Key input device

• US 20040022047A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Okayasu, Akihito
• Application Number:
  US10/631,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20040022047A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A key input device includes a key input section, mode switching section, key backlight, and key backlight lighting control section. The key input section inputs characters by key input in a plurality of character input modes. The mode switching section switches a plurality of character input modes. The key backlight is placed on a lower surface of the key input section and is lighted in a plurality of colors. The key backlight lighting control section changes the lighting color of the key backlight in accordance with switching of character input modes. A cell phone is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A key input device comprising:

key input means for inputting characters by key input in a plurality of character input modes;

switching means for switching a plurality of character input modes;

a key backlight which is placed on a lower surface of said key input means and is lighted in a plurality of colors; and

lighting control means for changing a lighting color of said key backlight in accordance with switching of character input modes.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein

said key input means comprises a plurality of keys,

said key backlight comprises light-emitting means located at lower surfaces of the respective keys, and

said lighting control means changes a lighting color of only the light-emitting means located at the lower surface of a key which can be used for character input operation in a set character input mode.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein

said device further comprises storage means for storing correspondence data between a plurality of character input modes and a plurality of colors, and

when a signal indicating that a character input mode is switched is input from said key input means, said key backlight lighting control means determines a lighting color of said key backlight by referring to said storage means.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein

said storage means comprises first storage means which cannot be overwritten, and

the correspondence data is stored as an initial setting value in the first storage means.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein

said storage means comprises second storage means which can be overwritten, and

said key backlight lighting control means writes the correspondence data as a user setting value in the second storage means.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said key backlight lighting control means preferentially refers to a user setting value when the user setting value is stored.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein

said storage means further comprises key backlight application setting lighting color data for setting a lighting color of said key backlight, and key backlight application setting lighting position data for setting a lighting position of said key backlight, and

said key backlight lighting control means determines a lighting color of said key backlight by referring to at least one of key backlight application setting lighting color data and key backlight application setting lighting position data.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said key backlight lighting control means downloads key backlight application setting lighting color data and key backlight application setting lighting position data.

9. A cell phone comprising a key input device defined in claim 1.