10 Inventions on modular keyboards

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

As a standard keyboard is quite spacious many inventions try to use the space of keyboard to use for various activities. A modular keyboard is designed in such a way that the components of the keyboard can be attached and detached as per the need.

           

This article illustrates 10 inventions on modular keyboard from US patent database. The objective of these inventions is to make a keyboard modular, so that the same keyboard can be made smaller by detaching some of its components and larger by attaching additional attachments. Some modular keyboards provide slots for external attachments like mouse, telephone, speakers, joystick and storage devices etc.

Keywords: TRIZ, Computer Keyboard, Computer Hardware, Hardware Inventions, Computer Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Keyboard design, portable keyboards, flexible keyboard, folding keyboard, Collapsible keyboard, modular keyboards

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=932269

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.932269

http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.3850

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256068996_10_Inventions_on_Modular_Keyboards?ev=srch_pub

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/9

10 Inventions on collapsible keyboards

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Although a bigger keyboard is often comfortable to work with, they cannot be fit into laptop and small size computer boxes. The portable and handheld computers need small size keyboards. So there is a need to reduce the size of the keyboard to fit into the laptop box. There are various mechanisms to reduce the size of the keyboard; collapsible keyboard is one of them.

Although different inventions intend to achieve the same objective of reducing the keyboard size, they all differ in their mechanism. For example, some invention uses a compression mechanism, some invention uses a folding mechanism, and some invention uses a collapsing mechanism and so on. This article illustrates 10 inventions on collapsible keyboards from US patent database. Each case is analyzed from a TRIZ perspective.

Keywords: TRIZ, Computer Keyboard, Computer Hardware, Hardware Inventions, Software Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Keyboard design, Small keyboards, portable keyboards, flexible keyboard, folding keyboard, Collapsible keyboard

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=932268

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.932268

http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.3268

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258119573_10_Inventions_on_collapsible_keyboards_-_A_TRIZ_based_analysis

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/8

10 Inventions on reducing keyboard size

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

A conventional computer keyboard consists of as many as 101 keys. The keyboard has several sections, such as text entry section, navigation section, and numeric keypad etc. and each having several keys on the keyboard.

           

The size of the keyboard is a major inconvenience for portable computers, as they cannot be carried easily. Thus there are certain circumstances which compels to reduce the size of a keyboard.

Reducing the size of a keyboard leads to several problems. A reduced size keyboard may not contain all the keys available on a full size keyboard; a reduced size keyboard may not be convenient to operate, a reduced size keyboard may have a different key layout which is difficult to learn etc.

           

This article illustrates 10 inventions on reducing the size of the keyboard. Various inventions have attempted to solve the contradictions so that the user achieves the benefits of both ‘reduced size’ and ‘typing comfort’.

Keywords: TRIZ, Computer Keyboard, Computer Hardware, Hardware Inventions, Software Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Keyboard design, Small keyboards, Laptop keyboards, portable keyboards, flexible keyboards, folding keyboards

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=931683

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.931683

http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.3070

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228296049_10_Inventions_on_Reducing_Keyboard_Size

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/7