Keyboard apparatus having separate working areas with thumb-operated shifting of key functions

Claim 1

A keyboard apparatus for a processor having a display unit and means for generating a cursor which is movable in a screen of said display unit, said apparatus comprising: a first row of control keys to be operated by the left-hand thumb of an operator; a second row of control keys to be operated by the right-hand thumb of the operator; a first group of data entry keys arranged in a matrix of three rows and five columns in a first working area adjacent said first row of control keys to be operated by the first to fourth left-hand fingers of said operator; a second group of data entry keys arranged in a matrix of three rows and five columns in a second working area adjacent said second row of control keys to be operated by the first to fourth right-hand fingers of the operator, each of said data entry keys of each of said groups having a prescribed function when none of said control keys is operated, said first and second working areas being oriented with respect to each other so that the columns of said first and second groups are generally aligned with the left- and right-hand fingers of said operator, respectively; and control means responsive to an operation of each of the control keys of said first and second rows for varying the functions of said data entry keys of either of said groups so that when a first one of said control keys is operated virtual cursor keys are formed in one of said working areas to allow said cursor to be moved around said screen and when a second one of said control keys is operated virtual ten digit keys are formed in one of said working areas for entering numeric data, and when a third one of said control keys is operated virtual instruction keys are formed in said working areas for entering basic processing instruction data, symbols and characters.