PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR ENTERING DATA ON SUCH A DEVICE

• US 20090104928A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: GRONKVIST, Werner Jonatan, ALEXANDERSSON, Ulf Petter
• Application Number:
  US11/930,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20090104928A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable electronic device comprising one or several touch-sensitive keypads used for entering data on such a device. The invention also relates to a method for entering data on such a portable electronic device. The touch sensitive keypad including a plurality of keys where at least one of the keys is overlaid with multiple input options, a display where the multiple input options is presented when one of the keys senses an object'"'"'s presence on the key, wherein each input option is a symbol and each input option is associated with a specific level, which is detected by a specific level detection means.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising

a touch sensitive keypad including a plurality of keys;

at least one of said keys is overlaid with multiple input options;

a display where said multiple input options is presented when one of said keys senses an object'"'"'s presence on said key;

wherein each input option is a symbol;

each input option is associated with a specific level; and

said device further comprising means for detecting said specific level.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said specific level is defined by a predetermined pressure applied on said key.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each level is defined by a predetermined time interval during which said object is present on said key.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said symbol is a character.

8. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said symbol is a letter.

9. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said symbol is a digit.

10. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said input option is confirmed by releasing the contact on said key.

11. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said keys is overlaid by four input options, where each option is associated by a character, letter or digit.

12. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each input option is presented by a specific sound.

13. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each input option is presented by a tactile feedback.

14. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each input option is presented by a specific sound and tactile feedback.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein each specific level is entered stepwise in dependence of said input option.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein said pressure is applied downwards.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein said pressure is applied sideways.

15. A method for entering inputs on an portable electronic device, comprising a keypad including a plurality of keys, where at least one of said keys is overlaid with multiple input options, said method comprising the steps of:

associating each input option with a level and a symbol;

presenting said multiple input options of said key when detecting an objects presence on said key;

selecting an input option by changing levels.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of entering each specific level stepwise in dependence of said input option.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of defining each level by a predetermined pressure;

applying said predetermined pressure on said key.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of defining each level by a predetermined time limit and holding said object on said key said predetermined time limit.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said symbol is a character.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of confirming said input option by releasing said contact on said key.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said keys is overlaid by four input options and each option is associated by a character.

22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of marking said selected input option.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of marking each input option by a specific sound.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of marking each input option by a tactile feedback.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of marking each input option by a specific sound and a tactile feedback.