Description of the Related Art United States Patent No. 6,348, 878 ('878 patent), entitled"Data Entry Keyboard,"to Kenzo Tsubai and United States Patent No. 5,793, 312 ('312 patent), entitled"Data Entry System, "by Ryozo Tsubai are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Conventional computer keyboards have plurality of, such as a QWERTY keyboard as depicted in prior art Fig. 1, which includes has 36 primary key alphanumeric keys.

Compactness of modern computer equipment has led to a desire to reduce the size of keyboards. One way to do this is to reduce the number of keys as described in the'878 and '312 patents cited above. Reduction of the number of keys is useful for other reasons other than size and space considerations, such as producing keyboards that can be operated with only one hand. The term"lean keyboard"is defined as a computer keyboard with the number of keys less than the 36 primary key alphanumeric keys of a QWERTY keyboard. The term lean keyboard also applies to any standard key set for the object language in question (in this illustration of the invention the key set for English will be assumed to be twenty or less keys, when employing a truncated or lean keyboard), and nearly all of the functionality of a conventional computer keyboard. Such a keyboard must have an arrangement corresponding to the Shift and Caps Lock keys. The prior art is deficient in that two keys are devoted to the Shift and Cap Lock keys.

The present invention over comes the deficiencies of the prior art by all implementing and arrangement and methodology such that only one key for Shift and Caps Lock is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has as an aspect a method for implementing persistent and transient modes on a lean keyboard environment, the method including activating at least one modifier key, wherein the activation of the modifier key modifies a plurality of primary keys and activating a lean shift key, wherein the lean shift key further modifies a plurality of primary keys.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention can be characterized according to one aspect the invention comprises activating at least one modifier key, wherein the activation of the modifier key modifies a plurality of primary keys. and activating a lean shift key, wherein the lean shift key further modifies a plurality of primary keys.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 depicts a conventional QWERTY keyboard ; and Fig. 2 depicts a lean keyboard and modifier keys of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts (elements).

In accordance with the invention, the present invention includes activating at least one modifier key, wherein the activation of the modifier key modifies a plurality of primary keys and activating a lean shift key, wherein the lean shift key further modifies a plurality of primary keys The invention will be further clarified by the following examples, which are intended to be purely exemplary of the invention Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention can easily be incorporated into any language's keyboard layout, for instance, but not limited to by exclusion or inclusion, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, etc.

A modifier key is a key that is used to change the functioning of other keys. A primary key is any key that is not a modifier key. It is assumed that modifier keys can <BR> <BR> operate as primary keys under certain conditions (e. g. , if they are pressed and released when no other keys are pressed. Modifier keys on conventional keyboards do not operate in this manner. Generally, keyboards have several modifier keys and several modes of operation selected by the modifier keys.

It will be convenient to say that a mode is"on"if the keyboard is operating pursuant the mode selected or implemented and"off"otherwise. Modes may be transient or persistent.

A transient mode is on only while the corresponding modifier key is being pressed. A persistent mode is toggled on or off by the action of modifier keys and in alternate implementations it is turned off by the action of primary keys.

On a conventional computer keyboard, pressing the Shift key (which is a modifier key) turns on a transient mode (Shift Mode), and the Caps Lock key (another modifier key) toggles a persistent mode (Capitalization Mode) on or off. There are four combinations of these modes (both off, only Shift Mode on, only Capitalization Mode on, and Shift and

Capitalization Modes on). The effects of the different combinations on primary keys are distinct, for instance when only the Shift Mode is on letters are capitalized and symbols on the number keys are selected. When the Capitalization Mode is only on letters are capitalized, but symbols are not selected. When both modes are on letters are not capitalized).

The Shift and the Caps Lock keys have effects other than modifying the functioning of other keys. Some computer systems use the Shift key with a pointing device (e. g. , a computer mouse) for selecting displayed items, and some computer programs test whether the Capitalization Mode is on to determine what action to take.

Thus on a lean keyboard a lean key shift key ("LK Shift key") is required to provide for the four combinations of the two modes, including one transient and one persistent. Also the present embodiment provides for an arrangement equivalent to holding the Shift key while typing several primary keys on a conventional keyboard (this is not the same as turning on the Capitalization Mode and typing because a computer application program can sense the state of the Shift key. Many conventional computer applications are controlled by the state of the Shift key at different access points when typing a sequence of primary keys.

Fig. 2 depicts a hypothetical keyboard 200 with 15 primary keys. In the first row are primary keys 202,204, 206,208 and 210. In the second row are primary keys 212,214, 216, 218 and 220 and in the third row are primary keys 222,224, 226,228 and 230. Keys 212- 230 are capable of reproducing the full functionality of a QWERTY keyboard of the English language. Keyboard 200 also includes modifier key K (0) 244, modifier key K (1) 246 and modifier key K (2) 248 and lean key Shift key 242 and 250. In this example 242 and 250 perform the exact same function. In this example there will be three persistent modes, persistent mode PO, persistent mode P (1), and persistent mode P (2). PO is the"default" persistent mode, that is, it is on when all other persistent modes are off. When PO is on, the keyboard is"alphabetic."That is, the primary keys correspond to letters. There are, of course, more that 15 letters in the English alphabet, so modifier key K (0) 244 is employed to activate a transient mode (TO). When both transient mode T (0) and PO are on, the primary keys correspond to an alternate set of letters (and a predetermined set of symbols or punctuation marks depending on the configuration or needs of the user). Pressing and

releasing modifier key K (1) 246 toggles on or off persistent mode P (1), the"symbols mode." If transient mode T (0) is off and persistent mode P (1) is on, the primary keys correspond to a set of symbols. If both transient mode T (0) and persistent mode P (1) are on, the primary keys correspond to an alternate set of symbols (if more than 15 symbols are needed). Pressing and releasing modifier key K (2) toggles on or off persistent mode P (2), the"number mode,"for which the primary keys correspond to the digits 0-9 (although any numeric key can be utilized and is capable of being selected and set by the user, based on the users needs or preferences), and a set of predetermined symbols.

The following table depicts the actions of modifier keys K (0), K (1) and K (2): Modifier Key Transient Mode Persistent Mode K (0) T (0) P (0) K (1) P (1) K (2) P (2) This hypothetical keyboard illustrates the framework within which the present invention navigates. In an embodiment of the present invention modifier key K (0) 244 turns on a transient mode transient mode T (0), a persistent mode PO and another persistent mode persistent mode P (1).

The LK Shift key 242 or 250 operates as follows. There are three persistent shift modes S (1), which corresponds to Shift mode, but staying on only until the next primary key is pressed. S (2), which corresponding to Capitalization Mode and S (3) which corresponds to a Shift mode but staying on until turned off. The three modes, S (1), S (2), and S (3) are independent, so any combination of the three take alone or in combination can be active. For example, if S (2) and S (3) are on, typed letters will not be capitalized. If S (1) is also turned on, so all three modes are on, and a letter is typed next, the letter will be capitalized. There are several ways for managing the modes S (1), S (2), and S (3). In one embodiment of the present invention, S (1) is toggled on or off by pressing and releasing the LK Shift key 242 or

250 with active transient mode transient mode T (0) off. S (2) is toggled on or off by pressing the LK Shift key 242 or 250 with transient mode T (0) on and persistent mode P (1) off; and S (3) is toggled on or off by pressing the LK Shift key with active transient mode transient mode T (0) and persistent mode P (1) on. This method can be extended by having S (1) on as long as the LK Shift key is depressed. This extension makes the LK Shift key operate much like the Shift key on a conventional keyboard in that it allows a typist to capitalize a string of letters by holding the LK Shift key depressed.

Another embodiment of the present invention is similar to the embodiment described above. One difference is that S (3) is toggled on or off by pressing the LK Shift 242 or 250 key when S (1) is on. That is, S (3) is toggled whenever the LK Shift key 242 or 250 is pressed, then released, then pressed again. This embodiment does not to use persistent mode P (1) (S2 is toggled by pressing the LK Shift key with transient mode T (0) on; whether persistent mode P (1) is on or off does not affect the operation of the present embodiment), but it makes turning S (1) off (for example, after S (1) is turned on inadvertently requires more the LK Shift key 242 or 250 to be pressed three times to clear the mode. The states of the LK shift key in one embodiment of the present invention are outlined in the following table: Active Key Combination Result Duration LK Shift Key + K (0) Shift Mode On until next Primary Key Entered LK Shift Key + K (1) Capitalization Mode Toggle On/Off by LK Shift Key LK Shift Key + K (0) + K (1) Shift Mode Toggled On/Off by LK Shift Key

A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the above embodiments of the present invention can be made to either of the embodiments described and still fully come within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the inventors. Additional embodiments include a combination of various persistent or transient modes, which prevent toggling of S (1) by pressing the LK Shift key.

An additional embodiment also includes a persistent or transient mode being applied to the S (2) and S (3) modes. In a further embodiment, modes are employed that cause S (3) to be toggled whenever the LK Shift key is pressed, independently of whether transient mode T (0) is on or off. A still further embodiment includes one or more modes that change the condition that transient mode T (0) is on or off for toggling S (1), S (2), or S (3), to an alternate state or condition, or that toggling be independent of whether transient mode T (0) is on or off.

Additional means employed alone or in conjunction with the keys, are capable of being utilized to manage the modes S (1), S (2), and S (3). Such means contemplated by the present invention include but or not limited to a voice-command mechanism, wherein one or modes are controlled by voice commands such as"Temporary Shift","Caps Lock, ""Shift<BR> Lock, "and"Shift. "The keyboard is capable of including one or more optical sensors that would alter the modes depending on the position of one or more fmgers (of either or both hands) or the whole hand or a combination of the two. One or more foot switches can alos be employed. Especially for persons with disabilities, it is contemplated that the control modes be accessed by sensing one or more of the following exemplary list: eye position, blinks,

puffs, cheek position (normal or puffed out), muscle state, nerve signals, voice or auditory sounds, and other human attributes used for control of physical systems by persons with or without physical limitations.

It should be noted that the above list is not exhaustive and the present invention is not limited by the exclusion of any mode known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Based upon the particular need and capabilities of an individual the activation of the modes and their control can be accomplished by one or more of the above described modes.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in A Method of Shift Arrangement for a Lean Computer Keyboard of the present invention without departing from the scope or intent of the invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.