QWERT ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD APPARATUS

Abstract

A plurality of embodiments of improved ergonomic keyboards of the present invention that provide a natural flow for keyboardists to have efficient wrists, hands, and arms postures with grid key arrangements at optimal angel, in which typing activities are distributed to stronger fingers and thumbs. One or more heuristics comprise a heuristic of one or more finger contacts on the integral section, the built-in touchpad, a heuristic of one or more finger contacts on one or more keycaps correspond to one or more instructions to be processed by one or more microcontrollers and/or processors. In addition to the low profile key elevation, built-in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lights, and the modular keyboard housing that provides extended support to the keyboardist' palms and maintain the wrists, arms, shoulders at natural positions for healthy typing experience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements on ergonomic keyboards to transmit instructions, messages to computerized devices, computer-implemented methods, data entry terminals, electromechanical typewriters, electronic consoles, cash registers, or the like apparatuses.

BACKGROUND

In original typewriters, each key was attached to a lever. Each row was arranged diagonally to leave space for the adjacent row of keys. There have been designs of ergonomic keyboards that attempted to give keyboard users efficient results wherein the keyboard is divided into two angular sections with gable angles. These keyboards can be more specifically described as “fixed-split Keyboards”, “adjustable-split keyboards”, and “contoured keyboards” as shown in is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,289,684 (2012). U.S. Pat. No. 2,040,248 (1936) issued to August Dvorak and U.S. Patent No. US20140152568 (2014) attempted to rearrange characters which caused learnability difficult. Yet the zigzagged or staggered layout of the keys has virtually remained unchanged for over 140 years.

US patent D387, 340 in FIG. 1 strives to achieve a design with features that provide improving access to keys. Keys are arranged in non-staggered patterns. Such ergonomic design provides consistent key arrangement between rows, enhancing the movements of the fingers and cognitive learning experience, while maintaining QWERTY keyboard layout to inspire keyboardists to adapt to the new key arrangement with minimal efforts.

Studies have shown that the QWERTY keyboard distributes workloads unevenly among fingers, causing the weaker fingers such as little fingers to be strained leading to low productivity. See e.g., How to learn typing on the US standard 101 keyboard known as a QWERTY keyboard. http://www.powertyping.com/qwerty.html, 2010. In traditional keyboards, keyboardists' hands are bent outward to accommodate the tight space of the home rows between the left and the right hands. The fingers of both hands are forced to move diagonally at the same angle as illustrated in FIG. 2. The linear key arrangement in QWERTY keyboard places the keyboardists' writs at a skewed angle that contributes to postural muscular strain and/or a leading cause of ulnar deviation disorders for some keyboardists.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, frequently used editing, navigating, modifier, or miscellaneous keys are positioned in the integral section of the keyboard. This key arrangement distributes the amount of typing to the index fingers and thumbs of both hands. The space in the integral section expands the distance between the two hands which further enhances the keyboardists' wrists and hands postures.

The isosceles trapezoid keys in the integral section guide a plurality of central keys of the left hand and right hand sections at an angle that reduces the unnatural postures which believed to lead to elevated pressure inside the carpal tunnel and to strain muscle structures. The integral section integrates between the left and the right sides, creating an area of the isosceles trapezoid that gives the modifier or control keys their unique shapes. Unlike fixed-split and adjustable-spit keyboards with a gap or an “intermediate zone” between the left and the right sections, the middle section is an integral part which provides a cohesive key arrangement that maximizes accessibility and work load distribution for all fingers of both hands. This factor is useful for cognitive learning and transitioning to the present invention.

Researchers have reported that pressure inside the carpal tunnel is elevated when the wrist is extended or when the hand is bent upward. See e.g., W. Marklin, Simoneau, and F. Monroe's “Wrist and Forearm Posture from Typing on a Split and Vertically Inclined Computer Keyboards. Human Factors, 41(4), 559-569 (1995). The ergonomic keyboard provides a built-in palm rest by extending the front face of the keyboard housing to construct a platform for the palms of the hands to rest on in such a way that is natural to wrist extension posture. The planes of the keys are lower to the built-in palm rest to further allow the wrists to be at the neutral angle.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Some embodiments have attempted to improve deficiencies in the QWERTY keyboard by rearranging the alphabets and special characters. Some embodiments split the QWERTY keyboard into separate sections with a gap in between. However, these embodiments have not been widely accepted because of the difficulties in production, learnability, adaptation, usefulness, and cost-effectiveness.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention that comprises a plurality of an ergonomic keyboard that provides a natural flow of the fingers for the keyboardists to have efficient wrists, hands, and arms postures; and effective key arrangements, in which typing activities are distributed to stronger fingers and thumbs. In addition to the elevated keyboard housing, the built-in palm rest provides supports to the keyboardist' palms so that the writs are positioned at an optimal angle.

In another aspect of the present invention, a set of heuristics for sensing one or more finger contacts of one or more keys and/or the integral section for directing the cursor or mouse pointer, vertical or horizontal scrolling, navigating of screens, graphics, items, windows, masks, forms, records, or other objects in the user interface, transmitting instructions to one or more processors to perform specific functions predefined by the manufacturer, operator.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention that comprises modular layers of various materials to create customizable and cost-effective design.

Furthermore, the present invention with energy efficient engineering that composes elevated housing in combination with low profile keys to allow modular LED lights to project controlled lighting and LED germicidal ultra-violate (UVC) lights to the surface of the key caps with fewer LED lights in comparison to conventional keyboards that have LED lights for each individual key.

Other characteristics of the present invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The improved ergonomic keyboards of the invention are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of prior art ergonomic keyboard designs;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of QWERTY keys arrangement;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the keys arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the integral section;

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the integral section engineered as touchpad wherein the plane comprises sensing components;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the built-in five-sided polygon touchpad;

FIG. 6A illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the touch keys;

FIG. 6B illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the touch keys with sensing components;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the block diagram of the touch sensing components;

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and LED germicidal ultra-violate (UVC) lights assemblies comprising LED lights, circuit board, anchoring or mounting pieces, and transparent or translucent filter or light guide;

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the LED modules;

FIG. 9. Illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiments in cross-sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the extended built-in palm rest;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the exploded view of modular embodiments of the present Invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the bottom view of the top layer with rare earth magnets or electromagnetic fasteners;

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the perforated openings of the transparent or translucent layer and the main frame;

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the bottom View of the bottom layer with rare earth magnets or electromagnetic fasteners;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the socket of the power receptacle;

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the power receptacle;

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of flat cable and extended connector of the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of optimal angles of the present invention;

FIGS. 19A, 19B illustrate exemplary non-limiting design of a keyboard incorporating one or more features of the various embodiments of ergonomic keyboards in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the side view of the attachable or detachable feet at the lowest level.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the side view of the attachable or detachable feet at the middle level.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the side view of the attachable or detachable feet at the highest level.

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the isometric view of the attachable or detachable feet.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the attachable feet affix to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

The present invention improves on existing functionalities and geometries of prior art ergonomic keyboards in a number of aspects.

FIG. 1 presents a design patent of prior art ergonomic keyboard.

FIG. 2 illustrates QWERTY key arrangement, which forces keyboardists' wrists to be placed at unnatural angles. The little (weak) fingers of the keyboardists are required to operate more keys 10 and 28, comparing to the index, middle, and ring fingers.

FIG. 3 in accordance with the grid or “non-staggered” key layout of the commonly used keys in various non-limiting embodiments described in exemplary detail above such that the upper row contains keys Q, W, E, R, and T 30. The home keys (A, S, D, F, and G) 32 are vertically adjacent to the upper row. Vertically adjacent to the home keys, the lower row has keys Z, X, C, V, and B 34 listed in the left-to-right order. In accordance with the grid or “non-staggered” key layout of the commonly used keys in various non-limiting embodiments described in exemplary detail above such that the upper row contains keys Y, U, I, O, and P 36. The home keys (H, J, K, L, and semicolon or colon) 38 are vertically adjacent to the upper row. Vertically adjacent to the home keys, the lower row has keys N, M, comma or less than, and period or greater than 40 listed in the left-to-right order. An additional backspace key 42 is included for removing character(s) efficiently when user is in the process of entering data from the numeric keypad. Num Lock key 44 is relocated to the right of minus key in assisting user's index finger, middle finger, and ring finger to easily reach divide key, multiplication key, and minus. The numeric keypad further includes an additional Tab key 46 to help operators who perform intense data entry on forms or spreadsheets to navigate more quickly from field to field with one hand.

FIG. 4A as described in various embodiments, the integral section 48 of the present invention comprises the editing, navigating, modifier, and miscellaneous keys that are efficiently accessed by the left or the right index fingers for optimal distribution of typing efforts and to reduce fatigue to little fingers. The keyboardists may continuously maintain focus as the Insert, Home, Page Up, Delete, End, Page Down, navigating, and editing keys are positioned in the center of the keyboard to provide optimal access by the keyboardist's left or right hand.

FIG. 4B illustrates the integral section of various, non-limiting embodiments, consisting of editing, navigating, modifier, and miscellaneous keys integrate into the integral section, wherein engineers and functions as a touchpad to provide instructions to the interfaces, devices and/or to control the mouse pointer or cursor with built-in capacitive and/or resistive sensing embodiments 50, 52 to detect finger gestures or movements on the plane of the integral section.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the built-in five-sided polygon touchpad 54 with resistive and/or capacitive sensing embodiments to detect figure gestures and/or movements for manipulating the mouse pointer or cursor;

FIG. 6A illustrates the efficient distribution of various, non-limiting embodiments, the keyboardists' index, middle, ring, and little fingers would have extensive range of movements to effectively access key(s) within proximity when the Shift 56 key are controlled by the thumbs instead of the little fingers. The Space Bars 58 on either side of the Shift key provides the flexibility to keyboardist's left thumb or right thumb.

FIG. 6B as described in various, non-limiting embodiments, the Space Bars, modifier, or miscellaneous keys have built-in capacitive and/or resistive sensing embodiments 60, 62 to detect finger gestures or movements to assist keyboardists in navigating the pages, screens, graphical displays, or windows, manipulating objects, or sending instructions to the interfaces, devices.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the block diagram of the touch sensing components;

FIG. 8A illustrates the non-limiting embodiment of the light-emitting diode (LED) lights 64 that provide illumination on the surface of the keys and the light-emitting diode (LED) lights attach to circuit board 66 that are capable of generating ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). The light-emitting diode (LED) lights 64 are light sources to transparent or translucent layer 68 changes colors as the LED lights operate in various frequencies. Transparent or translucent piece or light guide 70 is attached to anchoring or mounting pieces 72 that provides a soft, uniform ambience on the surfaces of the keys.

FIG. 8B illustrates the non-limiting embodiment of LED modules 74 are positioned around the outer perimeter of the keys to provide lights to the surfaces of the keys and transparent or translucent layer 68.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiments in cross-sectional view to show various layers of the present invention. 64 depicts LED lights that provide illumination to the surface of the keys. The LED lights furthermore produce short-wavelength (UV-C). The surface of the keys are substantially lower than the surface of the keyboard housing. 68 illustrates transparent or translucent layer to emit accent lighting to the sides of the keyboard housing from the LED lights.

The built-in palm rest 76 as show in FIG. 10 provides the keyboardists a platform to rest their hands at an optimal angle as such the wrists are not exposed to “extended” or “flexed” postures, helping to reduce “carpal tunnel syndrome.”

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the modular embodiments of the keyboard housing comprises of swappable top layer 78, transparent or translucent layer 68, main frame 80, bottom layer 82, and pins 84.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of magnetic fasteners 86.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of perforated openings 88 on transparent or translucent layer and the main frame.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of magnetic fasteners 90.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of USB micro-B/C or Lightning receptacles 92 to receive power from a power source and to provide electricity to electronic components in the present invention and to charge electronic devices that are connected to present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the power receptacle 94

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiments of wires 96 are attached in parallel to create a flat cable that is less likely to tangle or kink comparing to standard twisted wires. The extended connector 98 provides an additional length to the connector for ease of identifying, grabbing, engaging, or dis-engaging the cable; 100 illustrates concaved surface(s) of the extended connector for better handling.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of optimal angles of the present invention

FIGS. 19A, 19B illustrate exemplary non-limiting design of a keyboard incorporating one or more features of the various embodiments of ergonomic keyboards in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiment of the side view of the attachable or detachable feet at the lowest level 102 when attached to present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiment of the side view of the attachable or detachable feet at the middle level 104 when attached to present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiment of the side view of the attachable or detachable feet at the highest level 106 when attached to present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiment of the isometric view of the attachable or detachable feet.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting structure(s) of the embodiments of the isometric view of the attachable or detachable feet 108 when attached to the present invention without the touchpad.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

As applicable, described features of the invention can be implemented using compiled software or machine code to provide inputs to processor(s) to process predefined outputs on fixed terminals, entertainment consoles, portable, handheld, tablet, and wearable devices.

The keyboard layout of the present invention can be implemented via projection of visible light on vertical or horizontal surfaces, visual displays, touchscreen displays, and mechanical and electromechanical typewriters including or excluding the touchpad.

Furthermore, the QWERT keyboard can be used for character sets like and Arabic, Chinese, Devanagari, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and so on. The Computer Keyboard would also provide the users with a logical arrangement of the letters consistent with their learning of the English language.

The various non-limiting designs of the present invention have been illustrated and described above; however, the features in these embodiments may be implemented on other input devices such as computer mice, handheld controllers, electronic consoles, and so on.

The scope of the present invention is further entailed in the claims below.

Claims

1. A QWERT ergonomic keyboard apparatus comprising: a plurality of multiple layers to construct a keyboard housing, wherein a plurality of keys perpendicularly arranged at an angle with integrated alphanumeric, editing, navigating, modifier, lock, and miscellaneous keys that allow natural, efficient utilizations of the arms, fingers, and thumbs, wherein key arrangement includes: a plurality of editing, navigating, modifier, or miscellaneous keys are placed proximately between the left and the right sections of the function keys, and the keyboardists' left hand and right hands while resting on the home row; at least one QWERT typing section, wherein the central, intermediate, and peripheral keys are configured in a uniformly the angular grid of keys; at least one integral typing section of editing, navigating, modifier or miscellaneous keys or touchpad are arranged to the right side of the QWERT section, wherein the central, intermediate, and peripheral the keys are configured in a uniformly horizontal rows of keys; at least one YUIOP typing section is arranged to the left of the integral section, wherein the central, intermediate, and peripheral keys are configured in a uniformly the angular grid of keys; at least one numeric keypad section is located to the left size of the QWERT section or the right size of the YUIOP section, wherein the editing, navigating, modifier, miscellaneous, and arithmetic keys are configured in a uniformly angular grid of keys; a plurality of keys affix on a low profile keyboard plane, wherein the surface of the keys are leveled lower than the keyboard housing's surface, particularly the surface of the built-in palm rest; wherein the surface of the editing, navigating, modifier, miscellaneous, and alphanumeric keys; a plurality of predefined keys composed of capacitive or resistive sensors, wherein the elements generate electronic signals via contacts of the finger(s) to send instructions to the computer and the user interface; a plurality of the built-in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), germicidal ultraviolet LEDs or laser lights on the higher surrounding parameters to provide illumination and/or to deactivate harmful microorganisms on the surface of the keys; at least one flat cable with extended connector to be connected to a device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down are placed at the upper portion of in the integral section, between the keyboardists' left hand and right hand.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the QWERT typing section is operated by the keyboardists' left hand and the YUIOP typing section is operated by the keyboardists' right hand at the angles in the range of about 8 degrees to about 11 degrees with respect to a substantially reference line that is perfectly horizontal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the QWERT section contains a Tab, Control (Ctrl), Alternate (Alt), Space Bar, alphanumeric, modifier, editing, and miscellaneous keys; and are arranged in the range of 8 degrees to about 11 degrees with respect to the horizontal reference line.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integral section contains the Escape (Esc), Backspace or Delete or Clear, Enter, Caps Lock, Shift, modifier, navigating, and miscellaneous keys are arranged at zero degree in parallel to the horizontal reference line.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the YUIOP section contains the Backspace, Delete (Del), Clear, Control (Ctrl), Alternate (Alt), Space Bar, alphanumeric, modifier, navigating, and miscellaneous keys; and are arranged in the range of 8 degrees to about 11 degrees relative to the horizontal reference line.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the numeric keypad section is arranged in the range of 8 degrees to about 11 degrees; and in the same angles of the QWERT section or the YUIOP section.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the division, multiplication, and subtraction keys are located to the left side of the section; and the Number Lock key is located to the right side of the numeric keypad section.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein additional Tab key is arranged adjacent to the right side of the number nine (9) or Page Up key to assist keyboardists in navigating more effectively from field to field.

10. The apparatus according claim 1, wherein the sloped surface of the Space Bars, alphanumeric, arithmetic, modified, miscellaneous keys have built-in capacitive and/or resistive sensors to detect swiping gestures, motions or contacts of the thumbs or fingers and/or combination of modifier, miscellaneous key(s) to navigate pages, windows, screens, or to manipulate objects, mouse cursor, or to send instructions to the device, computer, or user interface.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the LED or laser lights or LED modules which are located at higher elevation to provide illumination to the surface of the keys.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the LED or laser lights or LED modules produce short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) or “germicidal UV,” in the range between 180 nm and 280 nm onto the surface of the keys.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the Micro USB-B/C or Lightning receptacles to receive electricity from a power source to power electronic components of the keyboard and attached devices while maintaining the low profile or thickness that is compatible with the modular keyboard housing.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, one or more embodiments of attachable or detachable feet to be affixed to the rear side of the present invention to provide different elevations by inserting the feet in various mounting configurations that have mounting openings which are located at center and off-center of the feet.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the adjustable feet can have different sizes, shapes, objects, symbols, and colors such as animals or living organisms, human figures, sporting goods, cartoon characters and so forth.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein surface of the key caps is lower than the plane of the built-in palm rest and/or keyboard housing in comparing to the top plane of the keyboard housing creating a gap to allow the LED lights inside the keyboard housing to illuminate on the surface of the key caps.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more embodiments of the transparent, translucent, or light guide to be aligned in front of the LED lights to provide a uniform illumination on the surface of the key caps.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the keyboard comprises one or more transparent and/or translucent layer to allow lights from the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to travel across the layer to the external side of the keyboard's body to create a beautifully illuminated layer that is distinctive and decorative in any setting.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modular keyboard housing comprises of the layers couple tightly together by one or more permanent rare natural magnetic or electromagnetic fasteners that attract the ferromagnetic fasteners to create a unified keyboard that has one or more modules or layers for building multi-layer composition, wherein various types of materials, design patterns, and/or colors are customized in various thicknesses.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modular QWERT keyboard's housing with the integral section, alphanumeric, editing, navigating, modifier, arithmetic, or miscellaneous keys have built-in capacitive and/or resistive sensing embodiments to detect contacts of one or more fingers on the embodiments to produce predefined output(s) to computer program(s) for transmitting instructions to one or more processors to be processed. The output(s) are supported in a variety of applications or devices such as on or more of the followings: a text, audio, video, or photo editing application, a text, audio, video, photo managing application, a text, photo viewing application, an audio, video player application, an e-reader application, a web browser, a short message service (SMS) application, an instant messaging application, a rich site summary (RSS) application, a blogging application, an audio and/or video conferencing application, an voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application, Near Field Communication (NFC), Ethernet, wireless, or Bluetooth, a television, a tablet, a smart portable, wearable device and so forth.