Computer data entry apparatus with hand motion sensing and monitoring

• US 5,736,976 A
• Filed: 02/13/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nina T. Cheung
• Original Assignee: Nina T. Cheung
• Inventors: Cheung, Nina T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Acosta, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US08/389,931
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/170, 345/172, 345/158, 341/22, 341/23, 382/48
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

The present invention is described as a computer data entry apparatus having a keyboard comprised of a keypad assembly and equipped with one or multiple motion sensing devices, and having a motion monitoring visual aid display. The motion sensing device is included to the apparatus to detect and sense the motion of operator finger locations before or after keys are actuated for data entry. A map with a keypad layout and sensed finger locations is interactively generated and displayed on a window of the computer display screen to provide the data entry visual aid. The combined function of motion sensing and visual aid displaying advantageously constitutes an easy operation computer data entry apparatus or system.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus for data entry to a computer or data processor, said keyboard apparatus comprising:

a keyboard includes a case, an assembly of character keys having a keypad and key caps with designated symbols and organized in a preset keypad layout pattern, a controller circuit including codes and encodement means for generating key stroke signals and coded data in response to manual operator actuation of said keys for data entry to the computer;

at least one data interface interconnecting the keyboard and the computer;

means for monitoring of hand motion including lateral motion and position of the operator'"'"'s fingers on top of said keys and each individual key cap determines the operator'"'"'s finger position related to each key cap and decodes it by detecting a change in field intensity in a field path to indicate which key it is, said monitoring means including means for indicating of said hand motion and position relative to a top surface of said keys for assisting of the operator to locate said keys before manual actuation.

2. A keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein said monitoring means further includes means for displaying a map of said hand motion before and after manual actuation of said keys for providing a data entry visual aid, said map also includes a diagram of said keypad layout pattern.

3. A keyboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprises means of motion detection for sensing of said hand motion, said motion detection means includes at least one sensing element for use to sense said hand motion and to form electrical signals corresponding to said hand motion.

4. A keyboard apparatus of claim 3, wherein said motion detection means further includes means of adjustment for sensitivity of sensing with said sensing element.

5. A keyboard apparatus of claim 3, wherein said sensing element includes at least one device selected from the group of containing capacitive, optical, magnetic, thermal, inductive, or pressure sensing devices.

6. A keyboard apparatus of claim 3, wherein said sensing element includes at least one photo diode.

7. A keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein said monitoring means further comprises at least one object scanning device for providing image information of said hand motion.

8. A keyboard apparatus of claim 7, wherein said object scanning device includes a camera.

9. A keyboard apparatus of claim 2, wherein said displaying means further includes means for generating a graphic representation of said hand motion including said keypad layout pattern and said designated symbols for said keys on a computer'"'"'s display screen for causing substantially reduction of repetitive actions required by the operator to move focus between the keys and the screen, whereby the operator can operate the keyboard in a more relaxing seated position.

10. A keyboard apparatus of claim 9, wherein said graphic representation further includes graphics of marked or colored key caps for identifying said operator hand motion on top surface of individual said keys.

11. A keyboard apparatus of claim 10, wherein said graphic representation further includes means for identification for action finger positions for locating of said marked or colored key caps close to the top edge of the keyboard.

12. A keyboard apparatus of claim 11, wherein said graphic representation is updated according to predetermined time intervals and providing an interactive monitoring display.

18. A keyboard apparatus of claim 3, further includes means of encoding a set of scan code for said electricl signals corresponding to said hand motion related to individual keys.

13. A keyboard apparatus for data entry to a computer or data processor, said keyboard apparatus comprising:

a keyboard includes a case, an assembly of character keys having a keypad and key caps with designated symbols and organized in a preset keypad layout pattern, a controller circuit including codes and encodement means for generating key stroke signals and coded data in response to manual operator actuation of said keys for data entry to the computer;

at least one data interface interconnecting the keyboard and the computer;

means for monitoring of hand motion including lateral motion and position of the operator'"'"'s fingers on top of said keys, said monitoring means including means for indicating of said hand motion and position relative to a top surface of said keys for assisting of the operator to locate said keys before manual actuation;

means of motion detection for sensing of hand motion, said motion detection means includes at least one sensing element for use to sense said hand motion and to form electrical signals corresponding to said hand motion; and

wherein said sensing element is located within individual key cap of said keys and comprises means for detecting a change of light field intensity in a field path between said keys and the operators fingers to generate corresponding signals to said hand motion.

14. A method of operating a computer keyboard or apparatus with keys for data or function entry comprising of the steps of:

(a) sensing information for representation of position and proximity including motion of operator fingers on top of said keys;

(b) translating and determining finger position information related to each key cap and decoding it to know which key it is to form signals for hand motion monitoring;

(c) generating a visual aid display for said hand motion monitoring with graphic representation on a visual display screen;

(d) updating said visual aid display in predetermined time intervals for an interactive graphic presentation of said hand motion monitoring and including an associated diagram of a keypad layout of said keyboard with defined characters for said keys.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (a) comprises of the step of detecting field intensity change of a sensing path which is between individual said keys to the location of operator'"'"'s hands on top of said keys.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein step (b) comprises of the step of translating and processing a first set of codes for normal keyboard data entry and a second set of codes for said motion monitoring.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) comprises of the step of relocating said visual aid display to a window of the computer display screen.