Abstract:
A keyboard is provided having 26 letters assigned to only 16 to 21 keys, and preferably 21 keys. This advantageous system of typing makes use of either one or two hands. The 26 letters of the English alphabet are all displayed. Five keys have two letters—those letters are PQ, JK, UW, VX and YZ for a total of ten letters. Sixteen keys have one letter assigned to each key—namely the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, O, N, R, S and T for a total of sixteen letters assigned to a specific key—for a total of 26 letters.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/096,598 filed Dec. 4, 2013, which claims benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 61/736,233, filed Dec. 12, 2012, and U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 61/772,773, filed Mar. 5, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a keyboard configurable into different arrangements around a core grouping of keys and letters. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the advent of electronic keyboards, such as those found on smart phone devices, it is possible to arrange a keyboard into any configuration. However, presently, keyboard configurations are usually found to be in a QWERTY configuration or in an alphabetical configuration. These types of configurations are not necessarily advantageous for learning an order of keys and for typing. Accordingly, there is a need for an adaptable keyboard which is easily learned and arranged in any desired configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By the present invention, a keyboard is provided having 26 letters assigned to only 16 to 21 keys, and preferably 21 keys. This advantageous system of typing makes use of either one or two hands. The 26 letters of the English alphabet are all displayed. In one example, five keys have two letters—those letters are PQ, JK, UW, VX and YZ for a total of ten letters. In the one example, sixteen keys have one letter assigned to each key—namely the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, O, N, R, S and T for a total of sixteen letters assigned to a specific key in a 21 key keyboard—for a total of 26 letters. 
     Preferably, in at least one embodiment, the letters M and O are assigned to one key. A total of five groups of letters are assigned with two letters per key for a total of ten letters. 
     The preferred keyboards have a “core grouping” of nine letters, which usually have only one letter per key. The letters in the core grouping are in alphabetical order, within each group, although the specific arrangement of the three letters in each group may not be consecutive. 
     The core grouping, with each of three sets of three groups of alphabetical letters, abut an adjacent group of keys on at least one side which are also assigned letters which are in alphabetical order. For example, a core grouping consisting of nine letters may be A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I which are assigned to nine keys (one letter per key) within three groups of keys. The surrounding keys of additional groups are in adjacent columns and/or rows. 
     The letters R, S and T are located immediately adjacent to the core grouping. This arrangement assists the user to recall the location and the letters within the core grouping and the letters and keys surrounding the core grouping. 
     Six of the double lettered keys may be JK, MO, PQ, UW, VX, YZ (for example, a total of twelve letters). The remaining 14 letters are each assigned to a single key for a twenty key keyboard. This alphabetical arrangement of the nine letter core grouping can be viewed by the typist as the hub or the core of the letter arrangement with the letter “E” at the middle of the “core grouping.” The nine letters of the “hub” or core in alphabetical order should be the user&#39;s main means of practicing the letters in the hub and the letters surrounding the hub or core grouping. 
     The letters of the three groups of the core grouping may be ABC, DEF and GHI. These are the first letters of the English alphabet. The letters J, K and L are assigned in a next group of keys which then lead to the next group of three letters, M, O and N. Then there is an arrangement of the two letters PQ to a single key, and then the assignment of three letters to a group of three keys with the letters R, S and T. The keyboard includes two letters per key for the letters UW, VX and YZ. 
     The nine keys of the core grouping account for approximately 50% of typing letter input, but within a space of ⅓ of a normal QWERTY keyboard. From the core grouping area of the present invention, the user may easily reach out to contact the additionally needed keys. 
     The alphabetical order of the letters enable the user to memorize the keyboard more quickly and to practice typing and exercising the memory without looking at the letters on the key. The end result is a more expedient “touch” system learning process, enabling the user to type more efficiently. Also, the location of the assigned letters, as shown, results in a short movement required to press the desired key and the input can be faster. 
     The 26 letters of the alphabet are presented in three major groups. The initial first group of nine letters which are presented as three groups of three letters with each of the groups of letters including the alphabetical groups ABC, DEF and GHI, but not necessarily in alphabetical order within each single group. For example, the group including A, B and C may be presented as C, A, B. Everyone knows these three groups by knowing the alphabet. In this system one may learn how to type quickly and easily which is possible because it makes use of the knowledge already known to the person. The person already knows these three groups. 
     That person already knows the rest of the order of the 26 letters of the alphabet which includes knowing that after the letters G, H, I the next letters are J, K, L, then M, O, N, then PQ, R, ST, which is followed by UW, VW, YZ. The first nine letters ABC, DEF and GHI lead to the second group of letters (1) MON, (2) RST, and (3) UV, WX and YZ. A third group of letters, the “transition group” includes JK, L and PQ. 
     The keyboards of the present invention use less than 26 keys to enter the 26 letters of the English alphabet. The keyboards presented have from 16 to 21 keys to which the letters are assigned. Most of the keyboards presented have 21 keys to which the 26 letters are assigned. In one embodiment, 14 keys are assigned one letter (a total of 14 letters). Six keys are assigned two letters for a total of 12 letters. Thus all 26 letters of the English alphabet are assigned to just 20 keys (6+14=20). 
     My prior patents U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,252, entitled “Speed typing apparatus for entering letters of alphabet with at least thirteen-letter input elements,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,303, entitled “Speed typing apparatus and method,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,896, entitled “Speed Typing Apparatus and Method,” hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference, lists the number of unintended words for each combination of letters. For the two letter combinations: JK: 1; MO: 11; PQ: 0; UW: 4; VX: 2; YZ: 1; totaling 19 words in a dictionary of approximately 24,000 words being unintentionally formed by the wrong letter at the beginning of a word. This is a very low incidence. These combinations are also chosen because they assist in forming an alphabetical letter arrangement and at the same time achieve the goal of only using 16 to 21 keys. 
     In one embodiment, the alphabetical order is easy to recall. The user is given the letter A in a position easy to recall because it is located in the middle of the top row. The letter “B” follows immediately in the next space to the right and then the letter “C” is located to the left of the “A” which completes the first of three alphabetical letters. The next three letter alphabetical group is the three letters DEF. Then in perfect alphabetical order in the next adjacent row is the group of GHI, then in the next adjacent row the group of MON, and then in the next adjacent row the group of RST. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a 21 key keyboard is disclosed. The “core grouping” consists of nine keys in rows 1, 2 and 3 between columns 2, 3 and 4. Row 1 is assigned the letter “A” in column 3, row 1 is assigned the letter “B” in column 4, row 1 is assigned the letter “C” in column 2, row 2 is assigned the letter E in column 3, row 2 is assigned the letter “F” in column 4, and row 2 is assigned the letter “D” in column 2. 
     As noted above the alphabet begins with the letter “A” in the center of Row 1 and the vowels continue with the letter “E” in the center of Row 2 and the letter “I” is located in the center of Row 3. The user can see the uniformity of the letter locations with the vowels A, E and I centrally located in each row in each group of the three groups of the core grouping. 
     Rows 1, 2 and 3, each contain three letters shown in a way that the user can enter the letters in the alphabetical order of the letters. The 26 letters of the English alphabet are assigned to only 21 keys. The number of keys required is reduced by the assignment of two letters to five keys for a total of 10 letters and 16 letters are assigned to a total of 16 keys to which only one letter is assigned to each key. Thus 26 letters are assigned to 21 keys. 
     If the letters “M” and “O” were assigned to one key and all the other letter assignments remained, a 20 key keyboard would be disclosed. In the 21 key keyboard, the vowels A, E, I are assigned in successive rows 1, 2 and 3 (or alternately in successive columns, dependent on the orientation of the keyboard). 
     It is noted that the user can practice the entry of the 26 letters in the English alphabet in alphabetical order. Since there are five through nine keys with two letter assignments, only six strokes of these keys can result in the entry of 12 letters in one example, and only 14 strokes are needed to enter the 14 letters assigned one letter per key. Therefore, the entire 26 letter alphabet can be entered using only 20 strokes in this example. Of course, additional or fewer keys can be assigned two letters, or possible three letters per key resulting in keyboards of 16 to 21 keys in total. 
     The important factor is the ability to remember the location of the keys. Therefore, the alphabetical arrangement of successive letters in groups is more important than the number of letters per key provided all of the keys are easy to reach. Twenty one keys may make for faster typing than eight keys. Some possible two letter combinations are UW, VX, YZ, JK, MO and PQ for use in either a 20 or 21 key keyboard. 
     The transition letters in a transition group provide for ease of access of additional letters and recall of the order of letters from the middle or home row of the three groups of three alphabetical letters where the user can reach every key. A transition group verifies the user can reach the desired key on the keyboard for a keyboard with 21 keys. Each key can be reached from corner to corner when the user&#39;s fingers are on the home line and little finger is pressing the key on an outermost column. 
     A 21 key preferred keyboard can serve as a platform from which the other keyboards are derived by changing letters in the grid. For example, only the letter E and F can be exchanged. The user may select a desired keyboard based upon a perception regarding the use of input and the likelihood of error. This may be accomplished by the use of an electronic keypad which may be revised according to the user&#39;s wishes. Variation on locations of the various groups of letters may be easily accommodated and accomplished. An electronically variable keyboard is considered within the scope of the invention. 
     The user may also desire the program to add or delete letters from each key and to add to or delete rows from the memory of the device. The user can also input the command to delete the memory of the letters assigned to each key and substitute other letters. The limitation is that there are at least 16 keys and at most 21 keys. The user may want to use mnemonic phrases to memorize the order of the letters in each group. 
     In addition, in alternate arrangements of the keyboards of the present invention, the groups of letters may be arranged horizontally or vertically with respect to each other. The number of letters per key may also be varied so as to provide 16 to 21 keys in each keyboard for the 26 letters of the alphabet. 
     As is understood as being within the scope of the present invention, the arrangement of the various groups of letters may be electronically altered according to user preference. However, the core group of letters are placed adjacent to each other in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. It is preferred that the vowels are arranged so that they are in alignment horizontally, vertically or diagonally, or even in a pattern of up to down and then back up, for ease of access and ease of memorization of position. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a layout of a preferred keyboard according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is an alternate arrangement of groups of keys forming an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a keyboard  20  is shown. The keyboard includes three core groups  22 ,  24 ,  26 . Each core group includes three successive letters from the alphabet, but not necessarily in alphabetical order. The three core groups  22 ,  24 ,  26  form the core grouping  28  of the invention. These nine letters, in combination, facilitate a keyboard easy to learn and quick to use. 
     In the first group  22 , for example, the letters A, B and C are present but not necessarily in that order. Successively, group  24  includes the letters D, E and F, but not necessarily in that order. Similarly, group  26  includes the letters G, H and I but not necessarily in that order. These three groups of letters forming the core grouping, are surrounded by additional groups of letters. The layout of the groups of the core grouping as well as the surrounding groups of letters is dictated by the personal preference of the individual. This is easily accomplished by the use of an electronic keyboard where the individual may control placement of the groups of letters. 
     Of importance, is that in the core grouping  28 , the vowels A, E and I are aligned in a column. However, it is understood as being within the scope of the present invention that the three vowels A, E and I may be aligned vertically, horizontally or diagonally. It has been found that this arrangement of vowels is advantageous in learning and using a keyboard. It is also possible, as shown in group  32  to include a fourth vowel in alignment with the vowels A, E and I. 
     Group  30  includes the letters MNO. It is also noted from the arrangement of groups  32  and  34 , particularly with respect to group  34 , that the vowel U is also in alignment with the four vowels A, E, I and O. This is particularly advantageous for typing. The individual will always know where the vowels are located. 
     Group of letters  36  is referred to as the “transition group”. This is because the letters included in transition group  36  provide an introduction to the adjacent group of letters found in groups  26 ,  30  and  32 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the letters J and K are located on a single key and form part of the alphabetical group G, H, I, J and K from groups  26  and  36 . Similarly, the letter L of group  36  is aligned with group  30  having the successive letters M, N and O. Also, the single key having the letters P and Q in group  36  is aligned with the successive alphabetical letters R, S and T in group  32 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , 21 keys are used to the individual&#39;s advantage. This requires that five keys include two letters each and 16 keys include a single letter. As seen by the other embodiments in the other figures, alternate arrangements of groups and letters in each group are possible for a preferred range of total keys of 17 to 21 keys. In the figures, the grouping of multiple letters in a single box of the grid represents a single typing key having two letters. The use of multiple letters on a single key is explained with reference to my three patents, previously mentioned, and hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     An alternate arrangement of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 10  where the keyboard  38  includes the same grouping of letters  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 , but in this arrangement, the groups of letters  32  and  34  have been reversed in position, while more directly aligning the series of vowels A, E, I, O and U in direct successive contiguous alignment. Of significance is the alignment of the vowels A, E and I in the core grouping  28  so that at least three vowels are in alignment. However, as noted from the alternate embodiments, it is also possible to have four or five vowels in alignment. Beyond the core grouping  28 , the alignment of the vowels are according to personal preference. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , keyboard  40  includes similar groups of letters with groups  42 ,  44  and  46  forming the core grouping  48 . In this arrangement the vowels A, E and I are arranged horizontally. Arranged around the core grouping are additional groups of letters  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 . This arrangement of groups of letters is an alternate 21 key keyboard. 
     In  FIG. 3 , another 21 key keyboard  58  made of seven groups includes the core groups  60 ,  62  and  64  forming the core grouping  66  with the vowels A, E and I arranged vertically. Additional groups  68 ,  70  and  72  are positioned above and below the core grouping  66 . Transition group  72  is positioned adjacent to core group  64  and additional groups  68  and  70 . In this keyboard, the four vowels A, E, I and O are arranged consecutively in a vertical column. 
     In keyboard  74  shown in  FIG. 4 , the core groups  76 ,  78  and  80  form the core grouping  82  with the vowels A, E and I aligned in a vertical column. Additional group  84  adds the successive arrangement of the vowel O to the aligned vowels A, E and I. In this arrangement, additional groups  86  and  88  are aligned below and to the side of the core grouping  82 . Transition group  90  only includes two keys with two letters on each key. 
     In  FIG. 5 , keyboard  92  is shown. In this keyboard, the keyboard is arranged as a two-handed keyboard as indicated by separation line  94  consisting of two parallel lines. On the right-hand portion of the keyboard, core groups  96 ,  98  and  100  are located forming core grouping  102 . On the left-hand side of the keyboard are groups  104 ,  106  and  108  with transition group  110  being located on a side of the groups  104 ,  106  and  108 . This is also a 21 key keyboard. 
     In  FIG. 6 , keyboard  112  is shown. In this keyboard, core groups  114 ,  116  and  118  form core grouping  120 . It is noted that in this embodiment, the vowels A, E and I are arranged diagonally. Located above the core grouping is group  122  and below the core grouping is group  124 . Arranged to the sides of core grouping  120  is group  124  and group  126 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , keyboard  128  is an example of a 17 key keyboard. Core groups  130 ,  132  and  134  form core grouping  136 . In the groups of the core grouping, only two keys are used with one of the two keys having two letters. However, the alignment of the vowels A, E and I is still present, aligned in a vertical column. Additional groups  138 ,  140  and  142  are present. Transition group  144  is aligned along the sides of groups  134 ,  138  and  140 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , keyboard  146  illustrates a 19 key keyboard with core groups  148 ,  150 ,  152  forming core grouping  154 . In this arrangement, in combination with additional group  156 , the vowels A, E, I and U are aligned horizontally. Additional groups  158  and  160  are also present. 
     In  FIG. 9 , keyboard  162  is representative of an 18 key keyboard. In this keyboard, core groups  164 ,  166  and  168  form core grouping  170 . Vowels A, E and I are aligned along with the vowel U found in adjacent group  172 . In this arrangement, there are six groups of keys with additional groups  174  and  176  completing the alphabet. 
     An alternate arrangement of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 11  with a keyboard  200  including the same grouping of letters  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, in  FIG. 11 , the grouping of letters  202 ,  204 ,  206  are arranged horizontally, while the grouping of letters  210 ,  212 ,  214 , and  216  are arranged vertically. 
     The core group of letters  208  includes the same groups of letters  202 ,  204  and  206  as shown in  FIG. 1 , and in the same order. Whereas in  FIG. 1 , group  36 , which is equivalent to group  216  in  FIG. 11 , is maintained in a vertical orientation, the remaining three groups in  FIG. 10 , as compared to  FIG. 1 , are arranged vertically. Also, in  FIG. 11  vowels A, E and I are arranged in a row for easy access and for providing the user with ease of memorization. 
     As was described with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , each of the groups are movable within an electronic keyboard.  FIG. 11  shows a movement of some of the groups by 90° which could be implemented as a personal preference of the user. 
     In  FIG. 12 , alternate keyboard  220  is shown. In this keyboard, groups  222 ,  224  at  226  of letters make up the core group  228 . In this configuration, group  226 , includes five letters on four keys. This facilitates an ease of operation of multiple letters, grouping of the letters J and K on a single key due to their lack of redundancy. In the core group  228 , the vowels A, E and I are aligned in a diagonal row. This facilitates their ease of access and providing the user with ease of memorization. 
     Remaining groups  230  and  232  provide four keys with group  230  having four letters and group  232  having five letters. The letters P and Q are located on a single key, due to their lack of redundancy. The remaining group  234  is the same as group  34  in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, six groups of letters are used. The combination of orientations of groups of letters provides for ease of use of the operator. 
     In  FIG. 13 , keyboard  240  is shown. This keyboard includes 16 keys in five groups of keys. The core grouping  252  includes groups  242  and  244 . Group  242  includes three keys having two letters on each key. In group  244 , one key includes one letter, one key includes two letters and one key includes three letters. By the arrangement of groups  242  and  244 , the pattern of vowels A, I and E, are arranged so that the movement of one finger from the key including the letters A and B can be moved downwardly to the key including the letters capital I, J and K and then back up to the key including the letters E and F. 
     The remaining three groups of letters  246 ,  248  and  250  are similar to the corresponding groups  230 ,  232  and  234  in  FIG. 12 . However, in  FIG. 13 , the three groups are aligned horizontally whereas in  FIG. 12 , one group is horizontal two groups are vertically arranged. Also, in  FIG. 12 , group  230  includes the additional letter L. However, in  FIG. 12 , the positioning of L is slightly offset from the primary concentration of letters in the shown keyboard. 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.