WO1989002369A1

WO1989002369A1 - Improvements in or relating to keyboard systems

Info

Publication number: WO1989002369A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Pham
Original assignee: Michael Pham
Priority date: 1987-09-15
Filing date: 1988-09-09
Publication date: 1989-03-23
Also published as: JPH03501538A; KR890701374A

Abstract

A keyboard system comprising separate right- and left-hand keyboard means, possibly on the one keyboard, but preferably separate right- and left-hand keyboards (1, 2; Fig. 2), each adapted for operation by the digits of a respective hand of an operator, whereby the operator is able to operate all the keys of each keybord without having to move the hands relative thereto. In preferred form, each keyboard has associated therewith, a respective reference panel (5, 6; Fig. 1) upon which the keyboard is movable to a plurality of locations, with each combination of left- and right-hand locations being related to a set of keys, type characters or symbols, whereby the number of keys capable of being addressed by the operator is increased.

Description

I

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO KEYBOARD SYSTEMS TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to keyboard systems and more particularly to a highly versatile, dual keyboard system which enables an operator to "address" a greater number of keys than prior art systems generally permit. BACKGROUND ART

In 1868 Christopher Latham Sholes and Carlos Glidden invented the first typewriter - a crude device with eight rows of keys but no carriage-return mechanism. A few years later the two men decided to reduce the number of key rows to four and to rearrange the keys. For reasons still unknown, they placed the letters, 0, W, E, R, T and Y in a left-to-right sequence on the top row of the keyboard. Thus was born the S & G QWERTY key layout, which later became a standard feature of the Remington typewriter - and an enduring 19th-century legacy.

Today nearly all keyboards incorporate the QWERTY layout, despite sporadic criticism that it is inefficient and contributes to hand and wrist strains among those who type or key-punch information for a living.

Present-day keyboards for such devices as computers, word-processors and the like are lineal descendants of the old typewriter and comptometer keyboards. These old keyboards comprised an array of digit-operated "keys" identified by letters, numerals, mathematical signs, punctuation marks and/or other indicia, all arranged in set patterns.

On complex present-day keyboards , an operator needs to continually glance at the keyboard while operating it and to lightly move his or her hands over it in order to select the required keys for the task in progress.

In the case of the old typewriter and comptometer keyboards, force had to be applied to the keys in order to operate the machine. This applied force was relatively small and, after initial training, the typist or comptometrist suffered no noticeable muscular fatigue. The more recent "golf-ball" electric typewriter still did require some modicum of force but its electronic descendants do not, an operator's hands hover over the keyboard, barely touching the keys and certainly not pushing them down. The more keys the operator is required to address, the more expansive the hand movements must become. This has resulted in a "new" kind of muscular injury - the so-called "repetitive strain injury", or "RSI".

It has previously been proposed to provide a "Data Input System Using a Split Keyboard", being the subject of U.S. Patent No. 4,378,553, the specification relating to which, however, does not disclose, for example, different "gate positions" providing different key combinations available to each of an operator's hands and/or different combinations of indicia and/or type-faces.

Other examples of relevant background art are the Australian Patent Application Nos. 60995/86; 44323/85 (PCT/EP85/00263) ; 42628/85; 72949/81; 27580/77 (506074); 19223/76 (502377); 7973/46 and 49711/85. British Patent Application No. GB 2135633A corresponds to U.S. Patent No. 4,378,553. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by the provision of a micro-processor-based keyboard system having separate left- and right-hand keyboard means , possibly on the one keyboard, but preferably comprising separate right-hand and left-hand keyboards, each movable on a respective reference panel in combination with audio/visual display or indication means and, optionally, a plurality of pedal keys and/or cyclic counters and/or mode registers and/or code register.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a keyboard system comprises a right-hand keyboard means and a left-hand keyboard means - preferably as separate left and right keyboards - each adapted for operation by the digits- of a respective hand of an operator, and an array of keys on each keyboard arranged in such a manner that the operator is able to operate all the keys of the keyboard without having to move his or her hand relative to the said keyboard. Each key may represent a plurality of different characters or symbols, depending on the particular mode or process and/or different keyboard or "gate" position or location.

Preferably, each keyboard has, associated with it, a respective reference panel upon which the keyboard is movable to a plurality of locations, each combination of these locations being related to a set of keys of each array of the same, so that the number of keys which are capable of being addressed by the operator is able to be increased.

Ideally, each of the keyboards may well be provided with a palm-rest upon which the operator is able to rest, or relax, his or her hand, this palm-rest thus constituting a reference point for the operator to find the required keys, the palm-rest furthermore being operable to move its associated keyboard from one position to another on the respective reference panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the present invention, hereinafter will be described one or more embodiments thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows the generalized layout of a keyboard system according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a pair of keyboards ; and Figure 3 illustrates means for adjusting the distance between a palm-rest and an associated keyboard.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Turning firstly to Figure 2, it will be seen that in the preferred mode employing separate keyboards-, a right-hand keyboard 1 and a left-hand keyboard 2 are mirror-images one of the other. Each of the keyboards 1, 2 has twelve keys, arranged as shown, and a palm-rest - these being respectively referenced 3 and 4. Thus, the operator is able to rest his or her hands upon the palm-rests 3, 4 and to use all ten digits to operate any key of the arrays of twenty four without having to move the hands relative to the pair of keyboards 1, 2. As will be appreciated, these palm-rests are conducive to the operator's resting, or relaxing, the hands, in contrast to conventional keyboards where the operator is actively encouraged to maintain his or her hands in a raised stance above, or at least relative to, the keyboard. This, needless to say, can be tiresome or inducive of fatigue after prolonged periods of operation.

On each keyboard, two keys designated IF3 and TF3 are held in reserve for special functions. Therefore, the operator should only address a total of twenty keys. However, in order to increase the number of keys able to be addressed, the operator can use any one, or any combination of, five processes, as will be made clear hereinafter.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, each keyboard 1, 2 is associated with a respective reference panel 5, 6 provided on such as a conventional console or the like.

By moving keyboard 1 about a gate 7, and, independently, keyboard 2 about an identical gate 8, each of the keyboards 1, 2 will be able to be located in any of the six numbered positions, or locations, of each gate.

Thus, as the operator is able to address ten keys with the digits of his or her hands, (-the two special function keys IF3 and TF3 not to be counted -) and since each keyboard can be located in any one of the six reference panel gate positions, then the operator is able to address a total of 6 x 6 x 20 = 720 keys without even having to^' remove the two hands from the keyboards. The actual key characters accessed, or available to be accessed, by means of the keys in any gate position are displayed as shown at 22 on the visual display panel 15.

The abovenoted process is to be considered to constitute "Process 1".

"Process 2" involves the use of foot-operated pedal keys, there being provided three right-foot pedal keys, referenced 9, and three corresponding left-foot pedal keys, referenced 10. Again operating the twenty digit keys on keyboards 1 and 2 in conjunction with the pedal keys trios 9 and 10, the operator is able to address a total of 3 x 3 x 20 = 180 keys.

"Process 3" involves the use of one of the two special function counter keys, namely the IF3 keys on the keyboards (Fig. 2) . Each IF3 key is used to operate a respective cyclic counter, and each cyclic counter has three values, referenced 11 and 12 in Figure 1. Every time the operator presses one of the IF3 keys, its corresponding counter will count one step starting from 1, then 2 and 3, and then back to 1. Each combination of the counters' values corresponds to a set of 20 keys. Therefore, now the operator is again able to address a total of 3 x 3 x 20 = 180 keys.

"Process 4" involves the use of combinations of two keys of each of the keyboards (Fig. 2) in order to address still more keys. The following key combinations are used for each keyboard:-

TF3 and IF1; TF3 and MF1; and TF3 and RF1 (Fig. 2). Pressing any of these pairs of keys will generate an "interrupt" to the microprocessor, which will note this and set a corresponding value on a "mode" register. Each keyboard has a mode register key and each mode register has three values, referenced 13 and 14 (Fig. 1). Each pair of mode register value corresponds to a set of 20 keys of the arrays of such; thus, using this process, the operator can address a total of 3 x 3 x 20 = 180 keys.

"Process 5" involves the use of a voice recognition system. The operator can change the set of 20 keys to be addressed by reading a special code to a microphone. The microprocessor analyses the code, updates a "code" register accordingly and displays the value of the "code" register on the Display Panel (see reference 23, Fig. 1) . A set of 20 keys is assigned to each value of the "code" register. In this embodiment of the invention, there are three values of the "code" register. Therefore, using this process the operator can address a total of 3 x 20 = 60 keys.

As will be appreciated, by combining the five processes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as described above, the keyboard system according to the present invention will allow an operator to address keys to a grand total of 720 x 180 x 180 x 180 x 60, that is 2.519424 x 10¹¹ keys altogether.

Moreover, it will be seen to be theoretically possible to enlarge the already large capacity of the inventive keyboard system to address more than this 2.519424 x 10 keys by increasing any or all of the following parameters:- numbers of keys; number of "gate" reference panel positions; cyclic counter values; and mode registers' values. On the other hand, by reducing the number of variables, a simpler and perhaps more economical system can be postulated.

The keyboard system according to the present invention may further include a separate visual display panel, referenced 15, or the data may be displayed in the VDU monitor itself by virtue of a split-screen arrangement as is known in the art. Alternatively, or even additionally, to the visual display there can be operative links to suitable audio indicators each having a distinctive sound, whereby the operator can identify a particular key position with a characteristic sound. This feature makes the inventive keyboard system an ideal means for enabling blind persons to be able to type, based on simple audio-identification of the various keyboard positions, without the need to see either the keyboard, the display screen, or the VDU terminal screen.

The display panel has several functions :-

(a) to indicate to the operator that set of twenty keys that can be accessed by the operator for any gate/pedal position, or any counter/mode/code register values ;

( b )^• to indicate to the operator which key is presently being pressed;

(c) to indicate to the operator the relative positions of the keyboards with respect to the reference gate panels (process 1);

(d) to indicate to the operator which pedal key is presently being pressed (process 2) ;

(e) to indicate to the operator the current values of the cyclic counters (process 3);

(f ) to indicate to the operator the current values of the "mode" registers (process 4);

(g) to indicate to the operator the current value of the "code" register (process 5); and

(h) to eliminate the need for the operator to look at the keyboards in order to find the position of a wanted key, thereby enabling the operator to position the dual keyboards at any selected position.

As has been previously stated, the operator is able to operate all keys without having to move his or her hands from the keyboard; the combination of the relative positions of the keyboard with respect to the reference panels and/or the state of pedals, the counters, "mode" and "code" registers' values are used to address difference sets of keys.

Because the operator has no need to move his or her hands about the keyboard, unlike the case of conventional keyboard, he or she is enabled to address keys with greater rapidity.

Furthermore, as the operator no longer needs to look at his or her hands, it is possible for the keyboards to be located at a position - perhaps further from the operator's eyes at which "typing" efficiency is much improved. A hand-position can be selected to maintain correct blood circulation in the operator's hands, thus preventing, or at least ameliorating, RSI and like conditions.

In a further embodiment of the invention, by the provision of suitable additional hardware or software as may be appropriate, some or all of the keys may be programmable by the operator. This feature will enable the operator to assign any required or standard symbol to any particular key. In this way it will be possible to override the original keyboard configuration provided by the manufacturer. The advantage of this facility is that it enables the operator to "tailor" the keys according to the personal needs of the operator. This, facility should result in increased efficiency and productivity for any particular operator.

A further advantage of this facility is that it enables the introduction of any new symbols or characters, to be assigned to any one or more keys. This feature has potential applications, for example, to:-

- drawing packages

- word processing

- adaption for use in stenography

- adaption for use with various languages and for non-Roman alphabets, e.g., Arabic, Cyrillic, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.

- adapting for use with keyboards operated electronic musical instrument.

There would also be a special reset provision to enable the operator to record a number of new configurations and to change from one keyboard configuration to the next. The keyboard configurations number X is displayed in the display panel as KBCNo X referenced 16. The operator can record a new configuration or modify an existing one by communicating his or her request with a suitable host computer. This will enable the keyboard system to be very versatile and can be multi-functional.

Turning finally to Figure 3, there is shown a vertical cross-section through a palm-rest 3, 4; an associated keyboard 1, 2; and a typical key 17. Palm-rest 3, 4 is fitted onto a shaft 18 to permit of vertical adjustment with respect to keyboard 1, 2. The palm-rest is able to be clamped to its shaft by means of a grub- or set-screw 19. In similar manner, the key 17 is fitted onto a spindle 20 and is clampable thereto by means of a grub- or set-screw 21. As this arrangement allows the operator to move the palm-rest and keys independently upwardly and downwardly on their respective shafts or spindles, the distance between palm-rest and keys is able to be varied to thus accommodate different hand sizes.

In the case of the keys, the location of each grub- or set-screw may be dictated by the distance of any key from adjacent keys; instead of the more usual screwdriver slot in the head of the screw, an alien-key recess is preferable. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention has application to computers, typewriters, word-processors, printers, defence equipment, and keyboard-operated electronic musical instruments such as sound synthesizers.

From the abovegoing, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set out in the following claims.

Claims

1. A keyboard system comprising a right-hand keyboard means and a left-hand keyboard means each adapted for operation by the digits of a respective hand of an operator, and an array of keys on each keyboard means arranged in such a manner that a said operator is able to operate all the keys of a said keyboard means without having to move the hand relative thereto.

2. A keyboard system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said right-hand keyboard means and said left-hand keyboard means comprise separate keyboards.

3. The keyboard system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each keyboard or keyboard means is provided with a palm-rest constituting a reference point for a said operator to find the required keys and providing means for said operator to rest the hands.

4. The keyboard system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each keyboard has, associated therewith, a respective reference panel upon which the said keyboard is movable to a plurality of locations, each combination of the said locations being related to a set of keys of each array, whereby the number of keys capable of being addressed by a said operator is able to be increased.

5. The keyboard system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each palm-rest further includes means to move its associated keyboard from one position to another on the or each respective reference panel.

6. The keyboard system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein there is provided a plurality of pedal keys each operable by pressure of a said operator's foot, each combination of the said pedal keys being related to a set of keys of each array, whereby the number of keys capable of being addressed by a said operator is able to be increased.

7. The keyboard system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein there are provided two or more II counter keys each adapted to operate a respective cyclic counter, each combination of values of the said cyclic counters being related to a set of keys of each array, whereby the number of keys capable of being addressed by a said operator is able to be increased.

8. The keyboard system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein there are provided two or more mode register means each having two or more values, each combination of said values being related to a set of keys of each array, whereby the number of keys capable of being addressed by a said operator is able to be increased.

9. The keyboard system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein there is provided at least one code register means each having two or more values, each combination of said values being related to a set of keys of each array, whereby the number of keys capable of being addressed by a said operator is able to be increased.

10. The keyboard system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, further including a display unit adapted to provide audio/visual feedback information to a said operator so as to enable the operator to correlate manipulative movements, and to indicate the set of keys that can be addressed, and to indicate keys being pressed and the values thereof.

11. The keyboard system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, further including hardware and/or software adapted to enable the introduction of new symbols and/or characters assignable to any one or more said keys so as to override the original keyboard configuration, the resulting new keyboard configuration being able to be identified, modified and/or recorded.