Small form-factor key design for keypads of mobile computing devices

• US 20070200828A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Skillman, Peter, Gioscia, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/364,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200828A1
• 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: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions

Abstract

A keypad includes a plurality of multi-portion keys having two or more key-portions within a common footprint. Each key-portion is independently usable with respect to any other key-portion. A plurality of switches are oriented such that insertion of any key-portion will engage a respective switch associated with a particular key-portion.

Claims

1. A keypad for a mobile computing device, the keypad comprising:

a plurality of keys that form at least a portion of the keypad, each key comprising two or more key-portions that share a common footprint, wherein each key-portion is independently insertable, with respect to any other key-portion of that key, for enabling engagement with a corresponding electrical contact.

2. The keypad of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of switches, each switch being oriented beneath a respective key-portion, and wherein an actuation of a key-portion comprises a depression or movement of the key-portion so as to engage its respective switch.

3. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys includes a rocker key having a first key-portion and a second key-portion integrally formed as a contiguous solid member that is pivotable about a pivot member, so as to make effective a first actuation by the first portion pivoting inward or a second actuation by the second portion pivoting inward.

4. The keypad of claim 2, wherein the two or more independently actuatable key-portions of each of the plurality of keys are formed from separate physical members that are configured to move independently from each other in engaging their respective switches.

5. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys includes a first key defining a shape selected from among a group of shapes consisting of a square, a circle, a rectangle, an oval, an ellipse, a polygon, and a racetrack.

6. The keypad of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of keys defines an elongated symmetrical shape having first and second ends, wherein the first end includes the first key-portion, and the second end includes the second key-portion.

7. The keypad of claim 6, wherein the keypad defines a keypad axis, and wherein the elongated symmetrical shape of a key defines a key axis that is either parallel to the keypad axis or that is intersecting the keypad axis.

8. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys includes alphabetical keys, each alphabetical key displaying from one to two alphabetical characters.

9. The keypad of claim 8, wherein at least some of the alphabetical keys have an alphabetical character display on the first key-portion, and an alphabetical character display on the second key-portion.

10. The keypad of claim 8, wherein the alphabetical keys are organized in a QWERTY key arrangement.

11. The keypad of claim 8, wherein select keys from among the plurality of alphabetical keys further comprise a display of a numerical character.

12. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least some of the keys are arranged in rows, each row defining a geometric shape selected from among a group of geometric shapes consisting of a line, a curve, an angle, and combinations thereof.

13. A mobile computing device comprising:

a plurality of keys that form at least a portion of the keypad, each key comprising two or more key-portions that share a common footprint, wherein each key-portion is independently actuatable with respect to any other key-portion of that key.

14. The keypad of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of switches, each switch being oriented beneath a respective key-portion, and wherein an actuation of a key-portion comprises a depression or movement of the key-portion so as to engage its respective switch.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14, further comprising at least one processor configured such that, an engagement of one of the plurality switches initiates a transmission of an electrical signal to the processor.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of keys includes a rocker key having a first key-portion and a second key-portion integrally formed as a contiguous solid member that is pivotable about a pivot member, wherein an inward pivoting of the first key-portion is configured to initiate a first electrical transmission to the processor, and an inward pivoting of the second key-portion is configured to initiate a second electrical transmission to the processor.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein the two or more independently actuatable key-portions of each of the plurality of keys are formed from separate physical members that are configured to move independently from each other when engaging their respective switches.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 13, wherein at least some of the alphabetical keys have an alphabetical character display on the first key-portion, and an alphabetical character display on the second key-portion.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 18, wherein select keys from among the plurality of alphabetical keys further comprise a display of a numerical character.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 19, further comprising a mode key for selecting between an alphabetical character and numerical character on a key from among the select keys.

21. A mobile computing device, the keypad comprising:

a plurality of keys that form at least a portion of the keypad, each key comprising two or more key-portions that share a common footprint, wherein each key-portion is independently actuatable, with respect to any other key-portion of that key, for enabling engagement with a corresponding electrical contact;

a processor that assigns a value to each of the one or more key-portions when that key-portion is actuated, wherein the processor is configured to assign, to each key in a subset of the plurality of keys, two or more alphanumeric characters.

22. The mobile computing device of claim 21, wherein for each key in the subset, the processor is configured to assign an alphabet character for each key-portion when the processor recognizes a first mode, and a number for both key-portions when the processor recognizes a second mode.

23. The mobile computing device of claim 22, wherein the processor recognizes the second mode in response to one or more events selected from a group of events consisting of:

(i) selection of a mode key, (ii) receiving an incoming phone call, (iii) operating a telephone application on the mobile computing device, and (iv) entering input into an application field designated as being numeric.

24. The mobile computing device of claim 22, wherein each key in the subset is provided a first marking pattern that is different than a second marking pattern of keys in the plurality of keys that are not in the subset.

25. The mobile computing device of claim 24, wherein all keys in the subset have a common marking pattern that corresponds to a background shading or coloring.

26. The mobile computing device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to assign at least two possible alphabet characters to one key-portion of a subset of the plurality of keys, and wherein the one key-portion of the subset of the plurality of keys is usable with predictive text logic.

27. The mobile computing device of claim 21, wherein at least some of the keys in the subset are each provided a numeral assignment for when a numeric mode is recognized by the processor.