Keyboard and keys

摘要

In a preferred form, a keyboard has a single row of eight multi-position keys with the letters arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard configuration. The eight keys correspond to the eight fingers used when touch typing; each finger operates one key, and that key contains all the letters that the finger normally accesses when touch typing on a standard QWERTY keyboard. With this design, no finger has to move to a different key while typing. When depressed at different locations on its key face, each key either moves straight down, or down while tilting slightly about one of a plurality of axes. Three-position keys have two tilt axes and six-position keys have five tilt axes. The keys utilize contacts located on the bottom of the keys which may be conductive or nonconductive.

主权项

1. A keyboard for typing letters, the keyboard comprising:
eight keys that include one or more activation positions on each key; predetermined multiple-position keys of the eight keys that include multiple activation positions thereon that are different from the other activation position or positions on the same multiple-position key; and a predetermined group of the keys' activation positions collectively corresponding to all the letters of a predetermined alphabet with the predetermined group of the keys' activation positions arranged in a predetermined standard touch-typing arrangement to allow for touch typing with the eight keys, wherein each activation position in the predetermined group of activation positions on each of the predetermined multiple-position keys corresponds to a different letter of the predetermined alphabet than the other activation position or positions on the same multiple-position key such that when touch typing therewith finger movements are substantially the same as used when touch typing on a standard keyboard having the same predetermined touch-typing arrangement but without requiring that any one of the user's fingers operate more than one of the keys for touch typing of the letters with the eight keys.