Patent ID: 8734036
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A compact, touch-typing keyboard for touch typing letters that is compactly configured both in a horizontal direction laterally across the keyboard and in a vertical direction along the keyboard orthogonal to the horizontal direction, the compact, touch-typing keyboard comprising: eight keys collectively having all the letters of a predetermined alphabet arranged in a predetermined standard touch-typing arrangement thereon to allow for touch typing therewith, the letters being arranged in three horizontal rows and predetermined groups of the letters arranged in generally columnar arrangements to correspond to the predetermined standard touch-typing arrangement; predetermined multiple-letter keys of the eight keys that include multiple letters thereon; and a distinct activation position for each letter on each of the predetermined multiple-letter keys arranged consistently with the predetermined standard touch-typing arrangement such that the multiple-letter keys are multiple-position keys, each letter's activation position on each of the predetermined multiple-position keys is different than the activation position of the other letter or letters on the same multiple-position key, and actuation of any one of the distinct activation positions generates only one unique signal for the letter corresponding with the actuated distinct activation position that is different from signals generated by actuation of the other distinct activation positions to provide unambiguous letter entry via typing with the eight keys, and such that when touch typing therewith finger movements are substantially the same as used when touch typing on a standard keyboard having the same predetermined standard touch-typing arrangement but providing for shorter travel distances between letters and without requiring that any one of the user's fingers operate more than one of the keys for touch typing of the letters with the eight keys, whereby at least one of the multiple-position keys has six letters thereon with six corresponding distinct activation positions with the six letters being arranged in three rows and a generally double columnar arrangement to allow for a user's index finger to use movements for touch typing the six letters on the one multiple-position key that are substantially the same as when touch typing the same six letters on a standard keyboard but with shorter travel distances between the six letters and without requiring that the user's index finger operate another one of the multiple-position keys.