Enhancing character input in electronic device

• US 20060187089A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Koli, Kimmo, Tolonen, Pertti
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9604 characterised by the number of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/06 by operating the multifunction key itself in different ways

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device and a method of enhancing character input in an electronic device comprising a set of keys. The method comprises associating a group of characters with at least one key; detecting repeated presses of a key; detecting whether the key has been touched continuously during the repeated presses of the key; and interpreting the characters corresponding to the key presses in the group of characters associated with the key on the basis of the detections.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing character input in an electronic device comprising a set of keys, the method comprising

associating a group of characters with at least one key;

detecting repeated presses of a key;

detecting whether the key has been touched continuously during the repeated presses of the key;

interpreting the characters corresponding to the key presses in the group of characters associated with the key on the basis of the detections.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characters associated with a key are in a predetermined order.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the number of times a key was pressed while being touched continuously;

selecting the character corresponding to the key presses on the basis of said number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

detecting whether the key has been touched continuously with a capacitive sensor.

5. A method of enhancing character input in an electronic device comprising a set of keys, the method comprising

associating a group of characters with at least one key;

detecting repeated presses of a key;

measuring the time interval between the key presses, during which interval the key is not touched;

interpreting the characters corresponding to the key presses in the group of characters associated with the key on the basis of the time interval.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

comparing the measured time interval with a given threshold value; and

interpreting that a key is touched continuously between key presses if the time interval is smaller than the threshold value.

7. An electronic device, comprising a set of keys and a controller operatively connected to the keys,

the controller being configured to

associate a group of characters with at least one key;

detect repeated presses of a key;

detect whether the key has been touched continuously during the repeated pressings of the key;

interpret the characters corresponding to the key presses in the group of characters associated with the key on the basis of the detections.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device comprises a capacitive sensor for each key for detecting whether the key has been touched continuously during the repeated pressings of the key.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the keys of the device are in the form of a keypad and the device comprises a capacitive sensor for the keypad for detecting whether a key has been touched continuously during the repeated pressings of the key.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the keys of the device are in the form of a keypad and the device comprises a capacitive sensor foil under the keypad for detecting whether a key has been touched continuously during the repeated pressings of the key.

11. An electronic device, comprising a set of keys, and

means for associating a group of characters with at least one key;

means for detecting repeated presses of a key;

means for measuring the time interval between the key presses, during which interval the key is not touched; and

means for interpreting the characters corresponding to the key presses in the group of characters associated with the key on the basis of the time interval.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for comparing the measured time interval with a given threshold value; and

means for interpreting that a key is touched continuously between key presses if the time interval is smaller than the threshold value.

13. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for enhancing character input in an electronic device comprising a set of keys, the process comprising:

associating a group of characters with at least one key;

detecting repeated presses of a key;

detecting whether the key has been touched continuously during the repeated pressings of the key;

interpreting the characters corresponding to the key presses in the group of characters associated with the key on the basis of the detections.