Thumb Keyboard Layout Using Non-Coplanar Arcs for Ergonomic Typing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboards, particularly Common Keyboards, underutilize the thumb and require unnecessary wrist, forearm, and elbow movements, leading to potential injuries and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard design incorporates an inner and outer thumb row with critical contact points arranged along circular arcs on non-coplanar planes, allowing for efficient thumb motion primarily through flexion or extension, without interfering with other keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Common Keyboard layout is used, then keyboard compatibility and familiarity are maintained, but thumb utilization is poor and requires unnecessary wrist/forearm/elbow movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by arranging thumb keys on non-coplanar planes (inner thumb keys on one plane, outer thumb keys on another plane), allowing the thumb to access keys through flexion-extension motion without requiring wrist/forearm/elbow movements. This dimensional arrangement resolves the contradiction by enabling better thumb utilization while maintaining a familiar keyboard structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges critical contact points of inner thumb keys along an inner thumb arc and outer thumb keys along an outer thumb arc, creating curved pathways that match the natural flexion-extension motion of the thumb. This curvature principle enables efficient thumb utilization without interfering with other keys, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If ortholinear keyboard layout is used, then wrist/forearm/elbow movements are minimized, but thumb utilization remains underutilized with only spacebar actuated by thumbs
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging thumb keys on non-coplanar planes with critical contact points following circular arcs, the patent enables the thumb to access multiple keys through flexion-extension motion while maintaining the ortholinear keyboard's wrist-stable configuration. This resolves the contradiction by enabling productive thumb utilization without compromising wrist movement reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the keyboard into distinct functional zones: inner thumb keys on one plane, outer thumb keys on another plane, and finger keys in ortholinear columns. This segmentation allows the thumb to independently access its dedicated keys through natural motion while the rest of the keyboard maintains ortholinear ergonomics, resolving the contradiction between thumb utilization and wrist movement reduction.
3Productivity
If Thumb Clusters are added to keyboards, then thumb utilization improves, but actuation requires moving wrist/forearm/elbow or stretching the thumb
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions critical contact points of thumb keys along circular arcs (inner thumb arc and outer thumb arc) that match the natural flexion-extension pathway of the thumb. This curved arrangement enables the thumb to access all thumb keys through natural motion without stretching or requiring wrist/forearm/elbow movements, resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of thumb key arrangement by placing keys on non-coplanar planes with specific arc radii and centers, transforming the thumb's interaction from unnatural stretching to natural flexion-extension motion. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by enabling high thumb utilization while maintaining natural thumb motion.
4Productivity
If more keys are assigned to thumbs, then productivity improves, but thumb interference with other keys increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates key interference by arranging thumb keys on non-coplanar planes, placing them in a spatial dimension separate from the finger keys. This dimensional separation allows the thumb to access multiple keys (improving productivity) without the thumb interfering with other keys, as the thumb operates in its own spatial zone defined by the arcs and planes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses circular arc pathways for thumb key contact points, which naturally guide the thumb through flexion-extension motion while maintaining consistent spacing from other keys. This curved arrangement enables increased thumb key access without interference, as the arcs define a controlled motion path that prevents accidental contact with adjacent keys.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard including: an inner thumb row including a plurality of inner thumb keys configured to be actuated by a thumb, such that a critical contact point of each of the plurality of keys is arranged along an inner thumb arc on an inner thumb key plane; and an outer thumb row including a plurality of outer thumb keys configured to be actuated by the thumb, a critical contact point of each of the plurality of thumb keys is arranged along an outer thumb arc on a outer thumb key plane, wherein the first and the second thumb key planes are non-coplanar, such that, when the keyboard is in use, said thumb key planes intersect with each other and a palm plane, where the palm plane is the plane upon which a user's palm lies when the keyboard is in use.