Keyboard device and method for entering Japanese language text utilizing Romaji character notation

The present invention is a keyboard device for entering Japanese language text utilizing Romaji character notation and a method for entering the Romaji character notation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a keyboard device and method for entering 
Japanese language text utilizing Romaji character notation. 
More specifically the keyboard device is a first set of two keyboards 
capable of being activated simultaneously and comfortable to a human hand, 
the first keyboard of the first set in a generally horizontal position 
having a plurality of keys receivable to four finger digits of the human 
hand, the keys arranged in at least two rows, the rows containing Romaji 
consonants and punctuation characters and the second keyboard of the first 
set in a generally vertical position having a plurality of keys receivable 
to a thumb digit, the keys arranged in at least one row, the row 
containing Romaji vowels and a second set of two keyboards which is a 
generally mirror image of the first set of keyboards, the difference being 
a change in punctuation marks. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Existing Japanese keyboards are slow, hard to use and inefficient. One 
keyboard, currently in use, uses the QWERTY alphanumeric type with 
fifty-one KANA characters arranged as a shift set. KANA, containing both 
KATAKANA and HIRAGANA, and KANJI are generated by specifically keyed 
entries aided by various keyboard controls, shifts and software used in 
conjunction with the keyboard. 
A keyboard using a minimum number of characters, in conjunction with 
computer programs or software would simplify and speed the typing of 
Japanese. 
The present keyboard device employs Romaji character notation for the 
entering of Japanese language text. 
There are several systems of Romaji notation. The first is the Official 
System (according to Japanese Government Notification Number 1, dated Dec. 
9, 1964). This system redefines the Roman alphabets employed as 
representing Japanese phonemes, regardless of their customary 
pronunciations in English or other European languages. 
The Official System of Romaji notation with allowed exceptions is shown in 
Table I and Table II. 
TABLE I 
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OFFICIAL 
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a i u e o 
ka ki ku ke ko kya kyu kyo 
sa si su se so sya syu kyo 
ta ti tu te to tya tyu tyo 
na ni nu ne no nya nyu nyo 
ha hi hu he ho hya hyu hyo 
ma mi mu me mo mya myu myo 
ya (i) yu (e) yo 
ra ri ru re ro rya ryu ryo 
wa (i) (u) (e) (o) 
ga gi gu ge go gya gyu gyo 
za zi zu ze zo zya zyu zyo 
da (zi) (zu) de do (zya) (zyu) (zyo) 
ba bi bu be bo bya byu byo 
pa pi pu pe po pya pyu pyo 
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TABLE II 
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OFFICIAL EXCEPTIONS 
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sha shi shu sho 
tsu 
cha chi chu cho 
fu 
ja ji ju jo 
di du dya dyu dyo 
kwy 
gwa 
wo 
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A second system, the Nippon System, resembles the Official System closely, 
but also incorporates traditional Japanese notation which may exist as 
distinct syllables, but are no longer distinctly pronounceable entities, 
such as wi, we, wo, kwa, or gwa, for example. 
A third system, the Hepburn, was created by James Curtis Hepburn, an early 
missionary to Japan. This system attempts to approximate Japanese 
syllables by combination of Roman characters which come closest to the 
true Japanese pronunciation when pronounced by English-speaking people. 
The present invention will follow the Official System, except for the 
notation of certain foreign terms. 
The Japanese language has, perhaps, the most complex script in the world. 
It is a mixture of KANJI ideographs and KANA phonetic letters. Most 
documents in Japan are handwritten and often hard to read unless the 
writer is an accomplished calligrapher. 
Keyboards with over a hundred keys exist, where each key has several 
characters on it. As can be imagined, the analysis and typing of the 
characters is cumbersome and tiresome. 
In addition, while each character signifies a separate concept, many words 
in Japanese are compounded from at least two such concepts and thus two 
characters. 
Compounds of two KANJI characters are often unique, while a one KANJI 
character may not be unique. Using a phonetic conversion system, such as 
Romaji and computer programs, unique KANJI pairs can often be generated. 
Many KANJI characters consist of two syllables and are represented 
utilizing Romaji character notation as CVCV, where C is a consonant and V 
is a vowel or a variation, such as CCV, VCV, CVV, CVC, VC or VV. 
The present invention utilizes the Official System of Romaji notation, with 
some exceptions, and the observation that many characters are compounds of 
two syllables to produce a simplified keyboard for the entry of Japanese 
language text utilizing Romaji characters notation. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard 
device for the efficient entering of Japanese language text utilizing 
Romaji character notation. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keyboard 
device that will allow multiple Romaji character input sufficient to 
produce the Romaji character representation of two Japanese language 
characters. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method for 
the controlling and ordering of the characters of the Japanese language, 
utilizing Romaji character notation such that input of Japanese is greatly 
simplified. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a keyboard device for entering Japanese language 
text utilizing Romaji character notation and a method of entering the 
Romaji character notation. 
The keyboard device comprises: (a) a first set of two keyboards capable of 
being activated simultaneously and conformable to a human hand having five 
digits, first keyboard of the first set in a generally horizontal position 
having a plurality of keys receivable to finger digits of the human hand, 
the keys arranged in at least two rows, the rows containing Romaji 
consonants and punctuation characters and the second keyboard of the first 
set having a plurality of keys receivable to a thumb digit of the human 
hand, the keys arranged in at least one row, the row containing Romaji 
vowel characters, said at least one row being substantially perpendicular 
to said at least two rows of the first keyboard; and (b) a second set of 
two keyboards, the two keyboards of the second set being a generally 
mirror image of the two keyboards of the first set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The keyboard device of the present invention consists of two sets of 
keyboards, each set having two keyboards for a total of four keyboards. 
Each set is generally a mirror image of the other set. 
In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the first set, 10, comprises a consonant 
keyboard, [C.sub.1 ], 11, and a vowel keyboard, [V.sub.1 ], 12, the first 
set being generally a mirror image of the second set, 20, having a 
consonant keyboard, [C.sub.2 ], 21, and a vowel keyboard, [V.sub.2 ], 22. 
The only difference is that while one consonant keyboard contains a period 
[.], the other consonant keyboard contains a comma [,]. 
The term period as used in the present application also includes the 
Japanese style end-of-text character which is similar in function to a 
period [.], but depicted generally as a period with a center hole. FIG. 1 
keyboard device contains a key (15) illustrating this period with a center 
hole mark. 
FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of the keyboard device. The difference is 
that in FIG. 2, characters not present in FIG. 1, as separate keys, such 
as B, are produced by "hitting the crack", 33, between the H, 34, and P, 
35, keys, thus pressing the H and P keys simualtaneously. This will be 
interpreted as the letter B, and so on for other characters not present in 
FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the sets of keyboards are mirror images of each other. 
The consonants which must be present, either as separate keys or 
combinations of keys on each consonant keyboard, are H, T, S, K, W, B, D, 
Z, G, P, N, R, M and Y. One consonant keyboard may contain a period and 
the other consonant keyboard a comma. The vowel keyboards in either 
embodiment are mirror images of each other. 
By chord stroking, which includes hitting the crack, in FIG. 2, a series of 
characters on one or both sets of keyboards, a string of characters is 
produced. The string is Romaji character notation of Japanese language 
text. The string may be placed on paper, magnetic or other type storage 
devices or used directly as input to a computer program for translation or 
other purposes. 
There are three major classes of characters in Japanese language texts. The 
first class is KANJI, or Chinese ideographic characters. The Japanese 
phonetic characters are KANA. KANA has two syllabaries, HIRAGANA and 
KATAKANA. These two syllabaries, HIRAGANA and KATAKANA are the second and 
third classes of characters, respectively. HIRAGANA, the second class, are 
phonetic characters in the cursive style, used principally for native 
words and word endings. KATAKANA are phonetic characters in angular style, 
used chiefly for transliterating foreign words. 
However, Arabic numberals, Roman alphabets, a variety of punctuation marks 
and other symbols are all used frequently and freely in Japanese text. 
The present invention allows an operator to enter the Japanese language 
text, using Romaji character notation, while uniquely distinguishing the 
three classes of characters by utilizing a combination of keys or chord 
stroking. The presence, in the Japanese language text, of numerous sets of 
dual syllable characters, render as the present invention uniquely suited 
for use in conjunction with the Japanese language. 
Utilizing the keyboard device of the present invention keystroking for the 
various character modes will be illustrated. 
The keyboard device has two sets of keyboards, each set having a consonant 
keyboard and a vowel keyboard. The keyboards of the first set, S.sub.1, 
will be designated C.sub.1 and V.sub.1, for the consonant keyboard and 
vowel keyboard respectively. The second set, S.sub.2, of keyboards will be 
designated C.sub.2 and V.sub.2. 
The period will be fixed on C.sub.1 for this discussion and the comma on 
C.sub.2, although these characters could be interchanged. 
KANJI MODE 
Using the keyboard device of the present invention, the input method of 
KANJI words and phrases will now be described. 
The basic rule of KANJI input is that at least one key from each set, 
S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, is to be operated simultaneously creating a string of 
characters. The next stroke creates another line and so on. 
Most commonly KANJI consists of two sysllables. This is represented by 
[consonant+vowel]+[consonant+vowel], or a keystroke [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 
][C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ]. Here all four keyboards are being activated 
simultaneously, by depressing one or more keys on each of the four 
keyboards. 
Variations of this include: [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ]; [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 
][V.sub.2 ]; [V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ]; [V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ] and 
[V.sub.1 ][V.sub.2 ]. All of these combinations, keystroked simultaneously 
will be interpreted as KANJI. 
As the variations show, it is not necessary that both keyboards in each set 
of keyboards be activated. 
If the KANJI is a single syllable, the comma, on keyboard C.sub.2 will be 
used simultaneously with the single syllable. Variations include: [C.sub.1 
V.sub.1 ][,], or [V.sub.1 ][,] for a single vowel. 
Many Kanji characters have more than two syllables. In such cases, all 
successive syllables greater than two are entered on the second set of 
keyboards until all syllables are accounted for. An example of this 
pattern is [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] (first stroke), [C.sub.2 
V.sub.2 ] (second stroke), [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] (third stroke). This would 
correspond to a 4 syllable Kanji character. 
TABLE III illustrates Japanese language text utilizing Romaji character 
notation and the stroking patterns associated with the Romaji character 
notation. FIG. 3 illustrates KANJI representation of Example 1, Table III. 
TABLE III 
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KANJI EXAMPLES 
EXAMPLE 
STROKE 
KEYBOARDS 
ROMAJI ENGLISH TRANSLATION 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
1. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[GYA] 
[KU] 
Reverse 
2. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[KE] 
[N] Sword 
3. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[V.sub.2 ] 
[KA] 
[I] Sea 
4. 1 [V.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[A] [KI] 
Autumn 
5. 1 [V.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[E] [N] Circle 
6. 1 [V.sub.1 ] 
[V.sub.2 ] 
[A] [I] Love 
7. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[KE] 
[MU] 
Smoke 
2 [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[RI] 
8. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 V.sub. 2 ] 
[KU] 
[TI] 
Lips 
2 [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[BI] 
3 [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[RU] 
9. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[,] [HA] 
[,] Leaf 
10. 1 [V.sub.1 ] 
[,] [E] [,] Picture 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
HIRAGANA MODE 
The entry of the second class of symbols, or HIRAGANA, will now be 
described. 
HIRAGANA will be entered only on the first set of keyboards. Variations of 
this include [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ], [V.sub.1 ] and [C.sub.1 ]. If a second 
syllable follows a first syllable use a second keystroke on the same first 
set of keyboards. In case of a double consonant, for example tt, the 
second consonant will be produced by a second keystroke on the same first 
set of keyboards. If a long vowel is necessary the pattern period-vowel, 
[.V.sub.1 ], may be used. 
TABLE IV illustrates Romaji character input for HIRAGANA. 
The entry of the third class of symbols, or KATAKANA will now be described. 
FIG. 4 illustrates HIRAGANA representation of Example 1, Table IV. 
TABLE IV 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
HIRAGANA EXAMPLES 
EXAMPLE 
STROKE 
KEYBOARD 
ROMAJI 
ENGLISH TRANSLATION 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
1. 1 [V.sub.1 ] 
[A] Thanks 
2 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[RI] 
3 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[GA] 
4 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[. TO] 
2. 1 [V.sub.1 ] 
[A] Thanks 
2 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[RI] 
3 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[GA] 
4 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[TO] 
5 [V.sub.1 ] 
[U] 
(Same as 1, except long vowel symbol avoided) 
3. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[SI] Oops! 
2 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[MA] 
3 [C.sub.1 ] 
[T] 
4 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[TA] 
4. 1 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[ SI] 
I've got it! 
2 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[ME] 
3 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[TA] 
4 [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ] 
[ZO] 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
KATAKANA MODE 
KATAKANA will be entered only on the second set of keyboards. Each will be 
entered preceded with a delimiter, for example, the period [.]. Variations 
of entry are thus [.][C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ], [.][V.sub.2 ], [.][C.sub.2 ]. 
The long vowel in KATAKANA is usually expressed by a KANA followed by a 
vertical or horizontal bar. On the keyboard device of the present 
invention, the vowel will be followed by a comma. So, a single long vowel 
is represented by the sequence [.][V.sub.2,], where the period is located 
on the consonant keyboard, C.sub.1, of the first set of keyboards, V.sub.2 
is located on the vowel keyboard of the second set of keyboards and , 
(comma) is located on the consonant keyboard, C.sub.2, of the second set 
of keyboards. Any or all of these symbols maybe activated by actual 
pressing of the key or by keystroking at least two keys in a chord stroke, 
where the chord combination represents the symbol. 
TABLE V illustrates Romaji character input for KATAKANA. FIG. 5 illustrates 
KATAKANA representation of Example 1, Table V. 
TABLE V 
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KATAKANA EXAMPLES 
EXAMPLE 
STROKE 
KEYBOARD 
ROMAJI 
ENGLISH TRANSLATION 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
1. 1 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [TYO] 
Chocolate 
2 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [KO] 
3 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [RE,] 
4 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [TO] 
2. 1 [C.sub.1 ] [V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [A] 
America 
2 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [ME] 
3 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [RI] 
4 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 V.sub.2 ] 
[.] [KA] 
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ENGLISH ALPHABET MODE 
An English alphabet can be produced by the consonant keyboard of one set of 
keyboards. For those letters not represent on the consonant keyboard, a 
delimiter, for example the comma and the consonant keyboard of the other 
set of keyboards, not having a comma on the consonant keyboard. 
Addition of one extra key to each set of keyboards would allow the ability 
to differentiate between upper and lower case characters. This extra key 
could physically be an extra key or the extra key could be another 
character or delimiter to indicate upper or lower case. 
TABLE VI illustrates a possible English alphabet pattern. 
TABLE VI 
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OPTIONAL 
ENGLISH KEY- ADDITIONAL 
LETTERS BOARDS CHARACTERS CASE KEY 
______________________________________ 
A [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[M] [,] C.sub.2 
B [C.sub.2 ] 
[B] C.sub.1 
C [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[G] [,] C.sub.2 
D [C.sub.2 ] 
[D] C.sub.1 
E [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[K] [,] C.sub.1 
F [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[D] [,] C.sub.2 
G [C.sub.2 ] 
[G] C.sub.1 
H [C.sub.2 ] 
[H] C.sub.1 
I [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[S] [,] C.sub.2 
J [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[Z] [,] C.sub.2 
K [C.sub.2 ] 
[K] C.sub.1 
L [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[R] [,] C.sub.2 
M [C.sub.2 ] 
[M] C.sub.1 
N [C.sub.2 ] 
[N] C.sub.1 
O [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[T] [,] C.sub.2 
P [C.sub.2 ] 
[P] C.sub.1 
Q [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[P] [,] C.sub.1 
R [C.sub.2 ] 
[R] C.sub.1 
S [C.sub.2 ] 
[S] C.sub.1 
T [C.sub.2 ] 
[T] C.sub.1 
U [C.sub.2 ] 
[H] [,] C.sub.2 
V [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[B] [,] C.sub.2 
W [C.sub.2 ] 
[W] C.sub.1 
X [C.sub.1 ] 
[C.sub.2 ] 
[N] [,] C.sub.2 
Y [C.sub.2 ] 
[Y] C.sub.1 
Z [C.sub.2 ] 
[Z] C.sub.1 
______________________________________ 
ARABIC NUMERAL MODE 
Generation of Arabic numerals, using the two consonant keyboards for 
example, is illustrated in TABLE VII. 
TABLE VII 
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NUMERALS KEYBOARDS CHARACTERS 
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1 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[H] [Y] 
2 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[T] [Y] 
3 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[S] [Y] 
4 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[K] [Y] 
5 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[W] [Y] 
6 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[Y] [W] 
7 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[Y] [K] 
8 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[Y] [S] 
9 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[Y] [T] 
0 [C.sub.1 ] [C.sub.2 ] 
[Y] [H] 
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OTHER MODES 
Punctuations and any other necessary symbols can be defined as necessary by 
various vowel, consonant, period and comma combinations. 
Two special cases of Romaji syllabication ambiguity are resolved by the 
method of the present invention. 
For example GENIN, can be GE/NIN meaning servant or GEN/IN meaning cause. 
The former can be entered as first stroke [GE][,], [C.sub.1 V.sub.1 
][C.sub.2 ], and second stroke [NI][N][C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ]. The 
latter can be entered as [GE][N][C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ] on the first 
stroke and [I][N], [V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ] on the second stroke. 
A second problem occurs occassionally when KANJI are combined. The original 
individual pronunciations of each KANJI are often changed. 
For example NICHI and HON, when combined, can be NIPPON or NIHON. The 
method of the present invention easily accomodates this problem. NIPPON is 
first stroke [NI][P], ([C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ]) and second stroke, 
[PO][N] ([C.sub.1 V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ]). NIHON is [NI][,] ([C.sub.1 V.sub.1 
][C.sub.2 ]), first stroke, and on the second stroke [HO][N] ([C.sub.1 
V.sub.1 ][C.sub.2 ]). 
Another possible use for the keyboard device of the present invention is 
for those people who are sight deficient. With a small amount of practice, 
and the reduced number of keys in the present invention, the sight 
deficient could produce, utilizing the present keyboard device, electrical 
impulses, written materials or tactually legible materials. 
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and 
described, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made 
without departing from the spirit or exceeding the scope of the claimed 
invention.