JP2010146552A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a keyboard to input characters such as alphabets or Japanese syllabary characters to an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal with one hand, without deteriorating input speed compared when using a conventional full keyboard. <P>SOLUTION: The keyboard includes input keys 12 which are arranged in a matrix shape in six horizontal rows and six vertical columns within a substantially rectangular area. In the input keys 12, the 16 input keys, which are arranged from the most upper first row to the third row, are the character keys to which the alphabets of the keys to be operated by a left hand in "QWERTY" key arrayal are assigned and the 10 input keys, which are arranged from the fourth row to the fifth row, are the character keys to which the alphabets of the keys to be operated by a right hand in "QWERTY" key arrayal are assigned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard for inputting characters to an electronic device such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal, and more particularly to a keyboard suitable for one-handed operation.

  Conventionally, a keyboard for inputting character data into an electronic device such as a personal computer is generally operated using both hands. A so-called “QWERTY” key arrangement is known as an arrangement of character keys in such a keyboard. As a keyboard suitable for one-handed operation, a keyboard dedicated to numeric input (so-called numeric keypad) is known.

  On the other hand, as a keyboard as a portable input device for a portable information terminal (so-called PDA: Personal Digital Assistants), as described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the number of character keys is reduced and one hand is used. There has been proposed a mini-keyboard that enables input by.

  For example, paying attention to the vowels and consonants of the Japanese syllabary, adopting a dedicated key arrangement according to them, and by inputting Roman characters by combining multiple key inputs, `` JIS arrangement '' for characters such as hiragana and katakana And a character type equivalent to a full keyboard defined by a standard such as “ASCII layout” have been proposed. In addition, by providing means for detecting the permutation and combination of continuous input of character keys, and by making sure that multiple inputs are made when inputting one character, the character type equivalent to that of a full keyboard can be obtained with a smaller number of character keys. There is a proposal that can input.

  In addition, a keyboard has been proposed in which even a full keyboard can be input with only one hand. This is intended to enable keyboard input with the other hand while using a pointing device such as a mouse with one hand in a computer system. In this keyboard, the character arrangement table is switched by a foot switch, and it is possible to input all character types that can be input from the keyboard only in one of the input areas shared by the right hand and the left hand of the keyboard. ing.

JP 2001-209478 A JP 2005-215969 A JP 2006-293794 A

  In recent years, functions of small electronic devices such as so-called PDAs, mobile phones, and smartphones have been remarkably improved, and as a keyboard for input for these electronic devices, a small keyboard that can be input with one hand is used. A keyboard that can be used with the same input function and input speed as a full keyboard used in a computer is desired.

  However, in the various one-handed keyboards described above, the input method is very different from the conventional full keyboard, so the user of this keyboard has to get used to the new input method, feels confused, and input speed. Is difficult to maintain.

  Further, in the keyboard as described above, it is difficult to intuitively understand the arrangement of vowel characters and consonant characters for inputting Roman characters, and it is difficult to perform so-called touch typing (blind touch).

  Therefore, the present invention is proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and in a keyboard for inputting characters to an electronic device such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal, an English character (alphabet) or It is an object of the present invention to provide a small keyboard that can input characters such as hiragana characters without reducing the input speed as compared with a conventional full keyboard.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a keyboard according to the present invention has the following configuration.

[Configuration 1]
A one-handed keyboard for inputting characters to an electronic device having input keys arranged in a matrix of 6 rows and 6 columns in a substantially rectangular area, The 16 input keys arranged in the top row from the first row to the third row are character keys to which English letters of keys operated by the left hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement are assigned. The ten input keys arranged from the line to the fifth line are character keys to which English letters of keys operated by the right hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement are assigned, and by pressing each character key, Character data assigned to the character key can be input.

[Configuration 2]
In the keyboard having the configuration 1, among the character keys, six character keys arranged in the first row, which is the uppermost row, are assigned Q, W, E, R, T, Y from the left side to the right side, The five character keys arranged in the second row are assigned A, S, D, F, G from the left to the right, and the five character keys arranged in the third row are assigned the Z, from the left to the right. X, C, V, B are assigned to the five character keys arranged in the fourth row, U, I, O, P, N are assigned from the left side to the right side, and 5 are arranged in the fifth row. One character key is characterized in that H, J, K, L, and M are assigned from the left side to the right side.

[Configuration 3]
In the keyboard having the configuration 1 or the configuration 2, the input key includes a space key, a conversion key, and an enter key in addition to the character key.

[Configuration 4]
In the keyboard having any one of Configurations 1 to 4, each character key is assigned one or two hiragana characters in addition to English characters, and serves as a combination key of English characters and Hiragana characters. It is characterized by this.

  The keyboard according to the present invention having the configuration 1 includes input keys arranged in a matrix of 6 rows and 6 columns in a substantially rectangular region, and the first of the input keys is the first row. The 16 input keys arranged from the first line to the third line are character keys to which the English letters of the keys operated by the left hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement are assigned, and from the fourth line to the fifth line. The ten input keys are character keys to which English letters of keys operated by the right hand are assigned in the “QWERTY” key arrangement, and are assigned to the character keys by pressing each character key. Character data can be input.

  Therefore, in this keyboard, an input operation can be performed with the same feeling as the “QWERTY” key layout, and input by so-called touch typing (blind touch) can be easily performed with one hand.

  In the keyboard according to the present invention having the configuration 2, among the character keys, the six character keys arranged in the first row, which is the uppermost row, include Q, W, E, R, T, and Y from the left to the right. Are assigned to the five character keys arranged in the second row, A, S, D, F, G are assigned to the right from the left side, and the five character keys arranged in the third row are assigned to the left side. Z, X, C, V, and B are assigned to the right side, and U, I, O, P, and N are assigned to the five character keys arranged in the fourth line from the left side to the right side. Since the five character keys arranged in H are assigned H, J, K, L, and M from the left side to the right side, the input operation can be performed with the same feeling as the “QWERTY” key arrangement, Thus, input by so-called touch typing (blind touch) can be easily performed.

  In the keyboard according to the present invention having the configuration 3, since the input key includes a space key, a conversion key, and an enter key in addition to the character key, the conversion operation and the determination operation can be performed by one-handed input. it can.

  In the keyboard according to the present invention having the configuration 4, each character key is assigned with one or two hiragana characters in addition to English characters, and serves as a combination key of English characters and Hiragana characters. Not only English characters but also hiragana can be entered quickly.

  In other words, the present invention is a keyboard for inputting characters to an electronic device such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal. With one hand, character input such as alphabetic characters (alphabet) or hiragana is compared with a conventional full keyboard. Thus, it is possible to provide a small keyboard that can be performed without reducing the input speed.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the keyboard which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the keyboard which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the keyboard which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of a structure of the keyboard which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a keyboard according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the keyboard according to the present invention.

  The keyboard according to the present invention is a keyboard in which character data can be input to an electronic device with one hand. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. A plurality of input keys 12 are arranged in a matrix of 6 rows and 6 columns arranged on the upper surface.

  The plurality of input keys 12 are arranged in a substantially rectangular area on the upper surface of the housing 11. A predetermined key among these input keys 12 is a character key to which different English characters (alphabet letters) are assigned, and the assigned English characters are indicated on the upper surface (key top) of the character keys. Yes.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a use state of the keyboard according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, this keyboard is used by connecting to an electronic device 101 such as a personal computer, a portable information terminal (so-called PDA: Personal Digital Assistants), a mobile phone, or a smartphone via a connection cord 13. You may comprise as a thing, or you may comprise as what was incorporated in the housing | casing of these electronic devices 101. FIG.

  In this keyboard, a printed circuit board having a contact terminal portion corresponding to each of the input keys 12 is housed in a housing 11. When any one of the input keys 12 is pressed, the contact terminal portion corresponding to the operated input key is closed, and a signal indicating that the input key is pressed is sent via the connection cord 13. Are input to the electronic device 101.

  In this keyboard, as shown in FIG. 1, of the input keys 12, 16 input keys arranged in the first to third rows, which are the uppermost row, are operated by the left hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement. The 10 input keys arranged from the 4th line to the 5th line are keys that are operated by the right hand in the “QWERTY” key layout. It is the assigned character key. By pressing each character key, data input of characters assigned to the character key can be performed.

  More specifically, among the character keys 12, six character keys arranged in the first row at the top are assigned Q, W, E, R, T, Y from the left side to the right side, and The five character keys arranged in the second row are assigned A, S, D, F, G from the left to the right, and the five character keys arranged in the third row are assigned the Z, from the left to the right. X, C, V, B are assigned to the five character keys arranged in the fourth row, U, I, O, P, N are assigned from the left side to the right side, and 5 are arranged in the fifth row. H, J, K, L, and M are assigned to one character key from the left side to the right side.

  In this keyboard, as described above, the English character of the key operated by the left hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement is assigned to the 16 character keys in the upper part, and “QWERTY” is assigned to the ten character keys in the lower part. Since the alphabetical characters of the keys operated by the right hand are assigned in the key layout, the character key arrangement position is easy to understand and easy to remember, so quick input operation by so-called touch typing (blind touch) Is easy.

  In addition to the character keys, the input key 12 includes a “space” key 16, a punctuation key 17, a “conversion” key 19, a “shift” key 14, a “backspace” key 18, and an “enter” key 15. Etc.

  The “enter (execute)” key 15 is a key for executing an operation corresponding to the character string input so far, or confirming the input character string. The “space” key 16 is a key for inputting a blank. The “conversion” key 19 is a key for converting a character string input so far into kanji. The “backspace” key 18 is a key for deleting the character string input so far from the back. The “shift” key 14 is a key for switching between uppercase and lowercase letters of the characters input by the character keys and various other switching.

  These execution operations, confirmation operations, blank input, kanji conversion, and other operations are executed in the electronic device 101 in response to pressing operations of the keys 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

  Note that conversion to Katakana can be performed as one conversion candidate when performing Kanji conversion, that is, by treating Katakana in the same row as Kanji, or a dedicated conversion key for performing Katakana conversion. It may be provided separately.

  This keyboard is also provided with a “Romaji / English” switch key. By pressing the “Romaji / English” switch key, the Roman input state (Roman input mode) and the English input state (English input mode) And may be switched. In the alphabet input state, the English character assigned to the pressed character key is input as it is. Such switching of the input mode is executed in the electronic device 101 in response to the pressing operation of the “Romaji / English” switch key.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another example of the configuration of the keyboard according to the present invention.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, this keyboard assigns one or two hiragana characters in addition to English letters to each character key. May be configured as a combination key of English characters and Hiragana.

  That is, in the keyboard shown in FIG. 4A, the six character keys arranged in the first line have “a, i,” “u, e,” “o, ha,” “hi, "F", "He, Ho" and "N" are assigned to the five character keys arranged in the second line, from the left to the right, "Ka, Ki", "Ku, Ke", "Koma," "Mi," “Mu”, “Me, Momo” are assigned to each of the five character keys arranged in the third row. From the left to the right, “Sashi,” “Susase,” “Soya,” “Yu,” “Yo” Are assigned to each of the five character keys arranged in the fourth row. From the left to the right, “ta, chi”, “tsu, te”, “tora,” “ri, ru” and “re, ro” are assigned. The five character keys arranged in the fifth line are assigned “na, ni”, “nu, ne”, “no, wa” and “wa” from the left to the right.

  Also, in the keyboard shown in FIG. 4B, the six character keys arranged in the first row have “a, ha,” “ka,” “sa,” “ta,” from the left to the right. "", "", "" "" "" "," "", "" N ", and the five character keys arranged in the second row are" I, Hi "," Ki, Mi "," Shi "," Chi, Ri "from the left to the right "Ni" is assigned to each of the five character keys arranged in the third row, and "u, fu", "ku, mu", "su, yu", "tsu, ru" and "nu" are assigned from the left to the right. Assigned to the five character keys arranged in the 4th row are assigned “E, H”, “Ke, Me”, “Se”, “Te, Re” and “Ne” from the left side to the right side, and placed in the 5th row. The five character keys are assigned “o, ho,” “ko, mo,” “so, yo,” “to, ro,” and “no,” from the left to the right.

  The keyboard shown in (c) of FIG. 4 has six character keys arranged in the first line, “a, ha,” “i, hi,” “u, fu,” “e, "E", "O, Ho" and "N" are assigned to the five character keys arranged on the second line, from the left to the right, "Kama," "Ki, Mi", "Ku, Mu", "Ke," “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S”, “S” Are assigned to each of the five character keys arranged in the 4th row. From the left to the right, "Ta, Ra," "Chi, Ri," "Tsuru," "Te, Re," and "Toro" are assigned. The five character keys arranged in the fifth line are assigned “NA, WA”, “NI”, “NU”, “NE”, “NO,” from the left side to the right side, respectively. In FIG. 4C, alphabetic characters in the character keys are omitted.

  The present invention is applied to a keyboard for inputting characters to an electronic device such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal, and particularly to a keyboard suitable for an operation with one hand.

11 Housing 12 Input Key 13 Connection Cable 14 “Shift” Key 15 “Enter” Key 16 “Space” Key 17 Punctuation Key 18 “Backspace” Key 19 “Conversion” Key 101 Electronic Device

Claims (4)

A one-handed keyboard for entering characters into an electronic device,
Input keys arranged in a matrix of 6 rows and 6 columns in a substantially rectangular area,
Among the input keys, the 16 input keys arranged in the first to third rows at the top are character keys to which English letters of keys operated by the left hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement are assigned. And
The 10 input keys arranged in the 4th to 5th lines are character keys to which English letters of keys operated by the right hand in the “QWERTY” key arrangement are assigned.
A keyboard that is capable of inputting data of characters assigned to the character keys by pressing each character key. Q, W, E, R, T, and Y are assigned from the left side to the right side to the six character keys arranged in the first row which is the uppermost row among the character keys.
Among the character keys, five character keys arranged in the second row are assigned A, S, D, F, G from the left side to the right side,
Among the character keys, five character keys arranged in the third row are assigned Z, X, C, V, B from the left side to the right side,
Among the character keys, five character keys arranged in the fourth row are assigned U, I, O, P, N from the left side to the right side,
The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein among the character keys, five character keys arranged in the fifth line are assigned H, J, K, L, and M from the left side to the right side. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the input key includes a space key, a conversion key, and an enter key in addition to the character key. 5. Each of the character keys is assigned one or two hiragana characters in addition to English characters, and serves as a combination key of English characters and hiragana characters. The keyboard according to any one of the above.

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