Modular ergonomic, multi-function, multi-layer, universal standard keyboard

Filing Information

• Publication Number: US20020015609
• Application Number: US9879472
• Filing date: 06/11/2001
• Publication date: 02/07/2002
• Predicted expiration date: 06/01/2020

• U.S. Classifications: 400/489  · 400/472  ·
• International Classifications: B41J005/14 ·
• Related U.S. Application Data:
  CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  0001 This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,099, entitled MODULAR ERGONOMIC UNIVERSAL KEYBOARD SYSTEM, filed Jun. 1, 2000, commonly owned with the present application, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
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Patent Family

Abstract

An electronic keyboard having an improved ergonomic design for use with computers and other alphanumeric input electronic devices is disclosed. Repetitive motion stress on a typists hands, wrists and fingers is substantially reduced by relocating and centering the ENTER and BACKSPACE keys to a location central to the keyboard so as to be index finger activated, with the ENTER key extending up into the home row, thereby reducing wrist flexure. The alphanumeric keys are disposed in an ortholinear array, with substantially vertical columns and substantially horizontal rows and functional keys are grouped into rationally apportioned areas below the alphanumeric keys of the keyboard. Certain of the keys have up to three different functions, depending upon whether the keyboard is in QWERTY mode, Dvorak mode, or numeric keypad mode. The numeric keypad is provided as an “underlay” to the right-hand portion of the alphanumeric keyboard, thereby producing a very compact keyboard with full numeric keypad editing functionality.

Independent Claims | See all claims (27)

1. 1. A universal keyboard of the type comprising an alphanumeric portion having keys arranged in a plurality of substantially straight vertical columns and a plurality of substantially straight horizontal rows, including a home row, so as to define an ortholinear array, the keyboard further comprising: left and right hand SHIFT keys, the SHIFT keys elongated vertically and oriented substantially parallel to the substantially straight vertical rows, the SHIFT keys including a portion disposed in-line with the keys of the home row; and a centrally disposed ENTER key, the ENTER key elongated vertically and oriented substantially parallel to the substantially straight vertical rows, the ENTER key including a first portion disposed in-line with the keys of the home row and a second portion disposed in-line with the keys of the row below the home row.
2. 7. A universal keyboard of the type comprising an alphanumeric portion having keys arranged in a plurality of substantially straight vertical columns and a plurality of substantially straight horizontal rows, including a home row, so as to define an ortholinear array, the keyboard further comprising: a first functional control portion disposed in a rectangular region defining fifth and sixth key rows and located adjacent a first lateral edge of a SPACE BAR key, the first functional control portion including at least a FUNCTION key for placing the keyboard into an operational mode different from a default operational mode; a second functional control portion disposed in a rectangular region defining fifth and sixth key rows and located adjacent a second lateral edge of the SPACE BAR key, the second functional control portion including a set of cursor control navigation arrows disposed in an inverted T configuration; and a full-function numeric keypad disposed within the alphanumeric portion and the second functional control portion, the numeric keypad key functions accessible by a user depressing the FUNCTION key.
3. 19. A multi-mode, universal keyboard of the type comprising an alphanumeric portion having keys arranged in a plurality of substantially straight vertical columns and a plurality of substantially straight horizontal rows, including a home row, so as to define an ortholinear array, the keyboard further comprising: a first functional control portion disposed in a rectangular region defining fifth and sixth key rows and located adjacent a first lateral edge of a SPACE BAR key, the first functional control portion including at least a FUNCTION key for placing the keyboard into an operational mode different from a default operational mode; and a full-function numeric keypad disposed within the alphanumeric portion and the second functional control portion, the numeric keypad key functions accessible by a user depressing the FUNCTION key.
4. 25. A multi-mode, universal keyboard of the type comprising an alphanumeric portion having keys arranged in a plurality of substantially straight vertical columns and a plurality of substantially straight horizontal rows, including a home row, so as to define an ortholinear array, the keyboard further comprising: a QWERTY operational mode; a Dvorak operational mode; and a numeric keypad/function operational mode; and wherein each operational mode is key selectable such that particular ones of the keys of the keyboard are functional in accordance with three operational modes.