摘要:
A character and function key input device comprises: a character button unit having character buttons, each of which is assigned to one or more characters of one or more languages or function key elements; a forward button which converts the character or function key element selected from among the characters or the function key elements into characters or function key elements assigned to the selected button or adjacent button in accordance with the dictionary order; and a backward button which converts the character or function key element selected from among the characters or the function key elements into characters or function key elements assigned to the selected button or adjacent button in accordance with the dictionary order, wherein said one or more characters or function key elements assigned to the character buttons are disposed adjacently to one other in the dictionary order, and the character or the function key element having the highest use frequency is used as a basic value. The dictionary order has a circulation configuration such that the first character or the first function key element appears again after the last character or the last function key element.
摘要:
Switch arrays such as keyboards are described. The switch arrays may include an array of dome spring elements. Each dome spring element may define a chamber, and a plurality of channels may interconnect the chambers of the dome spring elements such that each chamber of each dome spring element is in fluid communication with the chamber of at least one of the other dome spring elements. The array of dome spring elements may provide a hermetic seal to the bottom side of individual dome spring elements to avoid the sticky key phenomenon. The switch arrays may also include alignments elements. For example, the alignment elements may include hook-like elements that engage one another to define a distance of travel for switches in the switch arrays.
摘要:
Particularly in hand held alphameric keyboard actuated computers, available room dictates a need to limit the number of keys without sacrificing computer performance. Further, for portable computers reference to an instruction manual is not feasible. Thus usefulness critically depends upon integrated operating instructions. Formerly there is neither room or facilities for instructions, nor room on the keyboard for enough keys. Herein, a computer keyboard of a few keys controlled by a computer multi-mode processing system to have a plurality of roles permits a very large number of computer functions to be entered and controlled. Further in combination with these roles, a computer organized temporary display panel displays keystroke selection indicia for the different keyboard operating roles. This expands instructional notation otherwise possible on the keys and adjacent keyboard locations. Thus, an entire set of alphabetic characters may be entered and processed in the computer by means of as few as six keys in an alpha mode operating the keys in a two stroke per character entry mode. Accordingly, the display panel is programmed by the computer to show with instructional indicia, typically a multiple-choice menu, the role for at least a subcombination of the keys in the current operating role of the keys in effect at the time. This permits detailed keystroke instructions to be available for performing hundreds of operations for which modern computers are capable.
摘要:
A one-handed keyboard is disclosed which includes a stationary base and a rocking keyboard which is mounted for rocking movement between a normal level position and right and left depressed positions. A selector key is mounted on the rocking keyboard for rocking therewith and also being pivotally mounted for movement between a normal upper or raised position and a lower postion to which it moves when the user rests the palm of his hand on it. A cluster of keys is provided, each of which is multi-function representing a plurality of alpha-numeric characters and/or symbols that can be typed or entered by selective actuation of the character keys, rocking keyboard, selector key and a shift key by movements of one hand and movements of the fingers thereof.
摘要:
A keyboard having ten elongate keys extending in a row substantially at right angles to a transverse centerline through the keys with each of the keys having a longitudinal trough on its upper surface defined by three recesses extending longitudinally of the key, with the sides of the recesses of adjacent edges of the fourth and fifth keys and of the sixth and seventh keys being reduced in height so as to facilitate movement of the index fingers from the fourth to the fifth key and from the seventh to the sixth key. Each of the elongate keys actuates three switches depending into which of the three recesses of the key a finger is applied, and the elongate key of one form of the invention is formed by a central relatively short auxiliary key and a long auxiliary key on its opposite ends, with these being articulated. Switch mechanism actuated by the key includes three plates in face-to-face contact. The short auxiliary key is fixed on a third one of the plates which is constrained to be strictly reciprocative, and the long auxiliary key is fixeid on the second of the plates which is reciprocative and is also swingable and is disposed between the first and third plates. The first plate is fixed and constitutes a supporting plate. The second plate carries a switch actuating pin which actuates various different switches depending on the swing given this second plate. A second embodiment of the switch mechanism includes the fixed first plate and also includes second and third plates. In this case, the third plate is between the first and second plates and is strictly reciprocative, and the second plate is reciprocative and also is swingable. The second plate carries a switch actuating pin. The elongate key in this case is integral end-to-end and has the second plate fixed to it. The third plate has a pair of spaced rounded supporting edges on which the elongate key may swing.
摘要:
Described is a data entry keyboard having a small number of keys, each key being a ternary device having three possible positions. In the preferred embodiment, each key is adapted to move towards or away from the operator, and has a central "off" position. A spring detent makes the key return to the central position in the absence of pressure from the finger. The three positions of each key are indicated electrically by switches which produce distinctive signals for each of the three states. The top of each key is formed to provide a secure grip. The preferred embodiment comprises eight ternary keys in two sets of four. The two sets are arranged so that the fingers of the operator's right hand rest on the keys of a rightmost set, and the fingers of the operator's left hand rest on the keys of the leftmost set. The only key combinations which represent valid characters are those in which one finger of the right hand operates its key, and one finger of the left hand operates its key. With this scheme of coding, there are 64 possible keyboard states to represent valid characters: all other states are ignored or used as delimiters. This keyboard does not require movement of the fingers from one key to another, and requires only ordinary skill and care on the part of an operator to avoid unwanted states during transitions from one character to the next.
摘要:
The bottleneck of interfacing manual keyboards with high capacity data processing systems to rapidly enter a large number data input characters and processing instructions is resolved to use fewer keys without compromise on the rapidity of data entry. Thus, data input of either characters or processing instructions is entered in response to a single manual actuation stroke of keyboard keyswitches selected either one at a time or concurrently two or more at a time by a single finger on one hand. Thus, numeric calculators can with only nine keyswitches process all ten decimal digits plus a variety of processing instructions. Full alphanumeric data input can be handled with as few as twelve keyswitches. In this mode of operation fewer keys are needed and there is no delay in entry of data. Also the invention provides a layout pattern for touch entry of data with one hand with contoured finger homing positions that sense the right keyswitches and reduce entry errors. A set of side-by-side keys in a single field arranged for selection of each entry by a single finger is provided to improve accuracy of entries by avoiding mental choices and permitting "mechanical" entry of unmemorized new data.
摘要:
A keyboard access system is provided for interfacing a keyboard and the programs of a text processing machine. The keyboard has typamatic function keys, i.e., nontypamatic keystroke information is generated by the keyboard upon depression of a key and, after a short delay, additional typamatic keystroke information is generated as long as the key is held down at a constant rate. The keystroke information represents a key on the keyboard and may also represent the meaning of the key as determined by the state of one or more prefix keys. A keystroke queue is provided for storing keystroke information passing through the keyboard access system. If the keystroke information entered into the keyboard access system is not typamatic, the system will enqueue the information in the keystroke queue and generate an audio feedback signal when the keystroke queue is not full. If the keystroke information is typamatic, the keystroke information will be compared to a table of valid typamatic function keys. If a comparison does not exist, the keystroke information is discarded. If a comparison does exist and the meaning of the key is acceptable, the keystroke information is enqueued if the preceding keystroke enqueued is no longer stored in the keystroke queue and discarded if the preceding keystroke is enqueued and currently stored in the keystroke queue and also represents the key to prevent excess information from being stored in the keystroke queue. This prevents operator overrun while using keys such as the vertical and horizontal cursor. In addition, the provision of a slow typamatic function rate permits the operator to read the text on a display while using a vertical cursor key.
摘要:
A typewriter space bar touch control apparatus comprises a bell crank member, mounted on a support frame, which supports the space bar and a lever member which engages the bell crank when the space bar is depressed more than a small initial displacement. The motion of the bell crank is resisted by a helical tension spring and the engagement of the bell crank by the lever causes an operator to sense a sudden increase in resistance to displacement. Position transducers are provided on the support frame to sense the position of the lever member and the initial small displacement of the space bar corresponds to single space operation and larger displacement corresponds to repeat space operation.