Abstract:
A user interface device for allowing people with and without impairments to easily send and receive alphanumeric messages. The device includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped keys slidably retained within a housing, each key being associated with a plurality of characters or symbols. The device also includes a key driver system that includes a processing component configured to generate key motion signals according to output information, and key motion drivers configured to drive one or more of the keys based on the generated key motion signals. The key motion drivers include a lateral motion component configured to move the one or more keys in a directional plane approximately parallel to a surface of the keys, and key identifier components configured to move a corresponding one or more keys of the plurality of keys in a directional plane approximately perpendicular to the surface of the keys.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to keyboards with dual purpose; input and output. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Previously, communications devices used by those with speech and/or hearing handicaps included teletype, and telegraphic devices. Teletype devices are standard equipment connected to a telephone system by means of a modem. Teletypes are large, heavy, and expensive. They can be used to communicate only with another compatible teletype. Furthermore, teletype systems cannot communicate with any telephone or with a visually impaired person. 
     Telegraphic devices utilize either a sound-activated switch or a frequency detector connected to a light or vibrator, which is activated in response to a signal that may be conveyed over a standard telephone circuit. This allows a message to be transmitted in a code such as Morse Code. Telegraphic devices are limited to use with similar devices and further require the memorization of Morse Code or other complicated codes. They are also subject to interference by noise, are slow, and are difficult to use, requiring a degree of manual dexterity. 
     Therefore, there exists a need to provide a user friendly input/output system for allowing visually impaired and those who wish to communicate in noise sensitive environments to allow people with and without impairments to easily send and receive messages over various communication devices (cell phones, personal data assistants, or other communication devices). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A user interface device for allowing people with and without impairments to easily send and receive alphanumeric messages is provided. The device includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped keys sidably retained within a housing, each key being associated with a plurality of characters or symbols. The device also includes a key driver system that includes a processing component configured to generate key motion signals according to output information, and key motion drivers configured to drive one or more of the keys based on the generated key motion signals. The key motion drivers include a lateral motion component configured to move the one or more keys in a directional plane approximately parallel to a surface of the keys, and key identifier components configured to move a corresponding one or more keys of the plurality of keys in a directional plane approximately perpendicular to the surface of the keys. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the lateral motion component includes a plurality of electromagnets. 
     In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, the key identifier component includes a plurality of solenoids, wherein each of the solenoids is assigned to a separate key. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, each key is hexagon-shaped. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the lateral motion component drives the plurality of keys in directions that correspond to each edge of the keys. 
     In accordance with further aspects of the invention, each character and symbol associated with a key is further associated with a lateral motion direction and the output information is a text message. The processing component is further configured to parse the text message into base components, base components correspond to one of the characters or symbols associated with the keys, and to generate a pair of key motion signals for each base component. The generated pair of key motion signals includes a lateral signal for directing the lateral motion component and a key signal for directing one of the key identifier components. 
     In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, one or more base components correspond to one or more words that are associated with a lateral motion direction and a key. 
     As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a new device for allowing users with visual or hearing impairments to communicate with unimpaired or impaired users without the need for a special communication device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the components of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the process performed by the components of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial X-ray front view of the present invention implemented on a device; 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the device shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 6A and B are illustrations of user interaction with the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 7A-C are diagrams illustrating word and key direction associations. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates components of an input/output keyboard system  20  formed in accordance with the present invention. The input/output keyboard system  20  includes a dual-purpose keyboard  21  connected to a processor  22 . The processor  22  is connected to an output device  23 . The output device  23  is preferably a display device. The dual-purpose keyboard  21  includes a plurality of keys  24 , individual key sensors  26 , a set of lateral sensors  28  and a key driver system  30 . When a user depresses a key, one of the individual key sensors  26  generates a key select signal that indicates which key has been selected. When the keys  24  are moved laterally, the lateral sensors  28  generate a lateral signal that indicates the direction of motion. The generated signals are sent to the processor  22  for analysis. The processor  22  generates an output signal for directing operation of the output device  23  based upon the analysis. The input functionality is hereby incorporated by reference to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/785,813, filed Feb. 16, 2001, titled “IMPROVED KEYBOARD”—attorney docket no. OPAS-1-1001. 
     The key driver system  30  drives movement of the keys  24  for conveying messages to a user based on key driving signals received from the processor  22 . The driven movements include a pair of key movements. Each pair of key movements is associated with a character, word or function in a keyboard system designed for a character based language such as French or English. When a user&#39;s fingers are in contact with the keys  24 , the user interprets each pair of key movements with the associated character, symbol, word or function. Examples of characters are letters, phonetic characters, and numbers. With the present invention, text messages are deliverable to users that choose not to or cannot view the sent message if it was to be displayed or to hear a voice message. An example of this key driving process and example system components for executing this process are described in more detail below. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an example process performed by the input/output keyboard system  20  shown in FIG. 1 for making the keyboard function as an output device. First, at block  50 , the processor  22  receives or generates an alphanumeric message. Electronic mail messages are examples of received alphanumeric messages. Examples of messages generated by the processor  22  are an alert message stored in memory associated with the processor  22  or a message generated by the processor  22  according to user input. Next, at block  52 , the processor  22  parses the received alphanumeric message into items. Items are words, numbers, symbols or functions. Then, at block  54 , the processor  22  determines whether any macros are assigned to any of the parsed items. A macro is a single computer instruction that stands for a sequence of operations. In one embodiment, macros link a pair of output key motions to a word or symbol. Preferably the linked word or symbol are from a group of words or symbols commonly used in messages. FIGS. 7A-C illustrate examples of some linked words. At block  56 , the processor  22  parses items that do not correspond to a macro into their base components. The base components are the letters of a parsed word. Then, at block  58 , the processor  22  generates a key control signal for each determined macro and for the parsed base components of items without macros. Each key control signal includes a pair of key motion instructions; vertical key motion instruction and horizontal key motion instruction. A vertical key motion instruction identifies the key associated with the macro or base component. A horizontal key motion instruction identifies a direction of motion associated with the macro or base component. At block  60 , the processor  22  sends the generated key control signals to the key driver system  30 . The output occurs, at block  62 , when the user&#39;s fingers or hand is in sufficient contact with the keys so as to detect lateral and vertical key motions and when the key driver system  30  drives key motion according to the sent key control signals. The key driver system  30  moves the keys laterally (i.e., approximately parallel to the plane of the keys) according to the horizontal key motion instruction and moves a key vertically (i.e., approximately perpendicular to the plane of the keys) according to the vertical key motion instruction. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an example electronic communications device  80  that provides the functionality described above. The device  80  includes a processor with memory (not shown) within a housing  81 , an input/output keyboard system  82  and a display  84 . The processor is in signal communications with the keyboard system  82  and the display  84 . The input/output keyboard system  82  includes seven hexagon-shaped keys  86 - 98  that are slidably received within a support structure  99 . The two keys  96 ,  98  closest to the display  84  have the numbers 1-0 and symbols *, #, each of which are displayed adjacent to an edge of the keys. On the other keys  86 - 94  are displayed the letters of the English alphabet, the symbols . , ? and the space function. The displayed location of the letter, symbol or function indicates the associated key and direction of motion for inputting and outputting. The keys  86 - 90  and  94 - 98  are arranged around a center key  92 . Other key shapes and geometric layout can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Shown in an x-ray view of the housing  81  are lateral sensors  100  and electromagnet motion drivers  102 . The lateral sensors  100  sense lateral motion of the keys when the user moves the keys and the electromagnet motion drivers  102  move the keys laterally for outputting. The lateral sensors  100  are parallel to the three edges of key  88  that are not adjacent to another key. If the lateral sensors  100  can only sense one motion direction each, three additional lateral sensors, not shown, are positioned parallel to the edges of other keys that would allow sensing of the 3 of 6 motions not sensed by the sensors  100 . Preferably these three additional lateral sensors would be positioned around the edges of key  94  that are not adjacent to other keys. 
     The electromagnet motion drivers  102  are positioned parallel to most or all of the edges of the keys that are not adjacent to any other keys or the lateral sensors  100 . The electromagnet motion drivers  102  repel or attract the closest key edge according to a key control signal sent from the processor. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate cross-sections of the example electronic communications device  80  shown in FIG.  3 . Each key is mounted on spring like devices  122  that allow depression of the key from a normal position, see key  86  and  88  position. Each key is slidably mounted in the support structure  99 . Each key includes a base  121 , a vertical motion driver  130 , such as a solenoid, mounted on the base  121 , a key button  123  and a connection device  119 . The connection device  119  connects the key button  123  to the base  121 , while allowing the solenoid  130  to force the key button  123  to extend away from the normal position, see key  92 . 
     The base  121  also includes a first key depression sensor  126 . Inside the housing  81  at the housing base is mounted a sensor board  101 . Within the sensor board  101  are second key depression sensors  124  that are positioned below each key. Lateral spring devices  120  are attached to the support structure  99 . As shown in FIG. 4, the lateral sensor  100  includes two sensor components; a first component attached to the support structure  99  and a second component attached to the sensor board  101 . The second component senses lateral or directional key motion when lateral movement of the keys positions the first sensor within a threshold distance. 
     A top surface  131  of the housing  81  and a plate  132  that extends from the side of the housing  81  creates a cavity  133 . The cavity slidably receives an extension portion of the support structure  99 . The cavity allows the support structure  99  to slide on an X-Y plane (X-Y plane being approximately parallel to the top surface of the device  80 ). Mounted within the cavity  133  is the lateral motion driver  102  that includes electromagnets  136 ,  138 . The electromagnet  136  is mounted in the cavity  133  and the electromagnet  138  is mounted onto the free end of support structure&#39;s extension portion. The lateral motion driver  102  can push or pull the support structure  99  depending upon the charge applied to the electromagnets  136 ,  138 . Other driving devices can be used in place of the electromagnets and the solenoids, such as metal or rubber springs, electro motors or other electrically driven mechanical device. 
     If the word the processor has parsed is “can” and no macro exists for “can”, the processor breaks “can” into its base components, which are “c”, “a”, and “n”. Then the processor sends three separate output signals (key control signals) to command key motion. The first output signal causes one or all of the electromagnets  136 ,  138  to force the keys  86 - 98  in the 3:00 direction because the 3:00 direction corresponds to the letter “c”. The first output signal also causes the vertical motion driver  130  in the key  94  with the letter “c” to move the key button of the key  94  to extend from the key&#39;s normal position. Thus, when one or more of the user&#39;s fingers are in contact with all the keys, see FIGS. 6A and B, the user senses the key  94  extending from the normal position and all the keys moving in the 3:00 direction. From these sensed motions the user determines the “c” is the intended letter. Before the next lateral and vertical key motion pair is performed, the keys return to their normal position. The keyboard system continues this process for presenting the letters “a” and “n” to the user. As shown in FIG. 6A, the keys may be small enough to allow just the user&#39;s thumb to sense motion of any of the keys. In this embodiment, the present invention can be used by a user holding the device in a single hand. The keys could be larger, thereby requiring the user to use more than one finger to sense motion of all the keys, see FIG.  6 B. 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, the processor  22 , at block  54 , determines whether any macros are assigned to any of the parsed items. Macros link a word to a set of output key motions. Preferably, the linked words are from a group of words commonly used in messages. As shown in FIGS. 7A-C words are assigned to directional key motions. For example, a key  160  has the words “they/them” assigned to approximately the 1:00 key motion direction, “it” assigned to approximately the 3:00 key motion direction, “I/me” assigned to approximately the 5:00 key motion direction, and “you” assigned to approximately the 7:00 key motion direction. When the key driver system  30  causes the key  160  to extend and move in the 3:00 direction, the user understands that the word “it” is the word that is being outputted to the user. When words are conveyed to a user through pairs of key motions instead of conveying a single letter at a time, a message can be sent in a lesser amount of key motions, thereby making message delivery more efficient. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the processor  22  can be programmed to output abbreviations of various words to the dual-purpose keyboard  21 . This can be implemented in an abbreviations mode of operation that the user can select once they have knowledge of the abbreviations that can be used. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.