Button-key/cylindrical-key alphabetizer

• US 6,157,323 A
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel S. Kwoh, Kenneth K. Li, Kevin H.K. Tso
• Original Assignee: Daniel S. Kwoh, Kenneth K. Li, Kevin H.K. Tso
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel S., Li, Kenneth K., Tso, Kevin H. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/257,785
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/176, 345/168, 345/169, 345/157, 200/5 A, 200/6 A, 708/145, 400/489, 379/354
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator

Abstract

A multiple input key for inputting characters and the key has a body with a top and bottom surface, with the bottom surface being proximal to a printed circuit board and the top surface being distal from the printed circuit board. The key is pivotable about a pivot. A pivot extends from the bottom surface of the body and has an electrical contact pad such that when the contact pad contacts one of the leads on the printed circuit board a circuit is closed. A skirt surrounds the periphery of the body of the key and the skirt operatively supports the body of the key on the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A method of selecting multiple characters to be inputted for an electronic device using a multiple input device coupled with a display, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the depression of a key on a multiple input device that causes an electrical contact pad on a pivot of the key to contact a first one of a plurality of electrical leads on a printed circuit board;

simultaneously displaying a choice of characters on a display upon the detection of the depression of the key where the key, corresponds to the choice of characters;

recognizing the pivoting of the key in which one of a plurality of electrical contact pads on a body of the key contacts a second one of a plurality of electrical leads on a printed circuit board and the electrical contact pad on the pivot maintains contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads; and

distinguishing on the display a character from the choice of characters displayed along with the choice of characters displayed and in response to recognizing the pivoting of the key.

2. The method in claim 1 further comprising activating a separate key and switching between alphanumeric and numeric only modes in response to the separate key being activated.

3. The method in claim 1 further comprising responding to circuits closed by one of a plurality of electrical contact pads on a body of the key contacting a second one of a plurality of electrical leads on a printed circuit board and forming a code based on the circuits closed.

4. The method in claim 1 further comprising:

detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads in the multiple input device such that the character distinguished is inputted;

comparing the character inputted to a plurality of words by using a processor programmed with an electronic dictionary; and

displaying one word from the plurality of words in which the one word has a portion that corresponds to the character inputted.

5. The method in claim 1 further comprising:

pre-determining characters to be expected prior to displaying a choice of characters on the display;

identifying context of input of characters based on characters pre-determined; and

switching between alphanumeric and numeric only modes in response to the context identified by using a processor configured to automatically switch between alphanumeric and numeric only modes.

6. The method in claim 1 further comprising displaying a specific character on the display upon the detection of the depression of the key for a period of time in which the specific character displayed replaces the choice of characters displayed.

7. The method in claim 1 further comprising detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads in the multiple input device prior to recognizing the pivoting of the key, such that when the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaks contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads for a predetermined period of time, a character from the choice of characters displayed is inputted.

8. The method in claim 1 further comprising detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads in the multiple input device prior to recognizing the pivoting of the key, such that a character from the choice of characters displayed is inputted.

9. The method in claim 8 further comprising detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads in the multiple input device, such that the character distinguished which corresponds to the second one of the plurality of electrical leads is inputted.

10. The method in claim 1 wherein indicating a character from the choice of characters displayed further includes highlighting a character of the choice of characters on the display upon the recognition of the pivoting of the key in which one of the plurality of electrical contact pads on the body of the key contacts the second one of the plurality of electrical leads while the electrical contact pad on the pivot maintains contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads, where the highlighted character corresponds with the second one of the plurality of electrical leads.

11. The method in claim 10 further comprising detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads.

12. The method in claim 11 further comprising inputting the character highlighted upon detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads.

13. A method of selecting multiple characters to be inputted for an electronic device using a multiple input device coupled with a display, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the depression of a key on a multiple input device that causes an electrical contact pad on a pivot of the key to contact a first one of a plurality of electrical leads on a printed circuit board;

displaying on a display a first character when the key depression is detected

recognizing the pivoting of the key in which one of a plurality of electrical contact pads on a body of the key contacts a second one of a plurality of electrical leads on a printed circuit board and the electrical contact pad on the pivot maintains contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads; and

displaying a second character on the display to replace the first character displayed in response to recognizing the pivoting of the key.

14. The method in claim 13 further comprising detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads before the second character is displayed.

15. The method in claim 14 further comprising inputting the first character corresponding to the first one of the plurality of electrical leads upon detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads.

16. The method in claim 13 further comprising displaying a third character on the display upon the recognition of the pivoting of the key in which one of the plurality of electrical contact pads on the body of the key contacts a second one of the plurality of electrical leads on the printed circuit board while the electrical contact pad on the pivot maintains contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads for a predetermined period of time.

17. The method in claim 16 further comprising detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads after the second character is displayed and before the third character is displayed.

18. The method in claim 17 further comprising inputting the second character corresponding to the second one of the plurality of electrical leads upon detecting the electrical contact pad on the pivot of the key breaking contact with the first one of the plurality of electrical leads.