Simplified computer keyboard
OwnerJames Satloffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simplified keyboard arrangement for use by a child. The simplified keyboard arrangement has a matrix of keys which are so situated to facilitate interaction between the child and a device, such as a computer. The simplified keyboard arrangement also develops motor skills of the child and encourages development of coordination. The simplified keyboard arrangement may be a self contained keyboard or an adapter provided for a standard-type keyboard. An adapter is also provided which allows connection of the simplified keyboard and a standard keyboard to a single keyboard port for simultaneous use of both keyboards.
Claims27
A keyboard for use by a child in connection with a computer having a serial data keyboard port, the keyboard being adapted for manual entry of symbolic data, the serial data keyboard port receiving keyscan codes corresponding to a set of characters, the characters including a set of commonly used characters and a set of rarely used characters, the commonly used characters being represented by a single key depression on an adult-type computer keyboard, and the rarely used characters not being represented by a single key depression on an adult-type computer keyboard, comprising;
- a keyboard housing having a top surface;
- an arrangement of between four and twenty-five keys disposed on the top surface of said housing;
- a keyscan system, within the keyboard housing, generating a keyscan code for each of said keys selected from the group consisting of keyscan code corresponding to rarely used characters;
- an input for receiving serial data communicated by an adult-type computer keyboard;
- and
- an output for communicating the received serial data from the adult-type computer keyboard and serial data relating to a keyscan code corresponding to a depression of one of said arrangement of keys to the serial data keyboard port of the computer.
An auxiliary keyboard for a computer having a serial keyboard data port, wherein the computer responds to a set of codes transmitted to the serial keyboard data port, the computer having an associated keyboard which generates a subset of the set of codes by depression of any single key on the keyboard, comprising:
- an auxiliary keyboard housing having a top surface;
- an arrangement of between four and twenty-five keys disposed on the top surface of said housing;
- a key press encoding system, within the auxiliary keyboard housing, generating a code for each of said arrangement of keys selected from the group of codes not within the subset of codes generated by depression of a single key on the associated keyboard;
- an input for receiving serial data communicated by the associated keyboard;
- and
- an output for communicating the received serial data from the associated keyboard and serial data relating to a code corresponding to a depression of one of the arrangement of keys to the serial keyboard data port of the computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.