WO2003021419A1

WO2003021419A1 - Ergonomic data entry and pointer interface or an integrated keyboard/mouse device

Info

Publication number: WO2003021419A1
Application number: PCT/MX2002/000079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Deisler Rigoberto DE LEÓN VARGAS
Original assignee: De Leon Vargas Deisler Rigober
Priority date: 2001-09-03
Filing date: 2002-08-13
Publication date: 2003-03-13
Also published as: MXPA01008830A

Abstract

The invention relates to a computer device which combines a keyboard and two mice in one single device, said device replacing the standard keyboard and mouse. The purpose of the ergonomic design of the inventive device is to reduce the time and movements required when working with the keyboard and mouse and to improve the comfort of the user in order to reduce fatigue and increase productivity. Time is reduced by eliminating the need for the user's hands to be moved in order to use the mouse, the alphanumeric keyboard, the function keys, the directional keys, etc. According to the invention, all of the keys are brought within reach of the fingers on two devices, one for each hand, which prevent any additional movements on the user's part and replace the standard keyboard and mouse. Moreover, the number of keys is almost halved in comparison with the standard keyboard which comprises more than 100 keys. The inventive device, which comprises 52 keys and 144 different combinations, provides all the functions of a standard keyboard with fewer keys as well as offering the possibility of adding additional functions. Said device is primarily intended for use by persons using computers, such as programmers, graphic designers, writers and other general users so that work can be performed more quickly and comfortably than with the standard keyboard and mouse.

Description

INTERFACE ERGONO ICA DATA ENTRY AND POINTER OR

INTEGRATION OF THE KEYBOARD AND THE MOUSE IN A SINGLE DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, computers use the keyboard (keyboard) and mouse (mouse) as the two main means for communication between the user and the computer.

One of the main problems that these devices have is that they work completely independently of each other.

The description of the problem: It is done when a user tries to use the keyboard in the most efficient way possible, with the writing technique known as typing (typing refers to the technique to write the alphabet keys (A - Z), which requires that both hands be used, placing the palms of the hands in defined areas to use the keyboard, the problem is because you can not keep your hands in one place because you must move one of the two hands to You can use the mouse, and after moving it and selecting what you want, you put your hand back in its place to use the keyboard.

The previous problem is due to the fact that you constantly have to move the keyboard hand towards the mouse to be able to use the 2 devices and vice versa (move the mouse's hand towards the keyboard) which after spending several hours using these 2 devices would reach be very tired

The problem of typing is not only found when using the mouse, but also when using the keyboard itself, because the typing covers only the keys (A to Z). Typing does not include the function keys that go from the Fl to the F12, as with the page keys, directional, alphanumeric, etc.

The previous problem, also refers to the keys of additional functions such as Control (CTRL) and ALT, which are not included in the typing, in which, it is not so necessary to move the hand to reach the keys, but still so it is always quite uncomfortable to use them.

The standard size of the keyboard is inefficient, because not all people have hands of the same size, which makes the technique of typing inefficient. In the current market there are 4 different types of mouse:

1) standard mouse

2) trac ball

3) touspad 4) pointer and various types of keyboards and none of the devices improves or avoids these problems.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This invention consists: In the keyboard integration

(keyboard), with the common mouse (mouse) in a single device, which replaces the common keyboard and mouse.

It is designed for the use of the main types of computers, for example: IBM PC, APPLE, SILICON GRAPHICS, COMODOR, etc.

The purpose of this device is: TO). Improve the speed of data capture. Significantly reduces the number of movements currently made on the current keyboard and mouse.

B). Improve user performance Ergonomically designed for the hands, improves user comfort, reducing fatigue, forcing it to maintain a relaxed position.

C). Two mice or mouses, operate independently allowing to be used by people both right and left handed or ambidextrous.

D). Reorganization of the keys. The new reorganization reduces the number of keys, allowing you to learn the order of all the keys without the need to see the device to reach any of the keys unlike the current keyboard and mouse.

E). Distance of the keys according to the finger that will be used. The distances between the keys and the fingers have been adjusted according to the length measured by the fingers of the hand.

The ergonomic design, reorganizes the keys and all the functions, where the fingers can always reach them and thus the palm of the hand has a specific and comfortable place, where there is no need to move or remove the hand from its place, which allows learn the order of all the keys, without the need to see the device to reach any. This will allow to have always the sight in the monitor.

The reorganization of the keys is done in two parts, each part requires the use of the 5 fingers of the hand, it has 26 keys and its own mouse, for each hand, making a total of 52 keys and 2 mice. (The number of keys compared to the common keyboard is reduced). DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The details and features of this novel device are clearly shown in the following description and in the accompanying drawings. The size of the device varies according to the size of each person's hands.

Description of FIGURE 1 and 2 It shows the devices in two parts Pl and P2, seeing them from above, it also shows the organization of the keys, and the additional values.

Each part will have 26 keys organized in 2 groups, for purposes of this description, a group that has 8 keys will call them thumbs (they are used only by the thumb) and the other that has 18 will call them writing keys.

Description of the table 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 of the write keys, show the 144 possible combinations that can be made with this device using the change keys. (The change keys are explained later), there are also several keys that repeat their usefulness.

First column - Number: Each key will have a specific number, which will identify it for purposes only of this description. Second column - Hand: The column specifies which hand the keys correspond to.

Third column - Finger: The organization of the keys has been made so that each finger of the hand has a series of specific keys. Fourth column - Code: Used to identify combinations of change keys, (keys that do not they have code, they do not require it), the keys that do not have code are organized like a typewriter or common keyboard, for the use of the technique called typing. Fifth Column - Normal letter: Shows the list of normal keys, those that are not altered by the shift; It also shows blank keys because it has no use.

Sixth Column - Letter shift: Shows the result of the keys being modified by the SHIFT function; It also shows blank keys because it has no use.

Specially defined keys.

T25 - Caps Lock: This key is activated, turn off the key

IT DA code: as long as it was on before activating the T25 and also changes the lowercase keys to uppercase of the writing area; otherwise, if the T25 is deactivated, it will turn ON the TI code DA :, as long as it was previously turned on before activating the T25 and changes the capitalization keys to lowercase.

TI - DA Code - Num Lock: Changes the keyboard to alphanumeric, the keys in the right hand. Leave key T37 permanent when activated. TI - DC Code - Scroll UP: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page upwards (it is in the mouse).

T2 - DC Scroll Left Code: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page to the left, (it is in the mouse). T3 - DC Code - Mouse botton 3: It is the tertiary button or middle button of the common mouse.

T4 - DC Scroll Right Code: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page to the right, (it is in the mouse). T7 - Code - DC Scroll down: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page down, (it is in the mouse).

T8 - DC Code - Mouse botton 1: It is the common mouse primary button.

UNCLE - DC code - Mouse Botton 2: It is the common secondary mouse button.

T21 - IC Code Scroll Left: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page to the left, (it is in the mouse).

T22 - IC Code - Mouse botton 3: It is the tertiary button or middle button of the common mouse.

T23 - DC Scroll Right Code: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page to the right, (it is in the mouse).

T24 - IC Code - Scroll UP: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page up, (it is in the mouse).

T27 - IC code - Mouse Botton 2: It is the common secondary mouse button.

T29 - IC Code - Mouse botton 1: It is the common mouse primary button.

T30 - Code - Scroll down: This button is called Scroll bar, which usually serves to move a page down, (it is in the mouse).

Description of figures 3 and 4: Shows the keys that are used by the thumb, in addition to the value added to the keys.

Description of table 1 of the thumb keys.

First Column - number: Each key will have a specific number, which will identify it for purposes only of this description.

Second column - Hand: This column specifies to which hand the keys of the thumb correspond. Third column - Name: It shows the list of names of the keys of the thumb that are classified in 2 types, for purposes of this description we will call them Change keys and Data keys (each type is explained later). Fourth column - Code: It shows the list of codes of the keys that are of change and of data, the keys of change are those that have code which has relation with the codes of tables 2-1, 2-2, 2- 3, 2-4, and the data keys have no code. Description of the change keys:

They are only the keys number T37, T38, T39, T43, T45, T46, T47, T51 They are called the keys and they require a second key to get some reaction and also requires that this key is being pressed to be used with a key of the writing area.

Description of each change key:

T37 - Numeric: It serves to use the area known as

Alpha Numeric, on the common keyboard. T38 - Pages: It operates the keys keys page keys, which are insert (insert), delete (delete), start (home), end (end), back page (Pag up), advance page (Pag down)

T39 - Mouse: Activate mouse functions. T43 - Shift: works as the shift on the right side of the common keyboard.

T45 - numbers: Operates the numbers that are normally on common keyboards, in the upper area of the writing or letters. T46 - functions: It operates the function keys of a common keyboard, which go from the Fl key to the F12, but would allow it to be up to F15.

T47 - Mouse: Activate mouse functions.

T51 - Shift: works as the shift on the left side of the common keyboard. Description of the Data Keys: they are the keys T40, T41, T42, T44, T48, T49, T50, T52, that work normally (they do not require a second key to work) are like those of the common keyboard.

Description of each data key:

T40 - Enter: is equal to the enter, which is in the common keyboard writing area.

T41 - Control: is equal to the CTRL, which is on the right side, in the writing area of the common keyboard.

T42 - Backspace: is the same as the backspace key, which is in the common keyboard writing area.

T43 - Shift: is the same as the key used to change the letters (Shift), which is on the right side, in the writing area of the common keyboard.

T44 - Right-button: The key that is used in the keyboard as the right mouse button.

T48 - Esc: is equal to Esc, of the common keyboard. T49 - Alt: is equal to Alt, which is on the left side in the common keyboard writing area.

T50 - space: is equal to the key that is used for space (space), which is in the common keyboard writing area.

T51 - Shift: is the same as the key used to change the letters (Shift), which is on the left side, in the writing area of the common keyboard.

T52 - Win: It is the key used by the sign of Microsoft

Windows or indows window, which applies the function of the start button.

Description of the indicator lights.

The indicator lights are shown in the figures, they serve to indicate the changes in the keys permanently until the permanence is removed, they will be turned off. Ll: Illuminates when the T25 key is activated

L2: Illuminates when the TI key is activated - DA code

L3: Illuminates when the T25 key is activated

L4: Illuminates when this key is activated T17 - DC code: or key T32 - IC code.

Description of Figures 5 and 6 Show the front views.

Description of figures 7 and 8: They show the two parts seen from a rear view, in addition to the additional values.

Description of Figures 9 and 10 Show the two profile view parts.

Description of figures 11 and 12 They show the two parts seen from profile.

Description of the figures 13: They show the two parts seen from above, it also shows how the hands are placed on the device and the fingers that should be used for each group of keys, describing the order of how the fingers should be placed for the groups of keys of the right hand. Dl = index, D2 = index, D3 = medium, D4 = annular, D5 = little finger, D6 = little finger, D7 = Thumb; Description of the order of how the fingers should be placed for the groups of keys of the left hand: Dll = index, D12 = index, D13 = medium, D14 = annular, D15 = little finger, D16 = little finger, D10 = Thumb; Description of D9 and D8: they indicate where the rest for the hands is.

Description of Figure 14: shows the movements of the device to move the pointer. Due to the ergonomic design of this device, it is intended for personal use such as footwear, because the device depends on the size of the user's hand, that means that if another user tried to use this device and was not a device of its size, whether its hands are larger or smaller, the device instead of being comfortable and ergonomic, would rather be uncomfortable and inefficient, because the user who tried to use this device and was not appropriate to the size of his hand, and had his hand smaller than the size of the device, the distance of his fingers would not reach the keys, since the design of the same is made, so that it fits perfectly to the size that corresponds to it, otherwise the person who uses this device or had a hand larger than the size of the device, would exceed the distance to touch the keys, in which case it would happen that the t eclas and could not use this device properly.

The two independent mice allow a right or left-handed person to use this device as a mouse, but additionally if ambidextrous people want to use this device, they could get more out of it, using the two mice at the same time, because the two mice work independent way.

Operation of the device.

The palm of the hand should be placed on the rest, the fingers are placed in the writing area, and the thumb in its place as shown in figure 13.

The organization of the keys of writing (without code TABLE 2-1) is established as well as in the common keyboard, for the easy use of the typing, which do not require any change key. To use any key that has code, you must keep pressed the corresponding code key plus the desired key, (It works the same as the shift function) which changes the writing keys by the keys with the desired code in the corresponding hand.

Example: To use the Fl key, you must hold down the T46 key, which changes all the left hand writing keys by the function keys, to obtain the fl key, only the T32 key is pressed, this would activate the key Fl and after that you must release the keys to return the keyboard to its original condition. Each of the parties has its own mouse or pointing device that work independently. For use as a mouse, the device must be moved on a flat surface which will move the pointer, as shown in FIGURE 14.

The device can be moved when it is being written. Example: To use the device as a mouse, you must move the devices of the hand you want to use as a mouse by placing the pointer over what you want and to use the mouse click press T47 or T39, depending on the hand that is being used as a mouse; in this case we would be using the right hand, which would be the key T39 which is kept pressed until pressing the key T8 then results in the mouse click, after that we can release the keys T8, followed by the T39. The above means that to use a specific group of keys, for example, the alphanumeric key is pressed with the right hand with the thumb on the key T39 code DA, which means that all the keys that go from the T01 to the the key T18 will change by the keys that have DA code, that means for example that the letter (J) number T8, will be changed by the number 4 of the alphanumeric. The size of the device varies according to the size of each person's hands.

The use that could be given to this device, is being used by people who work for a long time, replacing the keyboard and the mouse, as is the case of programmers, graphic designers, writers, etc; where those jobs require a team of constant use, and which help them to improve their level of performance, in processes such as writing and moving the pointer.

TABLE 1

TABLE 2-1

TABLE 2-2

TABLE 2-3

TABLE 2-4

Claims

ClaimsI have sufficiently described my invention, I consider it as a novelty and therefore claim as my exclusive property, what is contained in the following clauses:

1. Protection over the invention of a device, which is the integration of a conventional keyboard and a common mouse in a single device, which improves the speed of the user, because it prevents movements, which are necessary with previous devices such as The keyboard and the mouse.

2. Protection on the structure of the organization of the keys in groups using 6 keys of additional functions with which the writing keys are used as well as their separation in two parts represented for the 2 hands, the groupings to which it refers it is the use of the writing keys by means of another key or function which changes its original function by another, in this case it refers to the function keys, page keys, directionals, and - the functions for mouse buttons, for each hand.

3. Protection on the integration of a keyboard and one or two mice in the same device designed especially for the hands of the user according to the size of the hands.

4. Protection on the ergonomic design of the device, on how to place the keys, for the use of the hands, the direction of the keys and the distance between the keys and the fingers, according to the size of the device and the size from the user's hands.