One hand key shell

A self-contained data terminal or typewriter keyboard completely operable by a single human hand for the input of information into a computer or other electronic device. The keyboard comprises five sets of keys, each set aligned respectively with the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and small finger of an extended hand. Complementary orientation and positioning of the sets are determined by whether the terminal is to be used by a right-handed or left-handed user. The control keys may be used to manipulate text or other information entered into the attached device and are operated by the thumb. The character keys consist primarily of letters of the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation sets and are positioned below the remaining four fingers. The terminal is operated in a single keystroke character input mode. Several data control keys can also be mounted to the terminal to perform additional text manipulation functions, similar to the control keys, or any other necessary commands. By using single keystroke input keys according to the present invention, data input is faster and easier than with conventional terminals because only one hand is necessary, and there are fewer and less complex character input commands to memorize.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a data input or typewriter keyboard 
device. It is fully operable by a single human hand. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Previous data input or typewriter terminals have consisted of either a 
standard typewriter keyboard format, where each key enters a specific 
character, or a system which involves manipulation of a set of keys 
through complex data entry schemes which require the operator to memorize 
pushbutton positions for all letters of the alphabet, punctuation, 
numbers, and input control functions, such as entering data and shifting 
from lower case to upper case, and any other specialized symbols. The 
prior art data entry schemes of the latter system are based upon 
activating one or more keys in a specific pattern to produce a given 
character, with most characters requiring the use of several keys 
simultaneously. One invention which utilizes the data entry scheme system 
requires the user to manipulate five four-position transducer units, one 
unit assigned to each of the fingers of the user's hand. The switches in 
the units move linearly from one position to another, wherein different 
characters are entered by varying the positions of each of the switches in 
the transducer units (U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,878 by Seibel). Other devices 
utilize simple finger-activated unidirectional pushbuttons rather than 
complex multiposition transducer switches. The pushbuttons are arranged in 
various configurations, such as key arrangements which include mounting 
the buttons to a cylindrical handgrip, displaying them in a rectangular 
array, and positioning an array of five keys on a planar surface with one 
key designated for each finger. The five-key planar array terminal 
utilizes a character pushbutton combination system whereby the input keys 
for most letters of the alphabet correspond to positions on a five-point 
inverted parabola that roughly conform to the outline of the letter or its 
interception points when placed on the grid. For example, a "b" has 
contact points at the apex coordinate and the two-point positions on the 
right side of the parabola, because the open loop of the letter is located 
on the right side of the shaft. A "d," on the other hand, would contact 
the apex and the two points on the left side of the grid (U.S. Pat. No. 
3,980,823 by Howard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,506 and 4,443,789 by Endfield). 
One variation of the previously mentioned data entry scheme locates flex 
sensors, touch sensors, and tilt sensors on various locations of a glove 
which fits over the hand. The sensors were activated either individually 
or in series by flexing certain joints or touching certain areas of the 
hand, resulting in a given command. The glove was used to input characters 
using "sign language." However, the glove was problematic, as the sensors 
were difficult to adjust to eliminate inadvertent activation by flexing, 
tilting, or touching. Moreover, the uncertainty as to the degree of tilt 
or flex necessary to input characters presented another drawback to the 
user of the glove device since the flex and tilt sensors were to be 
operated by hand movements not normally performed by the user in everyday 
life (U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,537 by Grimes). 
A second embodiment similar to the glove device locates touch sensors on 
the inner surface of a mold made to conform to the shape of a human hand. 
A total of eight touch sensors are distributed such that the thumb and 
heel of the hand contact two switches each, while the remaining fingers 
each have one switch. As discussed in regard to the other embodiments, the 
data entry scheme system requires the user to press multiple buttons in 
combinations. 
In summary, the prior art includes character input terminals operated by 
one hand which force the operator to remember complex pushbutton schemes, 
most conceived without any logical scheme as to which keys are used for 
certain characters. Therefore, today the user of such a terminal is faced 
with the dilemma of either memorizing the data entry schemes or using a 
simpler system with fewer possible input commands and thus a less powerful 
system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The electronic data entry or typewriter terminal according to the present 
invention is completely operational by a single human hand and includes 
character keys which are separated into four different arrays, positioned 
and angled to align with the index, middle, ring, and small finger of an 
extended human hand. Each array contains at most eight keys. A fifth array 
is mounted to be accessible to the thumb of the same hand and contain 
those keys necessary to control the input and manipulation of data entered 
using the character keys. The control keys perform tasks such as entering 
commands, controlling a cursor, inserting or deleting text, and shifting 
from lower to upper case characters. A third set of keys, referred to as 
data control keys, can be mounted to be accessible to several fingers of 
the hand operating the terminal, and can be used to input similar 
character or control commands. By requiring only one hand for operation, 
the apparatus provides the other hand with a degree of freedom not found 
in standard two-hand models. The system of inputting data using character 
and control keys is also faster to learn, because the keys are organized 
into five distinct arrays. The keyboard organization, by placing the keys 
in five arrays, provides a format that is not only easier to memorize, but 
also simpler for the user to comprehend.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a data input device or typewriter 
keyboard. When used as a data input terminal, the device would be linked 
to communicate with a computer or other similar electronic apparatus. The 
present invention could also be employed as a one-hand operated typewriter 
when connected to a mechanical printing unit. The keyboard may be either 
free-standing as a separate terminal or incorporated into a larger 
console. When free-standing, the planular side containing the input keys 
can be in a variety of shapes. These can include a square with rounded 
corners, a circle, a "shell" configuration, and a triangle with rounded 
corners with a base structure at one point of the triangle as shown in 
FIG. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D, respectively. The side "a" dimensions of each 
shape range from 14-24 cm, the side "b" dimensions from 12-22 cm, and the 
side "h" dimensions (the depth of the structure) from 0.1-8.0 cm. 
FIG. 2 shows the keyboard configuration of the invention for a right-handed 
user, although a complementary arrangement of arrays is possible for 
left-handed users. It consists of four key arrays 10, 20, 30, and 40 of 
character keys, aligned and positioned to correspond to the location of 
the index, middle, ring, and small finger of an extended human hand. Each 
array is composed of a set of keys, which are used to input certain 
character values into the external electronic device to which the terminal 
is attached through cable 90 and connector 95. The character keys are 
preferably arranged in pairs along the axis of the finger to operate them. 
The values input by the keys include letters of the alphabet, numbers, as 
well as punctuation and other symbols (such as #, *, $, and .tau.). 
Character input value labels 23 are positioned adjacent to the input key 
to which they pertain. The labels may consist of electronic display 
fields, which can be changed, along with the character value of the 
label's corresponding input key, by use of shift key 63. (See detailed 
description of FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C.) Although the keys are shown as 
one-directional momentary pushbutton keys, similar to the type of keys 
found on conventional electronic typewriters, other types of input keys 
may be employed in the double-row format shown. A series of touchpads, 
whose operation is similar to that of a touch sensor, could be embedded 
into a flat panel. The panel, marked so as to identify the location of the 
touch pads, would then be incorporated into the terminal device at the 
locations corresponding to the key arrays shown in FIG. 2. 
A bidirectional, momentary rocker switch is another form of input key which 
could be incorporated into the present invention. A series of rocker 
switches are shown in FIG. 3D. The rocker switch is able to produce two 
different input codes, as shown, for example, by the letters "Y" and "Z" 
in FIG. 3D. The key consists of a body 121 which is supported on an axle 
122, the axle embedded into a base 123. A cross-sectional view of the 
bidirectional, momentary rocker switch is shown in FIG. 3E with the black 
and white arrows showing the direction of movement. By pressing down the 
left side of the body in the direction of the left white arrow, the letter 
"Y" can be produced. At the same time, the right side of the body swings 
up into the direction of the right white arrow. Because of that upward 
movement of the right side of the body, the letter "Z" cannot be produced 
at the same time as the letter "Y." In order to produce the letter "Z," 
the operator would have to press the right side of the key, so that the 
left side swings up (black right and left arrows). When pressure is 
released, the body swings back into a neutral position. The advantage of a 
bidirectional, momentary rocker switch as an input key is that it is 
impossible to mistakenly press down both neighboring characters at the 
same time, thus reducing the possibility of creating undesirable misprints 
or typing errors in the document. A series of bidirectional momentary 
rocker switches could be utilized in lieu of the four key arrays 10, 20, 
30, and 40 in FIG. 2 by incorporating one rocker switch for each pair of 
one-directional momentary pushbuttons. 
A space key 70 is positioned on the terminal, such that it can be activated 
by the palm of the hand while still operating the character and control 
key arrays. 
A fifth array 50 of control keys 60 is mounted to the structure to 
correspond to the location of the thumb of a human hand. The control key 
array is positioned in the same plane as the character key array or at any 
other angular location from which it is accessible by the thumb. In FIG. 
2, it is in a plane vertical to the character key arrays. The control keys 
manipulate the information which has been entered using the character 
keys. This array includes those control commands found on standard 
computer terminals. The commands include an enter key 61 to input commands 
into the attached electronic device. A multidirectional momentary 
dip-switch, with or without a touch sensor, like in FIG. 3C, used as a 
cursor control key 62, can be used to maneuver the CRT cursor from 
point-to-point on the CRT screen. A shift key 63 changes the character key 
values from lower to upper case as well as to a different set of 
characters which could include numbers or punctuation. A multi-directional 
momentary dip-switch can be used for the shift key or, if preferred, a 
one-directional momentary pushbutton key. Additional information can be 
inserted into the middle of text already entered by placing the cursor at 
the desired location for the new entry and using the insert key 64. The 
character above which the cursor is located can be deleted from text 
already input by pressing the delete key 65. An alternate key 66, escape 
key 67, and control key 68, are also included in the control key array. 
The control key array 50 can slide up and down in its slot of width "d" 
and can be fixed in a certain position, in order to adjust the key shell 
for different sizes of operating hands. 
Data control keys 80 are used to perform functions in the manipulation of 
entered text, and are mounted on the edge of the upper rim of the 
free-standing terminal in FIG. 2. However, their location is not 
necessarily fixed and thus they could be mounted at another location as 
long as they are in electronic communication with the terminal. The data 
control keys contain management input functions other than those embodied 
in the control key array. The control commands include margin left, margin 
right, and tab keys to facilitate paragraphing, line length, and the 
making of tables and charts. An optional repeat key is also incorporated 
to replicate the previously input character value. A given length of text 
could be eliminated from memory through the use of an erase key. 
Top and bottom views of a second free-standing embodiment of the terminal 
are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B such that the control key array 210 is 
accessible to either a right-handed or left-handed user. Two sets of 
character key arrays are positioned such that they are mounted on 
oppositely facing sides of the terminal, one designed for left-handed 
users 220, and the other for right-handed users 230. FIG. 4C shows how the 
character keys 220 and the control keys 210 are operated by the operator's 
left hand. FIG. 4D shows how the character keys 230 and the control keys 
210 are operated by an operator's right hand. FIG. 4E shows the front view 
of the key shell with the left-hand character keys 220 facing up, and data 
control keys 280 (analogous to keys 80 in FIG. 2) facing toward the front. 
The right-hand character keys 230 are invisible in FIG. 4E because they 
are facing down towards the surface of the desk on which the key shell is 
placed. FIG. 4F shows the front view of the key shell with the right-hand 
character keys facing up and the data control keys 280 facing towards the 
front. The left-hand character keys 220 in FIG. 4F are facing downwards 
toward the surface of the desk on which the key shell is placed. 
A third embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, can also be used by either a 
right-handed or left-handed user, because the keyboard contains slots for 
removable boards which are positioned to correspond to the small finger 
and thumb array locations of both hands. Removable key board arrays are 
used for the thumb and small finger. The slots for the changeable arrays 
are positioned on opposite sides of the keyboard, as shown in FIG. 5. 
Therefore control key array 310 can be moved to slot 410, and small-finger 
character key array 320 can be moved to slot 420 to convert the right-hand 
biased terminal in the figure to a left-hand biased terminal. 
FIG. 6A-6C shows the preferred positioning of letters of the alphabet, 
numbers, and various symbols for a terminal to be utilized by a 
right-handed user. FIGS. 7A-7C show the same for a left-handed user 
terminal. Lower case letters from FIG. 6A may be displayed on key labels 
which are electronic display fields by the placing of a shift key in a 
first position. The characters in FIGS. 6B, 7B and FIGS. 6C, 7C are 
created on the same electronic labels by maneuvering the shift key into 
second and third positions, respectively upper case letters may be 
displayed by maneuvering the shift key into a fourth position. If the 
shift key is a one-directional momentary pushbutton key, then the 
described groups of characters could be available via a segmented cycle 
(upon pressing the shift key once, twice, etc.). 
The present invention is not limited by the above solely exemplary detailed 
description. Modifications and substitutions by those skilled in the art 
are considered within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the 
present invention is not to be considered limited except by the following 
claims.