Single-hand computer keyboard
OwnerS. Zia Rouhaniinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A miniaturized single-hand keyboard for computers or electronic word processing systems comprising alphabetical, numerical, and programmable keys. The keyboard is used in conjunction with a keypointer which presses any of the keys on the keyboard. The keypointer has a number of keys such as a shift key, control key and an alternate key, which are activated by pressure of the thumb or the index finger.
Claims18
In a data entry system having a keyboard provided with a plurality of keys to be depressed by an operator, such keyboard being electronically connected to a data processing device and a readout and data storage device, the improvement comprising:
- a. a keyboard of reduced size, the size being such that the fingers of an operator are too large to adequately distinguish between individual keys of said keyboard, a plurality of said keys each having at least two separate and distinct functions;
- b. a hand-held pen-like key pointer for depressing individual keys of said keyboard;
- c. said keypointer electrically connected to the keyboard, and being provided with a ,plurality of keys which when depressed by the operator s fingers, provide separate and distinct functions for said keyboard keys when depressed;
- and
- d. the keyboard configured to send
- (i) a first signal to the data processing device when a keyboard key is depressed by the keypointer;
- and
- (ii) a second signal to the data processing device when a keypointer key is depressed as a keyboard key is depressed by the keypointer.
In a data processing device in which a keyboard having a plurality of keys with at least two separate and distinct functions is operable solely by use of a remote hand-operable keypointer device, the improvement comprising:
- a. said keyboard electronically connected to said data processing device for displaying and storing the data function indicated by the keyboard key depressed by the keypointer;
- b. the hand-operable keypointer comprising a pen-like keypointer electronically connected to the keyboard and operable to depress individual keys of the keyboard;
- c. the keypointer provided with a plurality of keys which when depressed by the operator s fingers, provide separate and distinct functions for the keyboard keys when depressed;
- and
- d. the keyboard configured to send
- (i) a first signal to the data processing device when a keyboard key is depressed by the keypointer;
- and
- (ii) a second signal to the data processing device when a keypointer key is depressed as a keyboard key is depressed by the keypointer.
In a data entry system having a keyboard provided with a plurality of keys to be depressed by an operator, such keyboard being electronically connected to a data processing device and a readout and data storage device, the improvement comprising:
- a. a keyboard of reduced size, the size being such that the fingers of an operator are too large to adequately distinguish between individual keys of said keyboard, a plurality of said keys each having at least two separate and distinct functions;
- b. a hand-held pen-like key pointer for depressing individual keys of said keyboard;
- c. said keypointer electrically connected to the keyboard, and being provided with a ,plurality of keys which when depressed by the operator s fingers, provide separate and distinct functions for said keyboard keys when depressed;
- and
- d. the keys of said keyboard being surrounded on all sides by support walls, said support walls extending upwardly above the key surface to provide a restraining barrier to prevent unintentional slippage of the keypointer to an adjacent key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.