Spherical Keyboard Layout for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reduced keyboard designs for mobile communication devices are inefficient due to small key sizes, making it difficult for users to accurately press keys with their fingers or thumbs, leading to unintended key presses and reduced typing reliability.
Innovation Solution
A 2-column by 3-row keyboard arrangement that maintains the QWERTY layout, with larger key sizes and the use of multi-tap techniques, toggle keys, and word completion software to facilitate easier and more reliable character entry, while allowing for a smaller form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a reduced keyboard design with fewer keys is used, then the device form factor can be made smaller, but the key size becomes too small for accurate pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional 2D keyboard layout to a 3D spherical arrangement where keys are positioned on the surface of a sphere. This dimensional change allows keys to be distributed in three-dimensional space, increasing the effective key size and spacing while maintaining a compact overall device volume. The spherical geometry provides natural finger positioning and reduces key press errors.
2Reliability
If key size is increased to improve pressing accuracy, then typing reliability improves, but the keyboard occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging keys on a spherical surface rather than a flat plane, the patent utilizes three-dimensional space to accommodate larger key sizes without increasing the two-dimensional footprint of the keyboard. The spherical geometry allows keys to be positioned optimally for finger access while maintaining a compact device profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical keyboard design nests the keys within a compact spherical volume, allowing the keyboard to occupy minimal space while providing adequate key size. The nested arrangement of keys on the sphere's surface maximizes space utilization and provides ergonomic finger positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard for a mobile communication device includes a first set of alphanumeric keys that is arranged in a two column by three row array. In a first example, the key arrangement includes vowels and consonants in the two by three array, with function keys positioned in a row that is different from the first set of keys. In another example, the key arrangement includes consonants in the first set of keys and vowels in a second set of keys, with the first set of keys including a two by three array of keys and the second set of keys being positioned in a row other than the rows of the two by three array of keys. The keys may be toggle keys. The characters may be input via multi-tapping the keys, word completion, and/or other known text entry techniques.