JPH04143821A - Deformed keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the input regardless of the illumination conditions and the attitude of an operator by providing a base body indicating an approximately spherical or elliptical curved surface and having a size that can be covered by both hands and adding plural projecting or recessed input and function keys on the base body. CONSTITUTION:A base body 1 has a size that can be covered by both hands and indicates an approximately spherical or elliptical curved surface. Then the body 1 is provided with plural projecting or recessed input and function keys, i.e., the function keys 2-10. Thus an operator holds the body 1 with his/her both hands and operates a deformed keyboard. This keyboard is provided with the recessed keys 2 and 3 burried into the body 1 and the keys 4 - 10 projecting over the body 1. Then each of keys 2 - 10 can be easily recognized even in the dark together with a rigid constitution secured. In such a constitution, the perfect blind touches are attained with the deformed keyboard regardless of the illumination conditions and the attitude of the operator.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an input device for a computer, etc.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a keyboard in which a plurality of keys are manually operated by a plurality of fingers, and which enables input regardless of lighting conditions and the posture of the operator.

[Prior Art] A keyboard device is a keyboard device used in input devices such as computers.
Widely used as a machine interface means. - A keyboard device used for fishing on a boat has keys arranged in accordance with a predetermined key arrangement such as a JIS arrangement. The keys that make up the keyboard are arranged in a substantially grid pattern along the base of the keyboard. This conventional keyboard device is configured such that the keyboard is installed substantially horizontally or slightly inclined, and keys can be pressed accurately and efficiently when the keyboard and the operator are in a specific positional relationship.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

This conventional keyboard device is configured such that the keyboard is installed substantially horizontally or slightly inclined, and keys can be pressed accurately and efficiently when the keyboard and the operator are in a specific positional relationship. In addition, although blind touch is possible, when operating special keys such as function keys, it is not possible to operate the keys with your finger in the home position, so unless you are a very experienced person, you will need to visually confirm the key position. There is. That is, with conventional keyboards, completely blind touch is not possible.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems in the prior art, and aims to provide an irregularly shaped keyboard that allows completely blind touching regardless of lighting conditions, worker posture, etc.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a base 1 that is large enough to be held in both hands and has a curved shape such as a sphere or an oval as a whole, and a plurality of input keys and function keys protruding or buried in the base 1. The above-mentioned problem was solved with a uniquely shaped keyboard characterized by the installation of.

[For production]

In the irregularly shaped keyboard shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of function keys are arranged on a base body 1, and an operator holds this base body 1 with both hands to operate the irregularly shaped keyboard. The irregularly shaped keyboard is equipped with recessed keys embedded in the base l and protruding keys, making it easy to operate in the dark and providing sufficient operability even for people with poor eyesight. Can be provided.

[Embodiments] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of function keys are arranged on an oval base 1. As shown in FIG.

The base body 1 can be integrally molded as a monocoque body and can be formed to be robust. Many of the function keys provided on the base body 1 are configured to be operable by fingering centered on the left and right thumbs. The operator holds the egg-shaped keyboard with both hands,
While selecting a function with the first finger, operate the letter keys ~ with the second finger and subsequent fingerings. Although there is no particular order in the arrangement of the function keys and character keys, they can be set in consideration of compatibility with, for example, a JIS keyboard.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the opposite side of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1, and shows keys operated by the second to fifth fingers on the left and right sides. Normally, the alphabetic character keys 2.3 are configured to be buried, and the numerical keys 4 are arranged in the center of these buried character keys 2.3. It is possible to operate the function keys on the front side at the same time as these character keys 2.3 are operated, and it is possible to configure the device so that input from the character keys is accepted only when the function keys are pressed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the above embodiment, showing a cursor key 5 in the center and two carriage return keys 6 below it.

In this manner, the irregularly shaped keyboard according to the present invention can be provided with keys having the same function at a plurality of locations in view of function and operability.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the above embodiment, and shows the ROLL-UP
, ROLL-DOWN key 7.8 and copy key 9 are shown. Reference numeral 10 in the upper part of FIG. 4 is a function key, which can be used by switching between functions 1 to 5 and functions 6 to 10 in combination with the function keys.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views of examples in which the irregularly shaped keyboard of the present invention is applied to the JIS standard layout, and those who are accustomed to operating conventional keyboards can use it without any special training. can do.

Since the base body 1 can secure a sufficient volume, various electronic devices can be loaded inside the base body 1, and the keyboard device can be used for purposes other than just an input device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the irregularly shaped keyboard according to the present invention has a shape such as spherical or oval, and has the advantage that each key can be easily identified even in the dark, and that it can be constructed robustly and can be operated regardless of the operator's posture. There is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof, Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 4 is a bottom view thereof, and Fig. 5 is a variant of the present invention in the JIS standard arrangement. FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment to which a keyboard is applied, and FIG. 6 is a rear view thereof. Explanation of symbols 1-Base, 2.3-・Character key 4-
Numeric keys 5--Cursor key 6--Carriage return key 7--ROLL-UP key 8--ROLL-DOWN key 9- Copy key 10--Function key Figure left hand 2nd to technique 5 Finger side li5chi 2nd to 5th fingers 1 Figure thumb side 2nd to 5th fingers 1 Procedural amendment November 15, 1990

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A base (1) is provided that is large enough to be held in both hands and has a curved shape such as a sphere or an oval as a whole, and a plurality of protruding or buried input keys and An unusually shaped keyboard characterized by the installation of function keys.