Active keyboard for handheld electronic gadgets

• US 20030122784A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Shkolnikov
• Original Assignee: Mark Shkolnikov
• Inventors: Shkolnikov, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices which allows the user of the device to support the device and enter text and data while using only one hand. The device has a housing, a display, a processor, a memory, a selection device, and at least four keys. When the handheld device is gripped the keys underlay the tips of the user'"'"'s fingers and the selection device underlays the user'"'"'s thumb. The software outputs a grid design to the display showing several columns of values. The user highlights a set of four values using the selection device and those values are assigned to the keys. Pressing a key enters the values assigned to that key into the text area of the display or if the value represents a mode of operation, runs the program controlling that mode.

Claims

1. An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices comprising:

(a) a housing designed to be gripped by a human hand, having a front, back, top, bottom and two opposing sides;

(b) a processor disposed within said housing;

(c) a display electronically connected to said processor;

(d) a selector connected to one side of said housing;

(e) at least four keys connected to the side of said housing opposite the side said selection means is connected to;

(f) a memory connected to said processor; and

(g) a software means for displaying a menu on said display, the software means including;

means for allowing a user to select from groups of four or fewer values using the selector, each value from the group being assigned to one said keys, said keys being used to input the assigned values to the memory.

2. The active keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motion detector disposed in said housing.

3. The active keyboard according to claim 2, wherein:

said motion detector is chosen from the following group;

an acceleration sensor, a proportional sensor, a global positioning sensor, or a tilt sensor.

4. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein:

said housing is ergonomically shaped.

5. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein:

said selector is chosen from the following group;

a joystick, a touch pad, a trackball or four close proximity triangular buttons.

6. The active keyboard according to claim 1, further having:

(h) a microphone; and

(j) a speaker.

7. The active keyboard according to claim 2, wherein:

said software means further comprises means for navigating the Internet using said motion detector to control a portion of a web page shown on said display, said display containing a cursor positioned in the center of said display, so that when said display reaches a boundary of the web page, the cursor is moveable by said selector from the center of said display.

8. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein:

said software means further comprises means for navigating the Internet using the selector to control a portion of a web page shown on said display, said display containing a cursor positioned in the center of said display, so that when said display reaches a boundary of the web page, the cursor is moveable by said selector from the center of said display.

9. A method of inputting data into a handheld electronic device comprising the steps of:

(A) using a processor and a memory to create a grid of value boxes organized into a plurality of vertical columns;

(B) displaying the grid on a display;

(C) inputting one value into each said value box;

(D) creating a highlight box which marks the selected column of four said value boxes;

(E) moving said highlight box to surround a value box having a desired value;

(F) assigning one said value from said value box surrounded by said highlight box to one of four keys;

(G) depressing one of said keys and entering said value into said memory and displaying said value on said display;

(H) moving said highlight box and assigning values surrounded by said highlight box to said keys and entering said values as in steps 5, 6, and 7; and

(I) repeating the process until finished entering values.

10. A method of inputting data into a handheld electronic device comprising the steps of:

(A) using a processor and a memory to create a grid of value boxes;

(B) displaying the grid on a display;

(C) inputting up to four values into each said value box;

(D) creating a highlight box which surrounds a value box;

(E) moving said highlight box to surround a value box having a desired value;

(F) assigning each said value from said value box surrounded by said highlight box to one of four keys;

(G) depressing one of said keys and entering the value assigned to said key into said memory and displaying said value on said display;

(H) moving said highlight box and assigning values surrounded by said highlight box to said keys and entering said values as in steps E, F, and G; and

(I) repeating the process until finished entering values.