Telephone equipment compatible, twelve button alphanumeric keypad

• US 6,931,125 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory N. Smallwood
• Original Assignee: Gregory N. Smallwood
• Inventors: Smallwood, Gregory N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/901,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20030012368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.07, 379/368, 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/048 having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• 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 keypad for entering a complete set of alphanumeric characters (including symbols) into telephonic equipment comprises a housing containing a telephone set compatible array of manually operated actuator elements, each actuator element selectably coding for four or more alphanumeric characters upon a single actuation of the element. The manually operated actuator elements each comprises a push button assembly and a switch assembly. The switch assembly further comprises two or three switches. In a two-way switch assembly, the push button assembly is manually operable to selectably close either switch individually and both switches together. In a three-way switch, the push button assembly is manually operable to selectably close any one of the three switches individually. The push button assembly includes a push button cover that has an upper surface that serves as a user interface, which is configured to facilitate a user'"'"'s operation of the actuator elements (keys) to selectively enter discrete alphanumeric selections into the keypad.

Claims

1. A telephonic equipment compatible keypad for entering discrete alphanumeric data, the keypad comprising:

a telephone set compatible array of manually operated actuators;

the array having four rows of three manually operated actuators per each row;

each manually operated actuator including a push button assembly and a switch assemby, with the switch assembly consisting of two switches and the push button assembly being manually operable to selectably close either switch individually and both swtiches together; and

a processor circuit having an input in electrical communication with each of the two switches of each switch assembly, the processor circuit operable to discern continuity in an electrical circuit of the switch assembly of each of the manually operable actuators, and to output an appropriate outcome of three possible outcomes for each actuator upon a manual operation of the push button assembly.

2. The telephonic equipment compatible keypad of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit further comprises a discriminator circuit to detect an inappropriate switch operation.

3. The telephonic equipment compatible keypad of claim 1, wherein the manually operated actuator, further comprising the push button assembly including a combination rocker and push button means manually operable to selectably close either switch individually and both switches together.

4. The push button assembly of claim 3, wherein the combination rocker and push button means includes an upper surface that is a user interface, the user interface having a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

the combination button with bossed ends, the combination button with wedge ends;

the combination button with lever ends;

the combination button with bossed center;

the combination button with center lever; and

the combination button with center recess.

5. The telephonic equipment compatible keypad of claim 1, wherein the push button assembly includes an upper surface that is a user interface, the user interface having a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

a depressable triple boss cover, a combination rocker and push button, a rocker with center button, and a combination slide and push button.

6. The manually operated activator of claim 1, wherein the switch assembly further comprises switches that are single pole, single throw momentary switches.

7. The manually operated activator of claim 1, wherein the switch assembly further comprises switches that are double pole, single throw momentary switches.

8. The telephonic equipment compatible keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one of the manually operated actuators in the array is operable as a mode key.