FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to data entry devices for computers and consumer electronics. Particularly, a two-handed device which contains a plurality of keys for each hand.

BACKGROUND

Patents of inventions of keyboards and keysets for typing, telegraphy and stenography begin over three hundred years ago. In 1714, H. Mill patented a typewriter. In 1879, M. Bartholomew patented a stenograph. In 1837, W. Cooke and C. Wheatstone patented a five key telegraph. In 1874, E. Baudot patented a five-bit code and in 1888, a telegraph keyset with five keys, for use with two fingers on the left hand and three fingers on the right hand. In order to generate the entire English alphabet, early telegraph machines needed at least five keys.

Today, computer input is largely provided from a user through the use of a keyboard and a mouse. Decades earlier, designers experimented with a range of input devices for users to interface with the computer. One such device is the electronic keyset.

The electronic keyset as a computer interface was introduced by D. Engelbart in the 1960s along with the first mouse. D. Engelbart used the mouse and the keyset together, with the keyset in the left hand and the mouse in the right hand, providing text generation and text editing with control sequences and control codes. The D. Engelbart keyset has five keys, much like earlier telegraph machines.

The D. Engelbart keyset has five keys, with a single switch for each key to generate binary codes. The five keys of the keyset and the three buttons on the mouse were used together for letters, numbers, punctuation and additional codes. The text generation on the keyset was slow and most data entry was done on a keyboard placed between the mouse and the keyset. “Letter codes” for the keyset were arranged alphabetically as binary values. Thus, the first code “A” is 00001, with 0 being not pushed and 1 being pushed, was generated by the user pushing the first key with their thumb. The second code “B” is 00010, generated with the index finger. Sequential letter combinations were used for text editing functions, such as cut, copy and paste.

D. Engelbart's keyset uses vertical hand movement and his mouse uses horizontal movement, requiring dissimilar hand gestures. The keyset, mouse and keyboard are human interface devices (HID) with current hardware and software standards for computer use. Human factor research (ergonomics) and human-computer interaction (HCl) are mature sciences.

Keysets (also called chorded keysets, chorded keyboards or chordal keyboards) are devices that allow the user to enter alphabetic letters by pressing several keys together, like playing a “chord” on a piano. The chords in this case are referred to as key combinations. This is distinct from a keyboard, which contains individual keys for the alphabetic letters. As a result of the use of key combinations, keysets are also called “chorded keysets,” “chorded keyboards,” or “chordal keyboards.” Current keysets come in a variety of designs with six keys for one hand to twenty keys for two hands.

The key combinations on a keyset need not be limited to alphabetical characters. The key combinations can also be associated with written characters, text editing functions, such as “cut,” “copy” and “paste,” or computer commands to control the speakers, screen, or various aspects of the graphical user interface.

Keysets provide users with a speed and size advantage compare to other input devices. Keysets, when compared to conventional keyboards, can be smaller, faster, or both. For example, some portable keyset designs allow one handed text generation and stenographic keysets can provide real-time speech transcription. Current keysets do not have a standardized layout and therefore comparison of keysets and between keyboards and keysets is limited.

Transcription speed and error rates by users of keysets and keyboards is evaluated to measure the efficiency of a device or layout. Keysets enable users to provide input quicker than keyboards. For example, stenographic keysets used to provide real-time speech transcription produce text at a rate of 200 to 300 words per minute. In comparison, keyboard typists are only able to produce 50 to 100 words per minute. Smartphone touch screen keyboards generate text at about 35 to 50 words per minute.

Keysets may be smaller than keyboards because they have less keys. Compared to a conventional keyboard, the smaller dimensions of a keyset better complement the smaller computers of today.

What is desired, therefore, is a modern keyset to be used with a computer for everyday use.

SUMMARY

A modern keyset will associate key combinations with text, text editing functions, and computer functions. The keys on a keyset can be constructed more efficiently than a conventional keyboard because there are less keys to accommodate.

One embodiment described herein is a two-handed keyset device comprising of a first keyset and second keyset. Each keyset comprises of a plurality of keys connected to an edge plate. The individual keys are attached to the edge plate by their individual top edges and the keys are capable of deflecting independently from each other. Each keyset comprises of a plurality of electronic detectors. Each electronic detector is functionally coupled to a key on the keyplate such that the electronic detector is activated when the key is pressed. The two keysets are connected by a communication tether configured to electronically connect the first keyset and second keyset.

Another embodiment is a computer system comprising the two-handed keyset device described herein, a computer, a network, and an output device connected to the computer. The output device is configured to provide at least one of audio and visual output. At least one of the first keyset and the second keyset is connected to the computer through the network, whereby the computer receives input from the first keyset and second keyset. In some embodiments the system is a computer system comprising a computer, a display connected to the computer and a two-handed keyset connected to the computer. Each keyset comprises of a plurality of keys connected to an edge plate. The individual keys are attached to the edge plate by their individual top edges and the keys are capable of deflecting independently from each other. Each keyset comprises a plurality of electronic detectors. Each electronic detector is functionally coupled to a key on the keyplate such that the electronic detector is activated when the key is pressed. A communication tether is configured to electronically connect the two keysets together. The keysets are further connected to the computer, whereby the computer receives input from the first keyset and second keyset.

Yet another embodiment described herein is a method of making a two-handed keyset. The first keyplate is made by cutting at least two slots extending from one edge of a sheet of flexible material, each slot extends to at least one-third of the way across the length of the sheet, creating keys cantilevered from the first edge plate. The second keyplate is made by cutting at least two slots extending from one edge of a sheet of flexible material, each slot extends to at least one-third of the way across the length of the sheet, creating keys cantilevered from the second edge plate. A first base and a second base are made by forming flat surfaces onto two blocks of rigid material. Electronic detectors are attached onto at least one of the surfaces of the keys and the flat surface of the first base, the number of detectors attached are equal to the number of keys on the first keyplate. Electronic detectors are attached onto at least one of the surfaces of the keys and the flat surface of the second base, the number of detectors attached are equal to the number of keys on the second keyplate. The electronic detectors for the first and second keyset are placed under the keys such that a detector is activated when a key is pressed. A communication tether is configured to connect the electronic detectors of the first keyset and second keyset. The first keyplate is attached onto the first base containing electronic detectors creating the first keyset, and the second keyplate is attached onto the second base containing electronic detectors creating the second keyset.

A further embodiment described herein is a method of providing command to a computer. The method comprises pressing on a first key on a first keyset comprising a first keyplate that includes a plurality of keys connected to an edge plate. The individual keys on the first keyset are attached to the edge plate by their respective top edges. The keys are capable of deflecting independently from each other. The first keyset includes a plurality of electronic detectors, wherein each electronic detector is functionally coupled to a key of the first keyplate such that the electronic detector is activated when the key is pressed. The method further comprises pressing on a second key on a second keyset comprising a second keyplate that includes a plurality of keys connected to an edge plate. The, the individual keys on the second keyset are attached to the edge plate by their respective top edges. The keys are capable of deflecting independently from each other. The second keyset includes a plurality of electronic detectors, wherein each electronic detector is functionally coupled to a key of the second keyplate such that the electronic detector is activated when the key is pressed. The electronic signals from the first keyset and second keyset are interpreted by a microprocessor and attached electronics into a computer command that is unique from either pressing the first key only or pressing the second key only.

Yet another embodiment described herein is a system of learning key combinations of the two-handed keyset. The system comprises of a two-handed keyset, a computer, a display and software executing on a computer. The two-handed keyset comprises a first keyplate comprising of a plurality of keys connected to an edge plate. The individual keys are attached to the edge plate by their respective top edges. The keys are capable of deflecting independently from each other. Each key of the first keyset is associated with a signal flag. The two-handed keyset comprises a second keyplate comprising of a plurality of keys connected to an edge plate. T, the individual keys are attached to the edge plate by their respective top edges. The keys the key are capable of deflecting independently from each other. Each key of the second keyset is associated with a signal flag. Software executing on the computer generates a desired text input (such as an alphabetical letter) or a description of a desired command (such as copy, cut, and paste) on the display and triggers the associated signal flags on the first keyset and second keyset.

