Device and method for quickly selecting text from a list using a numeric telephone keypad

• US 6,735,307 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Völckers, Oliver
• Original Assignee: Völckers, Oliver
• Inventors: Völckers, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/582,493
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 379/368, 379/433.06, 379/433.07, 341/22, 341/34, 200/5.R, 200/5.D, 455/90, 455/575, 455/556, 345/157, 345/179
• 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 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/10 by methods based on duration or pressure detection of keystrokes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a device and a method for selecting text from an electronic memory using a numeric telephone keyboard. To this end, a digital telephone keyboard has at least one pressure sensor sensing the pressure exerted on one or more keys, control electronics processing an input via key confirmation and text display. The pressure exerted on the keys of the digital telephone keyboard is detected and measured for every key by a pressure sensor. The respective pressure value is transmitted to and processed by control electronics. The measured pressure value is shown on a display for every key. The pressure value exerted is changed for the key pressed, if necessary, and once the correct pressure value is reached and shown on the display, the pressure value for every pressed key and information on the selected key are transmitted for further processing of the measured values.

Claims

1. A numerical telephone keyboard, comprising a keyboard of a digital telephone wherein at least one key thereof is movable in response to an applied force and has associated therewith a plurality of different text items, the keyboard being equipped with at least one pressure sensor for measuring a relative strength of an applied force on the at least one key, a processing unit means for evaluating input from the keyboard as to which of the at least one key has been pressed and from the at least one pressure sensor as to the relative strength of the applied force on said at least one key which has been pressed, and a display means for displaying discrete text information determined by the processing unit means in response to the input.

2. The numerical telephone keyboard of claim 1, wherein said at least one pressure sensor is adapted to measure the force upon the keys in the range of approx. 10g-1500g.

3. The numerical telephone keyboard of claim 1, wherein the display means Is one or both of a visual display means and an audible display means.

4. The numerical telephone keyboard of claim 1, wherein said keyboard comprises keys for the digits 0 to 9 and for special characters, and wherein at least one of said keys is also associated with at least two distinct text characters.

8. The numerical telephone keyboard of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further comprises means for selecting a higher value of at least two values of applied force measured over at least two succeeding measurement cycles, and means for assigning a reference value based on the selected value.

9. The numerical telephone keyboard of claim 8, wherein the measurement cycles have a specific time interval.

10. The numerical telephone keyboard of claim 8, wherein the processing unit further comprises means for selecting a lower value of applied force, if a lower value is applied for at least a specified number of number of measurement cycles, and means for assigning a reference value based on the selected value.

5. A method for selection and recall of information stored in lists using a keyboard of a digital telephone having a plurality of keys, at least one of said keys being movable in response to an applied force and being associated with at least two distinct text characters, comprising the steps of:

applying a variable, controlled force to a first of the at least one of said keys of the keyboard,

measuring a value of relative strength of an applied force with a pressure sensor,

transmitting the measured value of relative strength to a processing unit,

evaluating the measured value by way of the processing unit and associating the measured value with an item of discrete text information,

displaying the discrete text information on a display of the digital telephone,

optionally changing the applied force applied to said one of said keys,

transmitting information about the changed applied force to the processing unit for further processing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the applied force upon each key is measured for at least two subsequent measurement cycles to determine the relevant measurement value, the measurement cycles having a defined time interval.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the measurement of the applied force Is performed when the key is pressed, and again when the applied force is decreased by releasing the key.