Keyboard with keys for moving cursor

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise a signal generator for sending an electrical signal from an expandable, flexible layer of material, the signal generator comprising an upper layer of flexible, resilient material and a lower layer of flexible, resilient material which between them define a cavity for enclosing an expandable material such as a cellular foam or gas, whereupon localized distortion of one of the layers of flexible material, effects a signal generation within the structure, which is transmissible through a proper circuit to an outside electrical device. A circuit may be arranged adjacent a plurality of said keys which senses when several of said keys are depressed in a skewed or sideways manner, so as to effect movement of a cursor or pointer on a monitor in communication with a processing unit and said keyboard.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 005,168, filed Dec. 6, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 011,241, filed Nov. 5, 2001, now abandoned, which was a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 549,080, filed Apr. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,762, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 974,356, filed Nov. 19, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,071, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 564,631, filed Nov. 29, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,716, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 447,116, filed Aug. 18, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,112, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 098,851, filed Jul. 29, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,461. The aforementioned applications and patents are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]T...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While their keypads are somewhat “storable”, the problem with that type of terminal is that the operator has a difficult time in hitting the proper key to efficiently do the job.

Current laptop and palmtop devices suffer from the problem of short stroke and compacted dense key layout.

Further difficulties arise when cursor movement is desired.

Accuracy, however, may be lacking with such data entry devices, inasmuch as the exact location of a particular cursor / data entry point may be difficult to discern.

This does not facilitate cursor movement while the operator's hands are on the alpha / numeric keys themselves.

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