CA2093993A1

CA2093993A1 - Input keyboard

Info

Publication number: CA2093993A1
Application number: CA 2093993
Authority: CA
Inventors: Roger Grimmett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-04-14
Filing date: 1993-04-14
Publication date: 1994-10-15

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A keyboard for inputing information into devices comprises the twenty-six letters of the alphabet disposed in alphabetical sequence on three rows. For ease in remembering the starting letters of each row the easily remembered abbreviation IQ is utilized. In one embodiment the letters I
and Q are the first letters of the second and third row of letter keys respectively. In another embodiment the letters I and Q are the first and last letters, respectively, of the second row of letter keys.

Description

209399~

INPUT REYBOARD -The present invention relates to a device for manually inputing information into a device by pressing labelled keys attached to a base and utilizing switches that indicate what particular key is pressed. Although used for a variety of purposes, such devices are commonly termed keyboards.
There are many devices that utilize keyboards as the method of transferring information from a person to the device. Examples of devices that utilize keyboards include ::: ~ . ,:
type-writers, word-processors, teletypes, keypunches, data organizers, electronic dictioneries and (mainframe, personal and notebook) computers.
Known keyboards consist of 4 parts: keycaps, keypad assembly, cable and a case. The keycaps are attached to the keypad assembly in a known manner that allows the keycaps, when pressed, to move in a downward direction about 1 : ~ :.
centimetre. When the keycap reaches the bottom of this movement a switch is activated and a unique action represented by a label on the keycap is undertaken by the -device utilizing the keyboard. When the pressure is removed springs push the keycap upwards to its home position. ` -;
Most known keyboards have the keycaps that represent the 26 letters of the alphabet (A-...Z) placed in a sequence known as QWERTY. This sequence of keys is thus called because the first 6 letter keys on the top row of letter keys are labelled Q, W, E, R, T and Y respectively. -~

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The QWERTY sequence of keys has several disadvantages.
People that want to become proficient at using keyboards spend time and energy memorizing this sequence. Some people seem to be unable or unwilling to memorize the QWERTY `
sequence and therefore they waste time in a hunt and peck method of using keyboards. It often takes such people several seconds to find the particulr letter they are searching for.
The people that waste time in the hunt and peck method are often the people whose time is most valuable. For example many police cars contain computers that utilize ~; -QWERTY keyboards. Multiplying the wasted seconds by the many times it happens to a person and by the many people that use ;~
the hunt and peck method, it is apparent that the QWERTY
sequence is very wasteful and inefficient for our society as a whole. As the number of people using keyboards is quickly increasing, this form of inefficiency is also quickly ~ ~ -increasing. ` . .
The complex QWERTY sequence of letters is not in any` -`-apparent logical sequence. The meaningless QWERTY sequence -- -adds to the phenomenum known as computer phobia whereby people find such machines too imposing to use. People that have learned the alphabetic sequence~of letters are baffled -and need explanations when introduced to the QWERTY
keyboard. The QWERTY sequence makes computers less user ;
friendly. -According to U.S. Patent 4,963,044, issued to Samuel R.
Warner on October 16, 1990, the QWERTY arrangement was designed in order to slow down typists to avoid the jams ~-common with mechanical type-writers.
It is desirable to have a keyboard with a logical sequence (of letters) that people using keyboards can ,: ,. "., ~
quickly learn and remember. The present invention relates to a device for quicker entry of information into keyboards.
The present invention relates to a logical, user friendly, sequence of letters on a keyboard. The advantages stated for ~ ;~
this invention may not occur in cases where people highly skilled in the use of QWERTY sequence devices initially use this invention.
It is desirable to have a keyboard that utilizes the familiar alphabetic sequence for the 26 letters (A-...Z). It is also desirable to have easily remembered letters to delineate the first letter of each row. In an alphabetically -sequenced keyboard the letter A is the first letter of the - :first row of letter keys. It is desirable to utilize the two letters of the familiar abbreviation IQ to delineate the ~ :
starting letters of the second and third rows.
In one embodiment of this invention the letters I and Q ~,~are the first letters of the second and third rows of letter -~ -keys respectively. In another embodiment, the letters I and -Q are the first and last letters, respectively, of the second row of letter keys.

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The following United States patents represent the prior art regarding this invention:
U.S. patent number 12,929 issued Oct. 1855 to White et al. discloses an alphabetic sequence arrangement where the letter keys are disposed in four horizontal rows with the four keys of each vertical column in alphabetical sequence.
U.S. patent number 761,179 issued May 1904 to Pilsatnecks discloses a keyboard in alphabetic sequence with the keys disposed in three rows with ten letters disposed on 10each of the first and second rows and six letters disposed -~ -on the third row.
U.S. patent number 2,040,248 to Dvorak discloses a non~
alphabetical arrangement of the letter keys in three rows.
U.S. patent number 3,920,979 to Kilby et al. discloses an alphabetically sequenced keyboard with the letter keys disposed in five rows.
U.S. patent number 4,180,337 to Otey et al. discloses `
an alphabetically sequenced keyboard in five rows that -` -accentuates the placement of the vowells A,E,I,O and U. ~ -20U~S. patent number 4,3568,278 to Goldfarb discloses an alphabetically sequenced keyboard with the letters in three ~
rows, the first row consisting of the nine letters A-... I, - ~-the second row consisting of the nine letters J-...R and the third row consisting of the eight letters S-...Z.
U.S. patents numbered 4,411,628 to Laughon et al., 4,555,193 to Stone, 4,615,629 to Power, 4,753,439 to O'Brian and 4,963,044 to Warner disclose alphabetically sequenced ` ~

~- ' '' ` '' . : ~ `.'.~'.",..'.` ', keyboards with the letter keys disposed in other than three rows.
The present invention consists of a keyboard with the 26 letters A-...Z disposed in three rows in alphabetic :- :
sequence. In one embodiment of the invention, the top row of letter keys consists of the eight letters: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and H respectively. The second row of letter keys consists of -~
the eight letters: I,J,K,L,M,N,O and P respectively. The third row of letter keys consists of the ten letters:
Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y and Z respectively. -;--In another embodiment of this invention, the top row of ~ ~
letter keys consists of the eight letters: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and -H, respectively. The second row of letter keys consists of the nine letters: I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P and Q, respectively. The third row of letter keys consists of the nine letters:
R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y and Z, respectively.

The invention, as exemplified by a preferred embodiment, is described with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the letter section of a preferred embodiment of a keyboard of the invention; and `~

Figure 2 is a plan view of the letter section of another embodiment of a keyboard of the invention.

~ 2093993 Refering to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1, the letters portion of a keyboard 20 comprises twenty-six keycaps 22. The keycaps have characters 24, representing the letters A-............ Z, imprinted thereon. The twenty-six letters, A-............ Z, are -- -disposed in alphabetic sequence in three rows 26 28 30. Each ~ -of the first two rows of letter keys consists of eight letters. The third row of letter keys consists of ten letters. - ~-In another embodiment of this invention, shown in Figure 2, the top row 32 of letter keys consists of the eight letters A-.. .H in alphabetic se uence. In this -embodiment, the second row 34 of letter keys consists of the nine letters I-... Q in alphabetic sequence and the third row -``~
36 of letter keys consists of the nine letters R-... Z in ~;
alphabetic sequence. .~
Although only two embodiments of the present invention `
have been described and illustrated, the present invention ~
is not limited to the features of these embodiments, but j-`
includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the claims.
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Claims

1. A keyboard for inputing information into a device wherein the improvement comprises:
the twenty-six letters disposed in three rows, the first row of letters consisting of the eight letters A-...H in alphabetic sequence from left to right;
the second row of letters consisting of the eight letters I-...P in alphabetic sequence; and the third row of letters consisting of the ten letters Q-...Z in alphabetic sequence.

2. A keyboard for inputing information into a device wherein the improvement comprises:
the twenty-six letters disposed in three rows, the first row consisting of the eight letters A-...H in alphabetic sequence;
the second row consisting of the nine letters I-...Q in alphabetic sequence; and the third row consisting of the nine letters R-...Z in alphabetic sequence.