| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 400489000 | Key-board including keys grouped to facilitate positioning of typist's fingers | 26 |
| 20080205960 | Keyboard layout for one-handed touch-typing - A device includes a keyboard mechanism having a number of keys, where the keyboard mechanism individually discerns typing of each key. The keyboard mechanism defines a keyboard layout of the keys. The keyboard layout is adapted to touch-typing by a user using a single hand. The keyboard layout has a sub-number of the keys of the keyboard mechanism organized over a number of columns within a center portion of the keyboard layout. The columns are organized around an imaginary vertical line running through the center portion of the keyboard layout. The sub-number of the keys are larger in size than a majority of other keys of the keyboard mechanism. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080232891 | Input Device - An input device including a keypad, the keypad comprising wrist support means and curved key area. The wrist support means of each keypad comprises a generally flat portion having a plurality of soft cushioned pads protruding from the upper surface of the flat portion. The key area is contiguous to the wrist support means such that the key area has a negative convex curve. Thus in use a portion of the key area remote the wrist support means is positioned at a lower spatial position than the portion of the key area contiguous with the wrist support means. The key area has a plurality of keys positioned on the upper surface. The keys are arranged in a series of curved rows so that a central key in each row is further from the users wrist relative to at least one of the end keys in each row. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080267683 | IPv6 keypad - With the layout of today's computer keyboards, inputting IPv6 addresses and subnets is difficult because of the location of required characters. My invention is a computer keypad that includes all the characters required for the input of IPv6 addresses and subnets. This allows the easy input of IPv6 addresses and subnets with just one hand. Double colon (::), enter or tab keys may be included as well to facilitate input. A period (.) for IPv4 addresses is also included for backwards compatibility. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090116892 | DUAL INPUT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS - Disclosed is a method and apparatus for conveniently inputting characters with both hands and inputting characters as many as possible with a limited number of keys. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090232572 | ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD - An ergonomic keyboard having a mount and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows is provided. Each row is comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion, and a right portion. The left and right portions extend tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively. The arcuate portion, of each row is convex to the user side of the keyboard, and at least two keys in each arcuate portion are elongated. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys can be arranged in the QWERTY pattern. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090257807 | KEYBOARD HAVING A BACK-TO-BACK POSITION - A keyboard that includes at least two planes of keys and a communication port. The keyboard can be configured to include a back-to-back position. In the back-to-back position, the planes can be jointed so that each plane has outwardly facing keys which are fixed relative to the other plane at approximately a one-hundred and eighty degree angle (e.g., between one hundred and seventy degrees and one hundred and eighty degrees) relative to the other plane. The communication port can establish a communication linkage between the keyboard and a computing device. When in the back-to-back position, key presses from the keyboard are able to be conveyed across the communication linkage to be interpreted as input by the communicatively linked computing device. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090285616 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECONFIGURABLE KEY POSITIONING ON A KEYBOARD - A method and apparatus for a reconfigurable keyboard is provided. One implementation involves a row mounting mechanism for mounting each row of keys on a row frame, the row mounting mechanism allowing one or more keys of each row to be moved and locked in a certain row position, whereby the spacing of one or more keys in each row on the keyboard can change. The apparatus also includes a column mounting mechanism for mounting each column of keys on a column frame, the column mounting mechanism allowing one or more keys of each column to be moved and locked in a certain column position, whereby the spacing of one or more keys in each column on the keyboard can change. As such, one or more keys can be moved in row or column and to lock or unlock key positioning for arranging the keys on a keyboard according to a reconfigurable layout. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090324316 | Method and device for input of symbol and key-function information into a digital data processor - A method for hand inputting symbol and key-function information into a digital data processor comprises: providing a device including three keys for the left hand's middle, ring, and pinky fingers, three keys for the right hand's middle, ring, and pinky fingers, first and second joysticks including ‘enter’, ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘up’, and ‘down’ positions, operable in a main mode pressed by the thumb of one hand, and in a supplemental mode switched by the point finger of the other hand, assigning unique combinations of the keys and joysticks positions to fingers of each hand, thereby producing left-hand and right-hand tables, and converting the combinations of the tables into predetermined electrical signals, inputted into the data processer. In embodiments, the left-hand and right-hand tables are identical, can be preset by the user and/or by the manufacturer. The preferable time for pressing the joysticks in the supplemental mode is also provided. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100014905 | Compact ergonomic keyboard with central keypad - A compact ergonomic keyboard that places a raised input control pad at the center of the keyboard in order to maintain smaller lateral dimensions and prevent inadvertent engagement of the central input control pad. Placed between the left and right sections of the keyboard, said input control pad provides easy implementation of web browser commands, media commands, and direction controls. A raised miniature trackball or raised trackpad for cursor controls is also placed between the left and right sections. An alternate configuration achieves the same benefit by placing the input control pad and the trackball/trackpad at an elevation that is lower than the keys of the left and right sections. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100040400 | KEYBOARD AND KEYS - In a preferred form, a keyboard has a single row of eight multi-position keys or groups of key elements with the letters arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard configuration. The eight keys or key element groups correspond to the eight fingers used when touch typing; each finger operates one key, and that key contains all the letters that the finger normally accesses when touch typing on a standard QWERTY keyboard. With this design, no finger has to move to a different key or key element group while typing. In certain forms, when depressed at different locations on its key face, each key either moves straight down, or down while tilting slightly about one of a plurality of axes. Three-position keys have two tilt axes and six-position keys have five tilt axes. The switches utilize contacts located on the bottom of the switches which may be conductive or nonconductive. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100166476 | DATA ENTRY INTERFACE FOR USE WITH AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A data entry interface for use with an electronic device ( | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100247213 | SPECIALIZED KEYBOARD FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The invention provides large, vertically elongated keyboard keys strategically chosen and positioned above the alphanumeric section of a standard keyboard (e.g. a laptop PC keyboard) to provide a more ergonomic keyboard arrangement. The invention provides for keys that appropriately address the needs of touch typists when striking frequently used keys located above the alphanumeric section of the keyboard. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110249999 | Keyboard with split layout - An apparatus and layout for manual text entry on a small form factor information processing device provides a keyboard for data entry located on the back side of the device, opposite the side of the device facing the user. The keyboard assembly is further laid out as a split of the layout of the conventional standard form factor keyboard adapted to touch-typing, enabling users to employ touch-typing expertise acquired on standard keyboards on the small form-factor device. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110305494 | PORTABLE AND EASE-OF-USE ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD - The present invention provides a portable and easier to use three-dimensional keyboard for computer-type devices. In a preferred embodiment, the keyboard of the present invention includes smaller keys for select character, functional and operational keys, select raised keys and a keyboard that is more ergonomic and easier to use with smaller computer-type devices. Such embodiments of the present invention provide a simple, improved ergonomic keyboard that is portable, easier-to-use, ergonomic and is compatible with the QWERTY keyboard. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120057914 | Resource expander keys - This invention consists of 4 sliver (s-l-i-v-e-r) keys surrounding a square center key, which move downward to separate contacts. These narrow keys form a box around the center key with corners and sides which can be felt. Which of these sliver (s-l-i-v-e-r) keys the typist hits along with the center key, determines which of 9 letters, numbers or actions will result. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120163893 | FOLDABLE KEYBOARD - A foldable keyboard includes a supporting plate, a first keyboard module, a second keyboard module, a first slot, a first protrusion, a second slot and a second protrusion. The first and second keyboard modules are disposed on the supporting plate. The second keyboard module is pivotally connected to the first keyboard module. The first slot is selectively disposed on one of the supporting plate and the first keyboard module. The first protrusion corresponding to the first slot is selectively disposed on the other one of the supporting plate and the first keyboard module and movably engaged in the first slot. The second slot is selectively disposed on one of the supporting plate and the second keyboard module. The second protrusion corresponding to the second slot is selectively disposed on the other one of the supporting plate and the second keyboard module and movably engaged in the second slot. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120177428 | Keyboard with Rotatable Portion - A keyboard may include a base portion, a first keyboard portion, a second keyboard portion, and a connection component that couples the second keyboard portion with the base portion. The connection component allows a movement of the second keyboard portion, relative to the base portion and the first keyboard portion, between a first orientation and a second orientation. In some implementations, the keyboard has a longer length dimension when the second keyboard portion is positioned in the second orientation than when the second keyboard portion is positioned in the first orientation. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120189368 | OVERLOADED TYPING APPARATUSES, AND RELATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Overloaded typing apparatuses, and related devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a typing apparatus is provided. The typing apparatus comprises a plurality of overloaded keys in a key layout. The plurality of overloaded keys comprises at least three injectively overloaded keys disposed in a first row of keys. At least one first injectively overloaded key among the at least three injectively overloaded keys is injectively overloaded with a first at least three characters assigned to a first finger in a represented non-overloaded keyboard. The plurality of overloaded keys also comprises at least one second injectively overloaded key disposed outside the first row of keys. The at least one second injectively overloaded key is injectively overloaded with a second at least three characters assigned to the first finger in the represented non-overloaded keyboard. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120207527 | Systems and methods for positioning keys in limited key space of handheld mobile wireless devices - A method for positioning keys in a limited key space in handheld computing and communication devices for efficient finger operation, has the steps of, (i) selecting a set of keys from a full set of keys, where the selected set is useful for use in small handheld devices based on their mode of use and operation, (ii) partitioning the selected keys in two groups of more-used and less-used keys, (iii) positioning the more-used keys in a top center area of the keypad space and the less-used keys in a remainder key space including a bottom, a left, and a right area of the key space, and (iv) adjusting the layout of the keys in the key space based on the size and the orientation of the key space with an correspondingly adjusted key size. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20130183074 | COMPUTER KEYBOARD - An adjustable keyboard includes a first keying module situated pivotably with respect to the second keying module for providing a keyboard having improved ergonomics and comfort, and promoting improved productivity of a user. In one embodiment, the first and the second keying modules are pivotably mounted on a base assembly having fixed opposing tenting angles. In one embodiment the first and the second keying modules are mounted on a pivot link assembly configured to pivot the keying modules with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the first and the second keying modules are configured to also laterally separate. In one embodiment, first and second lift modules space a portion of the first and the second keying modules, respectively, from a supporting surface to form opposing tenting angles. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130202339 | MOBILE KEYBOARD WITH UNIQUE FUNCTION DETERMINATION BASED ON MEASUREMENT OF FINGER LOCATION - A touch-type keyboard with multiple functions associated with each key which functions are uniquely selected based on finger position. Each of a plurality of mechanical keys are associated with at least three functions. Each key has a surface area for actuation by a user's finger. The surface area is mapped to zones associated with each function. Function actuation is determined by detection of the finger position when the key is actuated. In the event of a finger overlapping multiple zones during actuation, unique function selection is determined at least in part from the pattern of finger overlap with the plural zones. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130230345 | Ramped-Key Keyboard for a Handheld Mobile Communication Device - Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each depressible keys has a top engagement surface with an upper inboard portion that is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each depressible keys is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with a remaining surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20140037355 | SUPPORT ACCESSORY FOR SPLIT KEYBOARD - An adjustable keyboard assembly and support mounts and keying layout are provided allowing a user to orient keying modules of the assembly in a variety of desired configurations. In one embodiment, the assembly includes pivoting support plates that allow the flexible adjustments. In another embodiment, at least one lift module is utilized to allow achieving multiple tenting angles expediently. In yet another embodiment, a modular support mount assembly is provided to allow the user to mount keying modules to a structure such as a chair using modular mounts that allow for easy and effective peripheral device supports and reconfiguration of the modular support mount assembly to support keying modules and peripheral devices of various sizes and shapes. Furthermore, a keying layout and assembly is provided to improve efficiency and intuitiveness of using a keying module and for programming the keying modules without use of a separate computer. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140186084 | CONFIGURABLE ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD FOR COMPUTING DEVICES - A configurable keyboard. The configurable keyboard includes a base with a top face, and a first edge. A position adjustable panel containing keyboard keys. The position adjustable panel is attached to the base by a position adjustment device. The position adjustment device includes a shaft and a first connector. The shaft is attached, towards a bottom end, to the base. The first connector connects the position adjustable panel to the shaft. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140199107 | Ergonomic Keyboard - An ergonomic keyboard comprises a right hand module and a left hand module. Each of the modules comprises multiple parallel adjacent banks of four aligned keys. Each key is sequentially positioned at a mean distance from a reference position and has a corresponding effective actuation surface defined by an effective height and surface profile orientation. Each of the reference positions is determined by the relative length of the digits of a representative human hand. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20150063891 | OVERLOADED TYPING APPARATUSES, AND RELATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Overloaded typing apparatuses, and related devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a typing apparatus is provided. The typing apparatus comprises a plurality of overloaded keys in a key layout. The plurality of overloaded keys comprises at least three injectively overloaded keys disposed in a first row of keys. At least one first injectively overloaded key among the at least three injectively overloaded keys is injectively overloaded with a first at least three characters assigned to a first finger in a represented non-overloaded keyboard. The plurality of overloaded keys also comprises at least one second injectively overloaded key disposed outside the first row of keys. The at least one second injectively overloaded key is injectively overloaded with a second at least three characters assigned to the first finger in the represented non-overloaded keyboard. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed. | 03-05-2015 |
