A user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface is provided by a processor on a touchscreen display of a handheld device that allows a user to create a user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard. A set of user inputs to the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface is detected in response to user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display. The set of user inputs include a user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard with boundaries within a range of motion of a thumb of the user, a group of different user-specified touchscreen input key locations and input key shapes of a group of user-specified touchscreen input keys within the user-specified outline, and user-specified touchscreen input key processor-input function assignments of the group of user-specified touchscreen input keys. The user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard is implemented as a touchscreen display user input interface to the processor.

An apparatus and method for arranging a keypad in a wireless terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for arranging a keypad in a wireless terminal to conveniently perform a key input in the wireless terminal, the apparatus including: a display unit for displaying the keypad in at least one of a right and left side on a screen of the display unit in a horizontal mode of the wireless terminal; and a controller for controlling the display unit to display the keypad in the right and/or left side on the screen of the display unit in the horizontal mode of the wireless terminal.

A portable electronic device having several features is disclosed. The device can include a retention member that retains flexible circuits extending from a top portion to a bottom portion of the device, thereby allowing some components to be moved from a top portion of the device to a bottom portion. The device may include a cover plate can be secured with a display in the top portion to cover the retention member and other internal components. The device can include an omni-directional port designed to receive a connector different orientations and provide power to the device. The device can include a flexible keyboard having butterfly keycaps. The device can include an array of openings for an audio driver, with some of the array including through holes and blind holes. The device can also include a touch pad having a force feedback sensor and a haptic device.

A split rotating keyboard system for use in easing muscle strain and mitigating the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome associated with the usage of conventional computer keyboards. The system comprises first and second computer keyboard sections, namely, a left-hand computer keyboard section and a right-hand computer keyboard section. Each respective computer keyboard section is mounted upon a dedicated rotating platform member that is operative to rotate in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. According to a preferred embodiment, the rotating platform portions upon which the first and second keyboard sections are positioned may be secured upon a base member that is operative to maintain the first and second rotating platform members in fixed relation to one another. Another preferred embodiment includes elements that allow for a partially spherical motion upon which the first and second keyboard sections are positioned may be secured upon a base member that is operative to maintain the first and second spherical platform members in fixed relation to one another. Sensors embedded in the members can transmit motion, position, and pressure data back to the receiving device such as a computer, tablet, or gaming console.

An adjustable keyboard having a number of keys is formed in at least two segments which are mutually movable relative to one another using a hinge or joint. Each of the segments of the keyboard has mounted thereon some of the keys. The adjustable nature of the keyboard reduces stress and discomfort to the user by reducing contortion to the user's wrists. More particularly, discomfort to the user caused by pronation of the wrists and/or ulnar deviation of the wrists is reduced. The hinge or joint is in the form of a ball and socket-type joint with a locking mechanism, which preferably includes a pivoted handle, in the form of a lever, used for locking and unlocking the hinge or joint. The surface of at least one of the ball and socket of the joint define a plurality of recesses or a plurality of projections, to provide increased resistance to joint movement.

An electronic device is provided that uniformalizes (makes uniform) pressing sensitivities of operation switches such as a plurality of immediate output switches. A system includes a PC which is connected to a communication line, and an audio interface device which is connected to the PC and which has an immediate output switch which outputs to the PC a reproduction start command signal of an audio file which is assigned in advance, according to a user operation. A processor of the audio interface device converts an output value of the immediate output switch using a conversion table to a level value among a plurality of levels, and outputs the converted value. The conversion table is a table which converts different output values of the immediate output switch for the same pressing force into the same level value.

A physical computer keyboard which includes: a circuit board having touchpoints; physical programmable, pluggable keys such that each of the keys is programmable to provide the function of each of the keys, each of the keys having interlocking elements to join with an adjoining key, each key having connectors on a bottom surface of each key to make electrical contact with the touchpoints; and display panels with one display panel on a top surface of each key, the function of each key being displayed on the display panel of each key.

A keyswitch includes a base having a pillar, a cap having a rib and movable relative to the base, a sleeve rotatably sleeving the pillar and having first and second top surfaces and convex and concave portions, an elastic member abutting against the sleeve and the base, and a resilient arm abutting against a first or second position on the convex portion with rotation of the sleeve. When the resilient arm abuts against the first position, the rib abuts against the first top surface to prepress the elastic member for generating a first preload. When the cap is pressed for moving the sleeve downward, the resilient arm moves from the first or second position to the concave portion. When the resilient arm abuts against the second position, the rib abuts against the second top surface to prepress the elastic member for generating a second preload larger than the first preload.

The present invention incorporates unique methods and components for data entry and typing using the components including an ergonomic keyboard with substantially and uniformly low-profile key elevation in combination with built-in germicidal, non-germicidal light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser lights to disinfect and illuminate surface of the lowly situated key caps and adjacent affected surfaces.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.