Key input device

A key input device comprising:

• a keyboard including a plurality of keys;
• and
• a controller connected to the keyboard, for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed one of the keys;
• wherein the plurality of keys include a data key group and a plurality of control keys, the data key group consisting of a plurality of substantially rectangular data keys which are linearly arranged in rows,
• the rows of the data keys deviate from each other by a predetermined key pitch in a row direction,
• the plurality of control keys are adjacent to the data key group and having predetermined functions, and
• at least one of the data keys which is located in a line where a predetermined one of the control keys is located, has a shorter row-directional dimension than other data keys.

A key input device comprising:

• a keyboard including a plurality of keys;
• and
• a controller connected to the keyboard, for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed one of the keys,
• wherein the plurality of keys include a data key group consisting of a plurality of substantially rectangular data keys which are linearly arranged in rows,
• the rows of the data keys deviate from each other by a predetermined key pitch in a row direction,
• the data key group includes first and second data keys indicative of a home position for an operator of the key input device;
• and
• the first and second data keys and data keys of the data key group, which are located in a same slanted column as each of the first and second data keys, have a shorter row-directional dimension than other data keys.

A key input device comprising:

• a keyboard including a plurality of keys;
• and
• a controller connected to the keyboard, for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed one of the keys,
• wherein the keys include a data key group consisting of a plurality of substantially rectangular data keys which are linearly arranged in rows,
• the rows of the data keys deviate from each other by a predetermined key pitch in a row direction;
• the data key group includes first and second data keys indicative of a home position for an operator of the key input device;
• and
• the first and second data keys, data keys of the data key group which are located in a same slanted column as each of the first and second data keys, data keys of the data key group which are adjacent to the first and second data keys in the row direction, and data keys of the data key group which are located in a same slanted column as each of the data keys row-directionally adjacent to the first and second data keys have a shorter row-directional dimension than other data keys.

A keyboard comprising:

• four cursor movement keys for moving a cursor which appears on the display unit;
• and
• an Fn key,
• wherein if an area of the keyboard is divided into left-hand and right-hand areas in accordance with a predetermined home position, the Fn key is located in one of the left-hand and right-hand areas, has the four cursor movement keys located.

A keyboard comprising:

• a data key group;
• and
• a plurality of control keys,
• wherein the data key group consists of a plurality of substantially rectangular data keys which are linearly arranged in rows,
• the rows of the data keys deviate from each other by a predetermined key pitch in a row direction,
• the plurality of control keys are adjacent to the data key group and having predetermined functions, and
• at least one of the data keys which is located in a line where a predetermined one of the control keys is located, has a shorter row-directional dimension than other data keys.

A keyboard comprising:

• at least one function key for effecting a predetermined function;
• at least one control key;
• and
• a data key group,
• wherein the data key group consists of a plurality of substantially rectangular data keys which are linearly arranged in rows,
• the rows of the data keys deviate from each other by a predetermined key pitch in a row direction,
• the data key group includes first and second data keys indicative of a home position for an operator of the key input device, and
• the first and second data keys and data keys of the data key group, which are located in a same slanted column as each of the first and second data keys, have a shorter row-directional dimension than other data keys.

A keyboard comprising:

• at least one function key for effecting a predetermined function;
• at least one control key;
• and
• a data key group,
• wherein the data key group consist of a plurality of substantially rectangular data keys which are linearly arranged in rows,
• the rows of the data keys deviate from each other by a predetermined key pitch in a row direction;
• the data key group includes first and second data keys indicative of a home position for an operator of the key input device, and
• the first and second data keys, data keys of the data key group which are located in a same slanted column as each of the first and second data keys, data keys of the data key group which are adjacent to the first and second data keys in the row direction, and data keys of the data key group which are located in a same slanted column as each of the data keys row-directionally adjacent to the first and second data keys have a shorter row-directional dimension than other data keys.