Information input device

A split keyboard design for wearable devices addresses ergonomic and practicality issues by enabling efficient touch typing and mobile use with reduced size and cost, suitable for diverse environments.

JP7729005B2Active Publication Date: 2025-08-26肖凌
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024016422
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-12-01
Filing Date
2024-02-06
Publication Date
2025-08-26
Estimated Expiration
2044-02-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing wearable keyboards are bulky, costly, difficult to learn, and lack ergonomic design, making them impractical for efficient touch typing and mobile use.

Method used

A split keyboard design with left and right-hand keyboards, each with a key panel, PCB, and housing, fixed to the palm, allowing touch typing and featuring vibration feedback, wireless connectivity, and switchable mouse/tablet functions.

Benefits of technology

Enables efficient, precise, and ergonomic input while walking, sitting, or lying down, with reduced size, low learning cost, and aesthetic appeal, suitable for general use.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide a keyboard mouse device that can be used while sitting, lying, standing, or walking.SOLUTION: An information input device comprises: a communication unit wirelessly connected to a smart device; a keyboard body composed of a left-hand keyboard and a right-hand keyboard, which are held in the left and right palms, respectively for operation; a key panel arranged on each of both surfaces of a housing; and a PCB electronic control board and a battery arranged inside the housing. The back of the keyboard body is pressed against the palm through a connection fixing member, and fingertips are stretched and bent to tap the keys on the key panel to complete the control operation. A row containing the letters in QWERTYUIOP in the 26 letters of alphabet leys among three rows of the keys is placed closer to the user's wrist. The invention divides a single keyboard into two parts for combined use, so that the volume of each part is reduced and is easy to wear.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of wearable keyboards, and more particularly to information input devices. [Background technology]

[0002] The rule of model changes in general products throughout history is that portable products are replaced by stationary products, and wearable products are replaced by portable products, such as magnifying glasses → pince-nez → eyeglasses, table clocks → pocket watches → wristwatches, etc. The model change from stationary personal computers → portable laptops → portable mobile phones in pockets → wearable computers is no exception.

[0003] As is well known, the man-machine interface (HMI) technology, which utilizes keyboard and mouse input and window display output on PCs and touchscreen input and output on smartphones, is a key technology for overcoming the shortcomings of the two major computing platforms. As PCs transition into the mobile market, the mobile HMI (mobile keyboard and mouse input → mobile host → mobile screen output) is also a key technology for overcoming the shortcomings. Augmented reality (AR) glasses using mobile computer screen output have been invented for over 20 years, and many companies are now producing smart glasses that use AR technology to display PC images. Even before 2007, mobile phone-type computers with PC functionality, such as the TinkPad X61, HTC, and Lumia 950, were sold one after another. Therefore, the lack of a keyboard for mobile operation and precise input, which is currently missing from new-generation wearable computers, is the only obstacle to overcoming the shortcomings of the mobile HMI technology. Due to this challenge, personal computers and smartphones have not had the functionality to be used on the go for the past 42 years and 16 years, respectively. Many major companies in the industry have tried to develop mobile computers, but all have failed. Even laptops have had to be equipped with portable keyboards. Microsoft's Lumia 950 smartphone, released in 2015, also had trouble due to its inefficient touchscreen keyboard. Apple's recently announced Vision Pro head-mounted device can display multi-screen computer screens in a real-world environment through glasses. However, it relies on photographs of people's original, rough gestures and language, which are then decoded and input by a computer, without the precise keyboard input required for a computer. This means that it can only perform computer calculations indoors by placing a keyboard in a designated location, and is unable to perform calculations in a wider, more mobile environment outdoors.

[0004] Although there are a large number of keyboards for which patent applications have been filed in the prior art, the number of portable keyboards is small, and among them, most can only be used while moving or stationary, and among the very few portable keyboards, none have been accepted by the general public for their practicality. A specific analysis is as follows:

[0005] 1. In Japanese patent "JP 2005-148855", the left and right keyboards are tied to the two thighs respectively. When moving the keys, the left hand must follow the left foot and the right hand must follow the right foot, moving simultaneously in the same direction. This violates the habit of people moving with their hands and feet on the same side simultaneously in opposite directions. After carrying the keyboard and moving, it can only be used while standing or sitting, and cannot be used while moving, and is not neat.

[0006] 2. US Patent US10691205bB1(45) is a wristband-type device that has the function of moving a keyboard, without the physical keyboard that is input by tapping with the five fingers. It uses radar and a webcam to recognize images and track the sequences and combinations of multiple tapping movements by the five fingers. The production cost of the product is high, and the user must memorize nearly 100 different sequences and combinations of fingers, which increases the learning cost and makes it difficult for the general public to use.

[0007] 3. US Patent US2012 / 0293935A1 is a wearable computer device. The complete product including the keyboard is hung in front of the chest and abdomen with a shoulder strap, allowing for mobile use. However, the device is large and heavy, and using it with both hands bent and suspended in the air while pressing the keys is tiring and unsightly.

[0008] 4. Chinese patent CN112578914A is a wearable finger positioning coding device, which uses the numbers 0 to 9 to represent the 10 fingers and outputs them through permutations and combinations. The user must memorize nearly 100 different finger permutations and combinations used to press the keys, resulting in a high learning cost.

[0009] 5. Chinese patent CN209447120U is a wearable glove keyboard, which uses 10 pressure sensors and 10 robotic finger flexion sensors, resulting in extremely high production costs, a glove shape that does not conform to the habits of the general public, is unsuitable for summer, is inconvenient to wear all the time, and is not aesthetically pleasing.

[0010] Therefore, the problem to be solved is to provide an information input device that is ergonomic, small and lightweight, portable, convenient for mobile use, allows for efficient touch typing, conforms to the habits of the general public, has low learning costs, low production costs, and has the beauty of concealment, simplicity, and appearance. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a keyboard and mouse device that can be used while sitting, lying down, standing, or walking. This device is small and lightweight, easy to carry, allows efficient touch typing, allows precise input, has low production costs, low learning costs, a simple structure, can be used covertly, and has performance characteristics suitable for the general public. It provides technology and devices to improve key shortcomings in man-machine interface input as PCs and smartphones are innovatively integrated into a new, larger, next-generation wearable mobile computing platform.

[0012] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An information input device including a keyboard body composed of a left-hand keyboard and a right-hand keyboard, both of which are held and operated in the palms of the left and right hands, The left-hand keyboard and the right-hand keyboard each include a key panel, a PCB electric control board including a microprocessor, a battery, and a housing, the key panel being provided on the surface of the housing, and the PCB electric control board and the battery being provided inside the housing; The keyboard body is connected and fixed by a connecting member, and the back surface of the keyboard body is pressed against the palm of the hand. The fingers are stretched and bent, and the fingertips tap the keys on the key panel to complete the control operation. The keys on the left-hand keyboard and the right-hand keyboard are all arranged in rows and columns, and each keyboard has five or more rows and five or more columns. The 26 English letters on the keys are distributed in three rows on the QWERTY keyboard, and are arranged consecutively in order on the left-hand keyboard and the right-hand keyboard. An information input device in which the row containing the alphabet in the QWERTY UIOP of the three rows of alphabet is positioned closer to the user's wrist.

[0013] Furthermore, the keyboard body is provided with a vibration motor and a buzzer, both of which are communicatively coupled to the microprocessor of the PCB electrical control board, so that after a key is effectively tapped, the vibration motor and / or buzzer will immediately send a feedback signal to the fingertips and / or ears of the person pressing the key.

[0014] Furthermore, the keyboard body is provided with a function switching key, which switches the keyboard input function of the key panel to a slider mouse function or a tablet function, and when the key panel is switched to the slider mouse function or the tablet function, the left-hand keyboard and the right-hand keyboard each turn on one of two different functions and are ready for simultaneous use.

[0015] Furthermore, the keyboard of the present invention must be controlled by touch typing because it is held in the palm of the hand and the keys cannot be seen, and for the sake of walking safely. The key layout of the QWERTY keyboard is selected and used because this keyboard is the most widely used in the world, and many people are familiar with the hand movements required to control it and can touch type, which significantly reduces the time required to become familiar with or learn touch typing on this keyboard. When practicing control for the first time, it is possible to help by looking at the virtual keyboard on the screen while typing.

[0016] Furthermore, the PCB electrical control panel is provided with a wireless connection module unit that can input man-machine interface control commands to other smart devices.

[0017] The advantages of the present invention over the prior art are as follows: By combining a single keyboard into two parts, the volume of each part is reduced, making it easy to wear. The keyboard is fixed to the palm of the hand using connecting and fixing members, making it easy to operate directly by bending the fingers. Bending the fingers and tapping with the fingertips reduces the contact area of ​​the touch panel, significantly reducing the size of the keyboard, providing great convenience for users to operate it easily with small finger movements in the palm of their hand. Separate QWERTY keyboards for the left and right hands allow for safe touch typing while walking and are easy to learn. By installing a communication unit that wirelessly connects to other smart devices and conveniently inputting control commands to the other smart devices, the wearable smart device enables precise man-machine interface control of a computer while standing, sitting, lying down, or on the move. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a first schematic configuration diagram of an information input device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an information input device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a second schematic diagram of the information input device of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a diagram of the operating principle of the keyboard / mouse / pen tablet. [Figure 5] is a circuit diagram of a keyboard / mouse / pen tablet. In the diagram, the shapes in the dotted lines indicate touch keys formed at the intersections of horizontal and vertical sensors, and each key simultaneously controls a series of horizontal inputs and a series of vertical inputs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In the description of the present invention, orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "longitudinal," and "circumferential" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are used merely for the convenience and simplification of the description of the present invention. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components shown have a specific orientation or must be configured or operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they are not considered to limit the present invention.

[0020] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, terms such as "attached," "coupled," "connected," and "fixed" should be broadly understood. For example, they may be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected. They may be mechanically connected or electrically connected. They may be directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate member, or the interiors of two elements may be in communication with each other. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention according to specific circumstances.

[0021] The information input device of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0022] 1 to 4, the specific implementation process of the information input device of the present invention is as follows.

[0023] This information input device allows man-machine interface input while on the move, can be controlled by touch typing whether sitting, lying down, standing or walking, and is composed of a left-hand keyboard 1 and a right-hand keyboard 2, and is controlled by being held in the palms of the left and right hands, respectively. The left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 are composed of at least four members: a key panel 3, a PCB electric control panel 4 including a microprocessor, a battery 5 and a housing 6, the key panel 3 being provided on the surface of the housing 6, and the other PCB electric control panel 4 and the battery 5 being provided inside the housing 6. When the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 are held in the hand and controlled, the palm faces the back side of the key panel 3, the fingers stretch and flex, and the fingertips tap the keys 7 on the touch panel to complete the key pressing operation; The keys 7 on the key panel 3 of the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 are arranged in rows and columns, with at least five or more rows and at least five or more columns, the 26 English letters on the keys 7 are arranged in three rows in accordance with a conventional QWERTY keyboard, and in the area of ​​the three rows of English letters on the key panel 3 of the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2, the alphabetic order is QWERTYUIOP on the top row, ASDFGHJKL on the middle row, and ZXCVBMN on the bottom row, with the row containing the alphabet in QWERTYUIOP being positioned closer to the user's wrist (opposite to the direction of a conventional keyboard). In the present invention, the placement and distribution of keys 7 other than English letters is not limited.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present application, the key panel 3 uses a capacitive or resistive touch panel, which is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor of the PCB electrical control board 4 .

[0025] In one embodiment of the present application, a connecting and fixing member 9, which is one of an elastic buckle, Velcro (registered trademark), a rubber band, a palm cover, a glove or a watch buckle, etc., is connected to the base plate of the housing 6, and the base plate is fixed in the palm position, and the color of the connecting and fixing member 9 is yellow, white or black (users can choose freely).

[0026] In one embodiment of the present application, the keyboard body is further provided with a vibration motor 10 and a buzzer 11, which are communicatively coupled to the microprocessor of the PCB electrical control panel 4 as a device (provided with a selection switch 12 for selecting between three selection states: vibration / buzzing / silent) that transmits a feedback signal to the fingertip or ear of the person pressing the key immediately after effectively tapping the key 7.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present application, the key panel 3 can be switched to either a mouse function or a tablet function using a slider, and the three functions can be freely switched between using the function switching key 13. When the keyboard can be switched to one of the two functions, mouse or tablet, the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 can each have one of two different functions enabled and ready for use at the same time (for example, when the right keyboard has the mouse function enabled, the left keyboard has the tablet function enabled, and after controlling the mouse with the fingers of the right hand, it is possible to immediately write and input characters on the left pen tablet).

[0028] Preferably, the keyboard body is provided with mode indicator lamps 14 connected to the microprocessor. The mode indicator lamps 14 include a handwriting mode indicator lamp 14, a keyboard mode indicator lamp 14, and a mouse mode indicator lamp 14.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present application, the PCB electrical control panel 4 is provided with a wireless connection module unit 15 that can input man-machine interface control commands to other smart devices.

[0030] Although the present invention and its embodiments have been described above, this description is not limiting, and what is shown in the drawings is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the actual structure is not limited to this. In other words, any structural aspects and embodiments similar to the technical means designed by a person skilled in the art based on the suggestion thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and without originality, should all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Left-handed keyboard 2 Right-handed keyboard 3 Key Panel 4 PCB electrical control panel 5 batteries 6. Housing 7 Key 8 Key Characters 9 Connection fixing member 10 Vibration motor 11 Buzzer 12 Selector switch 13 Function switching key 14 Mode indicator lamp 15 Wireless connection module unit

Claims

1. The keyboard body is made up of a left-hand keyboard 1 and a right-hand keyboard 2, Both are information input devices that are held and controlled in the palms of the left and right hands, respectively, The left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 each include a key panel 3, a PCB electric control panel 4 including a microprocessor, a battery 5, and a housing 6, the key panel 3 being provided on the surface of the housing 6, and the PCB electric control panel 4 and the battery 5 being provided inside the housing 6. The keyboard body is pressed against the palm of the hand with the connecting and fixing member 9, and the fingertips tap the keys 7 on the key panel 3 by stretching and bending the fingers, completing the control operation. The information input device is characterized in that the keys 7 on the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 are all arranged in rows and columns, the number of rows on each keyboard is five or more, and the number of columns on each keyboard is five or more, the 26 English letters on the keys 7 are distributed in three rows in a QWERTY keyboard and are arranged consecutively in order on the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2, and the row containing the alphabet in the QWERTY UIOP in the three rows of alphabet is located closer to the user's wrist.

2. 2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the key panel (3) uses a capacitive touch panel or a resistive touch panel and is communicatively coupled to a microprocessor of a PCB electrical control panel (4).

3. 3. The information input device according to claim 2, wherein the connecting and fixing member (9) is an elastic buckle, a Velcro fastener, a rubber band, a palm cover, a glove, or a wristwatch buckle.

4. 4. The information input device according to claim 3, wherein the keyboard body is provided with a vibration motor 10 and a buzzer 11, both of which are communicatively connected to a microprocessor of the PCB electric control panel 4, and after a key 7 is effectively tapped, the vibration motor 10 and / or the buzzer 11 immediately send a feedback signal to the fingertips and / or ears of the person pressing the key.

5. 5. The information input device according to claim 4, wherein said keyboard body is provided with a selection switch 12 for selecting one of three options for controlling vibration, buzzing or muting.

6. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the keyboard body is provided with a function switching key 13, which switches the keyboard input function of the key panel 3 to a slider mouse function or a tablet function, and when the key panel 3 is switched to the slider mouse function or the tablet function, the left-hand keyboard 1 and the right-hand keyboard 2 each turn on one of two different functions to be ready for simultaneous use.

7. 7. The information input device according to claim 6, wherein the keyboard body is provided with mode indicator lamps 14 connected to a microprocessor, the mode indicator lamps including a handwriting mode indicator lamp, a keyboard mode indicator lamp and a mouse mode indicator lamp.

8. 2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the PCB electric control panel (4) is provided with a wireless connection module unit (15) capable of inputting a man-machine interface control command to another smart device.

Citation Information

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