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WO1993018500A1 - Clavier d'ordinateur - Google Patents

Clavier d'ordinateur Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993018500A1
WO1993018500A1 PCT/US1993/001873 US9301873W WO9318500A1 WO 1993018500 A1 WO1993018500 A1 WO 1993018500A1 US 9301873 W US9301873 W US 9301873W WO 9318500 A1 WO9318500 A1 WO 9318500A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
keyboard
user
keys
thumb
cursor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1993/001873
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alan H. Grant
Original Assignee
Grant Alan H
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/846,710 external-priority patent/US5339097A/en
Application filed by Grant Alan H filed Critical Grant Alan H
Priority to AU37851/93A priority Critical patent/AU3785193A/en
Publication of WO1993018500A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993018500A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
    • G06F3/0202—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
    • G06F3/0219—Special purpose keyboards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
    • G06F3/0202—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
    • G06F3/021—Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
    • G06F3/0213—Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/028—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering on planes with different or alterable inclination, e.g. convex plane

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a V-shaped keyboard for
  • ⁇ 5 a computer having first and second sides joined at a center peak or alternately spaced from each other to form an inverted-V and sloping downward and away from each other.
  • Office equipment utilizing a video display and keyboard input is Known.
  • the widespread use of these devices has proven that, in many cases, severe physical strain results from their daily use.
  • Many attempts have 15 been made to reduce the strain caused by these devices by positioning the keyboard, display screen, and other associated components appropriately. None of these solutions has been completely successful.
  • U.S. Patent 4,562,482 shows an executive work station wherein an attempt has been made to accommodate the requirements of a person wearing bifocal spectacles.
  • U.S. Patent 3,990,565 shows a typewriter having an attachment for providing a keyboard in two sections.
  • One factor producing increased tension is that the typical word processing or personal computer keyboard has approximately 85 keys (or even more) , compared with no more than 60 keys for a typewriter. An operator is
  • U.S. Patent 4,562,482 (Brown) is concerned only with the angular extent of a bifocal segment and the optimum distance for focusing when viewing through that segment.
  • U.S. Patent 3,990,565 (Brown) is concerned only with the angular extent of a bifocal segment and the optimum distance for focusing when viewing through that segment.
  • a preferred keyboard is designed such that a user may acquire total tactile familiarity with the keyboard, thus enabling the user to copy written material and look at the screen while typing without looking at the keyboard. Operator fatigue and frequency of error are reduced even further where the keyboard is superimposed on the screen and eye movement from screen to keyboard is minimized.
  • One embodiment of the keyboard of the invention is divided at its midpoint by a central peak and the outer portions slant away from the central peak and upwardly away from the user to form a shallow V-shape.
  • the V-shaped keyboard configuration lessens ulnar abducted deviation and permits a relatively straight hand-wrist orientation.
  • the center-peak design also lessens the amount of hand pronation, i.e. the rotation of the hands from a comfortable vertical posture into an uncomfortable horizontal posture.
  • the V-shaped arrangement enables the forearms to be separated, allowing for unobstructed visual access to a copy-viewing area placed centrally directly below the keyboard, as in the computer workstation of the invention. Strain on the hands and wrists is minimized and occupationally-induced injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, are avoided.
  • the space bar is placed on the front edge of the keyboard and is activated by thumb pressure either vertically (conventionally) , horizontally or at a selected angle. When the space bar is activated horizontally, the thumb moves in a natural grasping motion toward the forefinger.
  • the keyboard for the computer is used with the hands of a user disposed substantially in a prehensile position with the thumb opposed to the fingers in a grasping position.
  • the keyboard includes a first slanting keyboard surface for locating keys to be activated by a user's left hand adjacent and sloping downwardly away from a second slanting keyboard surface for locating keys to be activated by a user's right hand.
  • the first and second keyboard surfaces are joined at a peaked central edge forming a V-shape which slopes downwardly toward a user and laterally away from the user. Twelve numbered function keys are positioned in a circular array toward an outward end of the first keyboard surface. A keypad for locating numeric keys is positioned toward an outward end of the second keyboard surface.
  • a cursor control unit on a front surface of the keyboard, below the space bar, is used for controlling the movement of a cursor and is operated by the thumb of the user in a direction transverse to the direction of operation of the keys.
  • the space bar may also be operated in the transverse direction or at a selected angle. Ulnar abduction and hand pronation are reduced by using the keyboard, thus reducing the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • the keyboard may be supported on a workstation cabinet by a track which permits it to be moved along the video screen toward and away from the user.
  • the keys preferably lie on a surface which is sloped downward toward the user by approximately 15° to 25° with respect to the horizontal.
  • the keyboard is divided at its midpoint by a central spine and the outer portions slant away from the central spine and upwardly away from the user to form a shallow V-shape.
  • the spine area widens out as it approaches the user.
  • cursor-mover control buttons Located in the separation of the two keyboard portions are at least two cursor-mover control buttons in the horizontal plane of the keyboard.
  • the cursor- mover control buttons have an oval shape with a long axis of the button extending parallel to the rear of the
  • a track ball located on a vertical front surface is
  • the hands of the operator are placed in a natural prehensile posture for utilization of the thumbs to actuate the track ball, while the forefingers move towards the thumbs in actuating the cursor-move control buttons.
  • 20 forefinger actuation of the cursor-mover control buttons can either be simultaneous or sequential to the thumb actuation of the track ball.
  • An object of this invention is to provide a unique keyboard wherein keys operated by fingers are on a first surface and keys operated by a thumb are on a transverse surface.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a work station in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a partial side view of a second embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a partial side view of a third embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 5 is a partial view of a work station in accordance with the invention providing electronic projection of a work document.
  • Figure. 6 is a perspective view of a removable cartridge for use in the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 7 is a top plan view of a preferred keyboard of the invention.
  • Figure 8 is a front elevation view of a keyboard of Figure 7.
  • Figure 9 is a left side view of the keyboard of Figure 7.
  • Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 7.
  • Figure 11 is a schematic top plan view of a workstation of the invention using the keyboard shown in Figure 7.
  • Figure 12 is a partial front elevation view of a keyboard similar to the keyboard of Figure 8 having a ball-shaped cursor control unit.
  • Figure 13 is a schematic view showing use of a keyboard of Figure 12 with the hands in prehensile position.
  • Figure 14 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a keyboard.
  • Figure 15 is a perspective view of the keyboard shown in Figure 14.
  • Figure 16 is a schematic view showing use of a keyboard of Figure 14 with the hands in a prehensile position.
  • Figure 17 is a front view of the keyboard shown in Figure 14.
  • a keyboard of the invention particularly reduces the onset and severity of, or prevents entirely, the repetitive strain injury known as carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as other neurological or orthopedic malfunctions, such as tendinitis and tenosynovitis, which can also be related to usage of a flat/rectangular keyboard.
  • These malfunctions, particularly carpal tunnel syndrome occur when using a flat/rectangular computer keyboard which requires the hands to be fully pronated into the horizontal plane and ulnar-deviated outward at the hand-wrist junction, with a finger-flexed position. In this position, there is mechanical compression of the median nerve against the transverse carpal ligament (complicated by venous congestion) as the median nerve passes from the forearm into the hand. In this position, percussion of each key is executed in a direction which is essentially away from the action and the range of motion of the opposable thumb.
  • the hands are advantageously in a prehensile orientation with the ventral surfaces of the thumb and fingers of each hand in opposed positions similar to the positions used for grasping a small object between the thumb and a finger.
  • Prehensility because it increases the total tactile familiarity with the keyboard, can reduce the level of visual demand to accomplish the task as well as reducing the_ stress on the fingers, hands and wrists.
  • a moderately center-peaked keyboard of the invention having keyboard halves which slope downwardly and away from each other in a V-shape (having the apex of the V toward the user) allows the hands to be positioned in the optimum prehensile position with a straight hand-wrist posture.
  • This position is substantially stressless when compared with the hand position used for operating a conventional keyboard because it permits a relatively straight hand-wrist position and less hand pronation.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome and other neurological or orthopedic malfunctions are not likely to be manifested while using the keyboard described.
  • a keyboard of the invention may further include a cursor control unit which is positioned on a surface substantially transverse to the key surface. This allows the user to actuate the cursor control unit in a natural grasp/palmar pinch motion with the hands in a prehensile position, without having to fle the fingers during use and without having to move either hand away from base position on the keyboard.
  • the cursor control unit is operated by the user's thumbs by pressing the unit inward in a direction transverse to the direction of operation of the keys of the keyboard. Pressure on a portion of the unit causes the cursor to move on the display screen in the direction of the portion of the unit pressed.
  • the cursor control unit may include a concave or convex (trackball) surface which rotates around a universal joint and pressure of both thumbs, either reinforcing or opposing each other may be used.
  • FIG. 1 shows a workstation in accordance with the invention.
  • a cabinet 2 includes a video display screen 4, a work document display area 6 and keyboard 10.
  • a central processing unit (not shown) may be supported in the cabinet 2 or may be separate.
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and illustrates a first embodiment for allowing viewing of a work document 14.
  • Cabinet 2 is supported by a stand 16 which provides a slot for receiving a document 14.
  • Document 14 is placed in the slot under cabinet 2 by either sliding it in from the side, the rear, or the front, depending on the particular arrangement.
  • a platen (not shown) may be used to continuously scroll a work document.
  • the optimum arrangement for compliance with physiological demands is to permit depression of the operator's head below a horizontal line by 15° to 20° and to provide for a depression of gaze below the angle of depression of the head by an additional 40° to 45°.
  • the total depression below a horizontal plane would be 55° to 65°.
  • the head is preferably oriented downwardly with respect to a horizontal plane and the eyes are oriented further downwardly by movement with respect to the head. It is the resultant combination of head and depression of gaze which provides the most comfortable working position.
  • the apparatus shown in Figure 2 provides an optimum working position by positioning the display screen 4 and keyboard 10 to reduce physiologic strain during the operation of the apparatus.
  • Display screen 4 is placed so that line 18, connecting the eyes of the operator with a midpoint of the video display screen, is preferably approximately 45° below a horizontal line 20. In the preferred embodiment, this occurs when the operator's chin is even with the bottom of a glare-reducing hood 8.
  • the angular extent of the display screen with respect to the operator is preferably no more than about 20°, or 10° on either side of the line 18.
  • Keyboard 10 is located below the display screen, and line 22 connects a midpoint of the keyboard with the operator's eyes when the keyboard is at its lowermost position.
  • Line 22 is preferably approximately 60° below the horizontal, and the keyboard has a small angular extent.
  • the document viewing area 6 is just below keyboard 10 and requires little additional vertical angular excursion of the operator's eyes for viewing of a document.
  • Figure 2 shows an embodiment wherein a fluorescent lamp 28 illuminates document 14.
  • a magnified image of the document is viewed through a magnifying lens 30.
  • This lens is preferably cylindrical, extends across the work document display area 6, and may be made of any of several materials, for example, glass or plastic.
  • magnifying lens 30 is a Fresnel lens. In this embodiment, the operator will see a magnified image of document 14 in display area 6, and the document may be moved in any direction to show different sections of the document.
  • Figure 3 shows a second embodiment wherein document 14 is viewed directly.
  • Lamp 28 illuminates the area containing the document, and the document is viewed directly through a transparent door 32.
  • the door may be hinged at 34 to permit direct access to the document through the front of the cabinet or a cartridge such as that described below.
  • the lens 30 of Figure 2 may be similarly hinged.
  • the display area 6, may alternatively be open, without any transparent screen or magnifying lens.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment wherein an image of document 14 is projected onto a screen 36.
  • a collimating lens 38 directs light from lamp 28 onto document 14. While the light is shown confined to a somewhat narrow area, it will be appreciated that it is within the contemplation of the invention for the light from lamp 28 to extend completely across the entire work document 14.
  • a projection lens system 40 receives the light reflected from the work document 14 and projects an erect image thereof onto screen 36 for viewing by the operator.
  • Figure 5 shows another alternative for viewing a document 14.
  • An electronic imaging device 62 such as a CCD camera, scans an image of document 14 and transmits signals representative of the document image to a central processing unit, e.g. the CPU of the computer.
  • the processing unit receives these signals and generates signals to control the video screen to reproduce the image of document 14 on screen 4.
  • the reproduced image is preferably located at an area such as that shown at 64 at the top of screen 4. Other locations may be found to be useful, and controls (not shown) are preferably provided to the user whereby the position of the electronic image can be changed.
  • Imaging device 62 reduces even further the required angular excursion for the operator's eyes and eliminates the necessity for separate viewing area 6.
  • Figure 6 shows a cartridge 24 which may be removably received in cabinet 2 and includes an operating lever 26 for controlling a projection lens system, such as that shown at 40 in Figure 4, to focus an image of document 14 on the display area 6.
  • a projection lens system such as that shown at 40 in Figure 4
  • FIG. 6 shows a cartridge 24 which may be removably received in cabinet 2 and includes an operating lever 26 for controlling a projection lens system, such as that shown at 40 in Figure 4, to focus an image of document 14 on the display area 6.
  • a projection lens system such as that shown at 40 in Figure 4
  • keyboard 10 is mounted on racks 43 whereby it may be moved with respect to the cabinet 2 and consequently with respect to the screen 4. Accordingly, keyboard 10 may be placed at any desired location depending upon the individual operator's preference and the location of the document 14 or other work items. It will be appreciated that the setup described in figures 1 through 6 greatly reduces the angular excursions required by the operator when performing work to comply with the physiological requirements discussed above to greatly increase the operator's comfort.
  • area 8 may be adapted to contain a central processing unit and may include such devices as disk readers and/or internal memory devices. Area 8 is above and extends outwardly from the top of the video display screen 4 to a point vertically beyond the bottom of the screen to shield the screen from the room lights to reduce reflections from the face of display screen 4.
  • side panels such as that shown at 58 in figure 5, may be provided to extend along the sides of the display screen 4 to block light incident from the aides which would tend to create additional glare on screen 4.
  • keyboard 102 includes a plurality of keys 104 arranged in the normal layout of a "QWERTY" typewriter keyboard. Keys 104 are located on keyboard halves 106 and 108 which are joined at central peak 110. Keyboard halves 106 and 108 slope downwardly away from each other on either side of central peak 110.
  • Figures 7 and 8 show keyboard 102 including calculator mnemonic 112 at its right end.
  • the keys bearing numbers are arranged as known in the art, and in addition, key 114, bearing numeral 1, functions as the "END" key; key 116, bearing the numeral 3, functions as the "PAGE DOWN" key; key 118, bearing the numeral
  • key 120 functions as the "HOME” key; and key 120, bearing the numeral 9, additionally functions as the "PAGE UP” key. Further keys are arranged around the calculator mnemonic 112 so that they are easily reached by fingers of the right hand.
  • the left end of keyboard 102 contains a clock-face mnemonic 122.
  • Clock-face mnemonic 122 includes the twelve function keys Fl through F12 arranged in a circle, as in a clock face. Thus, Fl is at the one o'clock position and F12 is at the twelve o'clock position, with the other function keys correspondingly arranged.
  • the center of the clock face is divided into three segments.
  • CONTROL key 124, ALTERNATE key 126 and SHIFT key 128 each occupy a respective 120° segment of the central portion of clock face mnemonic 122.
  • Use of the function keys generally requires use of either the CONTROL, ALTERNATE or SHIFT key simultaneously or in quick succession with the function key being used.
  • a user having acquired total tactile familiarity with the keyboard will readily be able to touch-type the combinations associated with use of the function keys.
  • known systems require the user to look at the keyboard when using the function keys, and significant time is lost in searching for the keys needed.
  • Figure 10 is a cross-section through clock face mnemonic 122, showing domed upper surfaces 130 on functions keys F6, F9 and F12.
  • Function key F3 also has a domed upper surface.
  • keys at the three o'clock, six o'clock, nine o'clock and twelve o'clock positions have domed surfaces 130 to facilitate total tactile familiarity with the clock-face mnemonic. Placement of fingers on domed surfaces 130 immediately communicates to the user that the proper positions have been reached. In this way, a user may develop total tactile familiarity with the keyboard and may thus need only observe the screen and the copy without diverting his gaze to the keyboard.
  • Keyboard 102 also includes V-shaped space bar 132 which is located at the central forward edge of keyboard 102.
  • Space bar 132 may be activated either by pressing vertically on upper surface 134, by pressing horizontally on front surface 136, or by pressing at a selected angle between the vertical and horizontal directions.
  • pressure on front surface 136 allows the user to press space bar 132 with a natural "grasping" motion of the thumb toward the forefinger.
  • a further aid to gaining total tactile familiarity with keyboard 102 is the CAPS LOCK key 138. This key performs the function of a SHIFT key when pressed in its central portion 140. Outer portions 142 and 144 of key 138 are raised, as shown in Figure 7, and the key is pivotally mounted to the keyboard base.
  • a cursor control unit 146 (see figure 8) is located on the vertical front face of keyboard 102 below central peak 110.
  • the linkage of the cursor control unit is, for example, similar to that of a track ball mouse or a joy stick.
  • Cursor control unit 146 controls cursor movement according to a clock face system. Pressure on different parts of cursor control unit 146 moves the cursor in different directions. For example, pressure on the twelve o'clock position of cursor control unit 146 moves the cursor upwards, pressure on the three o'clock position moves the cursor to the right and pressure on the nine o'clock position moves the cursor to the left. Pressure on other positions of cursor control unit 146 moves the cursor in corresponding directions.
  • the cursor control unit may be activated by either thumb pressing inward toward its respective forefinger, or both thumbs being used together to effect a fine movement control over the cursor. One thumb, thus, acts as a counterforce to the action of the other thumb.
  • Figure 11 schematically illustrates a particularly advantageous use of keyboard 102 when used with a workstation 150 as described above.
  • Keyboard 102 is mounted for movement over screen 152 and moves up and down with respect to screen 150 on tracks 41 on either side of the screen.
  • the keyboard is provided with a straight upper surface which forms a cursor bar 156.
  • the cursor bar 156 provides a visual guide to the line on which the cursor is moving on the screen.
  • the keyboard may be moved down the screen with the cursor bar aligned with the line being typed. Should the operator need to change his gaze from the copy viewing area to the screen, the cursor bar immediately points out the line being typed, without confusion.
  • the arrangement shown in Figure 11 requires minimal shifting of the operator's gaze from cursor line to keyboard or from the copy viewing area to keyboard.
  • the copy viewing area and the screen there is a maximum shift of 15° between the copy viewing area and the screen and less than 15° from the cursor line at the top of the keyboard to the center of the keys. Viewing the copy viewing area, keyboard, and screen is thus facilitated with minimal shift in gaze. Even if the user does not have total tactile familiarity with the keyboard, efficiency is greatly increased due to the decreased eye strain achieved with the juxtaposition of the three areas.
  • Figure 12 shows a keyboard similar to that shown in Figure 8 in which the cursor control unit 160 is substantially ball-shaped.
  • Cursor control unit 160 has a convex surface which rotates around a universal joint (not shown) and pressure of both thumbs, either reinforcing or opposing each other may be used for moving the cursor.
  • the hands of the user are in prehensile position, as shown in Figure 13, when the ball-shaped cursor control unit is used.
  • the front of the keyboard provides an area where other keys or controls may be located to permit further advantageous use of the grasping motion of the thumb toward the forefinger. All of these actions are accomplished while the hands are in a prehensile position. This ensures greater tactile familiarity and is therefore less visually demanding.
  • a keyboard 200 is shown having keyboard halves 202 and 204.
  • An innermost edge 206, 208 of the keyboards halves 202, 204 is shown located along an edge of a flat central spine 210.
  • the spine 210 is of a triangular shape, tapering inwardly away from the user.
  • the keyboard halves 202, 204 include a plurality of alphanumeric keys and a space bar separated into portions 212, 214.'
  • the two keyboard portions 202, 204 slant away from the central spine 210 and upwardly away from the user, as shown in Figure 17.
  • Cursor-control unit 216 is substantially ball- shaped. Cursor-control unit 216 has a convex surface which rotates around a universal joint (not shown) and pressure of both thumbs either reinforcing or opposing each other may be used for moving the cursor. When a desired position of the cursor is achieved, at least one of the cursor-control switches 218 or 220, is depressed by either forefinger to instruct a computer that a particular function to which the cursor has been moved is desired.
  • the cursor-control switch buttons lie substantially in the plane of the keyboard halves 202, 204.
  • the cursor-control unit 216 is located in a front vertical surface 222 which extends substantially perpendicular to the surface defined by the central spine 210.
  • the hands 224 of an operator are located in a prehensile position with respect to the keyboard 200. This positioning of the hands avoids many of the problems previously described with respect to use of standard-type keyboards.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

Clavier (200) pour ordinateur destiné à être utilisé les mains de l'utilisateur étant placées essentiellement en position de préhension, le pouce à l'opposé des autres doigts. Le clavier (200) est constitué d'un premier plan incliné (202), sur lequel se trouvent les touches devant être actionnées par la main gauche de l'utilisateur, dont l'inclinaison vers le bas forme un angle divergeant par rapport au deuxième plan incliné (204), sur lequel se trouvent les touches devant être actionnées par la main droite de l'utilisateur. Ces premier et deuxième plans (202 et 204) se joignent en formant un arrêt central (210) à l'intersection des deux plans inclinés vers l'utilisateur et vers l'extérieur. Une commande de curseur (216), située sur la partie intérieure du clavier, au-dessus de la barre d'espacement, permet à l'utilisateur de commander le mouvement d'un curseur avec son pouce dans un sens bien perpendiculaire à l'ordonnancement des touches. La configuration de ce clavier permet ainsi de prévenir la déviation des doigts du côté cubital et de réduire ainsi l'incidence du syndrome du canal carpien.
PCT/US1993/001873 1992-03-06 1993-03-05 Clavier d'ordinateur WO1993018500A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU37851/93A AU3785193A (en) 1992-03-06 1993-03-05 Computer keyboard

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/846,710 US5339097A (en) 1986-10-21 1992-03-06 Computer keyboard
US846,710 1992-03-06
US93961892A 1992-09-02 1992-09-02
US939,618 1992-09-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993018500A1 true WO1993018500A1 (fr) 1993-09-16

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PCT/US1993/001873 WO1993018500A1 (fr) 1992-03-06 1993-03-05 Clavier d'ordinateur

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996026480A1 (fr) * 1995-02-23 1996-08-29 Audebert Jean Pierre Dispositif d'interface pour unite centrale ou terminal de reseau, clavier, ordinateur portable et accessoire pour console de jeu
US5612691A (en) * 1994-03-11 1997-03-18 Cherry Mikroschalter Gmbh Ergonomic keyboard
GB2311256A (en) * 1996-03-19 1997-09-24 David Gordon Symmetrical keyboard arrangement
WO1998043202A1 (fr) * 1997-03-25 1998-10-01 Gateway 2000, Inc. Dispositif de pointage a roue et boutons pour ordinateur personnel portatif
US5880685A (en) * 1993-07-23 1999-03-09 Weeks; James A. Computer keyboard with accessory platform

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB332476A (en) * 1929-10-14 1930-07-24 Kurt Marloth Improvements in key-boards for typewriters and like machines
GB2034043A (en) * 1978-10-09 1980-05-29 Turnright Controls Improvements in or Relating to Controls for Electrical Circuits
US4891777A (en) * 1983-05-11 1990-01-02 The Laitram Corporation Single hand keyboard arrays providing alphanumeric capabilities from twelve keys
US4928093A (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-05-22 Hewlett-Packard Company Cursor control mechanism

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB332476A (en) * 1929-10-14 1930-07-24 Kurt Marloth Improvements in key-boards for typewriters and like machines
GB2034043A (en) * 1978-10-09 1980-05-29 Turnright Controls Improvements in or Relating to Controls for Electrical Circuits
US4891777A (en) * 1983-05-11 1990-01-02 The Laitram Corporation Single hand keyboard arrays providing alphanumeric capabilities from twelve keys
US4928093A (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-05-22 Hewlett-Packard Company Cursor control mechanism

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, Volume 27, No. 4B, September 1984, T.A. AZELONE, "Mapping the Personal Computer 83 Key-Keyboard to a 62 Key Keyboard". *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5880685A (en) * 1993-07-23 1999-03-09 Weeks; James A. Computer keyboard with accessory platform
US5612691A (en) * 1994-03-11 1997-03-18 Cherry Mikroschalter Gmbh Ergonomic keyboard
WO1996026480A1 (fr) * 1995-02-23 1996-08-29 Audebert Jean Pierre Dispositif d'interface pour unite centrale ou terminal de reseau, clavier, ordinateur portable et accessoire pour console de jeu
US6171187B1 (en) 1995-02-23 2001-01-09 Jean-Pierre Audebert Interface device for central processing unit or network terminal, keyboard, portable computer and accessory for games console
GB2311256A (en) * 1996-03-19 1997-09-24 David Gordon Symmetrical keyboard arrangement
GB2311256B (en) * 1996-03-19 1998-07-29 David Gordon Optimised keying device
WO1998043202A1 (fr) * 1997-03-25 1998-10-01 Gateway 2000, Inc. Dispositif de pointage a roue et boutons pour ordinateur personnel portatif

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