WO2006066364A1

WO2006066364A1 - Keyboard with dynamic change of functions

Info

Publication number: WO2006066364A1
Application number: PCT/BA2005/000007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anto Spajic
Original assignee: Anto Spajic
Priority date: 2004-12-24
Filing date: 2005-12-23
Publication date: 2006-06-29
Also published as: HRP20070214A2

Abstract

The essence of this mouse-keyboard with dynamic change of the functions is in improving the efficiency and speed of the interaction with the computor if the combination of one classic keyboard and one classic mouse is supstituted with combination of two specially constructed mouse-keyboards, presented in this application. Besides the fact that the functionality of this synergy is similar to the combination of classic keyboard and classic mouse, it has an additional value: independent and simultaneous use of two computor mice - one for each hand. If KWDCF is used in portable version, it still enables the user to use 10 fingers for typing, synonim for efficient interaction with the computor and to use computor mice on move, without firm surface as working desk or similar.

Description

KEYBOARDWITHDYNAMIC CHANGE OFFUNCTIONS

Technical field a) possible applying

Informatics , in and outgoing equipment for comunication with computors, b) Technical solution pending for patent protection 1. Insufficient efficiency in combining mouse and keyboard in interaction with computor.

2. interaction with computor without the firm support for the interacting device or for interaction when it's necessary to hold the interacting device in hands (while walking or in an armchair,.,) bl) Solution for the problem 1. Keyboard with the dynamic change of functions ( further on KWDCF ) consists of the following parts:

1. Left keyboard with 5 ergonomically positioned keys with electronic equipment for positioning of the keyboard.

2. Right keyboard with 5 ergonomically positioned keys with electronic equipment for positioning of the keyboard.

3. USB electronic appliance for keyboard-computor communication.

4. Driver for communication wit the computor.

Ad 1 and 2 Keyboards

Left and right keyboards shown on the drawing, picture 3. have the same construction, the only difference is that each is adjusted to one hand ( left and right ), so that further on in the text i shall describe only one ( mouse - keyboard ). Mouse-keyboard is keyboard with one key for each finger. X and Y axis positioner on flat surface is added ( shown on the picture 3. )

Ad 3. Construction of the electronic positioning device is exactly the same as the one of the optic or mechanic mouses.

Ad 4. Information on the use of certain key is sent to the computor or to the driving program by means of USB or some other communication device or cable.

The program interprets the information in the following way: Logic connection between the fingers and and one virtuac cell shown on the drawing picture 2., marked with double outline is as follows: 1. Pressing the small finger equals to Q

2. Pressing the ring finger equals to W

3. Pressing the middle finger equals to E

4. Pressing the index finger equals to R

5. Pressing the thumb equals to T

Since each of the keybboards can be positioned in 6 positions, ( Picture 2), it means that left hand can touch 30 and the right also 30, meaning that 60 keys can be reached with minimal hand moves. This is enough for typing the text in the programs which combine computor graphics and text typing. Since each keyboard is constructed with the positioning device, it can also be used as the regular computor mouse, simply by choosing the option «mouse», shown on the picture 2. At that moment left and right keyboard indicators ( picture 2 ) become inactive and the driver makes two new indicators in the part of the screen used for computor drawing. At that moment keys get the clasic functions of the computor mouse, but in this case, there will be two mice functioning simultaneously and independently. b2) Solution for the problem 2.

By connecting two mouse- keyboards and one flat surface board we can get portable KWDCF keyboard. One mouse-keyboard will be fixed under the board and it would loose the ability to recognize the mouse position. In this way we would get the portable TPDF, because the other mouse-keyboard would get the working surface necessary for its positioning and at the same time the hand holding the board can control 5 keys from the back side. Of course, in this way two mouse function and dynamic change of the position for the back mouse-keyboard wold be blocked, but it would still be possible to use all 10 fingers. It would still be possible to use one mouse and dynamic change of the functions for the upper mouse-keyboard. b3) Ways of production and

The following wys of production ar possible:

1. Two keyboards with 5 keys with positioning function 2. Two keyboards with 5 keys with positioning function and wheel function.

3. TPDF can be made with two keyboards each having more than 5 keys ( as much as the skilled typewritter can grasp with one hand wizt positioning function and wheel function.

4. TPDF version for the portable computers, video projectors, video on demand service or portable version of the TPDF keyboard:

Mouse- keyboards are attached on the flat surface, one fixed on the back side of the flat surface and the other can be moved on the upper side of the flat surface. It dos not matter whether left or right mouse keyboard is fixed on the back side. The main advantage of this keyboard is that it does not need any fixed surface in order to be in function. ( can be use while walking, or sitting relaxed in the armchair )

5. TPDF for mobile appliances ( telephones, palm computors, ... )

Background Art

At tis moment there are several interface solutions at the market:

3. Regular keyboard - difference:

There's limited number of keys ( most often 103 ) and they havent got the dynamic functions ( one key - several functions) 2. Keyboard with track ball - regular keyboard with addition of the track ball - having function of the mouse. Difference:

There's no synergy - no additional value coming out of this way of integration.

4. Joysticks for the computor games. Difference:

If they have an option of working with letters - only one key is used for that function, not five.

5. Computor mouse. Difference:

If they have an option of working with letters - only one key is used for that function, not five. Disclosure of the Invention

Basic principles of the invention to be presented in an understandable way; Taxation of the technical inventions in comparison to the previous status of the technics The most common device for interaction with computors is classic keyboard combined with computor mouse and one could say that this combination has no serious competition.

The main insufficiency of the above mentioned combination is that in majority of the contemporary application one has to seize for the mouse quite often, moving the hand away from the keyboard and losing time for it's proper positioning again. This is more obvious at the persons that do not use all 10 figers for typing.

This patent pending solution tends to improve the efficiency of mixed use of the keyboard and mouse in more demanding applications like following:

1. Softwares for the graphic design ( Corel, Autocad, Catia,... )

2. RAD tools ( Rapid application development ) 3. Computor games demanding mixed use of the keyboard and mouse.

4. People that do not use 10 fingers for writing.

5. Situation when it's impossible to use the classic keyboard and mouse ( while walking, siting away from the table,... )

6. Situations where it's necessary to control many options without looking at the keyboard ( driving the car,... )

One example to explain the synergy of the patent pending solution:

Task: a few dosens of graphic objects have to be collected in a basket using drag and drop method and the basket should get the text description.

Performance: Use both mouse-keyboards as mice and collect all the objects into the basket. By clicking one key on the ( for example key under thumb finger ) right mouse-keyboard switch the function of both mouse-keyboards from mouse to virtual keyboard an type the text description.

The shown scheme has 60 keys, but it is possible to make the scheme with endless number of keys and each user can adjust it according to his individual needs ( can easily be applied in Chinese writing )

The construction can accept addition of the wheel for Z dymension and it can be used in various ways.

Description of the pictures: Page 7

Picture 1.

Description of one of the keyboard options.

This is picture of the scheme in computor's memory ( upon the demand it can be seen on the display ).

This scheme consists of 12 cells, each cell has 5 keys, one for each finger. In one moment only two cells can be active - one for each hand. Each finger has corresponding key - from left to the right, as seen in the active cells. It's possible to combine more keys at the same time, just as at the classic keyboard. ( shift can be pressed by both hands ) Picture 2.

It shows what user can see on the screen.

Page 8

Picture 3.

Shows user's hands and keyboards as well as the keys belonging to the selected positions, corresponding to the picture 2. detailed description of one of the ways of realization of the invention, including examples and drawings.

TPDF consists of two mouse-keyboards with 5 keys each. Each mouse-keyboard has device for positioning on the flat surface, just like those of mechanic or electronic computor mice. Information on the current position of the mouse-keyboard according to the X and Y axes and information on the pressed key ( picture 3 ) are sent through USB computor cable to the TPDF driver in computor's memory. The scheme of the keys functions is integrated in the driver. The scheme has 12 eels, each cell has 5 keys corresponding to 5 keys of one of the mouse- keyboards. ( Picture 1. ) Sequence of the keys corresponds to the sequinceof the fingers.

Way of operating

TPDF function is possibility of pressing all the keys necessary for computor operations, while in mouse mode TPDF mouse-keyboards can be used as two independent computor mice. Typing

In each moment TPDF user grasps 10 keys, or two active cells - cells marked by double surrounding line ( Picture 2 ). It's important to say that user sees the same picture on his screen ( Picture 2 ). Only by minimal hand moves user can select any of the 12 cells on his computor's screen, following the rule. Cells in the column 1 and 2 user controls by his left mouse-keyboard and the cells in the column 3 and 4 by his right mouse-keyboard. According to this, user can easily reach 60 keys only by small hand movements up and down, left and right, which is enough for typong the simple text.

Operating in the mouse mode.

When the optin mouse is activated, user can see two indicators on his computor's screen and he can use two independent mice at the same time. In this way, user can work with the virtual graphic objects in the same way he would do in reality, with real objects. For esample he could shape the virtual object as if he's shapong it in sand with hands, or he could grasp the virtual objects by both hands and put them in the basket, just like in reality when the workers check the quality of the fruit on the moving track. This might speed up the proces for 50%.

Industrial and other possible use. TPDF can be used wherever there's need for improved keyboard-mouse combination in interaction with the computor. Following groups of users can be used as example:

1. Computor grraphic designers,

2. Professional program developers that use visual tools,

3. Players of the computor games and 4. Beginers that do not use 10 fingers for typing.

Claims

1. Keyboard as basic input hardware, the most common and most frequently used device for input of alphanumeric and numeric data, characterized by the fact that it consists of two groups of keys, placed on two physically separated parts.

2. Keyboard according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the distribution of the keys on both parts corresponds to the hand that uses it, minimum five keys for each hand.

3. Keyboard according to the claim 1 and 2 characterized by the fact that each part contains the device for independent position monitoring in two or three space dimensions.

4. Keyboard according to the claim 1 ,2 and 3, characterized by the fact that the processes of the creation of the signs, codes, comes out of unique and undoubtful combination of the position of each of the two above described and independent parts and the pressed keys.