Multi-function key input device

• US 4,885,580 A
• Filed: 03/15/1988
• Issued: 12/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hayashida, Nobuyuki, Kojima, Taketoshi, Kambayashi, Osamu, Noto, Hiroshi, Ito, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US07/170,139
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/711, 340/712, 340/365 VL, 340/365 R, 379/110, 379/354, 379/355, 379/157, 379/164, 379/165, 364/700, 364/706, 364/709.01, 364/709.08, 364/709.12, 400/486, 341/22, 341/23, 341/27
• US Class Current: 341/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/902 Menu display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/916 Touch screen associated with telephone set

Abstract

A multi-function key input device having a touch panel serving as a key input means, which is operated separately according to different operational modes to display different symbols or matters with the aid of a central processing section, a memory section, a digital shift register and LCD drivers operating a liquid crystal device.

Claims

1. A multifunction key input device comprising:

a case having a liquid crystal display section on a top surface thereof;

central processing means built in said casing including means for controlling operation of the device in a plurality of user-selectabel operational modes, including a data entry mode;

a user activatable touch panel in the form of a matrix pattern including at least one variable display section, wherein cross-points of the matrix define key input positions flush with the surface of the panel, said central processing means further including means for selecting cross-points of said variable display section as user activatable key input positions and displaying indicia to be used for key input position legends, means for individually selecting a legend for display at a particular key input position, and means for selecting between said plurality of operating modes, wherein at least one operating mode includes at least one key position at a different location in said variable display section than in another operating mode;

memory means for storing a plurality of displays corresponding to different operational modes and data representing legend indicia, including legend indicia selected by the user by activating the panel in data entry mode;

a liquid crystal display board disposed within said liquid crystal display section;

a common driver and segment drivers for driving said liquid crystal display board to produce a display corresponding to an operational mode thereon;

a plate-shaped light source disposed within said liquid crystal display section so as to be parallel with and proximate to a surface of said liquid crystal display board furthest removed from said top surface of the liquid crystal display board in the casing; and

a transparent sheet;

said touch panel and said transparent sheet being disposed within said liquid crystal display section such that each is parallel with said liquid crystal display board, said touch panel being proximate to a surface of the liquid crystal display board closest to the top surface of the casing and said transparent sheet being proximate to, and substantially contiguous with, the top surface of the casing so as to provide a protective cover for said liquid crystal display section;

said central processing means further including means for reading the touch panel as it is activated by the user, for storing the legend indicia selected by the user in the memory means for causing the liquid crystal display section to subsequently display the user selected indicia as legends for particular selected key input positions in the display corresponding to the selected operational mode.

2. A multi-function key input device having a plurality of selectable operating modes, comprising:

a casing having a liquid crystal display section on a top surface;

central processing means located in the casing;

a user activatable flat touch panel including a matrix pattern of input key positions flush with the surface of the panel, wherein substantially the entire surface of the touch panel may be used for display of indicia to be selectively used as a legend for a touch panel key position, the number of key positions and legends for such positions being determined by selection of the operating mode;

means for individually selecting a legend for display at a particular key input position;

means for selecting between said plurality of operating modes wherein at least one operating mode includes at least one key position at a different location in said display section than in another operating mode;

memory means for storing a plurality of displays corresponding to the operating modes and data representing legend indicia, including legend indicia selected by a user;

a liquid crystal display board disposed within the liquid crystal display section;

a planar light source disposed within the liquid crystal display section so as to be parallel with the proximate to the liquid crystal display board surface farthest from the top surface of the casing; and

a transparent sheet;

the touch panel and transparent sheet being disposed within the liquid crystal display section such that each is parallel with the liquid crystal display board, the touch panel being located proximate to the surface of the liquid crystal display board closest to the top surface of the casing and the transparent sheet being located proximately to, and substantially contiguous with, the top surface of the casing so as to provide a protective cover for the liquid crystal display section;

said central processing means further including means for reading the touch panel as it is activated by the user, for storing the legend indicia selected by the user in the memory means and for causing the liquid crystal display section to subsequently display the user selected indicia as legends for particular key positions on the display corresponding to the selected operating mode.