Abstract:
A keyboard type input device has multiple key positions provided as character entry keys. Each key corresponds to one key in the selected row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard. A second set of control buttons provide for the selection of which row of a conventional QWERTY keyboard are represented by the character keys in addition to other functions such as case shift, and alpha-numerical control functions. A selected row is shown on a display, as visual feedback. Alternatively the keys are implemented as LCDs with pressure sensors and the characters of the selected row are displayed directly on the corresponding key positions. The keyboard finds particular use in portable devices as it demands less space than traditional keyboards. One embodiment utilizes the keyboard as a wrist watch I/O device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of input devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to keyboard input devices designed to occupy a relatively small area so as to be particularly applicable to portable or hand-held electronic devices.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of Prior Art  
           [0004]    For many electronic devices which require keyboard inputs, a conventional keyboard is not practical. Most portable devices are designed to be small enough so as to be convenient for the user to carry them without undue burden. Pagers, cellular phones and palm top PCs are typically designed to fit into a shirt pocket while portable PCs are designed to be conveniently carried by the user in a small case or bag. These devices have limited surface space and accordingly their keyboards are designed with reduced sized keys, with fewer character keys, or the keys are arranged in a different manner than the traditional QWERTY style keyboard. Some devices are operated using a stylus interface. The user points the stylus at one character at a time on a graphic display of a keyboard in order to select the character.  
           [0005]    While a number of solutions to the keyboard issues have been proposed, most of them are complicated for users familiar with the traditional QWERTY style keyboard. One solution requires the user to remember unique combinations of keys, as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,654, “Chordic Keyboard System for Generating a Signal in Response to a Chord That is Assigned Using a Correlation Based on a Composite Chord-Difficulty Index” and U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,565, “Device for One-Handed Generation of Alpha-Numeric Characters”. Other solutions provide for complicated micro keypads, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,374, “Micro Word-Pad with Tactile Multifunctional Keys”.  
           [0006]    The QWERTY style keyboard developed due to the initial mechanics utilized in early typewriters. The layout of the symbols on early typewriters (i.e., QWERTY style) were placed in such a manner so as to slow the typist down. By slowing the typist down, mechanical problems were prevented. In recent years, however, the mechanical limitations imposed by the early typewriters have essentially disappeared. As such, there have been efforts to create layouts and keyboards which more effectively utilize the letter sequences most utilized in the English language so that the typists flow is not impeded. One such proposed solution is the so-called Dvorak keyboard. Another keyboard which seeks to provide more efficient key layouts is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,097, by Buric et al. An additional goal of this patent is to eliminate the need for the typist to move their fingers from the keys. Disclosed is a new keyboard structure interface which utilizes a set of eight input keys, one for each finger, and two scrolling keys, one for each thumb. The keyboard is utilized with a display, part of which displays the current input key assignments. The user uses an input key to enter the corresponding symbol assigned to that key. By actuating the scrolling buttons, the user can scroll, up or down, among a set of alternate symbol assignments for the input keys. The choice of symbol assignments (and therefore the ultimate “keyboard layout”) is arranged in a manner which seeks to balance the relative frequency of symbols common in the English language with the relative strengths of the user&#39;s fingers. The keyboard of Buric seeks to depart from the traditional QWERTY style keyboard, unlike one embodiment of the present invention. The provision of eight keys (one for each finger) and the two scrolling keys (one for each thumb) prevents the use of a QWERTY style layout, as there are ten keys per row on a QWERTY keyboard. Significant disadvantages result from the lack of support for a QWERTY style layout. Even though more efficient key layouts exist, the QWERTY keyboard is still the most popular layout for keyboards. A such, keyboard users are most familiar with the QWERTY keyboard and significant learning barriers are incurred when a user not only has to learn a new interface structure, but has to learn a new key layout in addition.  
           [0007]    Similar to the keyboard of Buric, the keyboard of Kamei, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,508, provides ten physical keys for character entry and scrolling keys to change the symbols assigned to the keys for character entry, however, the patent to Kamei teaches scrolling through the characters in a sequential manner and does not provide for a QWERTY style layout. Therefore, the speed of touch typing is significantly reduced as users are not familiar with a sequential type key layout and must relearn not only the interface structure, but the sequential key layout in addition. In addition, the patents of Buric and Kamei et al. do not provide for key placements on the corresponding devices and other innovations of the present invention which effectively allow for an increase in display area.  
           [0008]    Some products are known which address the need for keyboard input to portable or hand-held electronic devices. Think Outsider™ produces a product known as the Stowaway™ Portable Keyboard. This is a full sized keyboard which folds down to a size with which it is capable to place in a persons pocket. The keyboard is designed so as to be unfolded and attached to the Palm™ PDA. Another product is an external keyboard which connects to a cellular phone made by NTT DoCoMo. Both of these suffer from the disadvantages of being larger than what would be desired for an input to a portable device and from the needed assembly to utilize the keyboards.  
           [0009]    As described, the above products demonstrate the needs and difficulties of providing keyboard input to portable or hand-held electronic devices. Ideally, the keyboard input should be able to be affected in as natural a manner and as close to what users are accustomed to as possible. In addition, however, it is desirable for the keyboard to be as small as possible to allow for portability and to increase the allowable area to implement displays. However, the keys of the keyboard still need to be large enough for good ergonomic use.  
           [0010]    Another, attempt at solving the above difficulties is demonstrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,305 by Register et al. The PDA of Register has eight keys located on the back thereof. When the user grasps the PDA, each finger can contact a key. The input method of the keyboard of Register is a chordic style keyboard. While this allows a larger set of characters to be represented by fewer keys, allowing for the keys to be large enough for good ergonomic use and providing an overall smaller keyboard, chordic keyboards require a user to remember unique key combinations to input a character. To provide the same functionality as a standard keyboard such as those used with many present personal computers, a user must remember 101 different key combinations. In general, this is a significant amount of information for a user to remember in order to input characters to the electronic device and creates a significant learning barrier, especially as most users are used to actuating a single key to input a character. Hence, unlike the present invention, the chordic is a less natural means of inputting characters.  
           [0011]    As the real estate war between display and keyboard on PDAs and other portable computing devices continues, keyboards will lose as displays increase in resolution, color, and attractiveness. Simply scaling down a fall size keyboard creates keys which are too small for good ergonomic use. There is still a need for a user friendly keyboard type input which supports the traditional QWERTY style layout and which allows for a significant reduction in effective size. In addition, there is still a need for keyboards which provide a more natural input style for users of portable or hand-held electronic devices and which allow for faster input, while still providing possible reduction in overall keyboard size and in which the keys can be maintained at appropriate sizes for good ergonomic use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    A portable computing/electronic device includes a reduced set of keyboard character/function keys. A first set of keys are provided as character entry keys. Each key position corresponds to one character of a selected set characters. Character subsets are selectively chosen by the user during character entry. A second set of keys (control buttons) provide for the selection of which set of characters will be represented by the character key positions in addition to other functions such as case shift, and alpha-numerical control functions. In the preferred embodiment, the first set of keys are actuated by the user&#39;s fingers and the second set with the thumbs. The keys are arranged in various configurations including use of side surfaces or simultaneous use of two differing surfaces. In a further embodiment, the sets of characters are the characters in a selected row of a conventional QWERTY keyboard. The control buttons provide for selection of which row of the traditional QWERTY keyboard is associated with the character key positions along with other control functions. In order to provide visual feedback, the selected set of characters is shown on a display.  
           [0013]    In an alternate embodiment, the key positions are implemented utilizing LCD elements with pressure sensors located in the corresponding key locations. The characters associated with the character entry keys are displayed directly on the corresponding key positions.  
           [0014]    In a further embodiment, the electronic device is a wristwatch. Half of the keyboard, i.e. five character keys and associated control keys, are implemented on a flexible assembly. The assembly is stored beneath the band of the wrist watch. When the keyboard is to be used for input, it is pivotally folded out from under the band and laid across the user&#39;s hand. The other hand is then utilized to input the desired information. Alternatively, two flex assemblies are utilized and when the watch is placed on a surface, both hands are utilized to perform input.  
           [0015]    In a further embodiment, the electronic device is a portable phone, such as a cellular phone. As in the wristwatch embodiment, one or two members having character and control keys implemented thereon are attached to the phone. Preferably, these members are permanently attached to the phone and rotate outwards in a manner similar to the keyboard of the wristwatch such that they are positioned at  90  degrees to the length of the phone. Input is performed using both hands in the case two members are provided, or is performed using a single hand in the case only one member is provided.  
           [0016]    In a further embodiment, the electronic device is a portable phone, such as a cellular phone, where, instead of permanently attached or externally attachable members having the character keys and control keys implemented thereon, the keys are placed on the sides of the phone. Preferably, the character keys are placed on one side of the phone while the control keys are placed on the side opposite thereof, although other arrangements are envisioned. Character input is performed by the users fingers, while the thumbs are used to actuate the control keys. Ideally, the phone display is rotatable  90  degrees from its normal position so as to be in the correct orientation for viewing by the user.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 a  illustrates a portable computing device on which a keyboard of the present invention is utilized.  
         [0018]    [0018]Figure 1 b  illustrates a close up of the area on a portable computing device occupied by the key positions of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 a.    
         [0019]    [0019]Figure 1 c  illustrates a close up of the display of figure la providing input feedback capabilities.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 a  illustrates a keyboard of the present invention implemented on a PDA with control keys located on a lower side section thereof.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 b  illustrates a keyboard of the present invention implemented with LCD displays and pressure sensors such that characters associated with a key position are displayed on the corresponding display.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 c  illustrates a keyboard of the present invention on a side surface of a computing device.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b,  collectively, illustrate a keyboard of the present invention utilized as an I/O device for a wrist watch.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 illustrates the use of a keyboard with a portable phone, wherein the keys are implemented on extensible or attachable members.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b,  collectively, illustrate the use of the present invention with a portable phone in which the keys are implemented on the sides of the portable phone.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the device may be produced in many different configurations, forms and materials. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as a exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications of the materials for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 a  illustrates a portable computing device  100  on which the keyboard of the present invention is utilized. Generally, portable computing device  100  comprises a housing having a display  104  and, in this case, two distinct key input areas  102   a,    102   b.  While shown as two distinct areas, it is within the scope of the present invention to combine the areas into one having key positions placed parallel to one another in a proximate fashion, much as the keys of a traditional keyboard. Distinct key areas  102   a,    102   b  are utilized for input and display  104  is provided for feedback and general display purposes, as will be describe below.  
         [0028]    [0028]Figure 1 b  provides a close up of the area on device  100  occupied by key positions  102   a,    102   b.  As shown, a set of five character keys  106  are grouped together in a row, with each key contiguous to the key neighboring it. The keys are sized such that a they are at least as large as the spot size of a typical user&#39;s finger. In this manner, the chance a user strikes two keys at once is reduced. Character key positions  106  are generally provided so as to be actuated by the fingers located on the left hand of a user. Each of the character key positions  106  correspond to half of the symbols of a row of a traditional QWERTY keyboard. For instance, as a default, the character position keys  106  are set to correspond to the so-called “home row” of the keyboard and each key position would correspond to the symbols “a”, “s”, “d”, “f”, “g”, (i.e., the five keys located on the left hand portion of the home row of a traditional QWERTY keyboard). Control keys  112 ,  110   a  provide for various control functions in relation to the keyboard and are provided below character keys  106 ,  108  for actuation by the user&#39;s thumbs. In particular, control key  110   a  provides an “up” function, which, when actuated, shifts the row corresponding to the key positions up by one row per actuation. Starting at the previously described default row, a single actuation of control key  110   a  causes the row to be switched from the home row to the row immediately above the home row. Character key positions would then correspond to “q”,“w”,“e”, “r”, “t”, “y”, which are the keys located on the left side of the row immediately above the home row. Control key  112  provides a “shift” function which toggles between capital letters and lower case letters.  
         [0029]    A mirror image copy of character key positions  108  and control keys  110   b,    112  are arranged in a mirrored fashion to key positions  106 ,  112 ,  110   a.  Character keys  108  provide for the right sided characters of the selected row. Control key  110   b  provides a “down function” which, when actuated, switches the selected row from the currently selected row to the row immediately below it. In the case of starting from our default position, control key  110   b  would switch the character keys from representing the home row to the one immediately below it so that the ten character keys ( 106  and  108  collectively) correspond to “a”, “s”, “d”, “f”, “g”, “h”, “j”, “k”, “l”. By providing ten character keys, a traditional QWERTY keyboard can be emulated utilizing the present keyboard, i.e., in the case of the home row, keys g and h are provided for at the same time as the other home row keys.  
         [0030]    [0030]Figure 1 c  provides a close up of display  104  providing input feedback capabilities. Area  114  displays the current row selection which character key positions correspond to (while shown as only displaying half of the selected row, the full row can be shown as well, as will be describe below). Area  116  shows the previously typed characters and the current cursor position.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 a  illustrates a further embodiment of the present keyboard implemented on a personal digital assistant (PDA)  200 . In this embodiment, row selection feedback area  214  on screen  204  comprises indications of all of the input key characters in the selected row. Character key positions  206   a,    206   b  are arranged in a proximate location to each other and are oriented such that they follow a single line, as the rows of a traditional keyboard do. A particularly advantageous implementation of the presently described embodiment places control keys  210   a  and  210   b  on the side of PDA  200 . Placement of control keys  210   a  and  210   b  on the side of PDA  200  allows for more area on the surface of PDA  200  to be utilized for display.  
         [0032]    Another embodiment allowing for an increased display area is shown in FIG. 2 b.  In the embodiment of FIG. 2 b,  the physical input keys  212   a  and  212   b  have been replaced with LCD displays and pressure sensors. By providing LCD displays with pressure sensors for the input keys  212   a  and  212   b,  visual feedback for the selected row is displayed directly on keys  212   a  and  212   b.  When control keys  210   a  and  210   b  are actuated to select the current row of keys, the LCD displays of keys  212   a  and  212   b  change to display the characters of the currently selected row directly on the keys  212   a,    212   b.  This allows for the area of display  204  previously utilized for displaying the selected row to be used exclusively for display of output information.  
         [0033]    An additionally advantageous implementation, as illustrated in FIG. 2 c,  places the entire keyboard on the side of PDA  200  allowing the entire top surface to be utilized for display. As shown, a computing device has a top surface  220  on which an LCD display  204  is placed, while the left hand side of character entry keys  206   a  and control keys  210   a  are placed on a side surface  222 . The right hand set of keys are disposed on the surface (not shown) opposite to side surface  222 . Alternatively, as indicated by the dotted areas  216 , both the left and right sides of the keyboard are disposed along the same side surface. Other embodiments, in which the keys are broken into different sets other than left and right and in which keys are placed on different, non-opposing side surfaces, are also envisioned.  
         [0034]    While described as implemented on a personal digital assistant, the present invention may also be advantageously utilized on small appliances, lab instruments, inventory control hand-held computers, tablet computers, e-mail only devices, etc. As shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b,  the keyboard is utilized as an I/O device for a wrist watch electronic device. Watch  300  has display  302  and wristband  304 . A flexible assembly  308  is provided with a row of character keys  306  and control keys  312  on the top surface thereof and is in a pivotal relationship to display  302  as illustrated in FIG. 3 a.  When not in use, flex assembly  308  is placed such that it extends along and underneath wristband  304 . When the I/O device is to be used for input, flex assembly  308  is pivoted from underneath wristband  304  to a position substantially perpendicular to wristband  304 , as illustrated in FIG. 3 a.  Flex assembly  308  is then laid across the back surface of a users hand  310  as shown in FIG. 3 b  and the opposite hand is utilized to actuate character keys  306  and control keys  312 . Display  302  provides visual feedback of the selected row and typed input. When a single flex assembly is used, a conventional QWERTY layout is implemented and a button is used to switch between representations of the left and right side of the QERTY keyboard. Alternatively, different character switching schemes are utilized which differ from the traditional QWERTY layout for specific applications. For example, the character sequences can be optimized to prevent excessive movement through the character sets via use of the control key so as to help increase input speed. Alternatively, two flex assemblies are utilized, one rotating towards one side as previously described, while the other is rotated towards the opposite side. When the wristwatch is placed on a surface, input is accomplished using both hands. A particular advantage of utilizing two flex assemblies is the emulation of a QWERTY style keyboard.  
         [0035]    In addition, the principles of the present invention allow for an extension of the convenience and reduced size to be extended to other electronic appliances. FIGS. 4, 5 a  and  5   b  show this extension to a portable phone, such as a cellular phone. Cellular phone  400  has a pair of input members  402  and  404  attached thereto. Implemented on members  402  and  404  are character entry keys  406  and  408 . Below character entry keys  406  and  404  are control keys  410   a  and  410   b.  A particular advantage of this embodiment is the keys can be made larger than the buttons already provided on phone  400 , further facilitating entry. As illustrated by member  404 , members  402  and  404  are integrated with the portable phone in a rotational fashion, and by rotating members  402  and  404  outward, the members extend perpendicularly to the length of phone  400 . Placing phone  400  with members  402  and  404  rotated outward on a desk or other such surface, a user can affect entry in the same manner as previously described. In the closed position, the members are ideally enclosed within the housing of portable phone  400 . It should be noted, that while members  402  and  404  have been described as rotating outward, other alternative methods of exposing members  402  and  404  would be appropriate. Alternatively, as illustrated by member  402 , rather than housing members  402  and  404  located integral with phone  400  and extending them, they could be provided as separate devices externally attachable to phone  400 . In this case, input members  402  and  404  would be attached to phone  400  via external connectors located on the side of phone  400 . While two members have been illustrated, it is understood that a single member having the same number of character keys and control keys, or having half as many of either one or both is within the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment utilizing the principles of the present invention in conjunction with a portable phone, such as a cellular phone. Character entry keys  502  are placed along one side  510  of phone  500 . On the opposite side thereof  512 , control keys  504  are placed. A user actuates character entry keys  502  using their fingers, while actuating control keys  504  with their thumbs to affect character input and to change characters associated with character keys  502 , respectively. The third key illustrated is used to switch the character assignments of character keys  502  between the sides of a traditional QWERTY style keyboard. Input keys  502  and  504  are able to be larger than the keys typically provided with cellular phones which helps to make complex inputs, such as lengthy text messages, easier. By rotating the display  514  by 90 degrees from its normal lengthwise orientation, proper feedback is provided to the user when utilizing the keys. While only three control keys have been illustrated, it would be advantageous to implement five keys on both sides of the phone. In this manner, switchable, left or right handed modes can be utilized, where the functions of the keys, i.e., character or control, switch sides depending upon the mode. This allows either a person whose dominate hand is the right hand or a person whose dominate hand is the left hand to utilize the input device comfortably.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 b  further illustrates the use of the embodiment described with connection to figure 5 a.  The user actuates keys  502  (not shown in FIG. 5 b ) with their fingers  506 , while utilizing their thumb  508  to control the characters associated with keys  502  via control keys  504  (not shown in figure 5 b ).  
         [0038]    While particularly suited so as to be capable of providing a QWERTY style layout, the keyboard can be extended to all possible keyboard applications. Due to the fact that the character keys are “soft” keys, i.e., the corresponding characters to the key positions are mutable, each key can be mapped to any desired alphabet, numeral, oriental characters, e.g. kana, or any arbitrary symbol. Also, phrases, such as the most commonly utilized phrases for pagers or telephone customer service banks can be mapped to the character key positions.  
       Conclusion  
       [0039]    A system and method has been shown in the above embodiments for the effective implementation of a universal compact keyboard. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. For example, additional control functions are capable by providing more control keys along the control row. In addition, the displays have been described as LCD screens, however, any appropriate technology for providing visual displays for a user may be utilized. The universal compact keyboard can be implemented in any environment where it is advantageous to provide full keyboard support in a limited area, such as PDAs, cellular phones, pagers, sub-notebook, etc.