Keypad assembly with supplementary buttons and method for operating the same

• US 6,919,824 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Telecom (KT Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Telecom (KT Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jae Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/126,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 345/168, 345/169, 379/433.06, 379/433.07, 400/98
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a keypad assembly with supplementary buttons and method for operating the same. The keypad assembly with supplementary buttons is in a small-sized mobile communication terminal including input buttons for representing a plurality of characters and a plurality of function buttons. The keypad assembly has at least one mode switching button, at least one selection-indication button, and a control unit. The mode switching button is formed on a side of the terminal for switching an input mode for inputting different characters. The selection-indication button is formed on a side of the terminal for selecting and indicating one of a plurality of characters assigned to each input button. The control unit selects and inputs a specific character assigned to each input button by pressing the input buttons and the selection-indication button so as to select a specific input mode by pressing the mode switching button and select and input one of a plurality of characters assigned to a specific input button under the selected input mode. The control unit displays the selected and inputted data on a display window of the terminal and stores the data.

Claims

1. A key assembly with supplementary buttons in a small-sized mobile communication terminal including input buttons for representing a plurality of characters and a plurality of function buttons, comprising:

at least one mode-switching button formed on a side of the terminal for switching an input mode for inputting different characters;

at least one selection-indication button formed on a side of the terminal for selecting and indicating one of a plurality of characters assigned to each input button; and

a control unit for allowing a specific input mode to be selected by pressing the mode switching button, for allowing a specific character to be selected and inputted by pressing the input button and the selection-indication button in order to select and input a specific one of a plurality of characters assigned to a specific input button under the selected input mode, for displaying the selected and inputted data on a display window of the terminal and for storing the data.

2. The keypad assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mode switching button is pressed, such that a numeral mode, an alphabet character mode and a special character mode are circularly switched.

3. The keypad assembly according to claim 1, wherein each character is selected and inputted by pressing an input button representing a character to be inputted in the selected input mode, and then pressing a selection-indication button corresponding to the character.

4. The keypad assembly according to claim 1, wherein the selection-indication button is used in both an alphabet character mode and a special character mode.

5. The keypad assembly according to claim 1, wherein the selection-indication button is formed to have the same number of buttons as that of characters assigned to each input button.

6. The keypad assembly according to claim 1, wherein the selection-indication button is formed to have the same number of buttons as that of special characters assigned to each input button.

7. The keypad assembly according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the selection-indication button corresponds to one character assigned to each input button.

8. A method for operating a keypad assembly with supplementary buttons in a small-sized mobile communication terminal including a processor, input buttons for representing a plurality of characters and a plurality of function buttons, comprising the steps of:

a) forming at least one mode switching button for switching an input mode for inputting characters and at least one selection-indication button for selecting and indicating one of a plurality of characters assigned to each input button on a side of the terminal;

b) switching an input mode for inputting characters using the mode switching button;

c) pressing an input button representing a character to be inputted in the switched input mode;

d) selecting and indicating one of characters assigned to each input button by pressing a corresponding selection-indication button of at least one selection-indication button according to the sequence of characters assigned to each input button; and

e) displaying the selected and inputted data on a display window of the terminal and storing the data.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the mode switching button is pressed, such that a numeral mode, an alphabet character mode and a special character mode are circularly switched.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the selection-indication button is used in both an alphabet character mode and a special character mode.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the selection-indication button is formed to have the same number of buttons as that of characters assigned to each input button.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the selection-indication button is formed to have the same number of buttons as that of special characters assigned to each input button.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the selection-indication button corresponds to one character assigned to the input button.

14. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the selection-indication button corresponds to each character and each special character on the input button.