Keypad apparatus and method for inputting data and characters for a computing device or cellular phone
First Claim
1. A data inputting device for use in combination with a device requiring data input comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
said keys having a static position and a depressed position;
a plurality of contacts attached to each of said keys;
a plurality of contact pads, each of said contact pads corresponding to one of said plurality of contacts on each of said keys and communicates therewith when said key is in said depressed position;
a key depression detector communicating with each of said plurality of contact pads and detecting a key depression when one of said keys is moved to said depressed position once and at least one contact of said key is touched to at least one contact pad; and
a logic value generator communicating with said key depression detector and producing a logic value on the basis of a specific contact from said plurality of contacts brought into communication with a corresponding contact pad, wherein data corresponding to the logic value is inputted to said device requiring data input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keypad and key device featuring a plurality of contacts on the rear face of a keypad key that each mate with an individual contact pad from a plurality of contact pads placed below the upwardly biased and tiltable keys. Pushing a key on a right side or left side mates different pairs of contacts and contact pads generating different characters for input to a cellular phone or small computer. Pushing the key in the center will generate a third character by mating both contacts with both contact pads. The keys may also have more than two contacts mating with more than two contact pads and tilt to a variety of positions to mate the respective contacts with contact pads. Consequently, one depression of a key enables any one of a plurality of characters assigned thereto to be inputted which is effective in accelerating a data inputting process.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A data inputting device for use in combination with a device requiring data input comprising:
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a plurality of keys;
said keys having a static position and a depressed position;
a plurality of contacts attached to each of said keys;
a plurality of contact pads, each of said contact pads corresponding to one of said plurality of contacts on each of said keys and communicates therewith when said key is in said depressed position;
a key depression detector communicating with each of said plurality of contact pads and detecting a key depression when one of said keys is moved to said depressed position once and at least one contact of said key is touched to at least one contact pad; and
a logic value generator communicating with said key depression detector and producing a logic value on the basis of a specific contact from said plurality of contacts brought into communication with a corresponding contact pad, wherein data corresponding to the logic value is inputted to said device requiring data input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A cellular phone provided with a data inputting device which comprises:
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a plurality of keys;
said keys having a static position and a depressed position;
a plurality of contacts attached to each of said plurality of keys;
a plurality of contact pads each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of contacts attached to each key and and communicates there with when said key is in said depressed position;
a key depression detector detecting a key depression when a key is depressed once and at least a contact thereof is touched to at least a contact pad; and
a logic value generator producing a logic value on the basis of the contact pad brought into contact with the contact, wherein data corresponding to the logic value is inputted. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of inputting data comprising:
- detecting a key depression when a key is depressed and at least a contact thereof is touched to at least one contact pad; and
producing a logic value for any one of three characters assigned to the depressed key, whereby data corresponding to the logic value are inputted. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17)
- detecting a key depression when a key is depressed and at least a contact thereof is touched to at least one contact pad; and
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12. A method of inputting characters using a cellular phone provided with a data inputting device and a data display, the method comprising:
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depressing a key is on the data inputting device;
detecting a key depression when the key is depressed and at least a contact thereof is touched to at least a contact pad;
producing a log value for a character assigned to the depressed key;
inputting data corresponding to the log value; and
indicating the inputted character on the data display.
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15. A data inputting device for use in combination with a device requiring data input comprising:
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a plurality of keys;
a plurality of contacts attached to each of said keys;
a plurality of contact pads, each of said contact pads corresponding to one of said plurality of contacts on each of said keys and communicates therewith when said key is in said depressed position;
said keys having a static position wherein all of said plurality of contacts are separated from contact with said plurality of contact pads;
said keys having a first depressed position wherein at least one of said plurality of contacts communicates with at least one of said plurality of contact pads;
said keys having a second depressed position wherein at least two of said plurality of contacts communicates with at least two of said plurality of contact pads;
means to bias said plurality of keys to said static position;
a key depression detector communicating with each of said plurality of contact pads;
said key depression detector detecting a key depression when one of said keys is moved once to one of said first depressed position or said second depressed position; and
a logic value generator communicating with said key depression detector and producing a logic value on the basis of said key moving to one of said first depressed position or said second depressed position wherein data corresponding to the logic value to one of said first depressed position or said second depressed position respectively, is inputted to said device requiring data input.
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Specification