Keypad for portable electronic devices

• US 20040233173A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bryant, Bettina
• Application Number:
  US10/441,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233173A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

An electronic device comprises a keypad having a plurality of keys, a first set of indicia associated with said keys for indicating key functions in a first operating mode, and a second set of indicia associated with said keys for indicating key functions in a second operating mode. The first set of indicia is oriented to be viewed in a first orientation and the second set of indicia is oriented to be viewed in a second orientation different from said first orientation.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a keypad having a plurality of keys;

a first set of indicia associated with said keys for indicating key functions, said first set of indicia oriented to be viewed in a first orientation;

a second set of indicia associated with said keys for indicating key functions, said second set of indicia oriented to be viewed in a second orientation different from said first orientation.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said electronic device has multiple operating modes, wherein said first set of indicia indicates key functions for a first operating mode, and wherein said second set of indicia indicates key functions for a second operating mode.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said electronic device further comprises a microprocessor to detect and respond to key presses.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein said microprocessor uses a first key mapping to determine key functions in said first operating mode and a second key mapping to determine key functions in said second operating mode.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein:

said electronic device comprises a camera phone;

said first set of indicia indicates key functions for a communication mode of operation; and

wherein said second set of indicia indicates key functions for a camera mode of operation.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said first and second sets of indicia are disposed on said keys of said keypad.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said first and second sets of indicia are holographic images visible when said electronic device is held in a particular orientation.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 wherein said first set of indicia is visible when said electronic device is held in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein said second set of indicia is visible when said electronic device is held in a substantially vertical orientation.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said first and second sets of indicia are disposed on a substrate behind the keys of said keypad, and wherein said keys are transparent to allow viewing of said indicia on said substrate.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 wherein said substrate includes a holographic film and wherein said first and second sets of indicia are holographic images that are visible when said electronic device is held in a particular orientation.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein said first set of indicia are visible when said electronic device is held in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein said second set of indicia is visible when said electronic device is held in a substantially vertical orientation.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a memory to store a first keypad image oriented for viewing in a first orientation and a second keypad image oriented for viewing in a second orientation; and

a microprocessor to output said first and second keypad images to said touchscreen display depending on an operating mode of said electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein:

said electronic device comprises a camera phone having a communication mode of operation and a camera mode of operation;

said microprocessor outputs said first keypad image to said touchscreen display in said communication mode of operation; and

said microprocessor outputs said second keypad image to said touchscreen display in said camera mode of operation.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a keypad having a plurality of keys;

a microprocessor for detecting and interpreting key presses, wherein said microprocessor uses a first key mapping to determine key functions in a first operating mode and a second key mapping to determine key functions in a second operating mode.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein:

said electronic device comprises a camera phone having a communication mode of operation and a camera mode of operation;

said microprocessor outputs uses said first key mapping in said communication mode of operation; and

said microprocessor outputs uses said second key mapping in said camera mode of operation.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein said first key mapping corresponds to an operating mode in which the keypad is viewed in a vertical orientation, and wherein said second key mapping corresponds to an operating mode in which the keypad is viewed in a horizontal orientation.