KEYBOARD

Abstract: By providing seven keys in a keyboard so that a pair of keys (3, 4 and 1, 6) is placed at each side of the centre key (7), and one key (2) is placed above and one key (5) below the centre key (7), it is possible, by actuating either one key (Fig. 3), two keys (Fig. 4) or more, to produce up to 127 different symbols. The symbol is produced by pressing that or those keys (1-7) that do not form part of the symbol; this makes the keying operation considerably easier since the entered symbol is seen from the remaining non-actuated keys. This keyboard is thus very compact and will not require such large finger movements as does a usual keyboard with up to 50 keys. If a luminous line (8) is inserted in the keys (1-7), the keyed symbol will appear as a luminous symbol on the non-actuated keys which makes it easier to control and supervise the operation.

Description: KEYBOARD The invention relates to a keyboard for entering let¬ ters, numerals and other symbols. Keyboards of this type are used where symbols are to be entered optionally by means of a keyboard. Typical examples are word processors, pushbotton telephones, calculators and the like. The number of keys of these known keyboards is very large. For instance, an ordinary typewriter keyboard often comprises between 40 and 50 keys which take up a great deal of space and are time-consuming to operate. Moreover, the operation of these keyboards requires the use of both hands. Add to this that the position of the keys is not in accordance with the statistic frequency of using a particular key in relation to the position of the fingers. These circumstances cause the operation of the key¬ boards to be time-consuming and may perhaps cause unnecessary strain on the body in that arms and fingers may be injured by the intensive strain caused by the keying operation. It is the object of the invention to overcome these shortcomings and disadvantages of the known key¬ boards, and according to the invention this is achieved if the keyboard consists of seven keys which are positioned so that the six of them surround the seventh. In a surprisingly simle manner this makes it possible to produce 127 different symbols by actuat¬ ing from between one and seven keys at a time by using the seven keys and three fingers at the most. This increases the keying speed considerably since the movement of the fingers is reduced to a minimum, and, in addition, the space requirement of a small and compact keyboard comprising seven keys is highly reduced. If, as presented in claim 2, one of the keys is surrounded by the other six, the operation is further simplified since the fingers can actuate several keys simultaneously. If, as presented in claim 3, the keys are positioned close to each other, one finger can actuate more neighbouring keys simultaneously. By, as presented in claim 4, designing the keyboard so that the signal is released by actuating those keys as do not form part of the required symbol, it will be easy to learn how to operate the keyboard since the entered symbol can be read by observing the non-actuated keys. If, as presented in claim 5, a luminous line is in¬ serted in each key which together will form the fi¬ gure 8, a visual indication and hence simplification of the operation is obtained. Finally, it is expedient, as presented in claim 6 to switch off the light in the actuated key or keys; the light in the non-actuated keys will then indicate the entered symbol. In the following the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, where Fig. 1 shows a top view of the keyboard, Fig. 2 shows the keyboard with luminous lines, Fig. 3 shows the keyboard when keying "a", Fig. 4 shows the keyboard when keying "b", Fig. 5 shows the keying of an alphabet from "a-ø", and Fig. 6 shows the keying of the numerals "0-9". Figs. 1-4 show an example of a preferred embodiment of a keyboard according to the invention. This comprises seven keys 1-7 of which one key 7, the centre key, is oval whereas the other six keys 1-6 are placed around the centre key as shown in figs. 1- 4. Four of the keys, 3, 4 and 1, 6, respectively, are placed in pairs at each side of the centre key 7, whereas a single key 2 and 5 is positioned above and below the centre key 7. All keys 1-7 are positioned close together so as to make the operation as easy as possible since the distance between the seven keys is very short. A luminous line 8 is inserted in each of the keys, as shown in figs. 2-4. When none of the keys are actuat¬ ed, the lines 8 form the figure 8 as shown in fig. 2. If it is not possible to insert such a luminous line this can still be indicated in a generally known manner by being printed on the surface of the key. If the keyboard is designed so that the entered symbol appears as a luminous symbol on the non- actuated keys, the entered symbol is easily and quickly controlled. For illustrative purposes, the keyboard can be connected to an electronic display whereby there is agreement between the keyed symbol and the symbol appearing on the display. In such cases where the required symbol is a letter or a numeral, the operator will actuate that or those keys that do not form part of the appearance of the symbol. Thus, a dark spot 9 in fig. 3 indicates how an actuation of the one key 3 will trigger off the entering of the letter "a", which is indicated on the other keys as a luminous "a". Similarly, fig. 4 shows the keying of the letter "b" by actuation of the keys 2 and 1 by depressing these keys at the dark spot 9. "b" will then appear on the non-actuated keys 3-7. In certain cases the non-actuated keys do not look like quite like the familiar letters. Of an alphabet with the letters "a-ø" as shown in fig. 5, and the numerals "0-9" as shown in fig. 6, a total of 38 sym¬ bols, the 18 symbols can be produced by one finger, 17 symbols by two fingers simultaneously, and three symbols by three fingers simultaneously. A total of 127 different symbols can be produced by means of the seven keys of the keyboard. If further symbols are required, for instance in order to provide a choice between small and capital letters or different printing types, a further separate key can be added or a special key combin¬ ation for shifting the type can be provided, whereby at least twice the number of symbols can be produced. The keyboard unit takes up only very litte space, and a maximum of three fingers is used for operating it. Consequently, working postures can be improved, and the keyboard can be used in connection with such devices where the use of a keyboard has so far been impossible due to the size of the known keyboards. Moreover, untrained users will find it easier to operate this simple keyboard, because the non-actuat¬ ed keys provide an indication as to which symbol has been entered.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. Keyboard for entering letters, numerals and other symbols, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the key- board consists of seven keys (1-7) which are po¬ sitioned so that six of the keys (1-6) surround the seventh (7). 2. Keyboard according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e - r i z e d in that four keys are placed with two keys (3, 4) on one side and two keys (1, 6) on the other side of the seventh key (7), whereas two keys are placed with one key (2) above and one key (5) below the seventh key (7). 3. Keyboard according to claims 1 and 2, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that neighbouring keys (1-7) are placed close together. 4. Keyboard according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c ¬ e r i z e d in that the produced symbol is formed by pressing those keys (1-7) that do not form part of the symbol. 5. Keyboard according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that a luminous line (8) is insert¬ ed into each key (1-7), which lines (8) together form the figure 8. 6. Keyboard according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e ¬ r z e d in that the luminous line (8) is switched off in the key (1-7) when it is pressed.

Inventors: SOERENSEN EGON NOERTOFT, SOERENSEN, EGON, NOERTOFT
Applicants: SOERENSEN EGON NOERTOFT, SOERENSEN, EGON, NOERTOFT
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B41J5
IPC codes: B41J5, G04G1, G06F3, H01H13