Keyboard with Virtual Keys for Compact Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Keyboards for smaller computing devices, such as tablets and netbooks, often have keys that are too close together, leading to a suboptimal user experience due to the lack of a full pitch keyboard layout.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard design with multiple rows of keys, each with a consistent horizontal pitch of 18-19 mm and length of 230-235 mm, where frequently used keys are included as physical keys and less frequently used keys are omitted, with the option to display these omitted keys as virtual keys on a touch screen display when a launch key is selected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If keys are placed close together on smaller computing devices, then the device size is reduced, but the typing comfort and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into two distinct parts: a physical keyboard component with reduced keys and a virtual keyboard component displayed on the touch screen. This segmentation allows the physical keyboard to maintain full pitch spacing for comfort while the virtual keyboard provides access to all necessary keys, effectively resolving the contradiction between device size and typing comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen serves multiple functions: it displays the virtual keyboard for additional keys, provides touch input capability, and can show application-specific interfaces. This multi-functionality allows the system to compensate for the reduced physical keyboard without sacrificing operational capability, maintaining ease of use while reducing overall device size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all keys are included on a compact keyboard, then key functionality is complete, but the keyboard size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch screen acts as an intermediary between the user and the complete keyboard functionality. When additional keys are needed, the user can invoke the virtual keyboard on the touch screen, which provides access to all necessary keys without requiring them to be physically present on the compact keyboard, thus maintaining complete key functionality without increasing keyboard length.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard configuration is dynamic rather than static. The virtual keyboard can be invoked on-demand based on user needs, allowing the system to adapt between a compact physical layout and a complete virtual layout. This dynamic switching enables the keyboard to provide full functionality only when necessary, keeping the physical size compact.
3Length of stationary object
If frequently used keys are included as physical keys and less frequently used keys are omitted, then the physical keyboard size is reduced, but access to all keys is required
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual keyboard on the touch screen is a digital copy of the complete keyboard layout, providing all necessary keys including those less frequently used. This copying approach allows users to access any key function without having all keys physically present on the compact keyboard, maintaining ease of access while keeping the physical keyboard size reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional physical keyboard plane to a third dimension by utilizing the touch screen display space. The virtual keyboard exists in this additional dimensional space, allowing all keys to be accessed without increasing the physical footprint of the keyboard, thus resolving the contradiction between physical size and key accessibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A keyboard for use with a computing device includes multiple rows of keys with each of the rows of keys including multiple keys. A horizontal pitch of the keys is between 18mm and 19mm and a length of the rows of the key is between 230mm and 235mm. One of the keys is a launch key that, when selected, causes a processor of the computing device to display one or more virtual keys for selection on the touch screen display, where the virtual keys include keys not included on the keyboard.