Abstract:
The present invention an ergonomic keyboard designed for inputting data wherein said keyboard comprises; a keyboard housing; a plurality of four position finger boxes mounted in said housing and arranged conformably to receive finger tips of a users hand, wherein said finger boxes are responsive to no movement, depression, contraction and extension of said fingertips corresponding to at least 4 distinct finger box positions namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward respectively. The keyboard further has a processor for assigning letters, numerals, symbols and functions to each of said positions of said finger boxes; and contacts at each of the positions of each of said finger boxes such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a finger operated keyboard and particularly to finger operated ergonomic keyboard for data entry, word processing, and/or typewriter like functions. The keyboard is specifically designed for an International, Absolute, Phonetic English, but can also be used for English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Mandarin, and many other languages used in the world. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The conventional typewriter keyboard includes several horizontal rows of keys oriented transversally to an operator. The conventional arrangement of letters of such a keyboard is sometimes referred to as the QWERTY format after the first six letters on the top row of the letter keys. The QWERTY format was developed in the late 1800&#39;s and has remained the standard keyboard format to date for typewriters as well as for computers, word processors, and other data entry terminals. 
     The QWERTY format keyboard suffers from several disadvantages. A hand moving up and down the keyboard is required to position for striking keys on the upper and lower portions of the board. Even when it is not necessary to move the entire hand substantial finger movement is required to move the fingers between keys on adjacent rows or between adjacent keys on the same row. Such hand and finger movement decreases the rate at which an operator can enter data via the keyboard, and increases the possibility of making errors. 
     Inventors have secured patents to facilitate data entry on mechanical typewriters, electric typewriters, word processors, and computer keyboards. Many are designed to overcome difficulty of data entry on the standard QWERTY design which is expanded to six horizontal banks of a hundred and one vertically activated keys on the computer style keyboard. 
     The disadvantage of these keyboards is the large amount of finger and/or hand movement required by both left and right hands in order to activate the keys on the board. The conventional keyboard lends itself to making mistakes, getting tire, and carpel tunnel in wrists; while the ergonomic minimizes these problems. 
     The Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,058—Titled: Continuous Touch Keyboard by Donald E. Allan issued Jan. 23, 1996, describes a continuous touch keyboard in which a three position key is provided for each finger. The keys are arranged in order to align with the fingers of a cupped pendant hand, and the actuator for fingers two, four, and five and the thumb are elevated above the other keys. In addition, the patent describes thumb keys as well as palm rests for the left and the right hand. The disadvantage with this keyboard is the limitation of the number of characters that can be designated, and as well the difficulty in distinguishing between the positions available for each key. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,516 also by Donald E. Allan—Titled: Finger Operated Switching Apparatus—Issued: Sep. 6, 1988, also describes a keyboard in which four keys for each finger are arranged in a manner comfortable to the hand with the keys at various elevations above the keyboard. The patent describes a very sophisticated and complicated key in order to provide for the three positions each key can be moved into. The draw backs of this design are the number of characters or indicia which can be designated on the keyboard, and in addition, the inability for the operator to be able to distinguish exactly between the different positions of the keys. Furthermore, the ergonomics of the switch design is such that the switches must be elevated at different heights in order to be useful for the operator. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to have a keyboard which requires a minimum amount of movement of the operator&#39;s fingers and hands, and is able to produce the maximum number of characters in one keyboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention a ergonomic keyboard for inputting data, said keyboard comprises: 
     a) a keyboard housing; 
     b) a plurality of four position finger boxes mounted in said housing and arranged conformably to receive finger tips of a users hand, wherein said finger boxes are responsive to no movement, depression, contraction and extension of said fingertips corresponding to at least 4 distinct finger box positions namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward respectively; 
     c) means for assigning letters, numerals, symbols and functions to each of said positions of said finger boxes; and 
     d) means for sensory of each of the positions of each of said finger boxes such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes. 
     Preferably finger boxes defining finger openings in said housing which are recessed cavities and located below said keyboard top such that said fingertips fall naturally into said cavities. 
     Preferably further comprising at least one palm/wrist pad elevated above said keyboard top for placement of palm or wrist thereon such that when a users palm or wrist rests on said palm/wrist pad a users finger tips fall naturally into said finger boxes located below said keyboard top. 
     Preferably said finger boxes are six position finger boxes adapted to be responsive to 6 distinct finger tip positions, namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward being positions 1 to 4 as claimed above and in addition, said finger boxes being responsive to sequential movement of the fingertip namely forward then downward movement of said fingertips being the fifth position and backward then downward movement of the fingertip being the sixth position. 
     Preferably said finger boxes are eight position finger boxes adapted to be responsive to 8 distinct finger tip positions, namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward, forward then downward, backward then downward, being positions 1 to 6 as claimed above, said finger boxes being responsive to further sequential movements of the fingertip namely downward then forward being the seventh position, and downward then backward being the eighth position. 
     Preferably said keyboard includes at least five finger boxes, one for each finger and thumb. 
     Preferably said keyboard includes two palm/wrist pads and at least ten finger boxes; one pad. 
     Preferably for each hand and one finger box for each finger and thumb. 
     Said keyboard includes two palm/wrist pads and at least fourteen finger boxes; one pad for each hand and one finger box for each finger and thumb, two finger boxes for the index and little fingers of both hands. 
     Preferably wherein; 
     a) said palm/wrist pad is a three post pad naturally in a neutral position, and moveable into a forward position and rearward position; and 
     b) and further including a means sensory of each of the positions of each of said palm/wrist pads, such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes. 
     Preferably wherein 
     a) said palm/wrist pad is a five position pad movable into a neutral position, forward position and rearward position; and 
     b) and further including a means sensory of each of the positions of each of said palm/wrist pads such that a unique signal is produced for each position of said finger boxes. 
     Preferably said finger boxes include a vertical key with corresponding contacts and two horizontal levers each with corresponding contacts, said key and levers responsive to no movement, said vertical key responsive to depression of said fingertip for closing one set of contacts, one of said horizontal levers responsive to contraction of said fingertip for closing a second set of contacts, and one of said horizontal levers responsive to extension of said fingertips for closing a third set of contacts. 
     Preferably wherein said horizontal levers are pivotally attached to said keyboard housing with a slot joint, such that said horizontal levers pivot about said slot joint when horizontally urged by a finger tip thereby converting lever horizontal motion to lever vertical motion for closing said contacts. 
     Preferably wherein said finger box being capable of sequential movement of said finger tips and wherein sensory means being responsive to sequential closing of said contacts, sequential closing of said contacts accomplished by forward then downward movement of said fingertips being the fifth position and backward then downward movement of the fingertip being the sixth position. 
     Preferably wherein said finger boxes being eight position finger boxes adapted to be responsive to 8 distinct finger tip positions, namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward, forward then downward, backward then downward, being positions 1 to 6 as claimed above, said finger boxes being capable of further sequential movements of the fingertip namely downward then forward being the seventh position, and downward then backward being the eighth position. 
     Preferably further comprising at least one palm/wrist pad elevated above said keyboard top for placement of palm or wrist thereon such that when a users palm or wrist rests on said palm/wrist pad a users finger tips fall naturally into said finger boxes located below said keyboard top. 
     Preferably wherein said palm/wrist pad comprises 
     a) a hand rest rigidly connected to moveable control stick which is connected to said keyboard housing at a ball and socket joint, such that said palm/wrist pad pivots about said ball and socket joint, 
     b) said palm/wrist pad is a three position pad movable into a neutral position, forward position and rearward position; and 
     c) and further including a means sensory of each of the positions of each of said palm/wrist pads. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention a finger box for receiving a finger tip therein said finger box comprises: 
     a) a vertical key with corresponding contacts; 
     b) two horizontal levers each with corresponding contacts, 
     c) said finger boxes defining finger openings being recessed cavities adapted such that fingertips fall naturally into said cavities; and 
     d) said key and levers responsive to no movement, said vertical key responsive to depression of said fingertip for closing one set of contacts, one of said horizontal levers responsive to contraction of said fingertip for closing a second set of contacts, and one of said horizontal levers responsive to extension of said fingertips for closing a third set of contacts. 
     Preferably wherein said horizontal levers are pivotally attached to a housing with a slot joint, such that said horizontal levers pivot about said slot joint when horizontally urged by a finger tip thereby converting lever horizontal motion to lever vertical motion for closing said contacts. 
     Preferably wherein said finger box being capable of sequential closing of said contacts accomplished by forward then downward movement of said fingertips being the fifth position and backward then downward movement of the fingertip being the sixth position. 
     Preferably wherein said finger boxes being eight position finger boxes adapted to be responsive to 8 distinct finger tip positions, namely: neutral, downward, backward, and forward, forward then downward, backward then downward, being positions 1 to 6 as claimed above, said finger boxes being responsive to further sequential movements of the fingertip namely downward then forward being the seventh position, and downward then backward being the eighth position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described by way of example only, with references to the followings drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention, an ergonomic keyboard taken through finger box  12  and finger switch  14  in order to show the details of the mechanical arrangement. 
     FIG. 2 is both a cross-sectional, side elevational view taken through palm/wrist pad  52  as well as a top partial cut-away view of the palm/wrist pad. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of the ergonomic keyboard showing the finger boxes, finger switches as well as the palm/wrist pads mounted on the keyboard. 
     FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment taken through the finger box and finger switch showing the currently preferred embodiment of the mechanical arrangement of the finger boxes and finger switches. 
     FIG. 5 is a currently preferred embodiment of the palm/wrist pads, shown both in cross-sectional elevational plan view as well as in partially cut-away top view. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view taken through the finger box, finger switch as well as the palm/wrist pad  52  showing the mechanical arrangement of the currently preferred embodiment showing how the finger box, finger switch, and palm/wrist pad would typically be mounted in the ergonomic keyboard. 
     FIG. 7 is a cut-away schematic top plan view showing the wiring which typically could be used to inter-connect the finger boxes and finger switches as well as the palm/wrist pads. 
     FIG. 8 is a cut-away schematic top plan view showing the wiring which typically could be used to inter-connect the finger boxes and finger switches as well as the palm/wrist pads. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the present invention, an ergonomic keyboard, taken through finger box  12  and finger switch  14  in order to show the details of the mechanical arrangement showing a finger in the finger box. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the present invention, an ergonomic keyboard, taken through finger box  112  and finger switch  114  in order to show the details of the mechanical arrangement showing a finger in the finger box. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view taken through the finger box, finger switch as well as the palm/wrist pad  152  showing the mechanical arrangement of the currently preferred embodiment showing bow the finger box, finger switch, and palm/wrist pad would typically be mounted in the ergonomic keyboard showing a hand on palm/wrist pad and finger in the finger box. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring, first of all, to FIG. 3 the present invention, an ergonomic keyboard shown generally as  10 , includes two sets of six finger boxes  12 , one set corresponding to the right hand on the right hand side of keyboard top  32  and the other side corresponding to the left hand on the left side of keyboard top  32  as depicted in FIG.  3 . Ergonomic keyboard  10  also includes two thumb actuators  50 , one for the right hand, one for the left hand. Ergonomic keyboard  10  also includes palm/wrist pads  52 , one for the right hand and one for the left hand and also a number of finger switches shown as  14 , which are mounted in close proximity and preferably above and to the left and to the right of finger boxes  12 . As depicted in FIG. 3 for the left hand ten finger switches  14  are provided and for the right hand fourteen finger switches  14  are provided. The number of finger switches  14  can vary depending upon the application, or they can be omitted completely. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 showing the details of finger boxes  12  as well as finger switches  14  and the mechanical workings. Ergonomic keyboard  10  has specially designed finger boxes  12  which can be three, five or seven way switches (not including the home position) or a four, six or eight way switch including the home or neutral position actuated by finger tip pressure. Finger boxes  12  are specially designed in order to allow the tip of a finger to fall naturally into finger opening  13  of finger boxes  12 . As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, finger opening  13  is a square shaped box like receptacle, however, in practice any shape is possible including a round or slender oval type opening and/or any other shape as long as finger opening  13  is dimensioned and adapted to permit placement of a finger therein so that a finger can make contact with vertical keys  22  and horizontal levers  24  and  25 . 
     All finger tip positions are obtained by simple depression, retraction or extension of a finger tip. It may be necessary to combine in sequence two finger tip motions to obtain a desired position as will be detailed below. 
     Finger boxes  12  include a vertical key  22  as well as two horizontal levers  24  and  25  which are used to actuate switches using finger pressure only. Finger box  12  operating as a three way switch allows for one switching position when vertical key  22  is depressed vertically with a fingertip. The second and third switch positions are accomplished by horizontally urging horizontal lever  24  by extending a finger in opening  13  or by urging horizontal lever  25  by retracting a finger in finger opening  13  thereby urging the other horizontal lever  25  backwards. 
     Vertical key  22  is received slidably within key guide  30 , and when urged downwardly on key dome  20  closes the printed circuit contact  18  directly below vertical key  22 . 
     Horizontal levers  24  and  25  are attached with a snap connection using a slot joint  38  which permits horizontal lever  24  and  25  to pivot about slot joint  38  such that when horizontal lever  24  or  25  is urged they pivot about slot joint  38  and pressure is applied by horizontal lever  24  or  25  to lever key  28  or lever key  29 , thereby vertically moving lever key  28  or  29  downwardly and slidably along key guide  30 . Lever keys  28  and  29  depress key domes  20  and close the contact of printed circuit contact  18  located vertically below lever keys  28  and  29 . 
     Note that each switch position of finger box  12  operates totally independently from the other. For example, it is possible to actuate horizontal lever  24  without actuating vertical key  22  or horizontal lever  25 . Similarly, it is possible to actuate vertical key  22  without actuating horizontal levers  24  or horizontal lever  25 , and so forth. 
     Finger box arrangement  12  can also operate as a five position switch. The fourth position is obtained by actuating horizontal lever  24  and then depressing vertical key  22 . The fifth position is obtained by actuating horizontal lever  25  and then actuating vertical key  22  thereby consecutively closing the printed circuit contacts  18  below vertical key  22  and lever key  28 . The user of finger box  12  can independently actuate horizontal lever  24 , key  22  and horizontal lever  25 , and/or can consecutively actuate horizontal lever  24  and vertical key  22  or consecutively actuate horizontal lever  25  and vertical key  22 . In this manner, finger box  12  can be placed into five distinctly separate positions by movement of a single finger. Including the home or neutral position, finger box  12  has six distinct positions, actuated by a single finger or a thumb movement. 
     Finger box  12  can also operate as a seven position switch (not including the home position) by making the switching dependent upon the sequence in which the keys are depressed. For example, first depressing vertical key  22  and then urging horizontal lever  24  would constitute one position, whereas, first urging horizontal lever  24  and then depressing vertical key  22  would constitute a second position. In a similar fashion, first depressing vertical key  22  and then horizontal lever  25  would constitute a third position, and first urging horizontal lever  25  and then vertical key  22  would constitute a fourth position. The fifth position would simply be depressing vertical key  22 , sixth position would be urging horizontal lever  24 , seventh position would be urging horizontal lever  25 , and if we include the home position (the neutral position) ie; depressing no keys would represent an eighth position. 
     In addition, ergonomic keyboard  10  may include finger switches  14  which include vertical buttons  26  slidably and vertically received within button guides  33  such that depressing vertical button  26  actuates key domes  20 , thereby closing printed circuit contacts  18  vertically below each respective vertical button  26 . 
     In a presently preferred embodiment, ergonomic keyboard, shown generally as  110  in FIG. 4, comprises keyboard housing  116 , keyboard top  132 , finger boxes  112 , finger switches  114 , circuit wiring  136 , and electronic chip  134 . 
     Finger box  112  includes finger opening  113 , vertical key  122 , horizontal lever  124 , and  125 , key domes  120 , and contacts  118 . Horizontal levers  125  and  124  pivot about and fit into slot joint  138 . 
     Finger switch  114  includes vertical button  126 , slidably received within button guide  133 . 
     In use, similar to ergonomic keyboard  10 , ergonomic keyboard  110  functions in an analogous fashion. The keyboard is arranged such that the fingers of a hand fall naturally into finger openings  113 , of finger boxes  112 . At least one finger box  112  is provided for each finger, and additionally, a similar finger box is provided for the thumb. The index and little fingers could have, for example, double finger boxes. 
     As described above, for finger box  12 , finger box  112  can function as a three position and/or a five or seven position switch. Including the home position it could function as a four position, six position, or eight position switch. 
     Using finger box  112  as a three position switch, first position is obtained by depressing vertical key  122  downwards, and by deforming key dome  120  and making contact with contacts  118 . Second position is obtained by horizontally urging horizontal lever  124  forward thereby pivoting horizontal lever  123  about slot joints  138 , thereby depressing key dome  120  and closing contacts  118 . Similarly, third position is obtained by horizontally urging horizontal lever  125  backwards thereby pivoting horizontal lever  125  about slot joint  138 , thereby deforming key dome  120  and making contacts  118  closed. 
     Finger box  112 , in addition to the three positions described above, has four additional positions; namely, vertically urging vertical key  122  and then urging horizontal lever  124  forward, thereby closing two key domes  120  consecutively. In the fifth position, vertical key  122  is urged downwards and then the horizontal lever  125  is urged backwards, thereby closing two key domes  120  and closing two pairs of contacts  118  consecutively. Reversing the sequence of closings gives two more positions. In this manner, finger box  112  has as many as seven discrete positions, and eight discrete positions including the neutral position. 
     If additional functions are required, finger switches  114  are installed in close proximity to finger boxes  112 , and they are actuated by simply pushing vertically downwards on vertical button  126  which moves slidably within button guide  133 , thereby deforming key dome  120  closing contacts  118 . 
     Contacts  18  or  118  and as discussed herein may be of the standard touch contact type and/or they may be infra red contacts and/or radio frequency type switches and/or they may be optical type contacts. Contacts  18  or  118  may be any type known in the art to be used for this type of switch. Non mechanical contact mechanisms such as radio frequency switches or optical switches are preferable to improve the dependability and longevity of the contacts. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, ergonomic keyboard  10  and  110  includes palm/wrist pads, shown generally as  52  in FIG.  2 . Palm/wrist pad  52  includes a hand rest  53 , a control stick  54 , four horizontal levers  35 , slot spot joints  38 , four lever contacts  40 , four lever keys  28 , four key guides  30 , four key domes  20 , and four contacts  18 . 
     Control stick  54  is attached to keyboard housing  16  via a ball and socket joint  56  as shown in FIG.  2 . Palm/wrist pad  52  has five positions shown in FIG. 2; namely; a neutral position or the default position  90 , forward position  82 , rearward position  84 , right position  86 , and left position  88 . The forward, right, rearward, and left positions are obtained in an analogous fashion as follows. For example, if one wishes to obtain the rearward position the hand or wrist is placed on hand rest  53 , and is moved in such a manner to urge control stick  54  backwards, thereby urging horizontal lever  35  backwards pivoting it about slot joint  38 , thereby making lever  35  contact with lever key  28 , thereby urging lever key downwardly, deforming key dome  20 , closing contacts  18 . Control stick  54  pivots about ball and socket joint  56 , and horizontal lever  35  pivots about slot joint  38 . In analogous fashion by moving hand rest  53  forward, the forward position can be obtained and similarity, the right position  86  can be actuated and the left position  88  can be actuated. In this manner, by selecting a palm/wrist pad position  52 , finger boxes  112  or finger boxes  12  can take on additional functions depending upon the palm/wrist pad position  52 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, which is a presently preferred embodiment of palm/wrist pad shown generally as  152 , and includes hand rest  153 , control stick  154 , lever contacts  40 , lever key  128 , key guide  30 , contact  18 , ball and socket joint  56 , and key dome  20 . Palm/wrist pad  152  operate in an analogous fashion to the palm/wrist pad  52 , shown in FIG.  2 . The major difference is that control stick  154  has rigidly attached to it and integrally connected levers which is not the case with palm/wrist pad  52 . Utilizing this design eliminates the need for horizontal levers  35  shown in FIG. 2 as well as slot joints  38 . Therefore, by incorporating horizontal levers  35  directly into control stick  54  as shown as the new control stick  154  in FIG. 5, enough of the components have been eliminated making the design much simpler. Again, hand rest  153  can be moved into four positions, forward position  182 , rearward position  184 , right position  186 , left position  188  by urging hand rest  153  in the appropriate direction. The contacts are activated in an analogous fashion to palm/wrist pad  52  by urging lever key  28  slidably along key guide  30  to deform key dome  20 , thereby closing contacts  18 . 
     For example, forward position  182  may invoke capital letters and other functions. Rearward position  184  may invoke numbers, calculations, mathematics and calculations. If needed, right  186  and left  188  positions may invoke signs and symbols used by the different trades and professions. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, which shows the presently preferred embodiment of ergonomic keyboard  10  in a schematic fashion as the cross-sectional view through finger switch  114 , finger box  112 , and palm/wrist pad  152 . This figure shows one potential arrangement of the finger switches, finger boxes, and palm/wrist pads that are possible. 
     FIG. 7 shows a printed circuit diagram  202  showing a portion of the wiring required for the finger boxes, finger switches, and palm/wrist pads. 
     FIG. 8 shows the other portion of the printed circuit diagram  204  which is used in conjunction with printed circuit diagram  202  in order to provide for contacts  18 , which are actuated by finger boxes  112 , finger switches  114 , and palm/wrist pads  152 . 
     It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.