Ergonomic data entry device

摘要

A data entry device includes a housing comprising a front and rear surface and laterally separated grip portions each configured to engage with a hand of a user. The user may thereby support the housing by engaging the grip portions of the housing. The rear surface includes first and second generally concave portions disposed proximate the first and second grip portions, which curve generally towards the hand of the user when the housing is supported by the user. The device further includes input keys positioned on each of the first and second generally concave portions of the rear surface such that the user may actuate the input keys with fingers of each hand while engaging the grip portions, and such that the generally concave portions facilitate ergonomic access to the input keys.

主权项

1. A data entry device, comprising: a housing including: a front surface configured to face a user when the housing is supported by the user; first and second laterally separated grip portions disposed proximate opposing ends of the housing, each configured to engage with a hand of the user when the housing is supported by the user; and a rear surface including first and second generally concave portions that are configured to curve generally toward the hands of the user when the housing is supported by the user, the generally concave portions respectively disposed proximate the first and second laterally separated grip portions, the generally concave portions generally facing away from one another and facing away from the front surface and concave in an outwardly-facing direction with respect to the rear surface; and a split format keyboard disposed on the rear surface, the split format keyboard including input keys configured in a plurality of rows and positioned on each of the first and second generally concave portions of the rear surface, wherein each row in each of the first and second generally concave portions includes a plurality of input keys and is positioned in a different plane, the rear surface including an intermediate portion disposed intermediate the first and second generally concave portions, wherein first ends of each of the first and second generally concave portions proximate the intermediate portion are rearwardly offset from a plane extending between the first and second laterally separated grip portions further than second ends of each of the first and second generally concave portions proximate the first and second laterally separated grip portions, and wherein the plurality of rows includes at least three rows on each of the first and second generally concave portions of the rear surface between the intermediate portion and a respective laterally separated grip portion to reduce a difference in distances that fingers of a user reach in order to actuate input keys positioned on each of the first and second generally concave portions, and wherein the split format keyboard includes at least A-Z letter keys and 0-9 numerical keys disposed on the rear surface with a row in the first generally concave portion closest to the intermediate portion including a first portion of the 0-9 numerical keys and the at least three rows in the first generally concave portion including a first portion of the A-Z letter keys, and with a row in the second generally concave portion closest to the intermediate portion including a second portion of the 0-9 numerical keys and the at least three rows of the second generally concave portion including a second portion of the A-Z letter keys.