DATA INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100265201A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eui Jin Oh
• Original Assignee: Eui Jin Oh
• Inventors: Oh, Eui Jin
• Application Number:
  US12/810,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data input device. The data input device includes a base. An input unit is provided to independently perform first directional input in which the input unit is laterally moved to any one of first direction indication locations, second directional input in which the input unit is tilted downwards and moved to a direction of any one of second direction indications, and third directional input in which any one of third direction indication locations is selected. First detection units detect lateral movement of the input unit. Second detection units detect tilting movement of the input unit. Third detection units detect the third directional input; A control unit extracts and inputs a first character, second character and third character assigned to each first direction indication location, each second direction indication location, and each third direction indication location, respectively.

Claims

1. A data input device, comprising:

a base;

an input unit provided on the base, wherein the input unit is provided to enable first directional input in which the input unit is laterally moved from a reference location to any one of a plurality of first direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another within a predetermined input radius, second directional input in which the entire input unit is tilted downwards and moved from a horizontal position to a direction of any one of a plurality of second direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another, and third directional input in which any one of a plurality of third direction indication locations arranged radially on the input unit itself and spaced apart from one another is selected, to be independently performed;

first detection units for detecting lateral movement of the input unit;

second detection units for detecting tilting movement of the input unit;

third detection units for detecting the third directional input; and

a control unit for extracting a first character assigned to each first direction indication location, a second character assigned to each second direction indication location, and a third character assigned to each third direction indication location from a memory unit and inputting the extracted characters on a basis of results of detection of the first, second and third detection units.

2. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the third directional input is performed in such a way that the input unit is tilted downwards to a direction of any one of the third direction indication locations, or any one of press parts provided on the input unit to correspond to the respective third direction indication locations is selected.

4. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is configured to enable central input to be performed using one or more of a method in which a central input key provided at a center of the input unit is selected and a method in which the entire input unit is moved vertically to the base.

5. The data input device according to claim 4, wherein the central input is provided to be performed in two or more steps, that is, in multiple steps.

6. The data input device according to claim 4, wherein when combined central input performed through combination with any one of the central input, the first directional input, the second directional input and the third directional input is performed, characters different from characters originally assigned to the first direction indication locations, the second direction indication locations and the third direction indication locations are input.

7. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first directional input, the second directional input and the third directional input are provided to be performed in two or more steps, that is, in multiple steps, depending on distance of lateral movement of the input unit, a degree of tilting movement, an angle of tilting, a distance of pressing of the press parts, or intensity of pressing pressure.

10. The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising a first elastic part provided between a bottom of the input unit and the base and configured to support the input unit so that the input unit is laterally moved along a top surface of the first elastic part, and to return the input unit to an initial position at a time of performing tilting movement of the input unit, and a second elastic part provided between a circumferential portion of the input unit and the base and configured to return the input unit to the initial position at a time of performing lateral movement of the input unit.

13. The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising a hemispheric support unit provided between the bottom of the input unit and the base and curved toward the input unit;

and wherein the input unit comprises a first input unit, a bottom contact surface of which corresponds to a top surface of the support unit and which is tilted downwards and moved along the support unit, and a second input unit placed on a top surface of the first input unit and provided to be laterally movable along the top surface of the first input unit.

16. The data input device according to claim 13, further comprising an input switching unit disposed between the first input unit and the second input unit and configured to enable tilting movement of the first input unit or lateral movement of the second input unit to be selectively performed.

17. The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising a movable support unit provided between the bottom of the input unit and the base and configured to have a hemispheric shape, curved toward the input unit and to be laterally moved together with the input unit at a time of performing the first directional input, third protrusions protruding toward the third detection units arranged on the base, and a central protrusion protruding toward the central input detection unit, the third protrusions and the central protrusion being formed on a bottom of the movable support unit;

and wherein the input unit has a bottom contact surface corresponding to a shape of a top surface of the movable support unit, and performs the second directional input in such a way that the input unit is tilted downwards and moved along with the movable support unit.

27. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third detection units are implemented using a touch pad or a touch screen arranged in an input area.

28. The data input device according to claim 27, further comprising a connection element for enabling the input unit to be put on the base provided in the input area, thus enabling the respective directional inputs to be performed.

32. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein combined directional input, in which two or more of the first directional input, the second directional input and the third directional input are combined with each other to generate new input signals, is provided to be performed.

33. The data input device according to claim 32, wherein the combined directional input is configured to generate different input signals according to a sequence of combination of the respective directional inputs.

34. The data input device according to claim 4, wherein new input signals are generated through combined central input in which, after any one of the first directional input, the second directional input and the third directional input is primarily performed, the central input is performed, and then any one of the respective directional inputs is subsequently performed.

35. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein:

a display unit provided on the base comprises a character display unit on which characters to be input through the respective directional inputs or the central input are indicated; and

the character display unit is configured such that, when the directional inputs or the central input are sequentially performed, characters that can be input at respective input locations or anticipated words thereof are indicated, thus enabling a relevant character or a relevant anticipated word thereof to be input at a time when a relevant input action is performed.

61. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises:

an inward input unit for performing the third directional input in which any one of the plurality of third direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another is selected from the horizontal position, and

an outward input unit provided along a peripheral portion of the inward input unit outside the inward input unit and configured to perform the second directional input in which the outward input unit is tilted downwards to a direction of any one of the plurality of second direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another,

wherein the inward and outward input units are simultaneously laterally moved from the reference location to any one of the plurality of first direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another, to be performed.

62. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises:

an inward input unit for performing the second directional input in which the inward input unit is tilted from the horizontal position downwards to a direction of any one of the plurality of second direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another, and

an outward input unit provided along a peripheral portion of the inward input unit outside the inward input unit and configured to perform the third directional input in which any one of the plurality of third direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another is selected,

wherein the inward and the outward input units are simultaneously laterally moved from the reference location to any one of the plurality of first direction indication locations arranged radially around the reference location and spaced apart from one another, to be performed.

63. The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising a movable support unit provided on the base, and

wherein the input unit is placed on the movable support unit, and performs the first directional input in such a way that both the input unit and the movable support unit are laterally moved from the reference location to each radial direction, the second directional input in such a way that the input unit is tilted downwards in each radial direction on a top of the movable support unit, and the third directional input in such a way that a peripheral portion of the top of the input unit corresponding to each radial direction is pressed.

64. The data input device according to claim 1, further comprising a movable support unit provided on the base, and

wherein the input unit is placed on the movable support unit, and performs the first directional input in such a way that both the input unit and the movable support unit are laterally moved from the reference location to each radial direction, the second directional input in such a way that a peripheral portion of a top of the input unit corresponding to each radial direction is tilted downwards, and the third directional input in such a way that the peripheral portion of the top of the input unit corresponding to each radial direction is pressed.

65. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is provided on the base in a disk shape and provided with a rod-shaped support projection which is formed on a bottom of the input unit and protrudes toward the base, and

further comprising a support unit provided between the base and the input unit and provided with a reception hole which is formed at a center of the support unit to receive the support projection to enable tilting.

66. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the third directional input is performed in such a way that the input unit is tilted downwards to a direction of each of the third direction indication locations arranged in alternation with the second direction indication locations.

67. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises:

a first input unit provided on the base and configured to perform the first directional input in which the first input unit is laterally moved from the reference location to each of the first direction indication locations, and

a second input unit formed in a shape of a star having projections extending radially from a center thereof, and provided on the first input unit, the second input unit being provided to enable the second directional input in which the second input unit is tilted downwards to a direction of each of the second direction indication locations corresponding to the respective projections and the third directional input in which the second input unit is pressed at each of the third direction indication locations corresponding to the projections.

3. (canceled)

8-9. -9. (canceled)

11-12. -12. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

18-26. -26. (canceled)

29-31. -31. (canceled)

36-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A data input device, comprising:

a base;

an input unit provided on the base, wherein the input unit is provided to enable first directional input in which the input unit is laterally moved from a reference location to each first direction indication location, second directional input in which a press location provided at each of second direction indication locations arranged along a peripheral portion of the input unit is selected, and third directional input in which a press location provided at each of third direction indication locations arranged along the peripheral portion of the input unit in alternation with the second direction indication locations is selected, to be independently performed;

a first detection unit for detecting the first directional input;

a second detection unit for detecting the second directional input;

a third detection unit for detecting the third directional input; and

a control unit for extracting a first character assigned to each first direction indication location, a second character assigned to each second direction indication location, and a third character assigned to each third direction indication location from a memory unit and inputting the extracted characters on a basis of results of detection of the first, second and third detection units.

55. The data input device according to claim 54, wherein the input unit comprises an inward input unit in which respective press locations protrude to correspond to the second direction indication locations, and a plurality of outward input units provided to correspond to the respective third direction indication locations.

56-60. -60. (canceled)