Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Including keyboard
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2002-12-10
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Including keyboard
C380S052000, C705S025000, C902S020000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06492977
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a keyboard arrangement and control system for computers and similar equipment.
In normal use, computers can be controlled and operated by a combination of a conventional typewriter keyboard, the so-called QWERTY keyboard and a mouse together with optionally other input devices such as light pens for particular applications. For other functions the keyboard has other function and operational keys.
There have been many proposals to change and improve the keyboard in order to make it faster to use and more ergonomic; however, these proposals still require the use of a mouse. Although it is possible to use simultaneous combinations of keys to obviate the use of a mouse and to carry out most of the operations carried out by the mouse, this has not proved satisfactory in use.
I have now devised an improved keyboard which helps to overcome these difficulties with reference to a keyboard representation (KeyGuide) on the screen using the KeyGuide—and still leave other inputs available if necessary.
According to the invention there is provided a keyboard comprising a base on which are mounted a plurality of keys and in which there is a grid on the base which surrounds at least some of the keys, there being means to show on a display unit controlled by the keyboard, a representation of the grid and means to identify, on the display unit, at least some of the keys and their position relative to the grid.
The display unit can comprise any type of display unit for example video display unit, fixed layout on an instrument, paper display or any other display.
The grid, which is referred to herein as a KeyGuide preferably comprises a set of lines that fits the matrices, grid or layout of the keyboard to allow the keys to be represented in a diagram without having to show each key. Each key on the keyboard preferably is able to be located using this diagram, although optionally keys such as the PageSelect keys need not be able to be so located. In use part or all of the keyboard or KeyGuide need only be displayed.
The KeyGuide can be used in several ways, including as a representation of most or all of the keys overlaid on the user's screen; as a KeyGuide icon which represents the key layout which can be described anywhere on the screen as controlled by the application, or as a KeyGuide icon displayed with text and/or icon of the operation to be performed. The KeyGuide can include the background colour and shape as part of the Grid and Icon and although the KeyGuide icon and the prompts on the screen need not be the exact same colour as the KeyGuide on the keyboard the colour is preferably close enough to easily recognised as equivalent. The KeyGuide is specifically adapted so as to be able to identify and locate the individual keys and the KeyGuide can be in the form of a raised line or groove on the keyboard to make location easier. The KeyGuide can be embossed as can be some or all of the keys, alternatively at least some of the keys can be at least partly surrounded by embossing so they can be identified easily by feel. In another embodiment the keyboard can be in the form of a flat keyboard with or without tactile feel which allows the operator's fingers to slide easily over the keys to locate the correct key.
The representation of the KeyGuide can show only part of it where it is more convenient to have a smaller KeyGuide representation.
The KeyGuide can be any shape e.g. rectangular, semicircular etc. and can appear any shape on the screen e.g. rectangular, so that the representation on the screen is a diagrammatic representation of the KeyGuide with the relative position of the keys shown.
The keyboard preferably has an array or matrix of keys and can comprise a plurality of different groups or matrices of keys which can have different functions.
Preferably there is an array of keys substantially centrally positioned relative to the other keys and the KeyGuide surrounds and delineates a section or sections of these centrally positioned keys. The functions or operations controlled by these keys, herein called ‘KeyPage’ keys, can be changed by the operation of other keys as is described below.
The KeyPage keys are the general purpose keys which are used in conjunction with the PageSelect keys to form the KeyPage Set which is the full set of operations for a given application e.g. for text control this is letters (KeyPage
0
), digits (KeyPage
1
), punctuation and cursor control (KeyPage
2
), format and layout (KeyPage
3
) with a spare KeyPage for the user to define. (KeyPage
4
)
For example, the KeyPage keys can control the alphabet, numbers, punctuation, etc. as in a conventional keyboard and can be used for text control.
The KeyGuide will fit around some of the keys so that on the screen a representation of the Keyboard and KeyGuide will appear. It is then an easy matter for the screen to show what key is operated, or is to be operated by reference to the KeyGuide.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are a plurality of key types in groups, each of which have a specific function or operation. Each group need not be physically located together but all the members of a group have a commonality of function.
The number of different key groups depends on the range of operations and can, for example, be up to 10, e.g. 5. When there are five key types they can optionally be classified as KeyPage, PageSelect, Action Key, Option and Function. In this embodiment the PageSelect keys comprise a group of keys which function in a way which is substantially the same as the shift key in a conventional keyboard and only apply to the KeyPage keys, although selecting a particular KeyPage key may change the “fixed keys”.
In practice the various types or groups of keys may have functions which overlap. The Action keys are a subset of the KeyPage keys, i.e. the action of the Action keys depends on which KeyPage they are on.
In general, the PageSelect keys only act on the KeyPage keys (which include the Action keys) but since all the keys are basically reprogrammable, it may be useful in certain circumstances to change the Option keys and optionally the Function keys when a particular KeyPage is selected.
These PageSelect keys can operate on the other key groups changing the operation of the other keys. There need not be a large number of PageSelect keys, as the PageSelect keys gives the KeyPage Sets different functions. The KeyPage keys are the main set of keys and there should be sufficient in number to cover the alphabet and other function keys. Preferably they are present in a matrix, e.g. 6×5. By using a PageSelect key, the number of keys easily accessed is greatly increases as these keys will change the actions of most of the other keys and cause the display to be updated. For simple applications where there are only a few actions the KeyGuide display can be fixed (i.e. no display unit), or an overlay approach used with a different overlay for different tasks.
Using the Text KeyPage Set as an example, to change their function from ‘alphabet’ to another function, a PageSelect key is operated. Other functions which can be controlled from the KeyPage keys are, for example lists:- lists of files, tag list, windows list and options list. Using the unallocated KeyPage for a list of files (for instance) means that the KeyPage would then be able to display the list required.
Alternatively, an Option key may select a list of all the lists available and the user would select the list required from that list of lists.
The KeyPage keys can be used in place of a mouse; either by using an available KeyPage (e.g. PageSelect
4
) or by selecting a mouse substitute KeyPage Set from an Option key or KeyPage key option. Using this KeyPage Set, each KeyPage allows the cursor or mouse pointer to be controlled in a different way.
For instance, using one KeyPage the screen is divided into a number of boxes defined as the same as the number of rows and columns on the keyboard's main KeyPage keys (i.e. not the Action keys), then a key on the KeyPage moves the po
Bartlett & Sherer
Kovalick Vincent E.
Sherer Ronald B.
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