Input device

• US 20080192012A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Inventors: Ho, David, Tseng, Steven, Chang, Ching-Sung, Yang, An-Ping
• Granted Patent: US 7,928,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

An input device constructed in a carrier electronic apparatus comprises a letter button module and a number button module. The letter button module has a plurality of letter buttons to represent different letters respectively, and the number button module has a plurality of number buttons to represent different numbers respectively. The number buttons are separated from the letter buttons by being located in the intervals formed by adjacent rows of the letter buttons. The size, form, and color of the number buttons are different to those of the letter buttons.

Claims

1. An input device applied to a mobile electronic apparatus comprising:

a letter button module, having a plurality of letter buttons to represent different letters respectively, the letter buttons being arranged into a plurality of rows, wherein every two adjacent said rows has a respective interval; and

a number button module, having a plurality of number buttons to represent different numbers respectively, the number buttons being arranged into a plurality of rows, wherein each said row of said number button module disposed in the respective interval between the adjacent said rows of said letter button module.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein each said letter button represents an alphabetic letter.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein each said letter button represents a plurality of alphabetic letters.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein each said letter button represents a function key (sign).

5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a form of said number button is different in shape to a form of said letter button.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said number buttons represent number zero to number nine, the sign “

*”

, and the sign “

#”

respectively.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said number button module is located in a center of said input device.

8. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a button unit, located on an upper surface of said input device, consisted of said number button module and said letter button module.

9. The input device according to claim 8, further comprising a support layer under said button unit, the support layer having a plurality of through holes in accordance with said letter buttons and said number buttons.

10. The input device according to claim 9, further comprising at least an LED lamp, said support layer guiding a light of said LED lamp to said letter buttons and said number buttons.

11. The input device according to claim 10, further comprising at least two colors of LED lamps, said support layer guiding a light of said one color LED lamp to said letter buttons and another light of the other color LED lamp to said number buttons.

12. The input device according to claim 9, further comprising a buffer layer under said support layer, wherein said buffer layer has a plurality of prominent pillars, each of the pillars having a downward extended pressing column to pass said through holes of said support layer.

13. The input device according to claim 12, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) under said buffer layer, the PCB having a plurality of metal domes, wherein each of said metal domes is located in a respective position to one said prominent pillar of said support layer.

14. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a color of said number buttons is different to another color of said letter buttons.

15. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic apparatus is a mobile phone.

16. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said letter button module is arranged in accordance with an arrangement of a qwerty keyboard.