DATA ENTRY KEYBOARD

Abstract

An apparatus for entering alphabetic data into a computer or other electronic or mechanical devices with a keyboard, wherein the keys are placed in an ordered arrangement. The vowels AEIOU are grouped together and arranged on a left side of the keyboard. The vowels are arranged in alphabetic order vertically across the three rows of keys with letters AE on the top row, the letters IO on the middle row, and the letter U on the bottom row. Each of the vowels has a same color. Consonants are arranged in consonant groups comprised of BCD, FGHJK, LMNPQ, RST, and VWXYZ. The consonant groups are arranged from left to right in alphabetic group order. The consonants in each of the consonant groups are arranged vertically across the three rows of the keys. The key groupings may also be differentiated by color.

Claims

1. An apparatus for entering alphabetic data into a computer or other electronic or mechanical devices, comprising: a keyboard having three rows of 10-9-7 alphabetic keys, with ten keys on a top row, nine keys on a middle row and seven keys on a bottom row, wherein: the keys are placed in an ordered arrangement; vowels AEIOU are grouped together; the vowels are arranged on a left side of the keyboard; the vowels are arranged in alphabetic order vertically across the three rows of keys with letters AE on the top row, the letters IO on the middle row, and the letter U on the bottom row; each of the vowels has a same color; consonants are arranged in consonant groups comprised of BCD, FGHJK, LMNPQ, RST, and VWXYZ; the consonant groups are arranged from left to right in alphabetic group order; and the consonants in each of the consonant groups are arranged vertically across the three rows of the keys.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: adjacent consonant groups each have a different color; and the consonant group BCD is adjacent to the vowels and has a different color from the color of the vowels.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: all of the consonants within both of the consonant groups BCD and RST are of a same first color which is a different color than any other of the consonant groups and the vowels; each of the consonants within the consonant group FGHJK are of a same second color; each of the consonants within the consonant group LMNPQ are of a same third color; each of the consonants within the consonant group VWXYZ are of a same fourth color; and the first color, the second color, the third color, and the fourth color each comprise different colors.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vowels are the same color as the each of the consonants within the consonant group VWXYZ.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the keys and the lettering on the keys is colored.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the keyboard comprises one of a mechanical keyboard, computer keyboard, an electronic keyboard, a smartphone keyboard, a tablet keyboard, a point of sale keyboard, and a touch screen keyboard.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the keyboard comprises a dual character keyboard; and the alphabetic keys comprise both an English language letter and a foreign language letter, character, or symbol.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the letters F and G are arranged on the top row; the letter H is arranged on the middle row; and the letters JK are arranged on the bottom row.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the letters L and M are arranged on the top row; the letters N and P are arranged on the middle row; and the letter Q is arranged on the bottom row.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the letters V and W are arranged on the top row; the letters X and Y are arranged on the middle row; and the letter Z is arranged on the bottom row.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows the prior art layout of the Allen keyboard;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the prior art layout of the QWERTY keyboard;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the prior art layout of the Dvorak keyboard;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a keyboard layout of keys in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a keyboard layout of keys in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present invention; and

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a keyboard layout having dual character keys in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The ensuing detailed description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0039] The present invention relates to an apparatus for entering alphabetic data into a computer or other electronic or mechanical devices comprised of a keyboard of three rows of 10-9-7 alphabetic keys, with ten keys on a top row, nine keys on a middle row and seven keys on a bottom row.

[0040] FIG. 4 depicts one example embodiment of a keyboard layout in accordance with the present invention. In the FIG. 4 example embodiment, the keys are divided into seven groups. The keys are placed in an ordered arrangement relating to the understanding and order of the letters in the English alphabet on a three row keyboard of 10-9-7 keys per row. The vowels Group AEIOU (11) are to the left on the keyboard and the vowels may each have the same color. The vowels may be arranged vertically across the three rows of keys with the letters AE on the top row, the letters IO on the middle row, and the letter U on the bottom row.

[0041] The consonants are arranged in alphabetical groups from left to right starting from the right of Group (11). The consonants within each group may all be of the same color. Group (12) consists of the consonants BCD. The group BCD may be arranged vertically across the three rows of keys, with the letter B on the top row, the letter C on the middle row, and the letter D on the bottom row. Group (13) consists of the consonants FGH. The letters FGH may be arranged vertically across two rows of keys. For example, the letters F and G may be arranged on the top row, and the letter H may be arranged on the middle row. Group (14) consists of the consonants JK. The consonants J and K may be arranged horizontally on the bottom row. Group (15) consists of the consonants LMNPQ. The letters LMNPQ may be arranged vertically across the three rows of keys, with the letters L and M on the top row, the letters N and P on the middle row, and the letter Q on the bottom row. Group (16) consists of the consonants RST. The group RST may be of the same color as the group BCD, or it may be of a different color. The letters RST may be arranged vertically across the three rows of keys, with the letter R on the top row, the letter S on the middle row, and the letter T on the bottom row. Group (17) consists of the consonants VWXYZ. The group VWXYZ may be arranged vertically across the three rows of keys, with the letters V and W on the top row, the letters X and Y on the middle row, and the letter Z on the bottom row.

[0042] Each consonant group of letters may have a different color, with the exception of Group (12) and Group (16) which may share the same color. The vowels may be of a different color than any of the consonant groups, or may be the same color as one or more of the consonant groups. For example, colors yellow, blue, red, and green may be used to differentiate the groups of keys from each other. Adjacent groups of keys should be differently colored. For example, the vowels may be yellow, and the adjacent group BCD may be red. The next group, FGH may be green. The JK group may be blue. The next group, RST, may be red. The last group, VWXYZ, may be yellow. Different color configurations may be provided for each group, and other colors may be used to differentiate the groups, such as tan, purple, gray, white, and the like.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a further example embodiment of a keyboard layout in accordance with the present invention. In the FIG. 5 example embodiment, the keys are divided into six groups. The keys are placed in an ordered arrangement with the vowels AEIOU grouped together and arranged on a left side of the keyboard. The vowels Group (21) are arranged in alphabetic order vertically across the three rows of keys with letters AE on the top row, the letters IO on the middle row, and the letter U on the bottom row. Each of the vowels may have a same color. The consonants may be arranged in consonant groups (22), (23), (24), (25), and (26) comprised of the letters BCD, FGHJK, LMNPQ, RST, and VWXYZ, respectively. The consonant groups may be arranged from left to right in alphabetic group order. The consonants in each of the consonant groups may be arranged vertically across the three rows of the keys.

[0044] The vowels and the consonants may be colored in order to differentiate the key groupings, with adjacent groups being differently colored. For example, all of the consonants within both of the consonant groups BCD and RST may be of a same first color which is a different color than any other of the consonant groups and the vowels. Each of the consonants within the consonant group FGHJK may be of a same second color. Each of the consonants within the consonant group LMNPQ may be of a same third color. Each of the consonants within the consonant group VWXYZ may be of a same fourth color. The first color, the second color, the third color, and the fourth color may each comprise different colors. As discussed above, a variety of colors may be used to differentiate the groupings, such as yellow, blue, red, green, tan, purple, gray, white, and the like.

[0045] In the FIG. 5 example embodiment, in Group (22) the letters B, C, and D may be arranged on the top, middle, and bottom rows, respectively. In Group (23) the letters F and G may be arranged on the top row, the letter H may be arranged on the middle row, and the letters JK may be arranged on the bottom row. In Group (24), the letters L and M may be arranged on the top row, the letters N and P may be arranged on the middle row, and the letter Q may be arranged on the bottom row. In Group (25), the letters R, S, and T may be arranged on the top, middle, and bottom rows, respectively. In Group (26), the letters V and W may be arranged on the top row, the letters X and Y may be arranged on the middle row, and the letter Z may be arranged on the bottom row.

[0046] In any of the example embodiments, the keys or the lettering on the keys may be colored. For example, the letters may be colored letters on a black background. Alternatively, the key itself (e.g., the background) may be colored with the letters appearing in black or white (or other contrasting color). In addition, the keys of each group may be one color with the lettering of each group in a contrasting color. Any combination of colored lettering and colored keys may be used, as long as adjacent groupings are differentiated by different colored keys and/or lettering.

[0047] Some of the groupings of keys may have the same color, as long as adjacent groups of keys are of a different color. For example, in one example embodiment, the vowels may be the same color as the each of the consonants within the consonant group VWXYZ.

[0048] The keyboard may comprise one of a mechanical keyboard, a computer keyboard, an electronic keyboard, a smartphone keyboard, a tablet keyboard, a touch screen keyboard, or the like.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, the keyboard may also comprise a dual character keyboard where the alphabetic keys comprise both an English language letter 30, and a foreign language letter, character, and/or symbol 32 (denoted by C1, C2, C3, etc.). For example, the computer keyboard can be employed in dual character keyboards that also use written symbols such Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic characters or other languages. The computer keyboard would also provide these users with a logical arrangement of the letters consistent with their learning of the English language. For example, FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of keys described above in connection with FIG. 5, modified to include the foreign language letters, characters, or symbols 32.

Advantages

[0050] In accordance with the foregoing descriptions of the difficulty of learning the QWERTY keyboard, several advantages are provided by the embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein, as follows: the letters of the keyboard are laid out in an ordered arrangement based on alphabetical groupings that is apparent to all readers of the English language. The groupings are further differentiated by color. This makes learning to type a more intuitive matter based on the foregoing knowledge of the typist, rather than a rote memorization of the position of each letter key through repetition. The beginning typist or a typist familiar with QWERTY keyboard will immediately recognize the logical arrangement of the letters in the embodiments of the keyboard design of the present invention. The typist will easily determine the general location and then the specific location of any letter on the keyboard, based on the colored groupings. Thereafter, the typist will progress from easily identifying individual letters, to familiarity with the location of all keys, to touch typing. The advantage of the new keyboard is that it significantly reduces the problem of the lengthy period any person must train to learn the ubiquitous QWERTY keyboard.

[0051] Accordingly, it will be seen that the invention can be applied to a variety of applications, including but not limited to, standard typewriters, electric typewriters, stand-alone electronic keyboards for use with personal computers, computers using a screen for touch entry of data, tablet computers, electronic smartphones, smart pads, point of sale devices, and any other device now existing or invented in the future that will be used to enter alphabetic data.

[0052] While the invention has been described in connection with an example embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.