Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A PORTABLE KEYBOARD DEVICE
This invention relates to portable keyboard devices
and it particularly relates to a portable electronic word-
processing unit.
Known, non-portable word-processors are electronic
keyboard devices which can manipulate, or process text input
to the device as alpha-numeric characters from a keyboard
in response to a programme and instructions input to the
device via the keyboard and pass the processed text on to
printing or other devices.
Any word-processor should include the features of:-
a "cursor", to enable any part of the text stored in a
memory to be displayed,
"editing", to enable the insertion, deletion or correction
of text, and
5 "print formatting", for the control of a printer for the "lay-out"
of edited text when it is printed, such as left
and right margin justification and/or tabulation
and/or margin indenting and/or end of page pause.
The term "non-portable" is meant, in the context of this
description, to be a device which is not self-powered and is
not capable of being operated whilst held in the operator's
hand.
A portable electronic keyboard device is known in the
form of a portable teletype machine which will store alpha-
numeric character text and typing instructions input to themachine in much the same way as a conventional teleprinter,
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the machine also having the facility to allow any text
in the display to be deleted before it is stored. This
facility does not make such a machine a word-processor
within ~he meaning of this description.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a portable electronic word-processing unit capable of
editing~and storing input alpha-numeric text and of
controlling the printed format of the edited text when
the word-processing unit is connected to a printer.
According to the present invention, a portable
electronic word-processing unit comprises a manually
operable input keyboard, an internal power supply, a
display device, output means to enable the word-processing
unit to be connected to a printer, and electronic components
including memory means and a micro-processor interconnected
. and programmed so as to receive from the keyboard signals
corresponding to alpha-numeric characters and instructions
for processing the characters, edit the character signals,
feed signals to the display device for display of characters
as an edited text, and store the edited text and print format
instruction signals available for transmission through the
output means.
In a preferred embodiment, the keyboard has at least
five keys and the micro-processor is programmed to respond
to signals produced by operation of any one key or a
combination of up to a maximum of five keys to generate a
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coded signal representing a particular alpha-numeric
character or processing instruction.
The invention is illustrated, by way of example,
on the accompanying drawings of a six key portable word-
processing unit, wherein:-
Fig. l is a plan view of a unit in accordance with theinvention,
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the unit of Fig. l, ~-
Fig. 3 is a block circuit diagram for the unit, and
Figs.4a ~o d are charts illustrating key-operator codes for
alpha-numeric characters and punctuation.
The word-processing unit l shown by Figs. l and 2 has
a main body part generally in the form of a truncated square
pyramid.
The rear face 3 of this pyramid is essentially planar
and is intended to be used as a rest for the heel of an
operator's hand. The opposite face 4 carries four keys
5, 6, 7 and 8 arranged to be operated solely by the first,
index, ring and little fingers respectively of the operator's
hand. A side face 9 of the body pyramid 2 carries two
~urther keys lO and ll, each to be operated by the operator's
thumb.
With these two "thumb" keys lO and ll, two five-key
keyboards are produced, each being operable by movement of
the fingers and thumb of an operator's right hand without
relative movement between that hand and the rest 3. A
suitable five-keyed keyboard being described in United
Kingdom Patent Specification No.1496522.
The front face 4 of the main body has a forwardly
and upwardly sloping extension 12 that carries an alpha-
numeric display 13 that can show characters produced byselective operation of any one key or a combination of up
to a maximum of five keys.
Each key consists of a button mounted to operate a
conventional micro-switch and, as shown by Fig. 1, the
finger keys 5, 6, 7 and 8 are each set in ellipsoidally
concave insets in the front face 4. These insets serving
to guide and help retain the appropriate finger against the
respective finger-key.
As shown by Fig. 2 the rear face 3 of the main body part
also contains an O~-OFF switch 14, a Charger Socket 15 and
a Data Socket 16.
The electronic circuit for the unit is illustrated in
block diagram by Fig. 3 which shows a CMOS 8 bit micro-
processor /uP (RCA type CDP 1802) to which are connected the
six key keyboard 2, an 8192 byte CMOS RAM memory (8x Toshiba
Type TC 5047P), a 12 character alpha-numeric LED display
(Litronix Type DL 1416), a 2048 byte CMOS EPROM memory
(Intersil Type lM 6604) and an input/output circuit 17
connected to the DATA socket 16. The input/output circuit
is to enable the word-processing unit to communicate with
an external device such as a printer. Other external
devices could be a TV or monitor visual display unit or a
/
caseette recorder to provide additional magnetic storage.
The unit is powered from a re-chargeable battery pack 18
connected to the Charger Socket 15. The O~/OFF switch 14
generally controls the supply of power (voltage) to the
device with the exception of the RAM memory which has a
direct connection to the battery pack 18, by-passing the
O~/OFF switch. This effectively renders the RAM memory
non-volatile. Thus data can be retained in the RAM memory
with the un~t switched-off as long as sufficient power
remains in the battery pack (this can be up to three weeks).
A resident programme is stored in the EPROM memory
that enables the word-processing unit to operate in the
manner to be hereinafter described. The programme per se
is not thought to be unique and does not form part of the
present invention. It is believed that sufficient information
will be given in the description to enabl~ a suitable
programme to be written.
In use, the processor~ P scans the keyboard micro-switches
and starts to assemble a character when any key is depressed
(operated). This process continues until all the keys in
a particular character code have been released, at which
point the assembled code is converted to ASCll, 7 bit code
and stored in the memory RAM.
Characters assembled and stored in the memory RAM
form a text that can be accessed by keying various control-
code characters in order to cause any selected part of the
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text to be displayed on the display 13, the "cursor", to
edit the text stored in the memory (RAM), or to store
print formatting instructions.
The unit's resident programme provides most of the
aforesaid editing and print formatting facilities found
in conventional, non-portable word processors.
The resident programme detects low battery voltage
and warns the operator with a message (CHARGE-ME) on the
display 13. The resident programme also enables the
word-processing unit to communicate, via suitable inerfaces,
with a number of external devices such as a Daisy wheel
printer, a TV or monitor screen display, a dictaphone
micro-cassette drive or a Modem/accoustic coupler. The
programme permitting operator-defined areas of text stored
in the memory RAM to be transmitted through the input/output
circuit 17 to an external device connected to the DATA
socket 16. In the case of a printer or screen display,
the programme automatically formats the text, justifies
left and right margins and sets tabs.
2~ The programme also enables text to be read into the
memory RAM from an external device connected to the DATA
socket.
In scanning the keyboard micro-switches, the micro-
processor~ P is programmed to respond to operative strokes
of the keyboard. An operative stroke being defined as
the acts of operating and then releasing a single key
or the acts of operating the keys of a selected keys-
combination, either simultaneously or sequentially, andthen releasing the operated keys, the stroke being
completed when the or all the operated keys have been
released. Completion of an operative stroke being the
condition for the processor to store an assembled code
representing a particular character.
Fig. 4 illustrates a particularly suitable operator
code for use with the keyboard device. The arrangement
of the keys corresponding to a given pattern of five
points of which a point or points combination lies on
the outline of the majority of the alphabet letters of
a given type face, the relationship between unique signals
produced by operating selected keys or key-combinations
and the alphabet letters represented thereby being such that,
for such majority of the alphabet, there is a graphic
correlation between a letter and the point or points-
combination occupied by the key or keys-combination for
an operative stroke required to generate the unique signal
repre~enting that letter.
The figure shows a series of 31 five-point patterns
being the maximum number of ways of combining five points.
Each point represents the nominal position of one key
being, from left to right, the thumb key 10, the index finger
key 5, the middle finger key 6, the ring finger key 7 and
the little finger key 8 respectively.
A black point represents a key to be operated and the
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alphabet letter or other character represented by that
particular point or points-combination is shown in its
pictographic relation, wherever this is possible, with
that point or points-combination. These characters that
can be entered into the word-processor unit by simple
operation of the five keys lO, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are referred
to asthe alphabet register.
For this alphabet register, operation of the thumb
key lO alone signals a SPACE; finger keys 5, 6 and 7 signals
a FULL STOP, finger keys 5, 7 and 8 a ~MMA, keys lO
5, 6 and 8 an APOSTROPHE and finger keys5, 6 and 8 a DASH.
The other thumb key ll is a control key, the operation
of which puts the unit into a punctuation and numeric register.
The points codes for punctuation and numbers are also given
by Fig. 4. It will be seen that the number codes follow
the conventional deaf and dumb sign number system.
Qperation of this thumb control key ll in combination
with the four finger keys 5, 6, 7 and 8 provides another
five-key keyboard and this second keyboard is used to input
control or processing instructions to the word-processing
unit. The control instructions liste~d below are given by
means of codes based on the equivalent a~lphabet letter codes.
For convenience these are denominated by the letter underlined,
for example D the code signal produced by Qperation of the
th~mb control key 11 with finger keys 5 and 6.
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CO~TROL KEY COMBINATION DISPLAY
Register switch Key 11
Upper case:
single character Y; Keys 11,
6, 7
Upper case lock P, Keys 11,
5, 6, 7, 8
Unlock upper case Y, P
Single space forward F, Keys 11, Display advances by
5, 6, 7 one space.
Continuous forward read Y, F Display reads forward
continuously.
Single space backward K, Keys 11, Display goes back one
7 space.
Continuous backward read Y, K Display reads backwards
continuously.
Halt H, Keys 11, Display movement stops.
15 Single character deletion D, Keys 11, Character on right of
~~, 6 display is erased and
is replaced by the
next character (or
space) in the memory.
Continuous deletion Y, D Above process repeats
automatically.
Instant deletion W, W, Keys 11, Memory deleted between
5, 7, 8 signs ~ and ~ .
Insertion I, Keys 11, Flashing symbol ~ on
right of display.
Cancel insertion Y, I Above display ceases.
Carriage return C, Keys 11,
25 Tabulate R, Keys 11,5, ~
Margin in ', Keys 11, 5, 7 (flashing).
6, 8
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10.
CONTROL KEY COMBINATION DISPLAY
-
Cancel margin in Y, ' ~ (flashing)
Start .printing sign L, Keys 11, 7
5, 8
Stop print sign Y, L <
Short zip Z, Keys 11, 6, Display jumps ahead
- 8 by 128 characters or
next ? sign,
whichever i s shorter
zip .
Long zip Y, Z Display jumps to
next ~ .
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10 ~ Short jump-back J, Keys 11, 7, Display jumps back
8 to previous
Long jump-back Y, J START ( of memory ) .
Print: (single space) X, Keys 11, PRINT.
- 6, 7, 8
Print ( double space ) Y PRINT .
It is believed that the operator code illustrated by Fig.4 is
easi~Ly memorized because a 1 t h ou g h the individual graphic
correlation between a selected key or keys-combination for
a given alphabet letter might be changed, there is an
overall graphic correlation that e n ab 1 e s the majority of the
20 alphabet letters to be}so represented andthisp~vides alearning framework.
:~ It has been found that use of such an operator code is
an effective aid in the use of the word-processing unit
because it is easily and speedily memorable.
The use of what is basically a five key keyboard, the
25 additional thumb key providing a second five key keyboard,
with t~e word-processing unit of the invention has the
advantages of providing a simpler, smaller and cheaper
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construction than that of a conventional keyboard because
the need for a separate key for each character or control
instruction is obviated and the speed of use of this
keyboard is comparable with a conventional keyboard
as the fingers do not need to be mo~ed from one key to
another and the thumb has only to move between two keys
and does not have to move when alphabet letters are being
inputted to the unit.
Although a right-hand keyboard device has been described
and illustrated, it is apparent that a "mirror-image"
left-handed device could equally well be produced.
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