Nec Corporation

Toshiro Kitazaki

Toshio Shimada

Masasuke Morita

A keyboard apparatus comprises a row of control keys operated by the left-hand thumb of an operator, a row of control keys operated by the operator's right-hand thumb, a first group of data entry keys arranged in a matrix of three rows and five columns in a first working area to be operated by the operator's first to fourth left-hand fingers, and a second group of data entry keys arranged in the same manner as the first in a second working area to be operated by the operator's first to fourth right-hand fingers. The first and second working areas are oriented so that the columns of the first and second groups are generally aligned with the left- and right-hand fingers, respectively. Responsive to operation of each control key, the function of the data entry keys is changed so that when a first control key is operated virtual cursor keys are formed in one of the working areas and when a second control key is operated virtual ten digit keys are formed by some of the data entry keys in one of the working areas, and when a third control key is operated virtual instruction keys are formed in the working areas for entering basic processing instruction data, symbols and characters.

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Tokyo, Japan

Toshiro Kitazaki