This specification pertains to the field of data entry and wireless detachable keyboards for handheld computing devices including, but not limited to, mobile communications devices.
The introduction of handheld computing devices since 2000, such as Personal Digital Devices (PDAs), PDA phones, Smartphones, and Ultra Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), has resulted in increasingly tiny keyboards (or ‘thumboards’) being introduced to facilitate data entry into such devices.
Regrettably, the corresponding reduction in keyboard size (intended to improve mobility) has the inverse effect of reducing the efficacy of data entry, particularly when significant amounts of data are input, since human fingers have not undergone a similar reduction. The result is that working with such tiny thumboards becomes increasingly difficult for larger hands—posing a particular problem for adult males in North America and Europe. Since the “business professional” demographic is well represented by a significant proportion of adult males, this market is not well served by existing thumboards or the devices to which they are attached.
Additionally, most such thumboards are designed around the QWERTY-style layout of their larger cousins, the standard computer keyboard, with an prima facie mobile standard configuration of ten (10) columns by four (4) rows of keys arranged in a ‘portrait’ orientation. Examples today include Research in Motion's (RIM) Blackberry devices (i.e. 8300 and 8800 Series), HP's iPAQ devices (i.e. 6300 and 6900 Series), and HTC's smartphones (i.e. S620 and EVDO PDA Phone Series).
While the general familiarity of QWERTY-style keyboard layouts benefits most users by reducing the learning curve, since this is the style generally taught in English-speaking schools, such layouts are based on the principal of a ‘home base’ hand position designed to minimize hand movement. Thus, QWERTY layouts facilitate data entry where hand positioning is a factor, but become an impediment to data entry where thumbing is the principal means of input, i.e. using only the thumbs or ‘pecking’ at keys using one finger (as typically performed on thumboards designed for cellular phones and PDAs).
It is well documented within the keyboard industry that QWERTY keyboard layouts were actually optimized to slow down data entry. Indeed, it is the recognition of this fact that spurred development of both the Dvorak and Maltron keyboard layouts to address this deficiency. Both designs optimize key positioning by focusing on character frequency metrics (see
For thumb or single digit data entry, however, ‘home-base’ hand positioning actually obstructs rapid data entry on mobile devices. Observation of even a small sample of mobile device users today reveals that ‘touch typing’ is NOT the primary input method used on today's small mobile devices. The tiny surface area available to thumboard keys actually forces users to focus their concentration, visually, on positioning their thumb(s) more accurately on the tiny keys. Thus, a QWERTY layout only aids user input insofar as it is a familiar layout that can suffice for ‘hunt-and-peck’ data entry.
It is known in the art that entering data on a keyboard with a user's thumbs is best optimized by positioning keys along the arc through which a user's thumbs pivot from the first metacarpal of the wrist. In this regard, we acknowledge the DialKey™ feature of Microsoft's UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC, see
While keyboard patterns differ, keyboards with variable indicia have begun to appear on the market. From a hardware implementation such as the Optimus Maximus™ (see
In the meantime, the Resco Keyboard Pro™ emulation software (see
Fitaly™ keyboard emulation software (see
A second impediment to data entry on small thumboards is the inconvenient reality that, as more keys are placed on a device, more space is required to hold them. This logically results in a larger thumboard AND mobile device (impairing its mobility characteristics) OR smaller keys (impairing its input friendliness). Traditionally, the compromise has been to remove non-essential keys, such as special characters (i.e. “(,), [,], {,}, ̂, <,>”, etc.) and special keys (i.e. HOME, END, PAGEUP, PAGEDOWN, F1-F12, etc.), and either finding an alternative means of implementing them (i.e. providing an additional software keyboard emulator with similarly tiny virtual keys) or designing mobile applications that do not require their use.
In the past, this has not been a significant impediment because expectations were low for mobile computing applications. But as advances in pico-projection systems from 3M, Microvision, Texas Instruments, Displaytech and others overcome the limitations of the small screens in mobile devices (by allowing for larger, projected interfaces and more robust applications), the need for greater input control over mobile devices will increase exponentially. This is because complex graphical interfaces are already making significant inroads into personal information managers, PDA phones, and mobile video devices. This is evidenced by Palm's, Research in Motion's, and Microsoft's GUI interfaces on a variety of mobile devices including Treo® Phones, Blackberrys®, and Windows Mobile® devices. Having the ability to project the user interface onto nearby surfaces will certainly increase consumer demand for even more ‘desktop’ applications running on handheld devices.
This anticipated demand for ‘desktop’ interfaces from handheld devices further implies that greater than 104-key keyboard functionality will ultimately be required from diminutive keyboards that fit in the palm of your hand.
It should be noted here that voice recognition technologies will NOT solve the input problem for small, mobile devices so long as environments exist where sound pollution/obstruction is a problem (factory floors, space/vacuums, underwater, etc.) or where people suffer severe speech impediments.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for methods and designs that improve data entry via thumb or single-digit thumboard inputs for mobile devices needing to deliver even greater desktop functionalities on the move.
A tiny keyboard or thumboard design is provided that can offer over 150-key combinations on mobile devices based on simple mnemonics to aid in the learning of new key positions. In replacing the QWERTY layout for mobile devices, key proximities have been optimized based on character frequencies of the English language so as to reduce the distance the thumb (or any single-digit) travels in composing common English words. But by positioning keys around character frequencies AND mnemonic patterns, layouts are easy to learn and the ease of entering text by thumb is improved.
Further, in order to minimize the width of mobile devices utilizing the design or, alternatively, to increase key sizes without affecting device width, the design similarly reduces the number of physical, or emulated, keys to a matrix of less than 10 columns—typically, around a core of seven character columns. The resulting matrix of 30 keys then relies on the dynamic switching of key outputs, via electronic or mechanical means, to reflect ‘logical’ keys rather than fixed keys in order to repurpose key positions.
Lastly, the defined switching mechanism is designed to simplify the switching of key outputs so as to not impose arduous ‘extra’ inputs during data entry.
In one embodiment, a basic key layout (see
Keys can be arranged in opposing arcs from the centre to be traversed by left and/or right thumbs to minimize the width of a mobile and/or wireless computing input device while providing greater than 104-key data input. As such, rows can be ‘fanned’ from the bottom left and right points of the keyboard so as to sweep keys up to the outsides from a central point. This sweep allows the thumbs to traverse the arc in a more natural fashion, i.e. rotating from the first metacarpal of the wrist, than if keys are arrayed in straight rows. However, by not making the curve too extreme, it is possible for one thumb, centred at the base of the keypad, to sweep the majority of keys without strain and with only a slight stretch needed for topmost outer keys. (
The primary feature enabling the dynamic transformation of keys is, in one embodiment, a button or scroll wheel that can serve as an Input Changer 101 (see
While the top surface may be flat in one embodiment, the touch-sensitive matrix can be covered by a clear panel of raised key ‘pillows’, i.e. filled bubbles of transparent, flexible laminated mylar/polyethelyne, or similar material, denoting fixed key positions in other embodiments. Such raised ‘keys’ can provide a tactile feedback to the user while still allowing for dynamic repurposing of key indicia below the touch-sensitive matrix. Pressure on the bubble, from being touched by thumbs, digits, or other means, can focus the ‘touch’ on the touch screen below to signal that a key is ‘pressed’.
To reduce the number of keys required for the thumboard, any key can be repurposed by changing the underlying image, as well as the logical output, below the ‘key’ position. Thus, even Input Changer button 101 itself can be programmatically or mechanically transformed into a Key Lock button merely by determining its intended function by how the button is used. In one embodiment, the Input Changer can be changed to the Key Lock by holding the button for longer than a pre-determined period of time, such as two seconds. This would then programmatically lock out all inputs on all other keys until the Key Lock button was pressed again to restore Input Changer 101 and unlock the other keys.
In other embodiments, the thumboard can host intelligence to alternate keyboard outputs to match the visual indicia displayed at any time. This may be programmatically determined using system-on-chip functionality or may be determined using Java applets or some similar lightweight programming language/service stored in Flash memory (or similar media). Such media can be removable or be embedded in the thumboard device. Because of the variable indicia, Power button 105 can be provided to control the power usage of the touch screen and power the software enabling the dynamic switching of indicia and transmission of outputs. However, it is similarly envisioned that such alternating visual indicia and key outputs can be mechanically derived.
In one embodiment of the key layout, the number of vertical key columns can be seven—excluding special purpose keys to be described later. All 26 letters of the English alphabet can be arranged below a top, centred row of standard vowels, “a, e, i, o, u” (
In one embodiment, the keyboard can use shading, colouring, and/or highlighting (502 in
Anchoring the vowel mnemonic described above is the further placement of the letters “N” and “S” below the “E” and “O”, left of centre, to form second mnemonic 201, “Nose” as shown in
With just four characters linked in proximity to the above five-vowel pattern, 35% of the placement of the English alphabet is now easily memorized by learning these simple patterns. See Table 1 below for the character frequency chart supporting this statistic.1 1http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwords/frequency?view=uk. The third column represents proportions, taking the least common letter (q) as equal to 1. The letter E is over 56 times more common than Q in forming individual English words.
Further mnemonics can now be added to further reinforce the learning of key placements. In the illustrated embodiment of
As noted earlier, because of the arc traversed by left and/or right thumbs, the rows of the keyboard can be ‘fanned’ from the bottom right and left points of the keyboard so as to position keys slightly higher to the outsides than to the middle. This sweep allows the thumbs to traverse the arc in a more natural fashion than if the keys were arrayed in straight rows. By not making the curve too extreme, it is possible for one thumb, centred at the base of the keypad, to sweep the majority of keys without strain and with only a slight stretch required to reach the topmost outer keys.
Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the top ‘row’, irregular by virtue of the described arcs, can contain the following seven keys, from left to right: ‘r-e-o-u-i-a-y’. (The Track Ball and ‘mouse’ buttons—102, 103, and 104 of FIG. 7—plus the two prime punctuation keys—301 of
The second ‘row’, can contain the keys ‘z-n-s-c-l-t-m’. The third, ‘j-v-h-f-d-p-k’. The fourth row, ‘q-x-g-SPACE-w-b-RETURN’. Although the SPACE bar can be made larger than the surrounding keys, this is optional since 1) mobile handheld PC users typically look at keys as they type, 2) shading of the indicia below the space bar ‘key’ can be different from that of other keys (and therefore can make the Space Bar appear more prominent), 3) its placement at the centre bottom intersection of the two arcs makes it easily accessible by both thumbs, and 4) repurposing of this key for Function, Phone, and Media Controller modes makes varying the key size less desirable (
Combined with the character frequency considerations stated above, the one embodiment of the keyboard can distribute all remaining consonants to facilitate a relatively even distribution of characters from left to right of centre. This is to maintain roughly equal distributions of the most frequently used characters to both left and right of the centre column, inclusive of the centre column. This can allow approximately equal usage by both left- and right-handed users without having to modify key placements to support one demographic or the other.
In one embodiment, the reduction of the number of key columns has the added benefit of enabling a reduction in keyboard width relative to current standards, or, alternatively, enabling wider keys without increasing the width of the device. Depending on the placement of special keys, it is in fact possible to reduce device width, or increase key sizes, by between 10 to 30 percent over key sizes currently in use—based on the current 10-column QWERTY standard for mobile computing devices.
Were the 26 English character keys sufficient for all data entry, then the above layout would suffice. However, users desire, and are demanding, full computing power in their hands and as device manufacturers build mobile devices providing more robust ‘desktop’ functionality, users will require 104+ key inputs to work with such devices. Numbers, function (F1-F12) and navigation (Home, End, PgUp, PgDn, and arrow/cursor control) keys, special purpose keys, pointer controls and more can be accommodated in the embodiment herein described.
By pressing the Shift button 302 of
While in Shift mode, Shift button 302 indicia can change to show the CAP Lock button 302. Pressing the CAP Lock button 302, i.e. pressing the Shift button 302 a second time, the thumboard indicia can change to display the CAP Lock version of uppercase (
At any time, pressing Input Changer button 101 previously described can switch the displayed keys to alternate input modes: alphabetic, punctuation/symbol, function, phone, media controller and numeric. Simultaneously pressing Shift key 302 while pressing Input Changer 101 can reverse this order and cycle modes backwards. If the user is at the start or end of a mode sequence, the next press of Input Changer 101 can advance to the beginning mode (alphabetic) or to the next sequential mode. For this reason, the Numeric mode is placed in the last position so that users can move with one input from Alphabetic to Numeric mode by using Input Changer button 101 in conjunction with Shift key 302.
In one embodiment, the order of presentation of Input Changer 101 can be:
1. alphabetic (default mode is lowercase)
2. punctuation/symbol
3. function
4. phone (optional),
5. media controller (optional), and
6. numeric
Each press of Input Changer button 101 can sequentially advance the indicia to display the next mode. (In an alternate embodiment, a scroll wheel can also be substituted for Input Changer button 101.) To access Punctuation/Symbol mode from Alphabetic mode, the user can merely press Input Changer button 101 once (without Shift key 302). (Since not all mobile devices will require the phone or media controller modes, these modes are deemed optional and may not be implemented in other embodiments of this.)
Although not shown in the Figures presented, any of the non-alphabetic modes can similarly utilize Shifting characters, symbols, or functions as desired by the manufacturer. In such embodiments, within a specific mode, pressing Shift key 302 can rotate the indicia as described previously with respect to the Punctuation key (
For ease of use, when in Punctuation/Symbol (
When alphabetic mode is restored from another mode, the default lowercase alphabetic mode can again be made active unless the mode was in CAP Lock. For example, if the user were in Shift mode when they navigated to Punctuation mode, pressing the Shift and Input Changer buttons, or entering a symbol, can restore the lowercase alphabetic characters. But if the user navigated from the CAP Locked alphabetic mode, his or her return to alphabetic mode can place them again in CAP Locked alphabetic mode.
In the Punctuation/Symbol mode (
In one embodiment, the Punctuation Keys (from standard alphabet mode) can remain in the same position in Punctuation/Symbol mode. However, as illustrated, highlighting, shading and/or colouration shift can draw the user's attention to the current mode that the device is in. Such shifting highlight patterns are another mnemonic that can be used to teach users how to learn the thumboard—providing a visual that instantly warns users if they are in the wrong mode for their desired use. Pressing Shift key 302 can rotate the punctuation in the Punctuation Keys in the same manner as described for alphabetic mode.
In other embodiments, patterns can be established across modes that complement each other such that learning one pattern enables transference of this knowledge to other modes. So the plus (+), minus (−) and multiply (*) signs in
In Numeric mode (
This pattern also holds true for the cursor control keys that repeat for each of the punctuation/symbol, function, and (partial) phone modes (
In Function mode, the function keys 703 F1 through F12 (
In this mode, the punctuation keys can be dynamically replaced with indicia to provide the ESC character and Application Key 701. Two new keys 702 are shown that represent Quick List keys for numbering and bulleting in word processing programs. Although not currently supported by existing software programs, it is envisioned that the outputs of these two keys can result in toggling on and off the Number and Bullet list features of these programs. This may be by triggering a macro function or may be customized inputs developed by the software manufacturer in conjunction with the thumboard manufacturer to support this functionality.
In the optional Phone mode (
The current implementation suggests possible layouts for standard phone functions such as Answer/Dial key 809, Disconnect/Hang Up key 808, Mute key 808, Speakerphone key 801, Volume Controls 802 and left/right cursor navigation arrow keys 806 and 807, but other than the numeric pad layout, these placements are less rigidly imposed and any suitable arrangement of these keys can be used.
Regardless of the mode that the user is in at the time of an incoming call, the device can be configured that it can automatically navigate to the Phone mode (assuming cellular functionality is provided) to await the user's decision to answer or ignore the call. (In one embodiment, the Disconnect/Hang Up key 808 can serve as the Ignore button, but there are two unused keys at the bottom of the key layout that could be assigned to this function depending on the manufacturer's needs.)
In the optional Media Controller mode (
As shown in
Special purpose keys, including Backspace key 402, Tab key 106, Control keys 601 (see
In other embodiments, the thumboard can be removed from a mobile device while retaining a wireless connection to it (see
When attached to the mobile device, the thumboard can input directly into the device. When detached, inputs to the thumboard can be transmitted wirelessly to the mobile device with which it is paired and provide the same level of control as though still attached. Mouse pointer control can be implemented by similar means, whether wirelessly or while connected to the mobile device, via track ball 102 attached to the thumboard as shown in
The keyboard described herein can be implemented as, but is not limited to, an attached input device in a computing device such as, but not limited to, a mobile phone, PDA, or Ultra Mobile PC for input directly into the device. As such, it can serve as a full keyboard and mouse for data entry. Referring to
Similarly, the keyboard described herein can be implemented as, but is not limited to, a detachable, wireless input device for a computing device such as, but not limited to, similar mobile computing or entertainment devices. In this fashion, it can be separable from the main device while maintaining wireless control over the main device.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
At step 2028, the method determines if the keyboard's mode has been pressed. If “no”, the method proceeds to step 2036. If “yes”, the keyboard's mode is changed upwards or downwards incrementally at step 2032 depending on the mode button being pressed, and the method then proceeds to step 2036. At step 2036, the keyboard determines if any key has been depressed. If “no”, the method proceeds to step 2044. If “yes”, the method determines at step 2040 what key was depressed and/or to perform the function associated with the depressed key, and the method proceeds to step 2044. For the purposes of this specification and the claims contained herein, the term “depressed” is defined to include the pressing of a tactile button having image display means and the touching of a soft key displayed on a touch screen.
At step 2044, the method determines if the keyboard has been idle longer than the maximum idle time. If “no”, the method returns to step 2008 to repeat the whole method. If “yes”, the method then proceeds to step 2048 to power the keyboard down.
Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.
This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/049,959, filed May 2, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61049959 | May 2008 | US |