Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6518955
-
Patent Number
6,518,955
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, October 12, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 11, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Saras; Steven
- Alphonse; Fritz
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 345 168
- 345 169
- 345 172
- 345 173
- 345 156
- 341 20
- 341 22
- 341 24
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
On a data input device having a keypad with small, closely spaced buttons, an anchor is located on a panel section mountable proximate, and in fixed relation to, the keypad so that a user can reach the buttons while stabilizing their hand with the anchor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to input devices having keypads and, more particularly, to an apparatus for stabilizing a user's hand interacting with a button on the keypad.
2. Background Information
Data input devices are frequently employed in a variety of environments, including automobiles, marine craft, aircraft, spacecraft, and factories. Examples of data input devices include vehicle controls such as automobile controls and flight management systems, and machine controls for manufacturing systems. These data input devices include a keypad having buttons. A user inputs data through interaction between the user's hand and the buttons.
Because of space limitations, the buttons of the keypad typically are closely spaced and not much larger than the user's fingertip. In addition, these data input devices are often used in a turbulent environment. For example, an aircraft pilot often experiences turbulence while entering data in a flight management system. The small, closely spaced buttons coupled with turbulence and/or unsteady hands of the user causes a common problem of the user inadvertently entering incorrect data. Thus, there is a need to stabilize the user's hand while the user is interacting with the buttons on the keypad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the foregoing problem and achieves an advance in the art by providing an apparatus for stabilizing a user's hand interacting with a button on a keypad.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an anchor is located on a panel section mountable proximate, and in fixed relation to, the keypad so that a user can reach the buttons while stabilizing their hand with the anchor. The anchor is an indentation approximately the size of the user's fingertip or approximately the size of the heel of the user's hand.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the anchor is a friction pad providing friction between the pad and the finger or heel of the user's hand.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the anchor is a protrusion providing a surface against which the finger or heel of the user's hand can rest.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A
illustrates a top view and
FIG. 1B
illustrates a side view of a data input device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing indentations as anchors for stabilizing a user's hand.
FIG. 1C
illustrates a top view and
FIG. 1D
illustrates a side view of the data input device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing indentations as anchors for stabilizing the user's hand.
FIG. 2A
illustrates a side view and
FIG. 2B
illustrates an end view of the data input device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing an anchor located on a panel section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the buttons.
FIG. 3A
illustrates a top view and
FIG. 3B
illustrates a side view of the data input device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing friction pads as anchors for stabilizing a user's hand.
FIG. 4A
illustrates a top view and
FIG. 4B
illustrates a side view of the data input device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing protrusions as anchors for stabilizing a user's hand.
FIG. 5A
illustrates a top view and
FIG. 5B
illustrates a side view of the data input device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing a combination of indentations and protrusions as anchors for stabilizing a user's hand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B,
1
C, and
1
D are discussed in conjunction with one another.
FIGS. 1A and 1C
illustrate a top view and
FIGS. 1B and 1D
illustrate a side view of a data input device
100
in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing indentations as anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
for stabilizing a user's hand. The data input device
100
includes a keypad
105
having buttons
110
. Typically, the spacing
112
between buttons
110
is less than or equal to the width of a user's fingertip. The buttons
110
are also typically not much larger than the user's fingertip. A user enters data through interaction between the user's hand, specifically the fingers, and the buttons
110
. The type of interaction required depends on the type of buttons
110
. The anchors of the present invention can be used with any type of buttons
110
that are capable of sensing interaction with the user's fingers. For example, if the buttons
110
are push-buttons, then the user depresses the buttons
110
to enter data. If the buttons
110
are touch-buttons, then the user touches the buttons
110
to enter data. Also, an input device
100
may have a combination of different types of buttons
110
.
The data input device
100
also includes panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
. The panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
can be a portion of one continuous panel
118
, as shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
, or the panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
can be separate from one another, as shown in
FIGS. 1C and 1D
. In both cases, the panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
are mounted fixed in relation to the keypad
105
. The panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
can be mounted after the keypad
105
is mounted in place. An anchor
120
is located on the surface of the panel section
115
, an anchor
121
is located on the surface of the panel section
116
, and an anchor
122
is located on the surface of the panel section
117
. The anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
are indentations for stabilizing the user's hand while interacting with the buttons
110
. Anchors
120
and
122
have indentations that are essentially circular and approximately the size of a user's fingertip, typically 0.5 inch to 0.75 inch in diameter, although the indentations may be elliptical. Anchor
121
has an indentation that is approximately the size of the heel of a user's hand, typically essentially elliptical in shape, having major and minor axis dimensions of approximately 2.75 inches by 1 inch, respectively. The exact size of these anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
is not critical, however. The heel of the user's hand is defined as the fleshy rounded base of the user's palm. In one example of stabilizing the user's hand, the user's thumb can be placed in anchor
120
, the heel of the user's hand can be placed in anchor
121
, and one of the user's fingers can be placed in anchor
122
. The panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
are mounted proximate the keypad
105
to enable the user to reach the buttons
110
while stabilizing their hand with the anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
. Thus, the average size of a typical user's hand is taken into account when mounting the panel sections
115
,
116
, and
117
proximate the keypad
105
. If the size of the user's hand is known, the spacing between the keypad
105
and the anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
can be established accordingly.
Any subset of the anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
can be used to stabilize the user's hand. For example, the user's thumb can be placed in indentation
120
and the heel of user's hand can be placed in indentation
121
, without using anchor
122
. As another example, the user's thumb can be placed in indentation
120
without using the remaining anchors
121
and
122
. As a further example, the heel of the user's hand can be placed in indentation
121
without using the remaining anchors
120
and
122
. As another example, the user's thumb can be placed in indentation
120
and a non-thumb finger of the user can be placed in indentation
122
, without using anchor
121
. Thus, the data input device
100
can have any combination of one or more anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
for stabilizing the user's hand. However, using more anchors
115
,
116
, and
117
provides more stability for the user's hand. Also, many types of anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
can be used, each of the anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
can be a different type, and the anchors
120
,
121
, and
122
can be placed in a variety of positions relative to the keypad
105
. The remaining figures will illustrate some of the possible configurations.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
illustrate a side view and an end view, respectively, of the data input device
100
with an anchor
220
located on a panel section
215
in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the buttons
110
, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The anchor
220
is shown as an indentation, but again, any type of anchor can be used. The anchor
220
stabilizes the user's hand while interacting with the buttons
110
by, for example, placing the user's thumb or non-thumb finger in the indentation. The anchor
220
has an indentation that is essentially circular and approximately the size of a user's fingertip, typically 0.5 inch to 0.75 inch in diameter, although the indentation may be elliptical. The panel section
215
is mounted proximate the keypad
105
to enable the user to reach the buttons
110
while stabilizing their hand with the anchor
220
. Again, the average size of a typical user's hand is taken into account when mounting the panel sections
215
proximate the keypad
105
.
FIGS. 3A and 3B
illustrate a top view and a side view, respectively, of the data input device
100
in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing friction pads as anchors
320
,
321
, and
322
for stabilizing a user's hand. The descriptions of
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B,
1
C,
1
D,
2
A, and
2
B apply to
FIGS. 3A and 3B
with the indentations being replaced with friction pads. The anchors
320
,
321
, and
322
can be any material that creates friction with the user's hand. In other words, when the user's hand is in contact with any one of the anchors
320
,
321
, and
322
, there is a force tangential to the common boundary of the anchor
320
,
321
, or
322
and the user's hand that resists the motion or tendency to motion of the user's hand relative to the anchor
320
,
321
, or
322
.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
illustrate a top view and a side view, respectively, of the data input device
100
in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing protrusions as anchors
420
,
421
, and
422
for stabilizing a user's hand. The descriptions of
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B,
1
C,
1
D,
2
A and
2
B apply to
FIGS. 4A and 4B
with the indentations being replaced with protrusions. The anchors
420
,
421
, and
422
can be any shape protrusion that provides stability for the user's hand. For example, the anchors
420
,
421
, and
422
can be straight protrusions that enable the heel of the user's hand and/or the user's fingers to rest against the anchors
420
,
421
, and
422
. As another example, the anchors
420
and
422
can be hooks that enable the user's fingers to slide under the anchors
420
and
422
, and the anchor
421
can be curved to more closely match the shape of the heel of the user's hand.
FIGS. 5A and 5B
illustrate a top view and a side view, respectively, of the data input device
100
in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, showing a combination of indentations and protrusions as anchors
520
,
521
, and
522
for stabilizing a user's hand. The descriptions of
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B,
1
C,
1
D,
2
A and
2
B apply to
FIGS. 5A and 5B
with the indentations being replaced with a combination of indentations and protrusions. The protrusions of anchors
520
,
521
, and
522
are proximate the indentations so that the heel of the user's hand and/or the user's fingers can rest in the indentations while the heel of the user's hand and/or the user's fingers rest against the protrusions. Anchors
520
and
522
have indentations that are essentially circular and approximately the size of a user's fingertip, typically 0.5 inch to 0.75 inch in diameter, although the indentations may be elliptical. Anchor
521
has an indentation that is approximately the size of the heel of a user's hand, typically essentially elliptical in shape, having major and minor axis dimensions of approximately 2.75 inches by 1 inch, respectively. The exact size of these anchors
520
,
521
, and
522
is not critical, however.
Although certain aspects of the invention have been described herein in conjunction with the appended drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of the invention is not so limited. Modifications in the selection, design, and arrangement of the various components and steps discussed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A data input device comprising:a keypad having a button for inputting information by interaction with a first finger of a user's hand; a first panel section proximate, and in fixed relation to, said keypad; and a first indentation located on said surface of said first panel section for anchoring a second finger of the user's hand such that said button is within reach of the first finger of the user's hand; a second panel section proximate, and in fixed relation to, said keypad; and a second indentation located on said surface of said second panel section for anchoring a third finger of the user's hand such that said button is within reach of the first finger on the user's hand.
- 2. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the first panel section and second section panel are each a portion of one continuous panel.
- 3. The data input device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of buttons are located between the first indentation and the second indentation.
- 4. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are co-planer with the keypad.
- 5. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the data input device is coupled to a flight management system.
- 6. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the first indentation comprises a substantially elliptical indentation and wherein the second indentation comprises a substantially elliptical indentation.
- 7. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said second finger of the user's hand comprises the thumb and said third finger of the user's hand comprises a non-thumb finger.
- 8. A data input device for use in an aircraft, in turbulent conditions, comprising:a keypad having a plurality of closely spaced buttons for inputting information by interaction with a first finger of a user's hand; a first panel section in fixed relation to said keypad, and proximate one side of said keypad; and a first indentation located on said first panel section for anchoring a second finger of the user's hand in turbulent conditions such that said plurality of buttons are within reach of the first finger of the user's hand; a second panel section in fixed relation to said keypad, and proximate a side of keypad opposite said one side of said keypad; and a second indentation located on said second panel section for anchoring a third finger of the user's hand in turbulent conditions such that said plurality of buttons are within reach of the first finger of the user's hand.
- 9. The data input device of claim 8 wherein the first panel section and second section panel are each a portion of one continuous panel.
- 10. The data input device of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of buttons are located between the first indentation and the second indentation.
- 11. The data input device of claim 8 wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are co-planer with the keypad.
- 12. The data input device of claim 8 wherein the data input device is coupled to a flight management system.
- 13. The data input device of claim 8 wherein the first indentation comprises a substantially elliptical indentation and wherein the second indentation comprises a substantially elliptical indentation.
- 14. The data input device of claim 13 wherein the first and second indentation each have a diameter of between 0.5 and 0.75 inches.
- 15. A data input device for use in an aircraft, the data input device comprising:a panel having a top side, a first edge and a second edge; a keypad on the top side of the panel, the keypad having a plurality of buttons for inputting information by interaction with a first finger of a user's hand; a first indentation in the top side of the panel, the first indentation located proximate the first edge of the panel; a second indentation in the top side of the panel, the second indentation located proximate the second edge of the panel; and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of buttons are between the first indentation and the second indentation, such that when the first indentation anchors a second finger of the user's hand and the second indentation anchors a third finger of the user's hand said plurality of buttons are within reach of the first finger of the user's hand.
- 16. The data input device of claim 15 wherein the keypad is coupled to a flight management system for the aircraft to enter data into the flight management system.
- 17. The data input device of claim 15 wherein the first indentation comprises a substantially elliptical indentation and wherein the second indentation comprises a substantially elliptical indentation.
- 18. The data input device of claim 15 wherein the first and second indentation each have a diameter of between 0.5 and 0.75 inches.
US Referenced Citations (11)