Patent ID: 6103979
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G06F,H01H

Abstract:
A keyboard comprising:a plurality of keys, each key having a character illustrated at each end, and each key having an elongated shape elongated in a first direction, said plurality of keys being aligned along a second direction different from said first direction, thereby forming a plurality of horizontal rows of characters along said second direction; andfirst and second mutually different electric contacts provided for each key of said plurality of keys in respective, mutually different locations, said key selectively establishing one of said two electrical contacts as a result of being pressed appropriately,wherein a front surface of each key of said plurality of keys is parallelogram in shape,wherein said first and second directions form an angle other than 90.degree., wherein each of said parallelogram-shaped keys has a longitudinal axis thereof extending along said first direction, said first and second mutually different electric contacts being located beneath two respective ends of each said key along said longitudinal axis thereof, andwherein said characters illustrated at the respective ends of each said key lie in different ones of the horizontal rows of characters.