# US 2016/0170500 A1 · Method of generating symbols from a chording keyboard

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2016/0170500 A1
- Document ID: US20160170500A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/892,161
- Filed: 2014-05-19
- Published: 2016-06-16
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-19
- Assignees: Bengler AS
- Applicants: Bengler AS
- Inventors: Simen Svale SKOGSRUD; Even Eidsten WEWSTVANG; Øyvind ROSTAD
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160170500A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/0235: {using chord techniques (G06F3/0234 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/014: {Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method of generating symbols from a chording keyboard is described. A unique feature of this method is accepting a sequence of chords from the keyboard without either an intervening chord or a requirement that all keys be released between chords. Another unique feature is that the chord map is independent of chords before or after a particular chord, for a particular symbol. That is, a user need only memorize one chord for each symbol, and then may transition directly from exactly that chord to any other chord. There are no special transition requirements. The number of keys on a keyboard for this method may be 4 to 10, inclusive. Such a keyboard may be operated with one hand. Specific attributes of embodiments or chord tables are described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard comprising n, at least two-position, keys; wherein the keyboard comprises at least 2̂n possible keyboard chords; comprising the steps:
a) creating a chord table containing at least 2̂n lines, one line for each possible chord;
b) associating one symbol, from a pre-defined first symbol set consisting of S unique symbols, with each line in the chord table;
c) accepting a chord from the chording keyboard;
d) outputting the symbol associated with the chord;
e) repeating from step c),
wherein n is at least 4 and less than 10; and
wherein when the keyboard generates any first chord in the set of 2̂n consisting of a first depressed subset of keys and the keyboard then generates immediately following any second cord in the set of 2̂n cords comprising a second, different, depressed subset of the n keys,
the transition from the first chord to the second chord is free of any required key transitions other that those required to transition directly from the first depressed subset of n keys to the second depressed subset of n keys.

### Claim 2

A method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard comprising n, at least two-position, keys; wherein the keyboard comprises at least 2̂n possible keyboard chords; comprising the steps:
a) creating a chord table containing at least 2̂n lines, one line for each possible chord;
b) associating one symbol, from a pre-defined first symbol set consisting of S unique symbols, with each line in the chord table; wherein one symbol in S may be a null symbol;
c) accepting a chord from the chording keyboard;
d) outputting the symbol associated with the chord;
e) repeating from step c),
wherein n is at least 4 and less than 10; and
wherein when the keyboard generates any first chord in the set of 2̂n consisting of a first depressed subset of less than n keys and the keyboard may generate immediately following any second, different, cord in the set of 2̂n cords comprising a second depressed subset of the n keys wherein the second subset comprises the first subset;
the transition from the first chord to the second chord is free of a requirement than any key be released.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keyboard is adapted to be fully operated by one hand.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein each first chord and its associated symbol are unchanged by which chord occurs either before or after the first chord.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein:
one chord in the chord table consists of the keyboard chord of all keys released.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein:
a non-null symbol is associated with at least 25% of all chord table lines;

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein n is at least 5 and wherein a unique symbol is associated with at least 75% of the lines in the chord table.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keyboard comprises at least m additional keys, wherein each of the m keys has p key states, and wherein the chord tables comprises 2̂n times p̂m lines; and wherein m is at least one and p is at least 3; and wherein the chord table contains a unique symbol in at least 25% of all lines in the chord table.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first pre-defined symbol set comprises at least 28 non-null symbols.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:
f) timing a period a first chord is held prior to any key changing position, the “first chord hold time”;
g) outputting a symbol q from the pre-defined first symbol set when the first chord hold time exceeds a pre-determined first threshold hold time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 10 wherein the symbol q is not associated with any chord table line.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 10 wherein the symbol q is the symbol in the chord table for the first chord being held past the pre-determined first threshold hold time; such that exactly two copies of the symbol q are output in succession.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 10 comprising the additional step:
h) deleting from the output the last outputted symbol, prior to step g), when the chord hold time exceeds the pre-determined first threshold hold time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keyboard comprises at least one three-position key.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein the keyboard is free from the requirement of resting on a surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 wherein each key is positioned proximal to one fingertip of the five fingers of one hand; and
wherein the keyboard is adapted such that all chords may be chorded with no more than one finger depressing one key at a time.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A chording keyboard using the methods of claim 1 with the following partial chord table:
Symbol
Chord
Space
X O O O O
Letter E
X X X X O
Letter T
X X O O O
Letter A
O X O O X
Letter O
X X O O X
Letter I
X O X X O
wherein the order of the keys for the chords shown above is, left to right, thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinky finger, and wherein X means the corresponding key depressed and O means the corresponding key released.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard of claim 1 comprising the additional step:
j) performing a disambiguation algorithm prior to outputting a symbol in step d).

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A chording keyboard using the method of claim 1.

### Claim 20

A method of generating symbols using a chording keyboard comprising n, at least two-position keys; wherein the keyboard comprises at least 2̂n possible keyboard chords; comprising the steps:
a) creating a chord table containing at least 2̂n lines, one line for each possible chord;
b) associating one symbol from a pre-defined first symbol set, with s unique symbols, with each line in the chord table;
c) accepting a chord from the chording keyboard;
d) outputting the symbol associated with the chord, using the chord table;
e) repeating from step c),
wherein n is at least 4; and
wherein one chord in the chord table consists of the keyboard chord of all keys released;
wherein a unique symbol is associated with at least 25% of all chord table lines;
wherein when the keyboard generates any first chord in the set of 2̂n consisting of a first depressed subset of keys and the keyboard then generates immediately following any second cord in the set of 2̂n cords comprising a second, different, depressed subset of the n keys,
the transition from the first chord to the second chord is free of any required key transitions other that those required to transition directly from the first depressed subset of n keys to the second depressed subset of n keys.