JPH10254594A - One-hand input keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable input operation with one hand and to perform keyboard input while holding a handset or book or indicating data on a document with a finger by making character group of alphanumeric letters for the right fingers and left fingers overlap with each other without changing their arrays, and adding a mouse switching key onto a keyboard. SOLUTION: Alphanumeric letters for the character group for the right hand and the character group for the left hand are arrayed one over the other as they are. Punctuation marks, etc., are assigned to left characters of keys (G), (C), (V), and (B). Further, 'mouse switching key' is arranged at the right lower corner, and the mouse pad is arranged to be switched between mouse mode and right-left mode and switching to arrow mode can be performed by depression together with 'CTRL' key. The arrow mode is canceled with the 'mouse switching key'. Mouse pad operated with the thumb is arranged at the left lower corner of the keyboard, and the mouse mode, right-left mode, and array mode are used by the switching of the 'mouse switching key'.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the function and configuration of a keyboard used in the field of industrial electronic devices such as computers and portable information terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, input of a keyboard used in a computer or information equipment terminal has been performed using all fingers of both hands.

[0003]

While inputting with a keyboard, it is impossible to hold a telephone or a book with one hand or to point data on a document with a finger. On the other hand, it is difficult to input alphanumeric characters with a mouse or an electronic pen. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and to facilitate one-handed input.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a one-handed input keyboard that allows one-handed input. With respect to the alphanumeric keys, the right-finger character group and the left-finger character group of the alphanumeric character of the conventional keyboard are overlapped in the same arrangement so that the keys of the keyboard fall within the finger span of one hand. The left and right character groups are distinguished by the position of the finger on the mouse pad. In order to switch between a case where the mouse pad functions as a normal mouse and a case where the mouse pad functions for another purpose, a “mouse switching key” is added to the keyboard.

[0005]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The alphanumeric characters are arranged with the right character group and the left character group superimposed as they are. The right characters of the keys (G), (C), (V) and (B) are assigned punctuation marks or the like. Also,
A mouse switch key is installed at the lower right, the mouse pad is switched between mouse mode and left / right mode, and “CT”
It is possible to switch to the arrow mode by pressing simultaneously with the "RL" key. The arrow mode is canceled by the "mouse switching key". At the bottom left of the keyboard is a mouse pad that can be operated with the thumb, and the mouse mode, left / right mode, and arrow mode can be used by switching the "mouse switching key". FIG. 2 shows a state in the mouse mode, and functions as a normal mouse pad. In the present embodiment, the "ENTER" key is used for determination. FIG. 3 shows the mouse pad in the left and right mode, which is divided into four zones. You can select the right key on the right side, the left key on the left side, and the upper and lower case shift selection on the upper and lower sides. The right key selection and the left key selection, once selected, continue even if the finger is released, unless the other is selected, but the shift selection function is a selection only when the finger is on. FIG. 4 shows the mouse pad in the arrow mode, which is divided into diagonal zones. It has the functions of up, down, left, and right arrow keys, and can move the pointer (arrow) on Windows stepwise up, down, left, and right. In this embodiment, the function keys corresponding to F1, F2,..., F10 are not particularly provided. It is self-evident that adding or rearranging other keys based on the present invention does not affect the present invention at all.

[0006]

Since the input can be performed with one hand, it is possible to perform a keyboard input while holding a telephone or a book or pointing data on a document with a finger. Also, PD
A keyboard input function can be attached to a small portable terminal such as A.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an arrangement diagram of input keys according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the function of the mouse pad in the mouse mode according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functions of the mouse pad in the left and right mode according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the functions of the mouse pad in the arrow mode according to the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Alphanumeric key 2 Mouse pad 3 Mouse switching key

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An alphanumeric key arrangement on a keyboard
It consists of four rows and has a key arrangement in which the key position is slightly shifted rightward from the far line to the near line, and each key has two types of characters. One is called the right character and the other is called the left character,
When the left character is represented by using parentheses (), the keys in the farthest row are 6 (1), 7 (2), 8 (3), 9 (4), 0 (0) from the left.
(5), and the next row is Y (Q), U (W), I
(E), O (R), P (T), and the next row is H (A), J (S), K (D), L (F),
(G), and the preceding line is N (Z), M (X),
A one-hand input keyboard, which is arranged as (C), (V) or (B). 2. The mouse pad is at least a mouse mode,
2. The one-handed input keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a "mouse switching key" for switching between two functions among the left and right mode and the arrow mode. 3. A mouse pad which senses a contact position of a finger, functions as a normal mouse pad in a mouse mode, and is divided into four zones of an upper right, a lower right, an upper left, and a lower left in a left and right mode, and the right side is a right side. The left and right keys can be selected on the left, and upper and lower case shifts can be selected on the left and right. In the arrow mode, the mouse pad is divided into diagonally separated upper, lower, left and right zones. 2. The one-hand input keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a mouse pad having a function of moving a pointer on Windows up, down, left, and right in a stepwise manner.