25-Key Keyboard Layout for Chinese Phonetic Input Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current keyboard layouts, such as Qwerty, are not suitable for Chinese characters and phonetic input methods, leading to high learning costs, cumbersome coding rules, and inefficiencies in input methods for devices like mobile phones and watches.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard with a 25-key layout arranged in 5 rows and 5 columns, featuring 7 key positions per key, allowing for dynamic substitution between Chinese phonetic, calligraphical code, and English Latin letters, with specific input methods and gestures for efficient character input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Qwerty keyboard layout is used for Chinese phonetic input, then English typing compatibility is maintained, but learning cost increases and input efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a keyboard layout where the same physical key positions serve dual purposes: English letters for English input and Chinese phonetic letters for Chinese input. The mapping relationship between key positions and phonetic letters is designed to be intuitive and consistent, allowing users to switch between languages without relearning key positions, thereby reducing learning cost while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of letter arrangement on the keyboard from traditional Qwerty sequencing to phonetic-based sequencing. By organizing letters according to phonetic patterns and frequency of use in Chinese, the layout optimizes for Chinese phonetic input efficiency while preserving the physical key position structure for English compatibility
2Device complexity
If calligraphical code input methods are designed based on English Qwerty keyboard, then English keyboard structure is utilized, but coding rules become cumbersome and input speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phonetic letter mapping from the traditional English Qwerty sequencing and reorganizes it according to Chinese phonetic patterns. By separating the phonetic input logic from the English letter sequencing constraint, the patent simplifies the coding rules while maintaining keyboard structure utilization, enabling faster input through more intuitive letter-grouping patterns
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adapting Chinese input to fit English Qwerty sequencing, the patent inverts the approach by organizing the keyboard layout according to Chinese phonetic patterns while maintaining physical key position consistency. This inversion allows phonetic letters to be grouped by pronunciation patterns rather than English alphabetical order, simplifying the input methodology
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional English Qwerty keyboard is used for mobile phones and watches, then device compatibility is maintained, but single finger manipulation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing specific key positions and letter groupings based on the operational characteristics of mobile phones and watches. By considering the limited screen space and single-finger operation constraints, the layout strategically positions frequently used phonetic letters and letter groups in easily accessible key positions, improving single-finger manipulation efficiency while maintaining device compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a keyboard based on key position layout and an input method thereof applied to an electronic device. The keyboard includes a keyboard body. The keyboard body is provided with a main key area formed by 25 keys, and 28 letter key positions are arranged in the main key area and are configured to display 28 input method letters. The input method letters are Chinese phonetic letters, calligraphical code letters or English Latin letters. On virtual keys of a virtual keyboard, dynamic substitution between input method letters in letter key positions is performed to display a currently used input method.