Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/0202—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
  • G06F3/0219—Special purpose keyboards
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/0202—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
  • G06F3/0216—Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/023—Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
  • G06F3/0238—Programmable keyboards

Definitions

• the invention relates to a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys which are acted upon by pressing, flushing or movement of the fingers to control an action or to operate a selection of predefined characters or symbols.
• Keyboards are commonly used to enter information that is to be processed by a system such as a computer system.
• the invention relates to an ergonomic keyboard provided with a determined number of keys and whose arrangement allows rapid learning.
• a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys arranged in two groups, one for the left hand and one for the right hand, characterized in that each of the groups has, for the four fingers except the thumb 5 a key basic and two adjacent keys aligned on either side of it, and for thumbs a basic key, said basic and adjacent keys representing the 26 letters of the alphabet.
• At least some of the basic keys represent the most frequent letters in Latin languages.
• the keys of one hand represent the five vowels and the basic keys of the other hand except the thumb the four consonants among "N, R, T, S, L, D"
• the basic keys and the adjacent keys for the fingers except the thumb respectively are aligned perpendicular to the direction formed by the two groups of keys.
• the basic keys of the middle finger and ring finger are in front of the corresponding keys of the index and little finger.
• the keyboard comprises additional keys for the index and little finger arranged in a line parallel to the line formed by the basic key and the respective adjacent keys. It also has side keys on either side of the base key for each of the thumbs.
• the keyboard comprises at least one group of additional keys, such as numeric, functional, or directional keys.
• the keys Preferably, the keys have a curved shape, the edges of the keys situated on the periphery of said groups being enhanced.
• the characters or symbols are assigned to the keys by stages, one passes from one stage to the other by acting on a predefined key.
• the keyboard comprising several stages of characters corresponding to different Latin languages, the basic keys and the adjacent keys are assigned to common characters in said languages.
• the characters specific to a language are assigned to the additional keys.
• characters adjacent to the keys are assigned mnemonic links with the characters of the basic keys.
• the assignment of the digits to the digital stage is determined by the user.
• one digit is assigned per key as a function of the digit that is reflexively assigned to each of his fingers.
• FIG. 1 represents the arrangement of the keys of a keyboard according to the invention
• FIGS. 2 to 4 represent three different stages of characters associated with the keyboard
• FIG. 5 shows the profile of the keys according to the sections AA BB and CC of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 6 represents a variant of the keyboard
• the keyboard has 42 keys.
• the upper sides of the keys are located globally in one plane.
• the keyboard is considered to be in a suitable position for the comfort of the user when he is passing:
• the keyboard includes removable shims, not shown, intended to raise the front edge when it is located higher than the underside of the user's elbows. llrco-mporte-also holds to raise the rear edge, otherwise, for standing use as in pharmacies for example.
• the undersides of the hypothénar eminences rest on the work surface (or on the rear part of a laptop) provided that the seat height is adjusted so that the underside elbows either at the upper face of the worktop. A rest must be provided if the keyboard is thick.
• the upper faces of the eight external and internal side keys are raised by about one millimeter.
• the ten basic keys essentially represent the letters among the most frequently used in Latin languages.
• the keys B2, B3 and B8, B9 located under the ring fingers and the middle fingers are placed on a parallel to the right-left axis of the user, a little in front of the keys of the little fingers Bl, B10 and index B4, B7 which are also on a parallel.
• the offset is half a center distance, or 9 mm for an adult keyboard.
• the thumb button B5, respectively B6 is located on a perpendicular to the right left axis of the user passing through the index button, B4 respectively B7.
• the group of basic keys of the left hand and that of the right hand are separated by a distance of two and a half keys, that is to say 45 mm.
• the groups are symmetrical to each other with respect to a perpendicular to the user's right-left axis.
• each finger except the thumb is assigned to a basic key and two adjacent keys.
• the adjacent keys represent the other letters of the Latin alphabet. Their assignment is developed further in relation to a mnemonic.
• the keyboard also has additional keys. In fact, twenty-six keys are not enough to constitute a complete keyboard.
• the thumbs include two additional keys located, for the left thumb AnE5 and AnI5: - right button AnE5, called external with respect to the palm, adjacent but offset towards the user by a half-distance between axes. In the example shown, it is 9 mm;
• the keyboard includes twelve additional keys at their level. These are the additional keys: external AnEl, AnE4, AnE7 and AnElO, median AnMl AnM4 AnM7 and AnMIO, and internal Anll AnI4 AnI7 and AnllO. In fact, they essentially consist of accessory signs and represent few strikes.
• a separation is provided between the keys of the two hands.
• this difference may extend over a half-axis between the annex keys of the index fingers and the external adjacent ones of the thumbs, that is to say here 9 mm.
• the general plan is shown in Figure 4.
• the sensitivity of the keys is quite high.
• the sensitivity of the basic keys is determined so as to allow the fingers to be placed on it, at rest without triggering the contact.
• the keys advantageously have a morphology allowing easy contact.
• the upper face of each of them is hollow at its center and raised at the periphery.
• the finger has the perception of its position relative to the keyboard and the passage between two keys hit by the same finger is done by a gateway of the same height.
• the elevation of the edges can gradually go up to 3 mm from the center of the fingerboard.
• the ten basic keys B1 to B10 located under the fingers at rest, preferably have a different color and texture from the other keys, so as to be recognized as different by the fingers and by the eyes.
• each key allows a different signal depending on how it is actuated.
• the keyboard has several stages accessible, for example, by a relaxed press on one of the twenty-six alphabetic keys.
• a floor is defined as being the set of key assignments for the same assignment of the floor change key. On a given floor, a number of functions are activated when the keys are pressed. When changing floors, the keys change assignments.
• the arrangement makes it possible to associate by a simple mnemonic: "floor plus key equals function". For example, eight stages AAA to HHH are defined, which are accessed by releasing the key marked with the corresponding letter.
• This method allows you to create as many floors as there are keys.
• This arrangement allows a particularly fast learning.
• the learning method uses this cerebro-dactyl reflex to create another automatism linking each finger to the letter of its basic key. This is essential for the eight fingers other than the thumbs because they must each type two other adjacent letters. To firmly anchor this automatism, we also create a link between each homologous finger (Right index - Left index, Right major - Left major, etc.)
• NE RA TI SO or HU NE RA TI SO to be spelled or read according to the language.
• we learn to type reflexively frequent sequences of the language for example in French: ent, ses, ont, son, sen, oi, ai, tr, etc.
• This second learning phase begins with the left hand.
• a first element is the position W, X, Y, Z in the order of the index finger at the little finger on the internal adjacent ones. This makes them easy to remember.
• the second element consists of the mnemonics linking the three letters together.
• MOSQuito first three letters in order.
• a character, a sign, a function or an order are defined independently of the person.
• Some floors can be fully programmable, such as "gamepad” DDD.
• the three accent keys are the three accent keys.
• the mnemonic was also respected from one language to another, so that the user "multi-linguist" found under his fingers the same accents in the same locations.
• the signs of the CGC stage (numbers and signs) are placed there. The entire key must be empty to make this assignment, so as not to induce confusion in the automated systems.
• the floor assigned to it is bilingual and allows you to type English without changing the floor.
• Figure 3 shows the floor of numbers and signs.
• FIG. 4 represents the navigation stage with keys which can be activated or deactivated by simple click or double click.
• pointer mode the screen is the reference surface. The pointer can browse it over its entire surface.
• cursor mode the text input surface is the reference surface. The cursor cannot exit from it.
• the keyboard comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, navigation, function and a numeric keyboard; in this case, there may be only three levels; a basic level with the lower case letters of the mother tongue, the upper case level called for example by simple click on the SHIFT key, a number and signs level.
• the keyboard has 64 keys distributed as follows:
• 61 keys called universal, have an assignment which remains unchanged whatever the alphabetical language represented, 3 adjacent keys (here the adjacent keys next to the E keys
• N and S have an assignment which depends on the keyboard language. For example, for English the assignment is / ⁇ -> respectively, for Spanish, the assignment is 'N ⁇ respectively, for French, the assignment is ⁇ ' É respectively, etc.
• each key On the keyboard of FIG. 7, the character indicated at the top left of each key is obtained by normally hitting it.
• the numerical sign, symbol or punctuation indicated at the bottom left of each key is advantageously obtained by a keystroke with a so-called relaxed press as defined above.
• the basic keys have a morphology different from that of the other keys. They are recognized by touch, by simple touch of the fingers on the keys. For example, there may be a slight recess on the surface for the basic keys, and a dish for the other keys. The user will be able to correctly place his fingers pressing the basic keys before any typing.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

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• 2003
  • 2003-01-16 FR FR0300443A patent/FR2850178B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-01-16 US US10/542,482 patent/US20060257191A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-01-16 EP EP04702725A patent/EP1586023A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-01-16 WO PCT/FR2004/000095 patent/WO2004068327A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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