METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING CONTROL OF KEYS OF VIRTUAL KEYBOARD ON WIDE TOUCH SCREEN WITH TWO THUMBS

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for implementing control of keys of a virtual keyboard on a touch screen with two thumbs including conventional technical processes of arranging keys on a preset virtual keyboard according to a key layout and setting, and displaying the preset virtual keyboard and the keys on the touch screen according to the key arrangement of the preset virtual keyboard and corresponding setting and parameters. In this way, without changing the key layout of the preset virtual keyboard, the key position setting, and the current width of the virtual keyboard determined according to the current screen width, when the preset virtual keyboard is displayed and runs on the wide touch screen, the keys are at positions touchable by both thumbs of an operator.

Claims

1. A method for implementing control of keys of a wide keyboard, the wide keyboard having a width which is greater than a maximum width of touchable region being touchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of an operator when held by two hands of the operator, the method comprising the steps of: (a) arranging keys on a preset keyboard, the preset keyboard comprising at least three rows of keys having letter keys, each row of the at least three rows having more than five keys according to a key layout; and determining width percentages of each key among each row of the at least three rows; (b) determining a width of a current keyboard; (c) defining a specific current keyboard having a width considered as a width of a keyboard being suitable for touching all the keys of the keyboard by two thumbs of the operator when held by two hands of the operator; calculating widths of each key among each row of the at least three rows according to the width of the specific current keyboard and the width percentages of each key among each row of the at least three rows; if a center line of the current keyboard perpendicular to the at least three rows of keys passes through a middle key among a row of the at least three rows on the current keyboard, the width of the specific current keyboard is subtracted from the width of the current keyboard to obtain a remaining width, the remaining width is added to a width of the middle key among the row of the at least three rows; and if the center line of the current keyboard perpendicular to the at least three rows of keys locates between a left middle key and a right middle key among a row of the at least three rows, half of the remaining width is added to widths of the left and right middle keys among a row of the at least three rows of keys; and (d) forming a wide keyboard by adjusting the width of the keys, each key among the at least three rows of keys on the adjusted wide keyboard being touchable by the left thumb or the right thumb when held by the two hands of the operator; wherein the left middle key is a key being closest to the center line of the current keyboard, and the right middle key is a key being closest to the center line of the current keyboard; or wherein a distance from a left sidewall of the middle key to the center line is equal to a distance from a right sidewall of the middle key to the center line; or a distance from a left sidewall of the left middle key to the center line is equal to a distance from a right sidewall of the right middle key to the center line.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wide keyboard is a virtual keyboard displayed on a wide touch screen, the wide touch screen having a width that is greater than a maximum width of touchable region being touchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of an operator when a portable electronic device with a wide touch screen is held by two hands of the operator, the preset keyboard is a preset virtual keyboard displayed on the wide touch screen, the current keyboard is a current virtual keyboard displayed on the current touch screen; on the premise of not changing the key layout, a key position setting of the preset virtual keyboard, and the width of the current virtual keyboard determined according to the width of the current screen, when the preset virtual keyboard is displayed and runs on a wide touch screen, all the keys among the at least three rows of keys are respectively located at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a difference between the width of the current virtual keyboard and a width value marked by a specific parameter, is considered as the width of the specific current virtual keyboard; the specific parameter is modified by the operator, an initial value marked by the specific parameter is set as a minimum value 0, and a maximum width value marked by the specific parameter is a width value obtained by subtracting a virtual keyboard width at least necessary for displaying all the keys from an actual width of the current virtual keyboard; when a computer program calculates the preset widths of the keys and preset widths of blank areas in the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and percentages of the preset widths of the blank areas in the virtual keyboard width, the width value marked by the specific parameter is subtracted from the width of the current virtual keyboard to obtain the width of the specific current virtual keyboard, the width of the specific current virtual keyboard multiplies by the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas in the virtual keyboard width to obtain the widths of the keys and the blank areas of the current virtual keyboard; finally, the width value marked by the specific parameter is added to the widths of the middle keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard based on the widths of the middle keys of the current virtual keyboard, and half of the width value marked by the specific parameter is respectively added to the widths of the left and right middle keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard based on the widths of the left and right middle keys of the current virtual keyboard.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein if the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is too wide and both thumbs are not able to touch the keys, the operator modifies the specific parameter by touching a corresponding key to respectively locate all the keys among the at least three rows of keys in the current virtual keyboard at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wide keyboard is a physical keyboard.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a width of the physical keyboard is in a range of 138 mm to 173 mm.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key layout is a conventional key layout.

8. A wide keyboard being suitable for holding by two hands of an operator, the wide keyboard having a width which is greater than a maximum width of touchable region being touchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of the operator when held by two hands of the operator, the wide keyboard layout method comprising the steps of: (a) arranging keys on a preset keyboard, the preset keyboard comprising at least three rows of keys having letter keys, each row of the at least three rows having more than five keys according to a conventional key layout; and determining width percentages of each key among each row of the at least three rows; (b) determining a width of a current keyboard; (c) defining a specific current keyboard having a width considered as a width of a keyboard being suitable for touching all the keys of the keyboard by two thumbs of the operator when held by two hands of the operator; calculating widths of each key among each row of the at least three rows according to the width of the specific current keyboard and the width percentages of each key among each row of the at least three rows; if a center line of the current keyboard perpendicular to the at least three rows of keys passes through a middle key among a row of the at least three rows on the current keyboard, the width of the specific current keyboard is subtracted from the width of the current keyboard to obtain a remaining width, the remaining width is added to a width of the middle key among the row of the at least three rows; and if the center line of the current keyboard perpendicular to the at least three rows of keys locates between a left middle key and a right middle key among a row of the at least three rows, half of the remaining width is added to widths of the left and right middle keys among a row of the at least three rows of keys; and (d) forming a wide keyboard by adjusting the width of the keys, each key among the at least three rows of keys on the adjusted wide keyboard being touchable by the left thumb or the right thumb when held by the two hands of the operator; wherein the left middle key is a key being closest to the center line of the current keyboard, and the right middle key is a key being closest to the center line of the current keyboard; or wherein a distance from a left sidewall of the middle key to the center line is equal to a distance from a right sidewall of the middle key to the center line; or a distance from a left sidewall of the left middle key to the center line is equal to a distance from a right sidewall of the right middle key to the center line.

9. The wide keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wide keyboard is a virtual keyboard displayed on a wide touch screen, the wide touch screen having a width that is greater than a maximum width of touchable region being touchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of an operator when a portable electronic device with a wide touch screen is held by two hands of the operator, the preset keyboard is a preset virtual keyboard displayed on the wide touch screen, the current keyboard is a current virtual keyboard displayed on the current touch screen; on the premise of not changing the key layout, a key position setting of the preset virtual keyboard, and the width of the current virtual keyboard determined according to the width of the current screen, when the preset virtual keyboard is displayed and runs on a wide touch screen, all the keys among the at least three rows of keys are respectively located at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator.

10. The wide keyboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein a difference between the width of the current virtual keyboard and a width value marked by a specific parameter, is considered as the width of the specific current virtual keyboard; the specific parameter is modified by the operator, an initial value marked by the specific parameter is set as a minimum value 0, and a maximum width value marked by the specific parameter is a width value obtained by subtracting a virtual keyboard width at least necessary for displaying all the keys from an actual width of the current virtual keyboard; when a computer program calculates the preset widths of the keys and preset widths of blank areas in the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and percentages of the preset widths of the blank areas in the virtual keyboard width, the width value marked by the specific parameter is subtracted from the width of the current virtual keyboard to obtain the width of the specific current virtual keyboard, the width of the specific current virtual keyboard multiplies by the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas in the virtual keyboard width to obtain the widths of the keys and the blank areas of the current virtual keyboard; finally, the width value marked by the specific parameter is added to the widths of the middle keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard based on the widths of the middle keys of the current virtual keyboard, and half of the width value marked by the specific parameter is respectively added to the widths of the left and right middle keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard based on the widths of the left and right middle keys of the current virtual keyboard.

11. The wide keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein if the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is too wide and both thumbs are not able to touch the keys, the operator modifies the specific parameter by touching a corresponding key to respectively locate all the keys among the at least three rows of keys in the current virtual keyboard at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator.

12. The wide keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wide keyboard is a physical keyboard.

13. The wide keyboard as claimed in claim 12, wherein a width of the physical keyboard is in a range of 138 mm to 173 mm.

14. A portable electronic device comprising: a wide keyboard being suitable for holding by two hands of an operator, the wide keyboard having a width which is greater than a maximum width of touchable region being touchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of the operator when held by two hands of the operator, the wide keyboard layout method comprising the steps of: (a) arranging keys on a preset keyboard, the preset keyboard comprising at least three rows of keys having letter keys, each row of the at least three rows having more than five keys according to a conventional key layout; and determining width percentages of each key among each row of the at least three rows; (b) determining a width of a current keyboard; (c) defining a specific current keyboard having a width considered as a width of a keyboard being suitable for touching all the keys of the keyboard by two thumbs of the operator when held by two hands of the operator; calculating widths of each key among each row of the at least three rows according to the width of the specific current keyboard and the width percentages of each key among each row of the at least three rows; if a center line of the current keyboard perpendicular to the at least three rows of keys passes through a middle key among a row of the at least three rows on the current keyboard, the width of the specific current keyboard is subtracted from the width of the current keyboard to obtain a remaining width, the remaining width is added to a width of the middle key among the row of the at least three rows; and if the center line of the current keyboard perpendicular to the at least three rows of keys locates between a left middle key and a right middle key among a row of the at least three rows, half of the remaining width is added to widths of the left and right middle keys among a row of the at least three rows of keys; and (d) forming a wide keyboard by adjusting the width of the keys, each key among the at least three rows of keys on the adjusted wide keyboard being touchable by the left thumb or the right thumb when held by the two hands of the operator; wherein the left middle key is a key being closest to the center line of the current keyboard, and the right middle key is a key being closest to the center line of the current keyboard; wherein a distance from a left sidewall of the middle key to the center line is equal to a distance from a right sidewall of the middle key to the center line; or a distance from a left sidewall of the left middle key to the center line is equal to a distance from a right sidewall of the right middle key to the center line.

15. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wide keyboard is a virtual keyboard displayed on a wide touch screen, the wide touch screen having a width that is greater than a maximum width of touchable region being touchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of an operator when the portable electronic device with the wide touch screen is held by two hands of the operator, the preset keyboard is a preset virtual keyboard displayed on the wide touch screen, the current keyboard is a current virtual keyboard displayed on the current touch screen; on the premise of not changing the key layout, a key position setting of the preset virtual keyboard, and the width of the current virtual keyboard determined according to the width of the current screen, when the preset virtual keyboard is displayed and runs on a wide touch screen, all the keys among the at least three rows of keys are respectively located at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator.

16. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a difference between the width of the current virtual keyboard and a width value marked by a specific parameter, is considered as the width of the specific current virtual keyboard; the specific parameter is modified by the operator, an initial value marked by the specific parameter is set as a minimum value 0, and a maximum width value marked by the specific parameter is a width value obtained by subtracting a virtual keyboard width at least necessary for displaying all the keys from an actual width of the current virtual keyboard; when a computer program calculates the preset widths of the keys and preset widths of blank areas in the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and percentages of the preset widths of the blank areas in the virtual keyboard width, the width value marked by the specific parameter is subtracted from the width of the current virtual keyboard to obtain the width of the specific current virtual keyboard, the width of the specific current virtual keyboard multiplies by the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas in the virtual keyboard width to obtain the widths of the keys and the blank areas of the current virtual keyboard; finally, the width value marked by the specific parameter is added to the widths of the middle keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard based on the widths of the middle keys of the current virtual keyboard, and half of the width value marked by the specific parameter is respectively added to the widths of the left and right middle keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard based on the widths of the left and right middle keys of the current virtual keyboard.

17. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein if the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is too wide and both thumbs are not able to touch the keys, the operator modifies the specific parameter by touching a corresponding key to respectively locate all the keys among the at least three rows of keys in the current virtual keyboard at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator.

18. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wide keyboard is a physical keyboard.

19. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein a width of the physical keyboard is in a range of 138 mm to 173 mm.

20. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein a width of the physical keyboard is in a range of 163 mm to 169 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a virtual keyboard displayed on a touch screen according to specific embodiment 1 when specific parameter is 0.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a virtual keyboard displayed on a touch screen according to specific embodiment 1 when specific parameter is 200.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a virtual keyboard displayed on a touch screen according to specific embodiment 2 when specific parameter is 0.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a virtual keyboard displayed on a touch screen according to specific embodiment 2 when specific parameter is 100.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a physical keyboard.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a front view of the physical keyboard in FIG. 5.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a use state view of the physical keyboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] A further illustration of the present invention will be given below in combination with specific embodiments.

Embodiment 1

[0027] The specific embodiment is based on a preset virtual keyboard as shown in FIG. 1, which is provided with 26 letter keys and 2 function keys, wherein the percentage of a preset width of each letter key in the virtual keyboard width is set at 10%, the percentage of the a preset width of each function key in the virtual keyboard width is set at 15%, and the percentage of a preset width of a blank area on the left side of the letter A key and the percentage of a preset width of a blank area on the right side of the letter L key in the virtual keyboard width are set at 5%.

[0028] The letter T key and the letter Y key on the first row of the keys are keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, and the distance from the left end sideline of the letter T key to the center line of the virtual keyboard is basically equal to the distance from the right end sideline of the letter Y key to the center line of the virtual keyboard.

[0029] The letter G key on the second row of the keys is a key arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard, and the distance from the left end sideline of the letter G key to the center line of the virtual keyboard is basically equal to the distance from the right end sideline thereof to the center line of the virtual keyboard.

[0030] The letter V key on the third row of the keys is a key arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard, and the distance from the left end sideline of the letter V key to the center line of the virtual keyboard is basically equal to the distance from the right end sideline thereof to the center line of the virtual keyboard.

[0031] In the specific embodiment, the virtual keyboard width at least necessary for displaying the keys is set at 400 points. The keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard are set to increase their key widths according to a width value marked by a specific parameter based on the preset widths thereof, and the keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the current virtual keyboard are set to increase their key widths according to half of the width value marked by the specific parameter based on the preset widths thereof.

[0032] For example, the current screen width/virtual keyboard width is 720 points, the initial value/minimum value of the specific parameter is 0, and the width value marked by the specific parameter is 0 point. Then, the letter G key and the letter V key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard are added with the width of 0 point based on the preset widths thereof; and the letter T key and the letter Y key arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard are added with the width of 0 point based on the preset widths thereof.

[0033] When calculating the preset widths of corresponding keys and blank areas in the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas thereon in the virtual keyboard width, the width value 0 to be added on a single key among the keys arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted from the adopted actual width value 720 of the current virtual keyboard, or twice of the width value 0 to be added on the single key among the keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted.

[0034] That means the computer program calculates the preset widths of each key and each blank area in the current virtual keyboard according to the actual width value, namely 720 points, of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of each key and each blank area in the virtual keyboard width. The result is that in the width of the current virtual keyboard, the preset width of each letter key is 72 points, the preset width of each function key is 108 points, and the preset width of the blank area on the left side of the letter A key and the preset width of the blank area on the right side of the letter L key are 36 points.

[0035] Based on the preset widths of the keys, after the width of 0 point is respectively added to the letter G key and the letter V key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard, the widths thereof are still 72 points; and after the width of 0 point is respectively added to the letter T key and the letter Y key arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, the widths thereof are still 72 points.

[0036] As described above, the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is as shown in FIG. 1. Apparently, the operator cannot touch or control the keys arranged at the middle of the virtual keyboard when using both thumbs to touch the keys. The operator modifies the specific parameter by touching a corresponding key to respectively locate the keys in the current virtual keyboard at touchable positions of left and right thumbs.

[0037] For example, the current screen width/virtual keyboard width is 720 points. The operator modifies the specific parameter to 200 points, and then the width value marked by the specific parameter is 200 points, namely, the operator thinks it is suitable for touching all the keys on the virtual keyboard by two thumbs of the operator when the specific parameter is modified to 200 points. That is to say the letter G key and the letter V key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard are added with the width of 200 points based on the preset widths thereof; and the letter T key and the letter Y key arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard are added with the width of 100 points based on the preset widths thereof.

[0038] When calculating the preset widths of corresponding keys and blank areas on the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas therein in the virtual keyboard width, the width value 200 to be added on a single key among the keys arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted from the adopted actual width value 720 of the current virtual keyboard, or twice of the width value 100 to be added on the single key among the keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted.

[0039] That means the computer program calculates the preset widths of each key and each blank area in the current virtual keyboard according to the width value, namely 520 points, of a specific current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset width of each key and each blank area in the virtual keyboard width. The result is that in the width of the current virtual keyboard, the preset width of each of the 26 letter keys is 52 points, the preset width of each function key is 78 points, and the preset width of the blank area on the left side of the letter A key and the present width of the blank area on the right side of the letter L key are 26 points.

[0040] Based on the preset widths of the keys, after the width of 200 points is respectively added to the letter G key and the letter V key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard, the widths thereof are changed to 252 points; and after the width of 100 points is respectively added to the letter T key and the letter Y key arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, the widths thereof are respectively changed to 152 points.

[0041] As described above, the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is as shown in FIG. 2. Apparently, the operator can control the keys arranged at the middle of the virtual keyboard when using both thumbs to touch the keys.

Embodiment 2

[0042] The specific embodiment is based on a preset virtual keyboard as shown in FIG. 3, which is provided with 26 letter keys and 2 function keys, wherein the percentage of a preset width of each letter key in the virtual keyboard width is set at 10%, the percentage of the preset width of the first function key on the left side of the third row in the virtual keyboard width is set at 10%, the percentage of the preset width of the last function key in the third row in the virtual keyboard width is set at 20%, and the percentage of the preset width of a blank area on the left side of the letter A key and the percentage of the preset width of the blank area on the right side of the letter L key in the virtual keyboard width are set at 5%.

[0043] The letter T key and the letter Y key on the first row of the keys are keys respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, and the distance from the left end sideline of the letter T key to the center line of the virtual keyboard is basically equal to the distance from the right end sideline of the letter Y key to the center line of the virtual keyboard.

[0044] The letter G key on the second row of the keys is a key arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard, and the distance from the left end sideline of the letter G key to the center line of the virtual keyboard is basically equal to the distance from the right end sideline thereof to the center line of the virtual keyboard.

[0045] The letter V key and the letter B key on the third row of the keys are keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, and the distance from the left end sideline of the letter V key to the center line of the virtual keyboard is basically equal to the distance from the right end sideline of the letter B key to the center line of the virtual keyboard.

[0046] In the specific embodiment, the virtual keyboard width at least necessary for displaying the keys is set at 400 points. The keys arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard are set to increase their key widths according to twice of a width value marked by a specific parameter based on the preset widths thereof, and the keys which are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the current virtual keyboard are set to increase their key widths according to the width value marked by the specific parameter based on the preset widths thereof.

[0047] For example, the current screen width/virtual keyboard width is 720 points, the initial value/minimum value of the specific parameter is 0, and the width value marked by the specific parameter is 0 point. Then, the letter G key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard is added with the width of 0 point based on the preset width thereof; the letter T, Y keys and the letter V, B keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard are added with the width of 0 point based on the preset widths thereof.

[0048] When calculating the preset widths of corresponding keys and blank areas in the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas therein in the virtual keyboard width, the width value 0 to be added on a single key among the keys arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted from the adopted actual width value 720 of the current virtual keyboard, or twice of the width value 0 to be added on the single key among the keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted.

[0049] That is to say the computer program calculates the preset widths of each key and each blank area in the current virtual keyboard according to the actual width value, namely 720 points, of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of each key and each blank area in the virtual keyboard width. The result is that in the width of the current virtual keyboard, the preset width of each letter key is 72 points, the preset width of the first function key on the left side of the third row is 72 points, the preset width of the last function key on the right side of the third row is 144 points, and the preset width of the blank area on the left side of the letter A key and the preset width of the blank area on the right side of the letter L key are 36 points.

[0050] Based on the preset widths of the keys, after the width of 0 point is added to the letter G key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard, the width thereof is still 72 points; and after the width of 0 point is respectively added to the letter T, Y keys and letter V, B keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, the widths thereof are still 72 points.

[0051] As described above, the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is as shown in FIG. 3. Apparently, the operator cannot control the keys arranged at the middle of the virtual keyboard when using both thumbs to touch the keys. The operator modifies the specific parameter by touching a corresponding key to respectively locate the keys in the current virtual keyboard at touchable positions of left and right thumbs.

[0052] For example, the current screen width/virtual keyboard width is 720 points. The operator modifies the specific parameter into 100 points, and then the width value marked by the specific parameter is 100 points, namely, the operator thinks it is suitable for touching all the keys on the virtual keyboard by two thumbs of the operator when the specific parameter is modified to 100 points. That is to say the letter G key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard is added with the width of 200 points based on the preset width thereof; and the letter T, Y keys and the letter V, B keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard are added with the width of 100 points based on the preset widths thereof.

[0053] When calculating the preset widths of corresponding keys and blank areas on the current virtual keyboard according to the width of the current virtual keyboard and the percentages of the preset widths of the keys and the blank areas therein in the virtual keyboard width, the width value 200 to be added on a single key among the keys arranged on the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted from the adopted actual width value 720 of the current virtual keyboard, or twice of the width value 100 to be added on the single key among the keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard is subtracted.

[0054] That means the computer program calculates the preset widths of each key and each blank area in the current virtual keyboard according to the width value, namely 520 points, of a specific current virtual keyboard and the percentage of the preset width of each key and each blank area in the virtual keyboard width. The result is that in the width of the current virtual keyboard, the preset widths of the 26 letter keys are 52 points, the preset width of the first function key on the left side of the third row is 52 points, the preset width of the last function key on the right side of the third row is 104 points, and the preset width of the blank area on the left side of the letter A key and the preset width of the blank area on the right side of the letter L key are 26 points.

[0055] Based on the preset widths of the keys, after the width of 200 points is added to the letter G key arranged on the center line of the current virtual keyboard, the width thereof is changed to 252 points. After the width of 100 points is respectively added to the letter T, Y keys and the letter V, B keys arranged on the left and right sides of the center line of the virtual keyboard, the widths thereof are changed to 152 points.

[0056] As described above, the current virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen is as shown in FIG. 4. Apparently, the operator can control the keys arranged at the middle of the virtual keyboard when using both thumbs to touch the keys.

[0057] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, for a physical keyboard or a rigid keyboard, keys are arranged on the physical keyboard according to a conventional key layout, that is, there are at least three rows of horizontally arranged keys, and more than five keys are arranged in each row. If the physical keyboard is too wide, when the operator holds the physical keyboard with both hands, the thumbs of both hands of the operator cannot touch the middle position of the physical keyboard. In order to solve this technical problem, the following technical solution can also be adopted: when the physical keyboard is manufactured, the width exceeding a touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width is counteracted by the width of a middle key arranged on the physical keyboard, and the width exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width is counteracted by the widths of a left side key and a right side key arranged on the middle line x of the physical keyboard, as shown in FIG. 6. That is to say, when the physical keyboard is manufactured, the keyboard width serving as the reference of the widths of the keys in the physical keyboard is set as W1 as shown in FIG. 7, the width W2 exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width is subtracted from the physical keyboard width W1 to acquire a residual width numerical value (i.e., W1-W2), the residual width value is used as a new keyboard width, the widths of the keys are recalculated based on the new keyboard width and in accordance with the percentages that the widths of the keys account for in the keyboard width, the width W2 exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width is added to the widths of the keys arranged on the middle line x, and half of the width W2 is added to the widths of the left side key and the right side key on both sides of the middle line x respectively, so that all the keys in the physical keyboard are respectively located at positions which can be touched by the thumbs of the left and right hands of the operator. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, the width of the middle key counteracts the width W2 exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width, or the widths of the left side key and the right side key closest to the middle line x of the physical keyboard counteract the width W2 exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width, so that all the keys in the physical keyboard are respectively located at positions which can be touched by the thumbs of the left and right hands of the operator.

[0058] In order to solve the technical problem that as the width of the keyboard is large, the thumbs of the left and right hands of the operator cannot touch part of the keys at the middle of the keyboard, the following technical solution can also be adopted, as shown in FIG. 7:

[0059] when the physical keyboard or rigid keyboard is manufactured, the width of the key arranged on the middle line x of the physical keyboard is set at first, at least the leftmost end of the key on the middle line x is touched by the thumb of the left hand and at least the rightmost end of the key on the middle line x is touched by the thumb of the right hand, and then the widths of other keys on both sides of the key on the middle line x are set; the widths of the left side key and the right side key closest to the middle line are set at first, so that at least the leftmost end of the left side key can be touched by the thumb of the left hand and at least the rightmost end of the right side key can be touched by the thumb of the right hand; and then the widths of other keys excluding the left side key and the right side key are set. Therefore, all the keys in the physical keyboard are respectively located at positions which can be touched by the thumbs of the left and right hands of the operator. In other words, the width of the key on the middle line x counteracts the width W2 exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width, and the widths of the left side key and the right side key closest to the middle line x of the physical keyboard counteract the width W2 exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the physical keyboard width, so that all the keys in the physical keyboard are respectively located at positions which can be touched by the thumbs of the left and right hands of the operator.

[0060] Further, the distance from a left end side line of a middle key arranged on the middle line of the physical keyboard to the middle line is equal to the distance from a right end side line of the middle key to the middle line; and the distance from the left end side line of the left side key, which is arranged on the left side of the middle line of the keyboard and is closest to the left side of the middle line, to the middle line is equal to the distance from the right end side line of the right side key, which is arranged on the right side of the middle line and is closest to the right side of the middle line in the same row of keys, to the middle line.

[0061] Further, the increased width value of one middle key arranged on the middle line of the keyboard is twice as large as the respective increased width value of the left side key and the right side key being closest to the middle line of the keyboard.

[0062] Further, the width of the physical keyboard or rigid keyboard is generally in a range of 138 mm to 173 mm, preferably a range of 143 mm to 171 mm, and more preferably a range of 163 mm to 169 mm.

[0063] In one aspect of the present invention, a wide keyboard having a dimension such that when an operator holds a left side and a right side of the keyboard with a left hand and a right hand respectively, a middle region of the keyboard is untouchable by a left thumb and a right thumb of the operator, the keyboard comprising:

[0064] at least three rows of keys, each row having more than five keys, wherein each row of keys comprises one or two keys selected from the group consisting of a middle key lying on a middle line perpendicular to the rows of keys and having a width greater than a width of the middle region disposed beyond touchable ranges of the left and right thumbs of the operator; and left and right middle keys lying on a left side and a right side of the middle line and adjacent to each other, each of the left middle key and the right middle key having a width greater than a half of the width of the middle region;

[0065] wherein all the keys in the keyboard are respectively located at positions touchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator;

[0066] wherein preset widths of the keys in the keyboard are set according to a keyboard width and percentages that widths of the keys account for in the keyboard width, a remaining width acquired by subtracting the width of the middle region from the keyboard width is used as the keyboard width when setting the widths of the keys, wherein the width of the middle key has the width of the middle region added therein, and the width of each of the left middle key and the right middle key has a half of the width of the middle region added therein;

[0067] wherein when the operator holds the keyboard with both hands, the left and right thumbs of the operator at least respectively touch a leftmost end and a rightmost end of the middle key, and the left and right thumbs of the operator at least respectively touch a leftmost end of the left middle key and a rightmost end of the right middle key; and

[0068] wherein the keyboard is a physical keyboard, and the middle region of the physical keyboard is untouchable by the left and right thumbs of the operator holding the left and right sides of the keyboard with the left and right hands respectively.

[0069] In one aspect of the present invention, the physical keyboard can be physically separated into a left portion and a right portion along the middle line of the physical keyboard. The left and right portions may be physically engaged by known methods such as hinged-connection, snap-connection, etc.

[0070] The above contents are further detailed description of the present invention in combination with the specific embodiments. However, it cannot be held that the specific embodiments of the present invention are only limited to the description. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can still make a variety of simple modifications or substitutions on the premise of not deviating from the conception of the present invention, and these modification or substitutions should be deemed to be within the scope of patent protection determined by the proposed claims of the present invention.