Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Including keyboard
Patent
1993-12-06
1997-05-06
Saras, Steven
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Including keyboard
345172, G09G 500
Patent
active
056275668
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a keyboard with at least one key and a triggering unit which is connected with the key.
THE BACKGROUND ART
Of the known keyboards, in particular, that of the typewriter is to be emphasized. According to the arrangement of the letters on the upper left row of letters, this area is called in the English language the QWERTY-keyboard, in the computer language the ASCII keyboard (hereinafter either QWERTZ or ASCII keyboard). Especially advantageous is the inputting (typing-in or striking) according to the ten-finger system, which can be executed by the experienced typist without eye contact to the keys. It is also advantageous that the QWERTZ keyboard is a matter of a world-wide standardized keyboard, which is economically accessible. The disadvantage of the QWERTZ keyboard is that it is relatively voluminous and requires a fixed support surface. Furthermore, its use is associated with a relatively high physical exertion. This keyboard is regarded in the meantime as so far matured that its efficiency can now be only slightly further improved.
Further, keyboards are known with which for every stroke two sequential steps are required: First of all, the sensor present on the particular key must be touched. The proper input then occurs by thumb pressure on a central input key. It is disadvantageous, further, that to reach the sensor there are necessary lateral movements of the fingers, for which there are not favorable natural predispositions.
Also with the one-hand keyboard described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,777, a chord stroke (Akkordanschlag) is possible, in which the index, middle and ring finger(s) are used. On two full and two half rows of keys there are represented three rows of letters with the whole alphabet. While the upper and lower row, as seen from the operator, have nine letters, the middle one has eight. With this keyboard, the key spacings of the unshortened keyboard are very severely compressed in the rows, in order to make it possible to use the keyboard with one hand. Ten keys consist of one unit of their own, thirteen of two key halves each and three 0f four key quarters. What is disadvantageous is that the number of strokes to be executed by one finger is very high and the fingers frequently have to be spread and moved laterally. A reduction of the number of keys on the keyboard surface is not provided.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,732 there is known a keyboard with which for each finger there is provided a multifunction key. Depending on the place of the stroke, there are different character (Zeichen) which can be generated. With such a known device, however, it is disadvantageous that it is only after the stroke that a possible wrong operation can be recognized. If, for example, such a keyboard is provided as a computer input device, then the user can detect the wrong input only by the appearance of the wrong character on the picture screen, and he has to correct it in a complicated manner.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to create a keyboard with which, before the final actuation of a key, it is possible to ascertain which key is concerned.
A further object of the present invention is to create a keyboard with which multiple actuatable keys are provided and with which the correctness of an intended input is recognizable before the final execution of this input. It is essential here that the user does not have to depend on the observation of the fingers for this control check.
This problem is solved by arranging sensors on the key. Here there are provided as many sensors as different characters are generatable with actuation of the key. In use, it is possible first to address one of the sensors and therewith to obtain a preliminary display of the signal or character concerned. If this character is the intended one, then by actuation of the triggering unit the actual input of this character can be achieved. In the simplest keys, this occurs through the fact that the pr
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