Character input device and method for a mobile terminal

• US 20040100445A1
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Jin-Woong, Jang, Jae-Heog
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods

Abstract

A character input device and method for a mobile terminal, which enables users to quickly and conveniently input mixed characters from various character types such as Korean “Hangeul” characters, upper and lower case English characters, and different fonts and symbols. The mobile terminal includes a plurality of keys, each key being assigned characters of at least two character types, and is previously set in a character input mode of one of the character types, while characters of another of the character types can be selectively input. The character input device comprises at least one temporary mode conversion key mounted on the mobile terminal and a memory for storing character codes of each of the character types assigned to each of the plurality of keys. A controller selects one of the previously set character input mode and a temporary character mode, based on an input of the temporary mode conversion key, and reads out and recognizes character codes of each character types from the memory according to the plurality of keys input and the selected character input mode.

Claims

1. A character input device for a mobile terminal including a plurality of keys, each key being assigned characters of at least two different character types, wherein the mobile terminal is previously set in a character input mode of one of the at least two different character types, while characters of another of the at least two different character types can be selectively input, said character input device comprising:

at least one temporary mode conversion key included in the mobile terminal;

a memory for storing character codes of the at least two different character types assigned to each of the plurality of keys; and

a controller for selecting one of the previously set character input mode and a temporary character mode, based on an input of the temporary mode conversion key, and reading out and recognizing character codes of the at least two different character types from the memory according to the plurality of keys input and the selected character input mode.

2. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller recognizes input characters as converted characters in the temporary character mode while the temporary mode conversion key is held, and recognizes the input characters as characters in the previously set character input mode when the temporary mode conversion key is released.

3. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller recognizes input characters as converted characters in the temporary character mode when the temporary mode conversion key is pressed, and recognizes the input characters as characters in the previously set character input mode when the temporary mode conversion key is pressed again.

4. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the previously set character mode can be changed into another character mode to input another character of said at least two character types.

5. A method for inputting characters of a plurality of character types using a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

when a controller recognizes that a temporary mode conversion key is held down while inputting characters, converting a character input mode to a temporary character input mode; and

when the controller recognizes that the temporary mode conversion key is released, returning the character input mode to a previously set character input mode.

6. A method for inputting characters of a plurality of character types using a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

when a controller recognizes that a temporary mode conversion key is pushed while inputting characters, converting a character input mode to a temporary character input mode; and

when the controller recognizes that the temporary mode conversion key is pushed again, returning the character input mode to a previously set language character input mode.