Handheld Electronic Device Comprising A Keypad Having Multiple Character Sets Assigned Thereto, With The Character Sets Being Individually Illuminable

• US 20090179859A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Inventors: Wisebourt, Shaul, Bajar, David, Fyke, Steven Henry, Robertson, Ian
• Application Number:
  US12/013,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device has a keypad that includes a plurality of different character sets selectively illuminable thereon. Different types of light and different mechanisms for delivering light provide the selective illumination of a particular character set. When a particular character set is illuminated, a corresponding character lookup table is active on the handheld electronic device whereby the processor determines the particular character or characters that were intended in an actuation of a key of the keypad.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus structured to provide input to the processor apparatus and comprising a keypad apparatus;

an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus;

the keypad apparatus comprising;

a plurality of keys, at least some of the keys each comprising an illuminable first indicator which in an illuminated condition is indicative of a first character assigned to the key being active and an illuminable second indicator which in an illuminated condition is indicative of a second character assigned to the key being active;

a first illumination source structured to illuminate at least some of the first indicators; and

a second illumination source structured to illuminate at least some of the second indicators.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first illumination source and the second illumination source is a source of electromagnetic energy outside a spectrum visible to a user.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 wherein the other of the first illumination source and the second illumination source is a source of electromagnetic energy within the spectrum visible to a user.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 wherein the keypad apparatus further comprises a light pipe structured to transmit electromagnetic energy between the first and second illumination sources and the first and second indicators.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 wherein an indicator that is illuminable by the at least one of the first illumination source and the second illumination source is substantially invisible in a non-illuminated condition.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the keypad apparatus further comprises a first light pipe structured to transmit electromagnetic energy between the first illumination source and at least some of the first indicators, and wherein the keypad apparatus further comprises a second light pipe structured to transmit electromagnetic energy between the second illumination source and at least some of the second indicators.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the first and second illumination sources each generate light in the visible spectrum.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein at most one of the first and second illumination sources is energized at any given time.

9. A method of selecting an active alphabet for a text input on a handheld electronic device having available thereon a default alphabet and an alternate alphabet, the handheld electronic device comprising an input apparatus, the method comprising:

determining that the text input is one of;

a communication to a recipient to whom a previous communication was made employing the alternate alphabet, and

a reply to an existing communication that comprises a preexisting quantity of text at least a portion of which is in the alternate alphabet;

responsive to the determining, selecting the alternate alphabet as the active alphabet; and

illuminating on the input apparatus at least a portion of the alternate alphabet.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising energizing an illumination source and, responsive thereto, performing the illuminating.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising energizing as the illumination source an illumination source that generates electromagnetic energy outside a spectrum visible by a user, and illuminating as the at least portion of the alternate alphabet an indicator that is substantially invisible in a non-illuminated condition.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising de-energizing another illumination source and ceasing the illuminating on the input apparatus at least a portion of the default alphabet.