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Title:
KEYBOARD FOR AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/204604
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A keyboard for an electronic system of which the keys and/or touch (-sensitive) surfaces can be set in size characterized in, among other things, that at a smaller or larger setting of the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys also the distances or the spaces between the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys vary. In particular the keyboard is characterized in that when setting the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys smaller, the spaces between the keys and/or between the touch surfaces thereof, get larger and when setting the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys larger, the spaces between the keys and/or between the touch surfaces thereof become or get smaller. Thereby the size or circumference of the keyboard itself can stay the same or does not have to vary.

Inventors:
EBBINK TON PAUL (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2016/000013
Publication Date:
December 22, 2016
Filing Date:
May 19, 2016
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
TPE HOLDING B V (NL)
International Classes:
G06F3/0488
Foreign References:
US20120062465A12012-03-15
US20110078613A12011-03-31
US20110242137A12011-10-06
US20120166995A12012-06-28
EP2148267A22010-01-27
US20140098069A12014-04-10
EP2302496A12011-03-30
US20040183834A12004-09-23
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Claims:
Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A keyboard for an electronic system of which the keys and/or touch (-sensitive) surfaces can be set in size characterized in that:

at the smaller setting of the keys and/or touch (-sensitive) surfaces or touch areas of the keys, the spaces or distances between the keys and/or between the touch surfaces or touch areas of the keys get or become larger and at the larger setting of the keys and/or the touch surfaces or touch areas of the keys the spaces or distances between the keys and/or between the touch surfaces or touch areas of the keys become or get smaller and the size or circumference of the keyboard itself can stay equal in size or does not have to vary or does not need to become bigger.

2. Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that at the smaller setting of all keys and/or all touch surfaces of all keys, all spaces or all distances between all keys and/ or between all touch surfaces of all keys get larger and at a larger setting of all keys and/or all touch surfaces of all keys , all the spaces or distances between all keys and/or between all touch surfaces of all the keys get smaller.

3. Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that at the smaller setting of all character keys and/or all touch surfaces of all character keys, all spaces or all distances between all character keys and/or between all touch surfaces of all character keys become or get larger and at a larger setting of all character keys and/or all touch surfaces of all character keys, all spaces or all distances between all character keys and/ or between the touch surfaces of all character keys become or get smaller and in both cases the other or function keys and/or the touch surfaces of the other or function keys remain the same in size or do not have to vary and the distances or spaces between those other keys or function keys and/or the touch surfaces thereof remain the same in size too or do not have to vary.

4. Keyboard according to one or more of the previous claims characterized in that the keys can be set in size visually differently than the size of the touch surfaces of the keys .

5. Keyboard according to one or more of the previous claims characterized in that when typing or pressing next to or in between the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys or in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof, it is shown, whether temporary or not or during a specific time period, by one or multiple measures, provisions, indications and/or signs, that next to the keys or in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed.

6. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that the indication that, in between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed consists of a sign, such as a dot or bullet, that appears in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof, whether or not temporary or during a specific time period, when in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed.

7. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that if in between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof or in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed the keys left and right of the place where in between the keys and/or touch surfaces is typed or pressed, indicate that between the keys and/or touch surfaces is typed for example by lighting up those keys and/or touch surfaces thereof or by a color and/ or accent difference of these keys and/or touch surfaces thereof.

8. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that when between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed or in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed the ability to type is temporarily stopped.

9. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that when between the keys is typed or pressed or in the space between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed a (different) sound is audible or no sound is audible if the general sound is on.

10. Keyboard according to one or more of the previous claims characterized in that after setting a certain size of the keys and/or of touch surfaces of the keys, during a period of time is measured when and to what extent in the spaces between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is typed or pressed and that the size of the keys and/or of touch surfaces of the keys and the spaces in between are automatically adjusted accordingly.

11. Keyboard according to one or more of the previous claims characterized in that the degree of adjustment of the touch areas or touch surfaces of the keys is made visible by colors in which the keys have a different color or color accent than the touch areas or touch surfaces.

12. Keyboard according to one or more of the previous claims characterized in that before the moment of setting or changing the size of the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys, no measurement of the size of the fingers or touch of the fingers or otherwise no analysis of the typing of the user, is necessary.

13. Keyboard according to one or more of the previous claims characterized in that the keys of the keyboard or touch surfaces thereof are activated directly after the touch of the finger of the user and not only after letting loose the keys or touch surfaces.

AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 16 November 2016 (16.1 1 .2016)

What is claimed is: 1. A keyboard for an electronic system characterized in that the touch (sensitive-) surfaces (3,4,5) of the keys (2) of the keyboard (1) can be set in size in different settings (3,4,5) with spaces or distances between the touch surfaces (3,4,5) of the keys (2) which vary in size and the smaller the settings (3,4,5) of the touch surfaces (3,4,5) of the keys (2) are, the larger the spaces or distances between the touch surfaces (3,4,5) of the keys (2) become whereby in all or most settings of the touch surfaces (3,4,5) of the keys (2) the keyboard (1) fits in the same circumference (l)or mainly in the same circumference (1) .

2. Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the smaller the settings of all touch surfaces (3,4,5) of all keys (2) together are, the larger all spaces or all distances between all touch surfaces (3,4,5) of all keys (2) become.

3. Keyboard as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the smaller the settings of all touch surfaces (3,4,5) of all character keys (2), keys that type a character, such as a letter or number, together are the larger all spaces or distances between all touch surfaces (3,4,5) of all character keys (2) become and the touch surfaces of other no character keys remain the same in size.

4. Keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that the keys (2,6,7) can be set in size visually the same as the size of the touch surfaces (6, 7) of the keys (2) .

5. Keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that during a time period one or multiple measures, provisions, indications and/or signs (8) of and on the keyboard (1), indicate that in between the touch surfaces of the keys (2) is typed or pressed.

6. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that the indication consists of a sign, such as a dot (8) or bullet (8), that appears in the space between the touch surfaces during a time period at the place where is pressed.

7. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that the touch surfaces of the keys left and right of the place where in the space in between the touch surfaces of the keys is typed or pressed, indicate that between the touch surfaces is typed or pressed for example by lighting up those touch surfaces or by a color and/ or accent difference of these touch surfaces or the keys itself.

8. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that the measure consists that the possibility to type on the keyboard is temporarily stopped by the keyboard.

9. Keyboard according to claim 5 characterized in that the measure consists of a sound produced by the keyboard or no sound is produced by the keyboard if the general sound of the keyboard keys is on.

10. Keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that after setting a certain size of the touch surfaces of the keys, during a time period is measured by the keyboard how many times and where in the spaces between the touch surfaces of the keys is typed or pressed and that the size of the touch surfaces of the keys and the spaces in between are automatically adjusted accordingly by the keyboard.

11. Keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that the degree of adjustment of the touch surfaces of the keys is made visible by colors in which the touch surfaces of the keys have a different color or color accent than the keys.

12. Keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that before the moment of setting or changing the size of the touch surfaces of the keys, no measurement is made by the keyboard of the size of the fingers or touch of the fingers on the keyboard or otherwise no analysis of the typing of the user on the keyboard, is made by the keyboard.

Description:
Keyboard for an electronic system Description Technical Field

The invention relates to a keyboard for an electronic system. That can include a touch screen of a mobile device such as a smart phone or tablet.

When using the keyboard of a touch screen of a mobile device such as a smart phone, it happens regularly that on the wrong key is pressed or typed. For example, how bigger the fingers of the user the sooner this happens.

Background Art

In the existing state of the art some patent publications are known, EP2148267A, US2014/0098069A, EP2302496A and US2004/0183834A, in which measures are proposed to this problem by making the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys bigger when the fingers of the user are bigger. To this end, in these patent publications the size of the fingers is first measured or where the fingers touch the touch screen is measured or otherwise an analysis of the typing of the user is made before the keys are made bigger.

The disadvantage of the proposed solution in these patent publications to increase the size of the keys in case of larger fingers is that on a touch screen, specifically of a smart phone, the space is limited to make the keys bigger and/or to make the circumference or size of the keyboard bigger.

Another disadvantage of this existing state of the art in these patent publications is that the keys or touch surfaces of the keys still lie to much against each other whereby still often can be typed at the wrong key. In addition, there is the disadvantage in these patent publications that the solution to make the keys bigger is only possible after the size of the fingers is measured or after is measured where the fingers touch the touch screen or after an analysis of the typing of the user is made which is complicated and not realized in practice in available phones in particular not in smartphones.

Disclosure of Invention

In the present invention these disadvantages and problems of the existing state of the art are solved. In the present invention the keyboard of which the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys are adjustable in size, is characterized thereto by the measure that the distances or spaces between the keys and/or between the touch surfaces of the keys also vary without the size or outline of the keyboard itself has to vary or can stay the same in size or does not need to become bigger. Hereby there is also no need to measure in advance the size of the fingers or where the fingers touch the touch screen or otherwise no analysis of the typing of the user has to be made in advance.

In the present invention beside the smaller or larger setting of the keys the distances or spaces between the keys or between the touch (-sensitive) surfaces of the keys are also varied in the sense that in the case of a smaller setting of the keys or touch surfaces or touch areas of the keys the distances or spaces between the keys or touch surfaces of the keys get larger and in case of a larger setting of the keys or touch surfaces of the keys the distances or spaces between the keys or touch surfaces of the keys get smaller.

The difference with the existing state of the art is that the existing technology assumes that the keys should be set bigger to prevent mistyping usually for larger fingers. In the present invention for larger fingers smaller keys are more convenient with limited options for the size or circumference of the touchscreen keyboard, in particular for a smartphone, when at the same time, the setting of the distances or spaces between the keys and/or between the touch surfaces of the keys become larger. In such a way it is not necessary that the size or circumference of the keyboard becomes bigger for which on a smartphone, is not enough space also to hold enough reading space. Because of the greater interface of larger fingers themselves smaller keys are possible and better to prevent wrong typing when the distances or spaces between the keys and/or touch surfaces of the keys get larger. This is a surprising effect and nonobvious for person skilled in the art also evident from the fact that this is not yet in practice particularly not in smartphones despite the problem exists already for a rather long time and not appearing in existing patent publications or combinations thereof which try to solve this problem at a more complex way and in an obvious way by enlarging the keys.

The touch surfaces of keys of existing keyboards of smartphones are also set in maximum position within a certain size of the keyboard and are positioned against each other, assuming that touch surfaces of the keys at maximum position is preferred to prevent wrong key typing while thus in the present invention the touch surfaces of the keys can be set smaller to prevent wrong key typing by simultaneously setting the spaces or distances between the touch surfaces of the keys bigger or larger. Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 shows the keyboard with fixed size or circumference according to the invention with possible variable settings of the touch surfaces of the keys in circles and the distances or spaces between the touch surfaces or touch areas.

Fig. 2 shows the keyboard with fixed size or circumference with keys according to the invention, in which the setting or positioning of the touch surfaces of the keys are also visible on the keyboard by the keys itself and the distances or spaces in between.

Fig. 3 shows the keyboard according to the invention in which the touch surfaces of the keys or the keys itself are set in a small stand where the distances or spaces between the touch surfaces or keys are large.

Preferred embodiment of the Invention

In a best mode for carrying out the invention or preferred embodiment of the invention in the smaller respectively larger setting of all keys and/or of all touch surfaces of all keys, all distances or all spaces between all keys and/or between all touch surfaces of all keys, get larger respectively smaller.

Also in this embodiment only all character keys (keys that actually type a character, such as a letter or number) and/or all touch surfaces thereof can be set smaller respectively bigger and the spaces between all character keys and/or touch surfaces thereof can be set larger respectively smaller whereby the other remaining keys or function keys or the touch surfaces thereof and/or the spaces between these can stay equal or do not need to vary. This is not necessary because with those function keys mistyping normally does not happen or is less occurring. When nevertheless in a smaller setting of the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof next or beside the keys is typed or in between the keys is typed or pressed there can be temporarily or during a specific time period by one or multiple measures, provisions, indications and/or signs right away and quickly be made known that beside or next to the keys is typed or in between the keys is typed or pressed.

For example, when beside or next to the keys is typed or in the space between the keys is typed or pressed, the keys left and right thereof can indicate that beside the keys is typed by lighting up those keys or by a color and/ or accent difference of these keys. The indication that next to keys is typed can also consist of a sign, like a round dot or bullet, that appears in the space between the keys temporarily or during a time period when next to the keys in the space between the keys is typed or pressed.

In patent publications in the existing state of the art measures are proposed to give indications but not such as in this invention, since present invention did not exist and thus typing in between the keys and/or in between the touch surfaces of the keys or in the spaces between keys and/or touch surfaces thereof did not occur or was not possible in particular in a smaller setting of the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof. Therefore an indication or sign in the spaces in between the keys or touch surfaces thereof is not reported in the existing patent publications.

In case of typing next to the keys or in between the keys another measure could be that the ability to type is temporarily stopped or there is a (different) sound audible or that no sound is audible if the general sound is on.

A further provision can be that, after a different setting of the size of the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof is set, that during a certain period is measured when and to what extent in the space between the keys and/or in the space between the touch surfaces of the keys is typed or pressed and after that the size of the keys and/or of the touch surfaces of the keys and the spaces or distances between the keys and/or touch surfaces thereof adjust automatically thereon according to one or more previous characteristics of the present invention.

An additional measure can be that the degree of adjustment of the touch surfaces of the keys is made visible by colors in which the keys have a different color or color accent than the touch surfaces. This is especially handy if the size of the keys is set visually differently as the touch surfaces of the keys.

Another measure can be that the keys or touch surfaces thereof are activated directly after the touch of the finger of the user of the key or touch surface thereof and not only after letting loose the keys or touch surfaces. This for a more accurate working of the keyboard according to the present invention.

Characteristics and features of the keyboard according to the invention are clarified in drawings of embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows the keyboard 1 with fixed size or circumference 1 with keys 2 according to the invention with possible variable settings of the touch surfaces of the keys 2 in circles 3,4,5. Circles 4 indicate a smaller setting of the size, dimension or diameter of the touch-sensitive surface 4 of the keys 2 whereby the distances or spaces between the touch surfaces 4 of the keys 2 are larger. Circles 5 indicate a larger setting of the size, dimension or diameter of the touch surfaces 5 of the keys 2 whereby the distances or spaces between the touch surfaces 5 of the keys 2 are smaller.

Fig. 2 shows the keyboard 1 with fixed size or circumference 1 according to the invention, in which the setting or positioning of the touch surfaces of the keys 2 are also visible on the keyboard 1 because the keys itself 2 become also smaller 6 or bigger 7 when the touch areas or surfaces of the keys 2 become smaller or bigger whereby the distances or spaces between the keys 6 are bigger when the keys 6 are smaller and the distances or spaces between the keys 7 are smaller when the keys 7 are larger.

Fig. 3 shows the keyboard 1 according to the invention in which the touch surfaces of the keys 2 or the keys 2 itself are set in a small stand where the distances or spaces between the touch surfaces 2 or keys 2 are large. When a user types or presses next to a key 2 or touch area thereof or in the space between the keys 2 or touch area thereof then temporarily or over a period of time a sign 8, like a round dot 8 or bullet 8, pops up or appears in the space between the keys 2 and/or the touch surfaces of the keys 2.

The figures give a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention that all keys and/or all touch surfaces of the keys, or at least of all character keys or touch surfaces thereof, may vary and then also all distances or spaces between all (character-) keys and/or between all touch surfaces of the (character-) keys vary as shown in the drawings. Other keys, such as function keys, are not displayed because these, or the touch surfaces of these keys and/or the spaces or distances in between, stay equal in size or do not need to change in size or do not need to vary.