AN IMPROVED KEYBOARD LAYOUT

Abstract

There is provided herein an improved keyboard layout that has a particular alphabetical, numerical, functional and symbolic key layout that enhances keyboard layout compactness and hand specialisation. The symbolic key layout allows for the incorporation of a much larger symbol character set wherein more frequently used symbols are more readily accessible and more conveniently located. This particular layout may be overlaid with extended Latin and, in embodiments, Greek characters to facilitate typing of most Western European languages in ways which do not affect the symbol key layout, facilitates finding of extended characters and offers one-to-one key mappings between basic and extended symbols for each language.

Claims

1. An improved keyboard layout comprising: at least 36 alphanumeric keys arranged to define a left-hand side alphabetical character typing zone and a right-hand side numeric keypad, comprising: a top row comprising 12 keys beginning at the left-hand side thereof with alphabetical characters starting with character Q and ending with character O and ending at the right-hand side thereof with three numeric characters: a middle row comprising 12 keys beginning at the left-hand side thereof with alphabetical characters starting with character A and ending with character L and ending at the right-hand side thereof with three numeric character keys; a bottom row comprising at least 11 keys beginning at the left-hand side thereof with alphabetical characters beginning with character Z and ending with character P and ending at the right-hand side thereof with at least three numeric character keys a row of symbol keys arranged above the top row; and a right-hand side function key zone to the right of the numeric keypad comprising three function keys corresponding to each row.

2. A layout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three function keys comprise backspace, enter and shift.

3. A layout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom row comprises 12 keys comprising 0 between P and 7.

4. A layout as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lower function row beneath the bottom row comprising a space bar and a comma and full stop to the right of the space.

5. A layout as claimed in claim 4, further comprising question mark and apostrophe to the left of the space bar.

6. A layout as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the symbol , ', , ', !, ?, , to the left of the space bar.

7. A layout as claimed in claim 5, further comprising two keys to the left of the space bar comprising character groupings comprising , ', and '; !, ?, and .

8. A layout as claimed in claim 5, further comprising, ;, ,, ,,, , :, ., , to the right of the space bar.

9. A layout as claimed in claim 8, further comprising two keys to the right of the space bar comprising character groupings comprising, ;, ,, ,,, and :, ., , .

10. A layout as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least a subset of the symbol keys comprise a quadrant of symbols comprising a default symbol and three selectable symbols.

11. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein the selectable symbols comprises a first selectable symbol accessible by a press of a first key, a second selectable symbol accessible by oppressive a second key and third selectable symbol accessible by a press of the first and second keys.

12. A layout as claimed in claim 11, wherein the default symbol is selected according to use frequency.

13. A layout as claimed in claim 11, wherein the default symbols are arranged from left to right according to use frequency.

14. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein the symbol keys comprise &, @, , .sup.1, , $, , .sup.2, , , , .sup.3, , , , , [,], {, }, (, ), , , <, >, <, >, , \, , , , =, , .fwdarw., %, /, , , {circumflex over ()}, *, |, , _, -, -, -, #, +, and . . . .

15. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein the symbol keys are grouped into quadrants comprising at least one of: &, @, , .sup.1; , $, , .sup.2; , , , .sup.3; , , , ; [,], {, }; (, ), , ; <, >, , ; , \, and ; , =, , .fwdarw.; %, /, , ; {circumflex over ()}, *, |, ; _, -, -, -; and #, +, , . . . .

16. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein the symbol keys comprise arithmetic function symbols +, , *, / and = in a row from right to left.

17. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein the arithmetic function symbols are placed directly above the numbers.

18. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein telephone symbols * and # are placed above the numeric keypad.

19. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein *, and {circumflex over ()} are located on one key.

20. A layout as claimed in claim 10, wherein %, /, and are located on one key.

21. A layout as claimed in claim 1, further comprising selectable extended Latin characters , , , , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (g)}, , , |, i, , , ij, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and assigned to the alphanumeric keys.

22. A layout as claimed in claim 21, wherein the layout comprises a selection key for selection of an extended Latin character.

23. A layout as claimed in claim 22, wherein the extended Latin characters are clustered according to letter type.

24. A layout as claimed in claim 22, wherein the extended Latin characters are clustered according to diacritic type.

25. A layout as claimed in claim 22, wherein the extended Latin characters are arranged according to frequency use type.

26. A layout as claimed in claim 21, wherein the selectable extended Latin characters are paired according to at least one of: q with , w with , e with , r with , t with , y with , u with , i with , o with , 1 with , 2 with , 3 with , a with , s with , d with , f with , g with , h with , j with , k with , l with , 4 with , 5 with , 6 with , z with , x with , c with , v with , b with , n with , m with , p with , 7 with i and i, 8 with and and 9 with ij.

27. A layout as claimed in claim 1, further comprising further extended Latin and Greek characters , , , {hacek over (a)}, , , , , d, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (i)}, , , , l, , , , , , , o, , , {hacek over (o)}, , , , , , , , t, , , u, , , , {hacek over (u)}, {umlaut over ()}, {umlaut over ({hacek over (u)})}, {umlaut over ()}, {umlaut over ()}, {hacek over (w)}, {acute over (w)}, {grave over (w)}, {umlaut over (w)}, , , {grave over (y)}, , , , , ,, , , , , , , .Math., , , , , , o, , , , , , , , , , , {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {acute over (.Math.)}, , {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {umlaut over (.Math.)}, {umlaut over ()}, and assigned to the alphanumeric keys.

28. A layout as claimed in claim 27, wherein the further extended Latin and Greek characters are assigned according to a mapping and wherein the mapping comprises language specific maps.

29. A layout as claimed in claim 28, wherein each language specific map comprises a 1-to-1 key mapping between a basic character and an associated extended Latin and Greek character for each language.

30. A layout as claimed in claim 29, wherein the mapping comprises pairings comprising at least one of: q with , , and {acute over ()}, w with , , and , e with , and , r with , , , and , t with , e, , t, and , y with and , u with , , and , i with , and .Math., o with , and Greek letter o, 1 with , and {acute over ()}, 2 with , {hacek over (o)} and Greek letter , 3 with , {umlaut over ()} and Greek letter {umlaut over (.Math.)}, a with , and , s with , , , and , d with , d, and , f with , and , g with , , , and , h with , , , and , j with , , , and , k with , , and , l with , l, , and , 4 with , and {acute over ()}, 5 with , {hacek over (i)} and {acute over ()}, 6 with , {umlaut over ()} and {umlaut over ()}, z with , , , and , x with , , , {hacek over (a)} and , c with , , , , and , v with , , and , b with , {grave over (y)} and , n with , , , and Greek letter v, m with , p with , , {acute over (w)} and , 7 with i, i, {grave over (w)}, and Greek letter {acute over ()}, 8 with , , {hacek over (u)}, and {grave over ()}, and 9 with ij, {umlaut over (w)}, {umlaut over ()}, and .

31. A layout as claimed in claim 1, wherein a right hand edge of the numeric keypad is linear and is bordered by a column of function keys that comprises, in order from top to bottom: esc, delete right, delete left with tab (tabulate) as an alternative function, return with tab (tabulate) as an alternative function, shift and control functions.

32. A layout as claimed in claim 1, wherein a left hand edge of the alphabetical character typing zone is bordered by a column of function keys that comprises, in order from top to bottom: esc, delete right, delete left with tab (tabulate) as an alternative function, return with tab (tabulate) as an alternative function, shift and control functions.

33. A layout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alphabetical character typing zone, numeric keypad and right-hand side function zone are differently colour.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a standard keyboard layout of the prior art;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows an improved keyboard layout in accordance with an embodiment;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the layout of FIG. 2 comprising additional Latin characters for the typing of Western European languages;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows the layout of FIG. 2 comprising yet further additional languages for typing a much wider range of Latin character and Greek languages;

[0062] FIG. 5 shows an alternative layout to FIG. 4 wherein the zero key is placed on the bottom row of alphanumeric keys;

[0063] FIG. 6 shows the utilisation of the hack key to modify the layout of the keyboard, including is as exemplified in FIGS. 7 and 8; and

[0064] FIGS. 9-17 show the present layout principles applied to small form factor screen layouts, such as for mobile phones; and

[0065] FIG. 18 shows an alternative layout to FIG. 9 wherein the return key and screen up and down keys are transposed, and the bottom row of alphanumeric and symbol keys is shifted one position to the left.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a keyboard layout. The layout comprises 35 or 36 alphanumeric keys arranged to define a left-hand side alphabetical character typing zone 101 and a right hand side numeric keypad 102 which comprise top, middle and bottom rows.

[0067] The top row comprises 12 keys beginning at the left-hand side thereof with alphabetical character starting with the character Q and ending with the character O and ending at the right hand side thereof with three numeric characters.

[0068] A middle row similarly comprises 12 keys beginning at the left-hand side thereof with alphabetical character starting with the character A and ending with the character L and ending at the right hand side thereof with three numeric character keys.

[0069] The bottom row may comprise 11 or 12 keys beginning at the left-hand side thereof with alphabetical character is beginning with the character Z and ending with the character P and ending at the right hand side thereof with three numeric character keys. For the embodiment wherein the bottom row comprises 11 keys, the 0 number key may be located beneath the 7 number key. Where the bottom row comprises 12 keys, the 0 the key may be located between the P character and 7 number keys.

[0070] A row of symbol keys 104 are arranged above the top row of alphanumeric keys.

[0071] A row of symbol and punctuation keys 105 may be arranged below the bottom row of alphanumeric keys.

[0072] Furthermore, a function keys zone 103 is located to the right of the numeric keypad 102. The function keys zone 103 may also extend around the periphery above the row of symbol keys 104 and to the left of the alphabetical character typing zone 101. Symbol and punctuation keys 105 may also be located under the bottom typing row.

[0073] The various zones of the keyboard, alphabetical character typing zone 101, the numeric keypad 102, the function keys zone 103, the symbol keys 104, and the symbol and punctuation keys 105 may each be coloured a different colour to indicate the various functional roles for each zone.

[0074] To the right of the space bar may be a comma and full stop. These punctuation symbols are positioned between the numbers and letters and are often used when writing both letters and numbers. To the left of the space bar and further away from the numbers may be the question mark and apostrophe. These punctuation symbols are generally used when writing letters, and less frequently with numbers. In a specific embodiment shown, the symbols adjoining the space bar contain , ', , ', !, ?, , , space, ;, ,, ,,, , :, ., , , and . Variants may contains the symbols . . . , -, / and \ which may be grouped onto keys in the following way: , ', and '; !, ?, and ; space; ;, ,, ,, and ; :, ., , 0, , and ; and . . . , -, /and \.

[0075] Each of the basic punctuation symbols of full stop, comma, question mark and apostrophe may be paired with another related symbol, so that full stop goes with colon, comma with semi-colon, question mark with exclamation mark and apostrophe with double quote mark.

[0076] Each key may also have additional symbols that are generally used in languages other than English. For example, the full stop may also be paired with the ideographic period sign and centre dot. The comma may be paired with the ideographic comma and German quote mark. The question mark and exclamation mark may be paired with the Spanish inverted question mark and inverted exclamation mark. The apostrophe and quote mark may be paired with the opening versions of the two. Furthermore, 0 may be paired with the ideographic number zero and ordinal indicators. Additional common punctuation comprising ellipsis, dash, back slash and forward slash may be put together on one key.

[0077] The symbol key row 104 may comprise symbol keys that contain &, @, , .sup.1, , $, , .sup.2, , , , .sup.3, , , , .square-solid., [,], {, }, (, ), , , <, >, , \, , , , =, , .fwdarw., %, /, , , {circumflex over ()}, *, |, , _, -, -, -, #, +, and . . . .

[0078] These may be been grouped onto single key quadrant comprising &, @, and .sup.1; , $, and .sup.2; , , and .sup.3; , , and .square-solid.; [,], {and }; (, ), and ; <, >, and , , \, and ; , =, and .fwdarw.; %, /, and ; {circumflex over ()}, *, | and , /, -, - and -; #, +, and . . . .

[0079] The arithmetic function symbols +, , *, / and = may be arranged in a row from right to left and placed directly above the numbers. The telephone symbols * and # may be placed in a similar position to a phone but above the numbers rather than below.

[0080] The line symbols, _, -, - and - may be grouped on one key with | next to them. Tick and cross may be on adjacent keys. The key with * may also have the symbol on it, while the key with/may also have .

[0081] In mathematical terms, *, and {circumflex over ()} all relate to increasing the size of a number by a multiple number of times. As such, these symbols are all put on the one key. Similarly %, /, and all relate to decreasing the size of a number by a certain amount and these may also occur together on one key.

[0082] Furthermore, the %, / and are grouped as they slope one direction, and similarly, and \ slope in the other direction. Furthermore, = and do not slope and both can refer to types of equivalence.

[0083] Arrows may be grouped together on two keys. Bracket-like symbols may be grouped together with the opening version at the top and closing version at the bottom of the same key.

[0084] Bullet point-like symbols may be located on one key. Currencies may be grouped together as are fractions and superscript numbers. The symbols @ and & may be grouped together. @ may be the first symbol of the keyboard making it easy to find and type since this key is very important to internet use.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the function keys of the function zone 103 are mirrored in adjacent sides of the keyboard. Function keys may comprise from top to bottom, escape (esc), delete left (backspace), delete right (delete) a delete left with tab (tabulate) as an alternative function, enter (return) with tab (tabulate) as an alternative function, shift and ctrl (control), while next of ctrl is a new selection key 105 for alternative character and function selections, and next to that alt (alternative). Running between the two esc buttons may be caps lock 113, the function keys F1 to F10, a new hack key 114, and a new numbers off key 115.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment wherein extended Latin characters are mapped onto their corresponding basic character counterpart keys.

[0087] These additional characters may comprise letters and letters with diacritics including , , , , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (g)}, , , |, i, , , ij, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and , paired with the standard 26 letters of the English alphabet and the numbers 1 to 9.

[0088] There is shown the specific parings of a preferred embodiment of the pairing of q with , w with , e with , r with , t with , y with , u with , i with , o with , 1 with , 2 with , 3 with , a with , s with , d with , f with , g with , h with , j with , k with , l with , 4 with , 5 with , 6 with , z with , x with , c with , v with , b with , n with , m with , p with , 7 with i and i, 8 with and and 9 with ij.

[0089] FIG. 4 shows the arrangements of the 36 glyph keys with the letters and letters with diacritics , , , {hacek over (a)}, , , , , d, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (i)}, , , , l, , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (o)}, , , , , , , , t, , , u, , , , {hacek over (u)}, {umlaut over ()}, {umlaut over ({hacek over (u)})}, {umlaut over ()}, {umlaut over ()}, {hacek over (w)}, {acute over (w)}, {grave over (w)}, {umlaut over (w)}, , , {grave over (y)}, , , , , ,, , , , , , , .Math., , , , , , o, , , , , , , , , , , {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {acute over (.Math.)}, , {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {umlaut over (.Math.)}, {umlaut over ()}, and paired with the standard 26 letters of the English alphabet and the numbers 1 to 9.

[0090] It shows the specific parings of q with , , and {acute over ()}, w with , , and , e with , and , r with , , , and , t with , e, , t, and , y with and , u with , , u and , i with , and .Math., o with , o and Greek letter o, 1 with , and {acute over ()}, 2 with , {hacek over (o)} and Greek letter , 3 with , {umlaut over ()} and Greek letter {umlaut over (.Math.)}, a with , and , s with , , , and , d with , d, and , f with , and , g with , , , and , h with , , , and , j with , , , and , k with , , and , l with , l, , and , 4 with , and {acute over ()}, 5 with , and {acute over ()}, 6 with , {umlaut over ()} and {umlaut over ()}, z with , , , and , x with , , , {hacek over (a)} and , c with , , , , and , v with , , and , b with , {grave over (y)} and , n with , , , , and Greek letter v, m with , p with , , {grave over (w)} and , 7 with , i, {grave over (w)}, {umlaut over ()} and Greek letter , 8 with , , {hacek over (u)}, and {grave over ()}, and 9 with ij, {umlaut over (w)}, {umlaut over ()}, and .

[0091] FIG. 5 shows the alternative arrangement from FIG. 4 of the 36 glyph keys with the letters and letters with diacritics , , , {hacek over (a)}, , , , , d, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (i)}, , , , l, , , , , , , , , , {hacek over (o)}, , , , , , , , t, , , u, , , , {hacek over (u)}, {umlaut over ()}, {umlaut over ({hacek over (u)})}, {umlaut over ()}, {umlaut over ()}, {hacek over (w)}, {acute over (w)}, {grave over (w)}, {umlaut over (w)}, , , {grave over (y)}, , , , , ,, , , , , , , .Math., , , , , , o, , , , , , , , , , , {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {acute over (.Math.)}, , {acute over ()}, {acute over ()}, {umlaut over (.Math.)}, {umlaut over ()}, and paired with the standard 26 letters of the English alphabet and the numbers 1 to 9.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows the dialogue box that is displayed on screen when the hack key is double pressed or long pressed. It has three sections: language packs 106, hack packs 107 and options 108. The language packs 106 show, when active, the languages that have been installed. Primary languages 109 may be highlighted. The selected language may be framed in the middle of the dialogue box.

[0093] FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of hack packs. The hack pack has a name and a layout of glyphs or other things that are typed or activated when pressed. The name of the hack pack corresponds to the name in the list of hack packs. The hack pack is activated by first making it the selected hack pack in the dialogue box, then single clicking the hack key. When active, the usual actions of the number keys are suspended and instead each key types according to the hack pack.

[0094] FIGS. 9 to 11 show the various components of the layout of the keyboard for small devices such as phones and tablets. Each screen is a standard layout, 9 keys wide and 4 keys tall, with two keys merged into one on the bottom row to form the space key. Each screen has a heading that enables it to be listed in a list of installed screens.

[0095] The screen may have a choice 110 to hide the screen, which if selected, requires the double clicking of the screen up or screen down keys 111 to reveal it. The screen has a layout for glyphs, screen up or screen down keys 111, delete left and delete right keys 112, space bar and an enter key. The screen up and screen down keys 111 may display the top right glyph of the screen that they will move to if pressed.

[0096] FIGS. 9 to 10 show the layout for the basic letters screens. FIG. 9 shows the auto hide button 110 which if selected, causes the little letter screen to appear once one option has been chosen from the capitals screen. FIG. 11 show the layout of the numbers and symbols screen. This screen contains all numbers, common punctuation and common internet symbols. FIGS. 12 and 13 show the layout of the symbols screens. FIGS. 14 to 17 show the layout of the extended Latin screen. FIG. 18 shows an alternative layout to FIG. 9 an alternative layout to FIG. 9 wherein the return key and screen up and down keys are transposed, and the bottom row of alphanumeric and symbol keys is shifted one position to the left.

[0097] These letters may be arranged according to a clear and repetitive pattern so that, despite there being 104 letters, equal to four times the standard English alphabet of 26 letters, they can be easily located.

[0098] The letters may be arranged in broad alphabetical order from left to right. They are also divided into rows by diacritic such that letters with acutes, graves, macrons and strokes as well as ligatures are generally in the top row; letters with diaresis, ogoneks, horns, cedillas, tildas, rings, dots and commas below are generally in the middle row; letters with carons, circumflexes, breves and double graves are generally in the bottom row and within a row, and there is a regular pattern among diacritics so that acutes come before graves which come before macrons, diaresis comes before ogoneks which come before tildas which come before rings, and carons come before circumflexes which come before double graves.

[0099] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.