Ergonomic and efficient keyboard

Details Ergonomic and efficient keyboard Ergonomic and efficient keyboard

2002-03-14

2004-03-30

Funk, Stephen R. (Department: 2354)

Typewriting machines

Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism

Key-board arranged according to character location

C400S489000, C341S072000, C345S168000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06712534

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to keyboards. More specifically, the invention is an integrated ergonomic keyboard which utilizes a plurality of keys having statistically extrapolated indicia disposed thereon, in the form of characters, words and special commands for a specific language or software application use to form a Multi-Dexterous Keyboard (MDK) system, which significantly improves efficiency through reduced key stroke activity, increases comfort through various dexterity approaches and thus effectively reduces Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) in applications and their use thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
The industry standard keyboard layout that possesses a virtually complete monopoly in computers today is referred to as the QWERTY keyboard, because of the arrangement of the keys in the upper row of “conventional keyboards”. Unlike the original keyboard layout designed by Sholes in the late 1800's as a two finger typing layout (and the ten finger layout attributed to Mrs. L. V. Longley in 1878), the QWERTY layout was designed primarily to maximize the separation of the most frequently used keys in order to reduce jamming of the typewriter mechanism. As a result of this arrangement, the keys that were most frequently used were not as easily accessible by the typist. Thus, the QWERTY layout effectively reduced the speed at which user's accessed keys.
Other keyboard layouts such as the Dvorak and Maltron models are available alternatives to the QWERTY keyboard. The most notable layout among these alternatives in the United States is the Dvorak layout named for its inventor, August Dvorak who was an early Ergonomics researcher at the University of Washington. In 1936, he analyzed the English language to determine which letters were most frequently used. He then rearranged the keyboard layout so that the keys having the most used letter indicia found were positioned on the “home row”, that is the row under the fingers of a typist defined as a rest position. By grouping the keys with the most used letter indicia close together, finger reaching distance between the most used “letter” keys was minimized and typing speed increased. The Maltron keyboard layout capitalizes on the natural finger movements and the differing lengths of the fingers and thumbs. In 1976, Lillian Malt developed the idea of curving the keyboard to fit the natural finger movements thereby relieving fatigue and pain in the associated muscle groups. The keyboard layout is shaped in three dimensions, and allows movements to occur naturally to minimize muscle related fatigue and stress. Separation of the letter keys into two spaced groups and designing for radial finger movement over keys at differing heights, the Maltron layout sought to reduce abduction and pronation stress. However, this model has been plagued by the psychological effects of having a trained typist relearn or adjust to a new keyboard orientation. Thus, the Maltron model has fared only in Europe.
In the United States, however, conformance to the format and shape of the computer keyboard has only grown from the QWERTY concept that was originally designed for typewriters to permit in its infancy rather sluggish mechanics to operate efficiently and effectively. The practice of heavy key presses also only allowed for and targeted the non-disabled users.
The demand for rapid data entry into computers and the increase in complex combinations of keystrokes required by modern software applications, have been the driving factors for the need of an ergonomic keyboard which maximizes user comfort and provides a keyboard layout for the efficient utilization of the most frequently used characters, words and related function keys in a keyboard system to minimize the growing number of reported Repetitive Stress/Strain Injuries (RSI) for both disabled and non-disabled keyboard users.
While numerous ergonomic keyboards have been devised to provide user comfort and utility, particularly in three categories: key positioning and utilization, single handed and separate manipulable keyboard consoles, and special ergonomic contours for hand and finger placement, there has yet to exist an ergonomic keyboard which utilizes a keyboard layout with keys having selective indicia of the most used characters, words and/or commands statistically extrapolated from a language (eg. English, German, etc.) and from software application use for efficient keyboard use and the reduction of RSI as herein described.
In the first category, U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,268 issued to Diernisse H. V. discloses an ergonomic keyboard which groups information into specific modes such as the capital letters of the Latin alphabet and other information which can be entered by a single key stroke. The keys on the keyboard are irregularly arranged so that the fingers naturally rest on a set of home keys (eg. Y, U, B, P, D and H). In the preferred arrangement, the keys are separated by an imaginary dividing line down the middle of the board with each side having two groups of keys separated from each other.
The top groups are information keys, operated by the non-thumbs as preprogrammed or operator programmed keys. The top group of keys transmit bits of information consisting of characters, operations or sequences thereof. The bottom groups are control keys which control hardware and software operated by the thumbs. With the exception of the programmable function, the bottom groups perform the same function in all modes on a particular device, and are permanently marked with the functions they perform. Similarly designed keyboards are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. issued to Crews (5,017,030), Braun et al. (5,318,367), Louis (5,372,441 and 5,503,484), Miller (5,660,488) and Willner (5,790,103).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,030 issued to Crews discloses a split designed ergonomic keyboard as a single keyboard console usable on a typewriter or computer terminal which includes right and left pre-loaded palm pads. Each palm pad respectively supports the left and right hand and serve to operate the SHIFT and SHIFT LOCK functions. A dual column of function keys are disposed within a central portion of the keyboard separating the left and right hand keys as preprogrammed function keys. The keys are arranged to fit the span of a single hand with multiple character output.
The keyboard design which utilizes the split or V-shaped arrangement of the keys has provided added utility amongst conventional keyboards according to the “Qwerty” geometric keyboard standard. However, this key arrangement was not intended to provided optimal character output targeted towards reducing Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI). This particular keyboard arrangement is disclosed in the respective Patents issued to Braun et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,367), Louis (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,372,441 and 5,503,484), Miller (U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,488) Hossenlopp et al. (WO 01/27732 A1).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,620.267 issued to Klauber discloses a keyboard with thumb activated control keys. The placement of the thumb activated keys facilitates easy ergonomic access to control functions without averting the eyes from executed readable text or preventing uncomfortable stretching of the hands. This particular key feature is incorporated herein by reference. Other varieties of conventional keyboards with special key placements for efficient utilization of selective keys are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. issued to Mensick (5,716,149 and 5,971,636), Willner (5,790,103), Bartet (5,828,323), Hargreaves et al. (6,005,496), Dodd (6,031,469), Leu et al. (6,084,576) and Rakoski (6,088,022).
U.S. Pat. Nos. issued to Mensick (5,716,149 and 5,971,636) discloses a keyboard which integrates the placement of keys within a single conventional keyboard having a spaced sinusoidal pattern instead of a linear arrangement. The geometric relationships between keys is selected to correspond to the relative positions of the base of a user's fingers, wrist and natural orientation of the finger tips. This corresponde

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