Cluster key arrangement

• US 6,377,685 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rondevoo Technologies, LLC (2S Ventures, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ravi C. Krishnan
• Inventors: Krishnan, Ravi C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/296,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 379/368, 379/369, 379/370, 379/433.06, 379/433.07, 455/405, 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/012 Two keys simultaneous considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/036 Plural multifunctional miniature keys for one symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/022 with opto-electronic switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/052 Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A cluster key arrangement may be mechanically configured or electronically configured. The cluster key arrangement may include twelve cluster keys configured in an arrangement of three columns by four rows, such as conventionally found on standard telephones. The cluster key arrangement may also be configured for use on cellular/mobile telephones, television remote controls, other handheld data entry devices, automotive controls, desktop/wall-mounted/cordless telephones, combination telephone recorders, Personal Digital Assistants, and other electronic devices. The mechanically or electronically configured cluster keys provide a user with the ability to select one of a plurality of key elements representing numbers, letters, symbols, functions, etc., in a mutually exclusive manner.

Claims

1. A cluster key arrangement comprising:

at least one cluster key, said cluster key comprising;

a single primary key;

at least one secondary key, said secondary key being located immediately adjacent to said primary key of said cluster key; and

mutual exclusivity selecting means for selecting said primary key or said secondary key in a mutually exclusive manner;

wherein when both said primary key and said secondary key have met a threshold for actuation close in time to each other, said mutual exclusivity selecting means includes the use of a difference between said primary and said secondary key other than a difference in order of activation of said primary and said secondary key to select between said primary and said secondary key;

each of said primary and secondary keys is individually actuable;

each of said primary key and said secondary key upon actuation move in a direction substantially parallel to the motion of the other of said primary and said secondary key upon actuation;

each of said primary key and said secondary key has an associated electrical contact, activation of each said electrical contact sends a signal which indicates an input from said cluster key arrangement, and said mutual exclusivity selecting means selects between said primary key and said secondary key during preprocessing prior to activation of any one of said electrical contacts.

2. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said primary and secondary keys is arranged on a planar surface; and

each of said primary and secondary keys upon actuation moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to said planar surface.

3. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said primary key and said secondary key has a button profile having an arcuate shape, said arcuate shape being selected from the group consisting of dome shaped, convex, trough, and concave.

4. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said primary key has a top view which is shaped circularly, ellipsoidally, pentagonally, hexagonally, heptagonally, or octagonally.

5. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

the number of said cluster keys is at least two;

each said primary key has a primary key label, each primary key label including at least one primary key symbol selected from the group consisting of numerals, an asterisk symbol, and a pound sign;

each said secondary key has a secondary key label, each secondary key label including at least one secondary key symbol selected from the group consisting of alphabetic characters and function designations.

6. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each said cluster key is separated by a gap from any other of said cluster keys.

7. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each said primary key and each said secondary key includes a top surface and an opposing underside surface;

each said top surface includes a first portion;

each said underside surface includes a second portion and a third portion;

said third portion of each said key is positioned with respect to the top surface of said key such that if a user applies pressure to the top surface of said key, said key will be activated through said third portion; and

said second portion of each said key is connected through a mutual exclusivity actuator to said second portion of at least one adjacent key of said keys, such that when the user presses one of said keys, said second portion of said pressed one of said keys interacts with said second portion of said adjacent key to preclude said adjacent key from being activated.

8. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said mutual exclusivity selecting means uses differences in pressure to select between said primary key and said secondary key.

9. The cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said mutual exclusivity selecting means uses differences in shadowing to select between said primary key and said secondary key.

10. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the number of said secondary keys in each of said at least one cluster key is at least four.

11. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said secondary key is smaller in surface area than said primary key.

12. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the number of said secondary keys in each said cluster key is at least two, and said mutual exclusivity selecting means selects between each said secondary key of each said cluster key in a mutually exclusive manner.

13. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

said primary key includes a single conductive pathway associated with said primary key, said conductive pathway associated with said primary key being normally open;

said secondary key includes a single conductive pathway associated with said secondary key, said conductive pathway associated with said secondary key being normally open;

wherein

said conductive pathway associated with said primary key is closed when said primary key is selected, and said conductive pathway associated with said secondary key is closed when said secondary key is selected.

14. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, in combination with an electronic device, said electronic device being selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a remote control, a computer, and a personal digital assistant;

wherein the number of cluster keys is twelve;

the functions of said electronic device are controlled by said primary and secondary keys of said cluster keys; and

said combination includes no keys other than said primary and secondary keys of said twelve cluster keys.

15. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, in combination with an electronic device, said electronic device being selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a remote control, a computer, and a personal digital assistant;

wherein;

said electronic device includes a liquid crystal display;

said cluster key arrangement includes at least two secondary keys; and

at least two of said secondary keys are arrow keys.

16. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1,

wherein said cluster key arrangement includes at least two secondary keys;

and

at least one of said secondary keys is a mode key.

17. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

the number of cluster keys is at least twelve;

twelve of said at least twelve cluster keys are configured in an arrangement of three columns by four rows;

at least one of said cluster keys includes at least four secondary keys;

each said primary key has at least one primary key label, each primary key label including at least one primary key symbol selected from the group consisting of numerals, an asterisk symbol, and a pound sign;

each said secondary key has at least one secondary key label, each secondary key label including at least one secondary key symbol selected from the group consisting of alphabetic characters and function designations.

18. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 17,

wherein each of said cluster keys includes at least four secondary keys;

at least one of said secondary keys is a mode key; and

said cluster key arrangement emulates a standard keyboard.

19. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said numerals are selected from the group consisting of ten numbers from 0 to 9, and wherein said alphabetic characters are selected from the group consisting of 26 letters from A to Z.

20. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 19, wherein said four rows include a top row, and said primary keys of said three columns of said top row are labelled 1, 2, and 3 respectively from left to right.

21. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 20, wherein:

said cluster key of said primary key labelled 2 of said top row includes secondary keys labelled A, B, and C; and

said secondary key labelled A is located at the upper left of said primary key labelled 2 of said top row.

22. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

said mutual exclusivity selecting means includes a preprocessor, and said preprocessor includes at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of an electronic configuration and an opto-electronic configuration.

23. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said primary key is pentagonally shaped, the number of secondary keys in each cluster key is five, and said five secondary keys are circumferentially distributed about the five sides of said primary key.

24. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, further comprising an integrated pressure sensing element.

25. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, further comprising a p-i-n junction amorphous silicon solar cell with two conductive transparent coatings.

26. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, further comprising a conductive grid.

27. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, further comprising a mechanical cluster key configuration.

28. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the preprocessor comprises electronics that use differences in pressure to select one of said primary keys or one of said secondary keys over an adjacent one of said primary and secondary keys.

29. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said mutual exclusivity selecting means includes an embedded smart sensor.

30. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said cluster key arrangement is electronically configured in the form of a touch screen liquid crystal display.

31. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said touch screen liquid crystal display is an active matrix thin film transistor display.

32. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 31, further comprising a layer of i-type semiconductor disposed between a layer of p-type semiconductor and a layer of n-type semiconductor.

33. A cluster key arrangement according to claim 32, further comprising two conductive transparent coatings of tin oxide or indium tin oxide to provide two layers, wherein said layers are capable of being combined in series to provide a trickle charge.

34. A cluster key arrangement comprising:

at least one cluster key, said cluster key comprising;

a single primary key;

at least one secondary key, said secondary key being located immediately adjacent to said primary key of said cluster key; and

a mutual exclusivity actuator for selecting said, primary key or said secondary key in a mutually exclusive manner;

wherein each said cluster key includes a support structure supporting said cluster key;

said mutual exclusivity actuator interacts with said support structure of said cluster key, such that a user may mutually, exclusively select between said primary key and said secondary key;

each of said primary and secondary keys is individually actuable;

each of said primary key and said secondary key upon actuation move in a direction substantially parallel to the motion of the other of said primary key and said secondary key upon actuation;

each of said primary key and said secondary key has an electrical contact, activation of each said electrical contact sends a signal which indicates an input from said cluster key arrangement, and said mutual exclusivity actuator selects between said primary key and said secondary key during preprocessing prior to activation of any one of said electrical contacts.

35. A cluster keyboard comprising:

at least one cluster key, said cluster key comprising;

a primary key, said primary key having a first support structure that supports the primary key;

at least one secondary key, said secondary key being located immediately adjacent to said primary key of said cluster key, said secondary key having a second support structure that support the secondary key;

a mutual exclusivity actuator, said mutual exclusivity actuator interacting with said first support structure of said primary key and with said second support structure of said secondary keys, such that a user may mutually exclusively select between said primary key and said secondary key;

wherein each of said primary and secondary keys is individually actuable.

36. A method of inputting data using a keyboard in which more than one key is located within the width of a fingertip, comprising the steps of:

providing a cluster keyboard comprising a first cluster key and a second cluster key, each said cluster key comprising at least two keys;

one of said keys of each cluster key being a primary key;

at least one of said keys of each cluster key being a secondary key, said secondary keys being located immediately adjacent and circumferentially to said primary key of said cluster key;

receiving input signals from two of said keys, said input signals being received close in time to each other; and

processing said input signals in accordance with a predetermined set of logical rules such that the cluster keyboard recognizes said input signal from only one of said keys;

wherein said set of logical rules includes a plurality of sensory thresholds;

at least one of said sensory thresholds is a threshold for actuation;

wherein when both said primary key and said secondary key have met said threshold for actuation close in time to each other, said set of logical rules includes the use of a difference between said primary and said secondary key other than a difference in order of activation of said primary and said secondary key to select between said primary and said secondary key.

37. A method of inputting data according to claim 36, wherein said set of logical rules uses differences in pressure to select one of said keys.

38. A method of inputting data according to claim 36, wherein said set of logical rules uses differences in shadowing to select one of said keys.

39. A method of inputting data using a keyboard in which more than one key is located within the width of a fingertip, comprising the steps of:

providing a cluster keyboard comprising a first cluster key and a second cluster key, each said cluster key comprising at east two keys;

one of said keys of each said cluster key being a single primary key, said primary key having a support structure that supports the primary key;

at least one of said keys of each cluster key being a secondary key, said secondary key being located immediately adjacent and circumferentially to said primary key of said cluster key, said secondary key having a support structure that supports the secondary key;

actuating two of said keys, said two of said keys being actuated close in time to each other, thereby actuating a mutual exclusivity actuator;

said mutual exclusivity actuator interacting with said support structure of said two actuated keys, said mutual exclusivity actuator acting to exclude input from one of said two actuated keys.