Patent · US Expired

Ergonomic keyboard device

US6765502B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by

9References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

Manfred Boldy · Weingarten, DE
Werner Ruppert · Schönaich, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 9, 2001
Grant date	Jul 20, 2004
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 10, 2022

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG06F3/021
WIPO fieldComputer technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A keyboard data input device includes a one-hand module having a finger section with groups of keys each of which fixedly assigned to a finger of the operator. The keyboard has a cover part which includes a palm rest section and grooves. A group of keys is sequentially arranged at the ground of said grooves to be reached by the outstretched or bent fingers when the operator's hand is in contact with the palm rest section. A thumb section located adjacent to the forefinger groove comprises a flat area which includes groups of command keys, and comprises further keys at an upright wall adjacent to the forefinger groove. The keyboard may be used for two-hand operation by providing two separate one-hand modules. The keyboard comprises a graphical multipurpose display visualize control information and characters typed in. The keyboard may further include a bar code scanner.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.