Keyboard arrangement in four groups

摘要

An input device includes a small footprint keyboard with touch pad functionality. By disposing the touchpad and the mouse keys in the lower part and surrounded by the first and the second groups, one achieves a substantial ergonomic advantage in that the frequently used QWERTY keys are accessible, while at the same time the touch pad is within reach of any finger.

主权项

1. An input device comprising a small footprint keyboard arranged in four distinct groups including:
an upper group comprising keys arranged in a QWERTY type keyboard without numerical keys; a lower left group comprising function keys; a lower right group comprising numerical keys and arrow keys; and a lower middle group comprising a touchpad with additional mouse keys, wherein the touchpad is disposed between the lower left group and the lower right group in a lower part of the small footprint keyboard, wherein the upper group extends over the lower left, lower middle and lower right groups and defines a width of the small footprint keyboard, and the upper group and the lower groups define a height of the small footprint keyboard, and wherein said function keys, numerical keys and arrow keys are not duplicated in different groups.