WO2008078123A1

WO2008078123A1 - Digital keyboard

Info

Publication number: WO2008078123A1
Application number: PCT/GE2007/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgi Pankvelashvili
Original assignee: Giorgi Pankvelashvili
Priority date: 2006-12-27
Filing date: 2007-12-26
Publication date: 2008-07-03

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of computer engineering and may be used both in mainframe and pocket computers and in mobile phones as well. The invention comprises switches mounted on a hard surface, the switches having a function allowing to enter letters both in combined fashion and individually, characterized in that it further comprises switches having said function, which are spaced apart on said hard surface at the distances exceeding two centimeters.

Description

DIGITAL KEYBOARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of computer engineering and may be used both in mainframe and pocket computers and in mobile phones as well.

The present invention can be compared with a customary QWERTY-keyboard, which is more cumbersome and unhandy by contrast to the invention; has a lot of keys, therefore is big and thus can't be hold in hands comfortably; while typing on this keyboard, distant finger movements are necessary that negatively affects the speed of typing; also, it is difficult to type on it without looking at the keys and it less forces a user to study two-finger typing that is a disservice, see details below.

There also exist such keyboards that force a person to type using two hands, but they also have a lot of keys and are not compact (see patent WO 03/009122 Al).

Analogously, we can consider compact (having fewer keys) keyboards, for example, such as of mobile phones, none of them neither possess utility features worth invention, not force a person to study typing using two fingers.

The prototype of the invention is patent US5117455, the function of keys in which is close to this of the present invention, but differs from the present invention in keys arrangement, namely, the keys intended for letter entry are installed so far from each other that it is more handy to strike combination for letter entry with one finger rather than with two; the said collocation of keys doesn't force the person to type with two fingers, in other words, the priciple of putting a person on the right track won't be achieved.

The invention strictly puts a person on the right track, namely, forces to study two-finger typing, that means that in the future the person will type twice better than using one finger, namely: 1) Probably, everybody wishes to know fast typing without looking at the keys, the invention is created just for typing without looking at the keyboard; at that time it is possible to type as usual too, i.e. looking at the Fig.2; the invention doesn't hinder creative process, everybody knows that it is troublesome to compose or invent sometihing while operating computer, but while not looking at the keys, instinct typing resolves this problem, because when looking at the monitor only, attention is less distracted and person easily concentrates attention; typing gets so easy that the person will be able to think with closed eyes (for better imagination) and type instinctly at the same time that is impossible even using a pen.

2) Also, while typing, long movements of finger in order to reach keys are not necessary any more, that provides quickness of typing; the invention can sustain competition in speed of typing even with big QWERT-keyboard. 3) The invention is equally comfortable for both pocket and mainframe computers; it is compact, its dimensions makes handy to hold it in hands while working; the invention is convenient for computer games as well; as soon as the invention makes computer handy: books, newspapers, magazines and notebooks will move mostly into pocket computers; thus, paper and expences connected with it will be saved.

The invention comprising switches (the switch may be key type) mounted on a hard surface, the switches having a function allowing to entry letters both in combined fashion and individually, characterized in that it further comprises switches having said function, which are spaced apart on said hard surface at the distances exceeding two centimeters. The electrical interconnection of switches in the invention enables to switch on electric signals necessary for letter entry by combinations of keys, when using the combinations widely, even a small number of keys is enough that causes the compactness of the device; the small number of keys in its turn affects positively the speed of typing, because the distant movements of finger in order to reach keys are not necessary any more; also it is easy to find the necessary key among the small number of keys by sense of touch, thus the so called blind typing is achieved. The distant arrangement of keys on the package in two groups for two fingers also contributes to blind and fast typing, because the probability of accidental hitting keys intended for left thumb by the right thumb while blind and fast typing is reduced.

The stroke of combinations might be difficult to some degree, but it is allowable, because man possesses a skill to conquer an instrument more complicated in the sense of combinations, for example, a piano (much greater number of combinations, which are stricken by means of different fingers on more than 80 keys, is studied for playing piano). According to the invention, 12 signs needed for typing are stricken even without any combination.

It is remarkable that it was not easy to determine the distinguishing features of the invention, because they should fit man's skills and should cause the mentioned technical result.

The invention is called digital because it is based on combinations; combination of keys is the same as a code, but code is easily defined by digits, that is why the word "digital" was established towards those objects in which the coding principle is employed, like: digital cameras, digital communication, etc. Fig.l. represents the invention; Fig.2 represents a table that helps in typing until one gets used to the keyboard; Fig.3 represents groups of keys, which are divided into two divisions; Fig.4 represents one of the embodiments of the invention; Fig.5 represents bottom view of one of the embodiments of the invention.

The invention is represented on Fig.l and Fig.4: 1 - body; 2- keys; 3 - keys performing functions of mouse. While working, keys are to be stricken by thumbs. After getting accustomed, person types without looking at the keyboard (instinctively), supported by sense of touching keys that reduces the possibility of accidental hitting of a wrong key. Entry of 44 signs is enough for typing in Georgian, but in our case 48 (totally 63) different combinations ("chords") are entered by means of 6 keys, for example, for typing "6" we need to strike "5" and "3" at once (it is possible to be done by thumb, but more comfortable is an arrangement represented on Fig.4, where hitting a key next to the small key (for example "5") while striking it, doesn't harm anything). The keyboard can be ordinarily switched over to mathematical or other option by means of some one key; it also can be arranged so that the keyboard could be switched back and forth into several options and an ample quantity of functions could be performed by means of keys positioned on it (and this is not new). While operating a computer, one may take an advantage of tables like those shown on the Fig.2, which are to be displayed on the monitor. The disposition of letters is given in these tables. (The way of interpretation of Fig.2 see below.) The shortcoming of the invention is that learning of 44 "chords" all at once may be difficult, although, working is still possible using Fig.2, but the principal advantage of the invention consists just in learning of 44 "chords" and Fig.2 should be used on a temporary basis.

The keyboard has a touch screen on its bottom side, the movement of finger on the touch screen moves the cursor, also entry of a number or other functions may be done by means of touch screen, see Fig.5: 4 - touch screen; 5 - key that unblocks the screen.

Fig.2 is to be interpreted like follows: for example, to enter letter "V" we need to strike "8" and "4" at once, but in order to enter "B", strike keys "8" and "5" at once. In other words, there are two tables - right and left displayed on the screen, which are separated by dark vertical line. But imaginary vertical lines intersect keys and divide right thumb and left thumb keys into two divisions, see Fig.3.

By means of the first division of left thumb keys, the first three verticals of each table (ASD and JKL) are selected, but by means of the second division of the same group of keys, the next three verticals of each table are selected.

By means of the first division of right thumb keys, horizontals of the left table are selected, but by means of the second division, horizontals of the right table are selected. The letter to be entered is situated at the intersection of horizontal and vertical of the selected table. Signs situated above the dark horizontal lines are entered at that time, when the right thumb and the left thumb keys do not come into combination with each other (this explanation came voluminous, but in practice (after a short play with keyboard) it is easy and intuitive). For example, to entry "V" we need to select the middle horizontal of the left table by striking "8", at that time the horizontal of the said table and the sign "I" above the dark line are marked (letters turn darker). At the same time in the text appears letter "I" and if we don't select by the left thumb the vertical correspondent to "V", letter "I" will be typed in the text, but if we select vertical of "V" by holding "8" at the same time, then the letter "I" appeared in the text will change to letter "V", but in the table only the "V" will be marked until keys are being hold; but on Fig.2 the way of entry signs written above the dark horizontal lines is the following: for entering "Q" the key "1" is to be stricken; for entering "W" - "2" and so on "E"-"3"; "R"-"4"; ^«T"-"5"; "Y"-"6"; "U"-"7"; "I"-"8"; "O"-"9"; T-T; ^«/'-"+";

"A" and "J" verticals should be chosen by striking "1"; "S" and "K" verticals - by key "2"; "D" and "L" verticals - by key "3"; "F" and "-" verticals - by key "4";> "G" and "-" verticals - by key "5"; "H" and ":" verticals - by key "6". The key "7" choses the upper horizontal of the left table; the key "8" - the middle horizontal of the same table; but the key "9" - the lower horizontal; the key "0" " choses the upper horizontal of the right table; the key "+" - the middle horizontal of the same table; but the key "-" - the lower horizontal. By means of combination of"-" and "3" the cursor moves to the end of the text; but by means of "-" + "4" the text is selected. There is no difference in order while sticking combination of keys.

By means of key 10 (see Fig.4) there happens a switch of keyboard to functions Fl; F2; insert, etc.; by means of key 11 a table similar to the one on the Fig.2 is displayed on the monitor; by means of key 12 the last entered letter shifts to capital, also the selected letters; quick double strike at key 12 shifts to capitalized mode of letter entry, but reverse shift happens by single strike at key 12; by means of key 13 happens "redo" of the last action; but by means of key 14 - "undo" of the last action; key 15 switches the keyboard to mathematical version; combination of "10"+" 11" corresponds to combination alt+ctrl+del.

To be compatible with computer, the invention must transmit to the system unit the same kind and amount of electric signals as the QWERTY-keyboard does. If the QWERTY-keyboard comprises 88 keys and transmits 88 different signals to the system unit, let us suppose that the invention is not able to transmit more than 44 signals, in this case we should switch the invention over and 44 signals will be added to 44 signals that gives us total of 88 signals and the above requirement will be satisfied. By means of the switched over keyboard it is possible to display on the monitor a table like one on Fig.2, where there will be shown positions of those keys that didn't get in Fig.2, for example, they might be ALT; INSERT; Fl; F2, etc., until the whole QWERTY- keyboard is involved. Also, there is a place on a package, where additional, frequently used keys may be placed, or it is possible to reduce the number of keys used for letter entry only, but the rest of keys to perform well-known functions, in one word, there are no limits for particular embodiments of the invention.

Claims

A digital keyboard comprising switches mounted on a hard surface, the switches having a function allowing to entry letters both in combined fashion and individually, characterized in that it further comprises switches having said function, which are spaced apart on said hard surface at the distances exceeding two centimeters.