Key for an Input Device

• US 20090267808A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Yen-Hung, Ou, Shih-Hsun, Wei, Chang-Hua
• Application Number:
  US12/412,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An input device comprises a plurality of keys, and each of the keys has a pattern. The pattern is a portion of a complete character. The complete character comprises a character feature according to which the character can be recognized, and the aforementioned pattern comprises the character feature.

Claims

1. A key of an input device, comprising:

a pattern, which is a portion of a first complete character, and comprises a character feature which is adapted to have a user to recognize the first complete character.

2. The key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern is an upper portion of the first complete character.

3. The key as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper portion occupies at least 55% of the first complete character.

4. The key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern is a lower portion of the first complete character.

5. The key as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lower portion occupies at least 60% of the first complete character.

6. The key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern is a left portion of the first complete character.

7. The key as claimed in claim 6, wherein the left portion occupies at least 45% of the first complete character.

8. The key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern is a right portion of the first complete character.

9. The key as claimed in claim 8, wherein the right portion occupies at least 70% of the first complete character.

10. The key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first complete character is one of a numeral, a letter, a phonetic notation, a punctuation mark, a character and an icon.

11. The key as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least a second complete character, wherein the at least the second complete character is one of a numeral, a letter, a phonetic notation, a punctuation mark, a character and an icon.

12. The key as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key is one of a physical key and a virtual key.

13. An input device, comprising:

a plurality of keys as claimed in claim 1.

14. The input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pattern is an upper portion of the first complete character.

15. The input device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the upper portion occupies at least 55% of the first complete character.

16. The input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pattern is a lower portion of the first complete character.

17. The input device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lower portion occupies at least 60% of the first complete character.

18. The input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pattern is a left portion of the first complete character.

19. The input device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the left portion occupies at least 45% of the first complete character.

20. The input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pattern is a right portion of the first complete character.

21. The input device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the right portion occupies at least 70% of the first complete character.

22. The input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first complete character is one of a numeral, a letter, a phonetic notation, a punctuation mark, a character and an icon.

23. The input device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising at least a second complete character, wherein the at least the second complete character is one of a numeral, a letter, a phonetic notation, a punctuation mark, a character and an icon.

24. The input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the input device is one of a physical keyboard and a virtual keyboard.

25. The input device as claimed in claim 13, being adapted for one of an electronic handheld device, a keyboard, a phone and a notebook.