KR200474831Y1 - Little Keyboard Which Can Do Quick Alphabet Input - Google Patents

Abstract

An alphanumeric input key for inputting an alphabet, including a shift key disposed on a side surface, a virtual entity having a physical entity on the upper surface, and a virtual combination key constituted by a combination of an independent key in matrix form of 4 rows and 3 columns and two adjacent independent keys A small keyboard is disclosed. The small keyboard of the present invention has a physical entity arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 3 columns by setting a key code to the simultaneous input of neighboring keys, that is, key input for all alphabets by only 12 real alphabet input keys Not only is it possible, but it also enables fast input. Accordingly, the present invention provides a compact keyboard having a physical entity that simultaneously achieves satisfactory mobility and fast alphabetic input.

Description

A small keyboard capable of fast alphabetic input {Little Keyboard Which Can Do Quick Alphabet Input}

The present invention relates to a compact keyboard capable of fast alphabetic input, and more particularly to a compact keyboard having a physical entity arranged in a matrix of four rows and three columns by setting a key code for simultaneous input of neighboring keys, The present invention relates to a compact keyboard capable of not only inputting all alphabets by using only 12 alphabetic input keys but also performing fast input.

With the development of information and communication technology, mobile electronic devices such as cell phones, smart phones, and tablet PCs have been developed. These electronic devices require input of numbers or characters. Cellular phones usually have a keypad with a physical entity, but since the number of installed keys is limited and multiple key codes are assigned to one key, the key input can not be performed quickly, which is inconvenient.

In order to solve this inconvenience, the inventor of the present invention has made a patent application disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1999-0078618 (titled "key code generation device for fast key input") I got a patent registration. The present invention is characterized in that different keys are assigned and displayed between a plurality of keys and a key code assigned to a combination of both key signals is generated when a portion between two adjacent keys or both keys are pressed together, And to enable quick keystrokes. These keyboards have the same arrangement as the QWERTY type keyboard layout, which comes from the perception that standard keyboard layouts are convenient for users.

Meanwhile, recently developed smart phones and tablet PCs have adopted a virtual keyboard implemented on a touch screen, so that only one key code can be assigned to one key, and as a result, It was. However, even if the virtual keyboard is displayed separately on the display window by the mode of the number mode, the alphabet mode, and the Hangul mode, many keys must be displayed on one screen, causing frequent misrecognition on the key input. Although the inventor of the present invention has described that such a key code generating apparatus can be applied to keys of a touch screen type, if the above patent invention is applied to a touch screen type keyboard, that is, a virtual keyboard, have. In the case of a tablet PC having a large screen size, since the virtual keyboard can be displayed sufficiently large, it is possible to significantly reduce the misrecognition on the key input, but the mobility becomes relatively inconvenient.

In addition, recently, a TV implemented with a bi-directional function is commercialized. Such a TV requires a convenient input device for inputting a user's request. Although a user's request can be input by a commonly used TV remote controller, the input by the TV remote controller is inconvenient because it is subject to considerable restrictions. Therefore, in recent years, a TV product that can be used by connecting a keyboard to a TV by wire or wireless, in particular, by Bluetooth communication, has been commercialized. The keyboard used here is a standard keyboard of a conventional QWERTY arrangement or a miniaturized keyboard which is a little more simplified than that. Standard keyboards have significant mobility restrictions, and even a somewhat streamlined compact keyboard does not have enough mobility.

The present invention has been made in order to overcome the problems and limitations of the prior art described above. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact keyboard which can be connected by wire or wireless to an electronic device requiring alphabet input such as a mobile phone, a tablet PC, and a TV so that a fast alphabet input is possible and at the same time, That is, the object of the present invention is to provide a small keyboard having a physical entity simultaneously satisfying mobility and fast alphabetic input property.

According to the present invention, there is provided a compact keyboard capable of inputting a fast alphabet, comprising: a shift key disposed on a side surface; a physical entity on an upper surface; a matrix-type independent key of 4 rows and 3 columns; Alphanumeric input keys for inputting an alphabetic character including a virtual combination key constituted by a combination of the alphabetic keys; A key signal generator for generating a key signal corresponding to the pressed key when the independent keys are pressed and released; A combination key code corresponding to a combination of two adjacent independent keys applied when the two independent keys are pressed and then released simultaneously or sequentially within a predetermined time is stored ; When the two independent keys in the alphabetical input keys are depressed and then released at the same time or when they are sequentially released within a predetermined period of time, the memory unit is referred to, and the memory unit corresponding to the combination of the two adjacent independent keys, A control unit for determining a combination key code corresponding to the combination key and determining an independent key code corresponding to the one key when the independent key is pressed and released; And a communication unit for transmitting the key code determined by the control unit to an external device by wire or wireless according to an instruction from the control unit.

A separate key display of characters, symbols, or numbers corresponding to the corresponding independent key code is displayed on the independent keys, and a combination key of a character, symbol, or number corresponding to the combination key code Display is displayed.

Wherein the alphabetical input keys are arranged such that the independent keys of the first row are in turn composed of A, C and E, the independent keys of the second row are in turn composed of I, K and M, the independent keys of the third row are Q, S, and U, and the independent keys of the fourth row are sequentially composed of Y, CapsLock, and Z, and when the adjacent independent keys among the independent keys are simultaneously pressed, a virtual code The key combination virtual key K is a virtual combination key B, a virtual combination key D, a virtual combination key F, and a virtual combination key F by combining a virtual combination key B, independent keys C and E by a combination of independent keys A and C, By combining the virtual combination key G and the independent keys K and M by the combination of the virtual combination key H and the independent keys I and K by the combination of the virtual combination key G and the independent keys E and M by the combination of C and K, The combination key L, the virtual combination key N by the combination of the independent keys I and Q, and the virtual combination key O , A virtual combination key P by a combination of independent keys M and U, a virtual combination key R by a combination of independent keys Q and S, a virtual combination key T by a combination of independent keys S and U, a combination of independent keys Q and Y Virtual combination key V by the combination of the virtual key K, the virtual key K, the virtual key K, the virtual key K, the virtual key K, the virtual key K, Or a period), and a virtual combination key (question mark) is formed by a combination of the independent keys CapsLock and Z. [

The independent key A is displayed together with an ang, and when the independent key A is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed ang is input all at once; Eng is displayed together with the independent key E, and when the independent key E is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed eng is input all at once. If the independent key I is displayed simultaneously, and the independent key I is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, it is preferable that the displayed ing is inputted at a time.

The small keyboard of the present invention has a physical entity arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 3 columns by setting a key code to the simultaneous input of neighboring keys, that is, key input for all alphabets by only 12 real alphabet input keys Not only is it possible, but it also enables fast input. Accordingly, the present invention provides a compact keyboard having a physical entity that simultaneously achieves satisfactory mobility and fast alphabetic input. The compact keyboard of the present invention can be connected to a wired or wireless electronic device that requires input of numbers or characters such as a cell phone, a tablet PC, and a TV, and is also an input device for a wearable computer (a clothes-like computer) As shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 illustrates a compact keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which power is not applied.
FIG. 2 illustrates a small keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, which shows alphabetical input keys and function keys that are activated when power is applied.
FIG. 3 illustrates a compact keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which keys implemented when the shift key is not operated are displayed.
FIG. 4 illustrates a compact keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which keys implemented when the shift key is operated are displayed.
5 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a small keyboard of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show a keyboard of a small keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. The small keyboard of the present invention has a shift key on the side. In order to use the alphabetical input keys applied to the small keyboard of the present invention as, for example, Korean input keys, a mode key may further be provided on the side.

The shift key is used to assign two key codes to one key as applied to an ordinary keyboard. For example, if the alphabet letter A is pressed while the shift key is not pressed, a key code of a lowercase a is generated, and when the shift key is pressed, a key code of the uppercase letter A is generated. In Figure 1, the shift key is shown on the left side and the mode key on the right side, which is a convenient arrangement for right-handers. In the case of configuring the small keyboard of the present invention for left-handed use, the shift key may be arranged on the right side and the mode key on the left side.

For example, when the mode key is composed of two modes, that is, the alphabet mode and the Hangul mode, the mode key may be changed from the alphabet mode to the Hangul mode once, and once again, from the Hangul mode to the alphabet mode. In the case of the alphabet mode, the Hangul mode and the numeric mode, the mode may be changed to the Hangul mode by pressing once in the alphabet mode, the mode may be changed to the numeric mode by pressing once again, and may be changed to the alphabet mode by pressing again.

For example, when the power is turned off and the operation of simultaneously pressing the shift key and the mode key is continued for at least 2 seconds, the power is turned on and the operation of simultaneously pressing the shift key and the mode key while the power is on For more than 2 seconds. When the power is turned on, the luminescent lamp corresponding to the activated mode is turned on as described below, so that the user can visually recognize the key display corresponding to the activated mode. When the power is off, the light emitting lamp is also turned off, so that the key display is invisible as shown in Fig.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, on the upper surface of the small keyboard of the present invention, alphabetical input keys are composed of 12 independent keys arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 3 columns. Here, the independent key corresponds to the alphabetical input key, which is generated by the corresponding key code when the key is depressed and released as described below.

In the present specification, a combination key refers to a virtual key for inputting an alphabet. When two adjacent independent keys are pressed and then released simultaneously or sequentially within a predetermined time, the combination key corresponds to a combination of two adjacent independent keys , Which is a virtual key for generating such a combination key code. Thus, in the present specification, the independent key is the actual key, but the combination key is not so real, but rather is a so-called virtual key for expressing that it corresponds to generating the combination key code. It is also conceivable to press two neighboring independent keys with two fingers, respectively, but normally when two fingers are pressed between two neighboring independent keys with a single finger, The pressing is released. Therefore, since the user recognizes that one combination key exists between neighboring independent keys, the combination key can be defined as a virtual key.

A maximum of 17 possible combination keys can be implemented by twelve independent keys arranged in a matrix of four rows and three columns. When three-row function keys are arranged below or above an independent key, as described below, When a combination of a key and a function key is included, a maximum of 20 combination keys is obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an independent key display of characters, symbols, or numbers corresponding to the corresponding independent key codes is displayed on the independent keys, and a combination key code A combination key display in which characters, symbols, or numbers corresponding to the combination keys are displayed. Such a combination key indication is a combination key indication.

In particular, the independent keys have a rectangular shape on the upper surface thereof, and independent key displays of letters, numbers, or symbols corresponding to the independent key codes corresponding to the modes are displayed at each corner or corner of the rectangular top surface of the independent keys . It is a matter of course that the keys in the small keyboard of the present invention can be formed in a different shape such as a circle or a hexagon instead of a square shape.

For example, when the small keyboard of the present invention employs all four modes of the numeric mode, the alphabetic mode, the Hangul mode, and the multimedia mode, all the corner portions or corner portions are provided with letters, numerals Or symbol is displayed. These key displays are implemented as transparent windows. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1, the small keyboard of the present invention displays no indication on the keys when power is not applied, as described below.

Inside each independent key, a number of direct-acting LED light-emitting lamps are arranged in at least the applicable mode. For example, the light emitting lamp emitting light in the alphabet mode only emits a key display corresponding to the alphabet mode, and does not illuminate the key display of the other mode. In order for the luminescent lamp to have straightness, a convex lens can be applied to the light output portion. Since the distance between the light emitting portion of the luminescent lamp and the transparent window key display provided on the upper surface of the key is short in the respective keys, only the key display of the desired mode is emitted from the light emitting lamp As shown in FIG. The light emitting lamps disposed under the independent keys may emit light in a single color, but preferably emit different colors depending on the selected mode.

Similar to the above for the combination key, however, it is not preferable to display all of the four key mode keys in the combination key, which is rather unfavorable to the user, and the numeric mode and the multimedia mode are not Can be implemented. Therefore, it is preferable that only the key display corresponding to the alphabet mode and the key display corresponding to the Hangul mode are displayed for the combination key. In such a case, only two LED lamps are required to be placed under the combination key.

Next, the small keyboard of the present invention has a function key group, which has nine keys arranged in a matrix of three rows and three columns.

An LED emission lamp is disposed under the function keys. In the case of the function key, it is sufficient to arrange one or two LED emission lamps for one function key as described below.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 1, the small keyboard of the present invention displays no indication on the keys because the light emitting lamp disposed under the keys does not operate in a state where power is not applied. Of course, since the key display is displayed in the form of a transparent window, even if the light emitting lamp does not operate, it can be recognized that the key is displayed by looking at the naked eye, but it is difficult to recognize with the normal attention.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the alphabetical input keys are arranged as follows. That is, the independent keys of the first row are sequentially composed of A, C, and E, the independent keys of the second row are sequentially composed of I, K, and M, and the independent keys of the third row are sequentially And the independent keys of the fourth row are in turn composed of Y, Caps Lock, and Z in turn. This key indication of the alphabetical entry keys is shown on the top left corner of the independent key top. The independent key code is generated by this independent selection key.

A virtual combination key, which is a virtual key that is combined when a neighboring independent key among the independent keys is pressed at the same time and generates a key code corresponding to the combination key indication, is generated by combining the independent keys A and C, By combining the virtual combination key D and the independent key A and I by the combination of C and E, the virtual combination key F, the virtual combination key G by the combination of the independent keys C and K, By combining the virtual key K and the virtual key K by the combination key H and the independent keys I and K, the virtual combination key N, the independent key K, S, the virtual combination key P, the virtual combination key R, the independent combination of the independent keys S and U by the combination of the independent combination keys Q and S by the combination of the virtual combination key O, the independent keys M and U, T, the combination key V and the combination of the independent keys Q and Y, the combination of the independent keys S and CapsLock (Virtual key) by combination of virtual combination key W, independent key U and Z by sum, virtual combination key (point or period) by combination of independent key X, independent key Y and CapsLock, by combination of independent keys CapsLock and Z A virtual combination key? (Question mark) is formed. This virtual combination key refers to a virtual key input by pressing two adjacent independent keys with one finger or two fingers at the same time, and a key code is generated by such key input. For example, the concurrent input of the A key and the C key corresponds to the input of the hypothetical B key.

Thus, the letters A to Z are arranged in order, except that. (Dot or period) and CapsLock are placed between Y and Z. A key indication for this virtual combination key of alphabetical entry keys is shown at the top among neighboring independent keys. It should be noted that such an indication may be displayed at the lower part between neighboring independent keys. However, in order to provide consistency with the recognition of the user, it is preferable that the key is disposed at a position corresponding to the position where the independent key is disposed. In the example of the drawing, since the key display for the independent key of the alphabetical input keys is displayed at the upper left corner, the key display for the virtual combination key is correspondingly displayed at the upper part.

This alphabet arrangement is different from the standard QWERTY arrangement of a standard keyboard. In general, a person who is familiar with a standard keyboard may think that a keyboard can perform a quick input by using a keyboard layout of a standard keyboard. However, In other words, it is developed by exercise ability, so that when using one finger or two fingers on a smaller keyboard, the keyboard layout of the standard keyboard is not familiar or convenient to the user. Rather, the natural arrangement of the alphabet is easier to recognize than the keyboard layout of a standard keyboard, so you can quickly find it.

In addition, the small keyboard of the present invention has a structure that can not implement a QWERTY arrangement of a standard keyboard, and rather, by abandoning the keyboard layout of such a standard keyboard, a structure suitable for more mobility can be obtained. The structure of the small keyboard of this invention seems simple as a result, but it was born out of a solid, fossilized recognition of the keyboard layout of a standard keyboard, and it has been remarkable in that it has never presented a compact keyboard of such a simple structure .

3 and 4, the same key display is implemented regardless of whether the shift key is pressed or not. However, when the shift key is not pressed, for example, When A is inputted, a key code of a lowercase letter a is generated. When an independent key A is inputted when a shift key is pressed, a key code of an uppercase letter A is generated.

On the other hand, as the function keys, the space key, the enter key, and the backspace key are arranged in the first row, the Bluetooth pairing key, the up direction key, and the Bluetooth communication setting key are arranged in the second row, A direction key and a right direction key are disposed. On the other hand, when pressing the function key while pressing the shift key, the backspace key operates with the Del key, the up direction key is the Pg Up key, the left direction key is the Home key, the down direction key is the Pg Dn key, and the right direction key is the End key Respectively. Although strictly speaking, the space key is used to input a space character, it is not a function key. However, in the present invention, the space key is placed in a function key group and accordingly, the function key will be referred to herein for convenience.

On the other hand, if the independent key A is displayed together with ang, and the independent key A is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed ang is input all at once. Also, eng is displayed together with the independent key E, and when the independent key E is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed eng is input all at once. Also, if the independent key I is displayed together with the independent key I and the independent key I is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed ing is input all at once. This function is particularly useful for fast input in China. Here, the predetermined time may be set to, for example, 0.5 seconds.

Since the present invention relates to a small-sized keyboard capable of fast alphabetic input, the detailed contents of the keys set in place of the alphabetic input keys in the numeric mode, the Hangul mode, and the multimedia mode are not described.

5, a small keyboard according to the present invention includes a key 10 allowing a user to input a key, a key signal generator 20, a controller 30, a memory 40 ), A light emitting portion 50, and a communication portion 60.

The key 10 has a physical entity having a structure as described above. Here, the physical entity means that the small keyboard of the present invention is not a virtual keyboard implemented on a touch screen by software but is a keyboard having a physical entity normally applied to a notebook computer or the like.

The key signal generator 20 generates a key signal according to a key input, and preferably generates a key signal corresponding to the key pressed when the user depresses the keys 10 and then releases the key. The controller 30 receives the key signal generated by the key signal generator 20 and generates a key code.

A conventional keyboard transmits a key code to a computer body immediately after generating a corresponding key signal and key code when a key is pressed, whereas in a small keyboard of the present invention, a key code is a key code when a user depresses and releases the key 10 And is generated by the control unit 30. It is preferable that the key signal generator 20 generates a key signal corresponding to the pressed key when the user depresses and releases the keys 10. However, 20 may generate both a key press signal and a key signal to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 may generate a corresponding key code only when the key signal is present. Therefore, it can be understood that the above two configurations are equivalent to the small keyboard of the present invention.

The memory unit 40 stores a combination key code corresponding to a combination of two independent keys in the alphabetical input keys. In some cases, a combination key code corresponding to a combination of a neighboring independent key and a function key and a combination of two neighboring function keys may be stored.

The control unit 30 refers to the memory unit 40 when the two independent keys in the alphabetical keys are pressed and then released simultaneously or within a predetermined time within a predetermined time, A combination key code is determined. When an independent key is pressed and released, the independent key code corresponding to the key is determined. When a combination key code corresponding to a combination of a neighboring independent key and a function key and a combination of two neighboring function keys is allocated, it is needless to say that such a combination key code can be determined when there is a corresponding input.

As described above, the light emitting unit 50 is provided as a direct-current LED light emitting lamp below each key, and emits light or releases light according to the control of the control unit.

The communication unit 60 may be a wired or wireless communication unit. When the wired communication unit is a wired communication unit, it is preferably a USB port. In the case of a wireless communication unit, the communication unit 60 is preferably a Bluetooth communication unit. It may be preferable to have both the wire communication unit and the wireless communication unit.

As described above, the small keyboard of the present invention is expected to be highly utilized because it overcomes the recognition limitations of the QWERTY arrangement of the standard keyboard and achieves satisfactory mobility and fast alphabet input.

10: Key 20: Key signal generator
30: control unit 40: memory unit
50: light emitting portion 60:

Claims (2)

An alphanumeric input key for inputting an alphabet, including a shift key disposed on a side surface, a virtual entity having a physical entity on the upper surface, and a virtual combination key constituted by a combination of an independent key in matrix form of 4 rows and 3 columns and two adjacent independent keys ; Common keys in the form of a matrix having three rows and three columns of physical entities on the top surface; A key signal generator for generating a key signal corresponding to the pressed key when the independent keys or the common keys are pressed and released; A combination key code corresponding to a combination of two adjacent independent keys applied when the two independent keys are pressed and then released simultaneously or sequentially within a predetermined time is stored ; When the two independent keys in the alphabetical input keys are pressed and then released simultaneously or sequentially within a predetermined period of time, the memory unit is referred to, and when it is determined that the virtual key corresponding to the combination of two neighboring independent keys, A control unit for determining a combination key code corresponding to a combination key and determining an independent key code or a common key code corresponding to the one key when the independent key or the common key is pressed and released; And a communication unit for transmitting the key code determined by the control unit to an external device by wire or wireless according to an instruction of the control unit,
A separate key display of characters, symbols, or numbers corresponding to the corresponding independent key code is displayed on the independent keys, and a combination key having a character, symbol, or number corresponding to the combination key code As the indication is displayed,
Wherein the alphabetical input keys are arranged such that the independent keys of the first row are in turn composed of A, C and E, the independent keys of the second row are in turn composed of I, K and M, the independent keys of the third row are Q, S, and U, and the independent keys of the fourth row are sequentially composed of Y, CapsLock, and Z, and when the adjacent independent keys among the independent keys are simultaneously pressed, a virtual code The key combination virtual key K is a virtual combination key B, a virtual combination key D, a virtual combination key F, and a virtual combination key F by combining a virtual combination key B, independent keys C and E by a combination of independent keys A and C, By combining the virtual combination key G and the independent keys K and M by the combination of the virtual combination key H and the independent keys I and K by the combination of the virtual combination key G and the independent keys E and M by the combination of C and K, The combination key L, the virtual combination key N by the combination of the independent keys I and Q, and the virtual combination key O , A virtual combination key P by a combination of independent keys M and U, a virtual combination key R by a combination of independent keys Q and S, a virtual combination key T by a combination of independent keys S and U, a combination of independent keys Q and Y A virtual combination key V by a combination of the virtual combination key V, the independent key S and the Caps Lock, the virtual combination key X by the combination of the virtual keys W and the independent keys U and Z, the virtual combination key by the combination of the independent keys Y and CapsLock, Is arranged in such a way that a virtual combination key is formed by a combination of the keys CapsLock and Z,
A common key display of characters, symbols, or numbers corresponding to the common key codes is displayed on the common keys, and the common keys include a space key, an enter key, a backspace key, four direction keys, And a second key input unit for inputting the second key input. The method according to claim 1,
The independent key A is displayed together with an ang, and when the independent key A is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed ang is input all at once; Eng is displayed together with the independent key E, and when the independent key E is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed eng is input all at once. Wherein the independent key I is displayed together with ing, and when the independent key I is input twice consecutively within a predetermined time, the displayed ing is input at a time.

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