 4, and where a change of angle is registered, which transfers a hand movement to displacement of a cursor (12) in the keyboard image, or a change of angle in another hand movement to shifting between the different keyboard images (6).

21. Writing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein movement of a cursor (12) in the keyboard image (6) can be a sideways “

joystick”

hand movement, a to-and-fro “

joystick”

hand movement, an up and down with the arm movement, a to-and-fro with the arm movement, a swing the arm to the side movement, i.e. all possible movements which can be made in combination with pressing of the finger keys (1).

22. Writing apparatus according to claims 15, wherein a change of keyboard images (6) is made with a sideways “

joystick”

hand movement, a to-and-fro “

joystick”

hand movement, an up and down with the arm movement, a to-and-fro with the arm movement, a swing the arm to the side movement, or any other that can be made in combination with pressing the finger keys (1).