Keypad

• US 6,356,258 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Syunji Kato, Misawa Homes Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Syunji, Kato, Yoshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/117,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/171, 345/169, 400/486, 400/110
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings

Abstract

A keyboard input apparatus, where a plurality of main keys are pressed for character inputting operation. Five keys are set individually as character keys for inputting characters “A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, and “O” of the Alphabet expressing vowels. Further provided are key input detectors to detect the number of key pressing operations of each of the main keys, and a key input processor for outputting the character keys corresponding to the number of key pressing operations. Setting of in the Japanese and English language frequently used vowels on independent keys enables inputting of vowels by only a single key pressing operation and when compared with a conventional art where a plurality of key pressing operations are required, the number of key pressing operations can be reduced at the time of inputting vowels, whereby manipulation of the apparatus and the inputting speed can be improved.

Claims

1. A keyboard input apparatus, comprising;

five vowel keys and a plurality of consonant keys, said five vowel keys being set with five respective characters expressing the vowels “

A”

, “

I”

, “

U”

, “

E” and

“

O”

respectively, and each of said consonant keys being set with a plurality of characters expressing consonants;

a key input detecting means for detecting the number of times each of the keys is pressed in succession, and for confirming said number of times the moment a key other than the key being pressed is pressed; and

a key input processing means for outputting a character corresponding to the number of times the key is pressed in succession.

2. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first through a N-th numbers are set to each character key, and wherein said key input processing means selects the key of the N-th number and outputs it when the key is pressed N number of times.

3. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key input detecting means ignores the number of pressing operations already executed on a key when the key is pressed more times than the numbers designated for the keys and recounts from the first key pressing operation.

4. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input detecting means confirms the number of pressing operations of a precedent key the moment a predetermined cursor moving key is pressed.

5. The keyboard input apparatus according to any one of claim 1, wherein said keyboard input apparatus confirms the number of pressing operations of a consonant key and an input of a vowel key the moment said vowel key is pressed after said consonant key.

6. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard input apparatus confirms the number of pressing operations of a consonant key the moment another consonant key, a vowel key or a predetermined cursor moving key is pressed after said consonant key.

7. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising;

at least 12 keys arranged in a matrix array of four horizontal rows and three vertical columns;

wherein five keys are designated as vowel keys for inputting Alphabetical characters “

A”

, “

I”

, “

U”

, “

E” and

“

O”

expressing vowels; and

the remaining 7 keys other than the keys set for said vowel keys “

A”

, “

I”

, “

U”

, “

E” and

“

O”

are set as consonant keys, each being set for a plurality of consonants respectively.

8. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the three keys in the top row are set for the Alphabet “

A”

, “

I” and

“

U”

, expressing vowels, and the two of the three keys in the second row from the top row are designated for inputting character keys “

E” and

“

O”

.

9. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 8, wherein three keys in the top row are set from left to right in turn for inputting the characters “

A”

, “

I” and

“

U” and

two keys in the second row from the top are set from left to right in turn for inputting the characters “

E” and

“

O”

.

10. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein 21 characters of the 26 characters of the Alphabet, except for the keys set for the vowels of “

A”

, “

I”

, “

U”

, “

E” and

“

O”

, are set in groups of three to said 7 consonant keys.

11. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein characters “

K”

, “

S”

, “

T” and

“

H”

are set as first character keys to four consonant keys of said 7 consonant keys and the characters “

G”

, “

Z”

, “

D” and

“

B”

are set as second character keys to the keys designated for the characters “

K”

, “

S”

, “

T” and

“

H”

respectively.

12. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein characters “

KGF”

, “

SZJ”

, “

TDV”

, “

NCQ”

, “

HBP”

, “

RML” and

“

YWX”

are set respectively in combinations into said 7 consonant keys.

13. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein numeric keys for inputting numerals “

1”

, “

2”

, “

3”

, “

4”

, “

5”

, “

6”

, “

7”

, “

8”

, “

9” and

“

0”

are set to 10 keys of said 12 keys, and wherein said keyboard input apparatus further comprises a mode switching means for switching key input modes between a numeric input mode and a character input mode.

14. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said mode switching means switches input mode into three input modes of numeric input mode, Japanese input mode and English input mode.

15. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said five vowel keys is set as a long sound vowel key for inputting a long vowel symbol “

”

as a second character key.

16. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the second character key for inputting said long vowel symbol “

”

is set to either one of the keys for inputting the characters “

A”

or “

E”

.

17. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said key input processing means outputs:

a vowel set to said long sound vowel key when said long sound vowel key is pressed once;

the long vowel symbol “

”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed twice in succession; and

a vowel and the long vowel symbol “

”

orderly when said long sound vowel key is pressed three times in succession.

18. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said key input processing means outputs:

a vowel set to said long sound vowel key when said long sound vowel key is pressed once;

a vowel set to said long sound vowel key twice when said long sound vowel key is pressed twice in succession; and

a vowel and the long vowel symbol “

”

in the order of “

the vowel and the long vowel symbol”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed three times in succession.

19. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said key input processing means outputs;

a vowel set to said vowel key, and a vowel set to said Long Sound vowel key in the order of “

the vowel and the vowel set to said Long Sound vowel key”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed once after pressing any one of the four vowel keys other than said long sound vowel key;

a vowel and a long vowel symbol “

”

in the order of “

the vowel and the long vowel symbol “

”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed twice in succession after pressing any one of the four vowel keys other than said long sound vowel key; and

a vowel set to said vowel key, and a vowel and the long vowel symbol “

”

set to said long sound vowel key in the order of “

the vowel and the vowel set to the long sound vowel key and the long vowel symbol ”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed three times in succession after pressing any one of the four vowel keys other than said long sound vowel key.

20. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said key input processing means outputs:

a consonant set to said consonant key and a vowel set to said long sound vowel key in the order of “

the consonant and the vowel”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed once after pressing said consonant key;

a consonant set to said consonant key, and a vowel set to said long sound vowel key in the order of “

the consonant, the vowel and the vowel”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed twice in succession after pressing said consonant key; and

a consonant set to said consonant key and a vowel and the long vowel symbol “

”

set to said long sound vowel key in the order of “

the consonant, the vowel and the long vowel symbol ”

when said long sound vowel key is pressed three times in succession after pressing said consonant key.

21. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said five vowel keys is set as the long sound vowel key for inputting the long sound vowel key “

”

/t/ as a second character key.

22. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a second character key for inputting said long sound vowel key “

”

/t/ is set to either of the keys for inputting the characters “

A”

or “

E”

.

23. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said key input processing means outputs;

a vowel set to said double consonant vowel key when said double consonant vowel key is pressed once;

a long sound vowel key “

”

/t/ when said double consonant vowel key is pressed twice in succession; and

a vowel and a long sound vowel key “

”

/t/ set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the vowel and the long sound vowel key”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed three times in succession.

24. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said key input processing means outputs;

a vowel set on said double consonant vowel key when said double consonant vowel key is pressed once;

two vowels set on said double consonant vowel key when said double consonant vowel key is pressed twice in succession; and

a vowel and the long sound vowel key “

”

/t/ set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the vowel and the long sound vowel key”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed three times in succession.

25. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said key input processing means outputs;

a vowel set to said vowel key and a vowel set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the vowel and the vowel set to the double consonant vowel key”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed once after pressing one of the four vowel keys other than said double consonant vowel key;

a vowel set to said vowel key and the long sound vowel key “

”

/t/ in the order of “

the vowel and the long sound vowel key”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed twice in succession after pressing any one of the four vowel keys other than said double consonant vowel key; and

a vowel set to said vowel key and a vowel and the double consonant “

”

/t/ set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the vowel and the vowel set to the double consonant vowel key”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed three times in succession after pressing any one of the four vowel keys other than said double consonant vowel keys.

26. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said key input processing means outputs;

a consonant set to said consonant key and a vowel set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the consonant and the vowel ”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed once after pressing said consonant key;

a consonant set to said consonant key and a vowel set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the consonant, the vowel and the vowel”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed twice in succession after pressing said consonant key; and

,

a consonant set to said consonant key and a vowel and the double consonant “

”

/t/ set to said double consonant vowel key in the order of “

the consonant, the vowel and the long sound vowel key”

when said double consonant vowel key is pressed three times in succession after pressing said consonant key.

27. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a consonant key is set for the character “

N” and

wherein said key input processing means outputs;

the character “

N”

when a consonant key set for the character “

N”

is pressed once;

the character “

”

when a consonant key set for the character “

N”

is pressed twice in succession; and

the characters “

” and

“

N”

in the order of “

” and

N”

when the consonant key set for the character “

N”

is pressed three times in succession.

28. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a main area is arranged with five vowel keys and a plurality of consonant keys, and Wherein function key area is arranged on the upper, right and lower side in brackets of the main key area, the function key area having a plurality of function keys arranged in the form of character “

C”

.

29. The keyboard input apparatus according to claim 28, wherein one of said function keys has a shifting function for inputting characters and functions of keys set for a shifted condition, a converting function for converting unconfirmed characters into Chinese characters and a space input function for inputting space,

wherein said shifting function works when other vowel keys, consonant keys and function keys are pressed within a certain period of time while said function key is being held down;

wherein said converting function works when said function key is independently pressed and released before determining inputted character in Japanese character input mode; and

wherein said space input function works when said function key is pressed independently.