Ergonomic computer keyboard
US6127949A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0238
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An ergonomic, efficient unitary pyramidal-shaped data entry device includes left and right hand members separated from each other by a thumb control surface. Each hand member is formed with four cavities for receiving the four fingers of the left and right hands, respectively, of a user, with the user's thumbs being juxtaposed with the thumb control surface. Each cavity contains three switches, with one switch being operated when the user extends the appropriate finger, a second being operated when the user depresses the finger, and a third being operated when the user retracts the finger. Each switch generates a signal representative of a character of a character set, with thumb switches being operable by the user's thumbs to invoke one of a plurality of sets. The sets include a character set that mimics the conventional QWERTY layout, and also include sets which represent language-optimized layouts. The device can also assume the function of a telephone and a cursor control pad.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.