Active keyboard for handheld electronic gadgets
First Claim
1. An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices comprising:
- a housing designed to be gripped by a human hand, having an interior and an exterior surface;
a processor disposed within the interior of the housing;
a display electronically connected to the processor;
a selector disposed on the exterior surface of the housing, and positioned for activation by a thumb of a user;
a plurality of keys disposed on the exterior surface of the housing, and positioned for activation by fingers of the user;
a motion detector disposed within the interior of the housing;
a memory connected to the processor; and
a software means for displaying a menu on the display, the software means, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out steps comprising;
creating a grid of value boxes organized into a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows;
enabling a user (1), by using the selector or motion detector, to select a group of value boxes, and (2), by using the plurality of keys, to select a value contained within one value box from the selected group and inputting the value into the memory;
processing data from the motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the housing;
moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector or the selector; and
effecting functions of the active keyboard based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of the selector, or combinations thereof, wherein the active keyboard is configured to be held and operated by a single human hand.
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Abstract
An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices which allows the user of the device to support the device and enter text and data while using only one hand. The device has a housing, a display, a processor, a memory, a selection device, and at least four keys. When the handheld device is gripped the keys underlay the tips of the user'"'"'s fingers and the selection device underlays the user'"'"'s thumb. The software outputs a grid design to the display showing several columns of values. The user highlights a set of four values using the selection device and those values are assigned to the keys. Pressing a key enters the values assigned to that key into the text area of the display or if the value represents a mode of operation, runs the program controlling that mode.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices comprising:
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a housing designed to be gripped by a human hand, having an interior and an exterior surface;
a processor disposed within the interior of the housing;
a display electronically connected to the processor;
a selector disposed on the exterior surface of the housing, and positioned for activation by a thumb of a user;
a plurality of keys disposed on the exterior surface of the housing, and positioned for activation by fingers of the user;
a motion detector disposed within the interior of the housing;
a memory connected to the processor; and
a software means for displaying a menu on the display, the software means, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out steps comprising;
creating a grid of value boxes organized into a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows;
enabling a user (1), by using the selector or motion detector, to select a group of value boxes, and (2), by using the plurality of keys, to select a value contained within one value box from the selected group and inputting the value into the memory;
processing data from the motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the housing;
moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector or the selector; and
effecting functions of the active keyboard based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of the selector, or combinations thereof, wherein the active keyboard is configured to be held and operated by a single human hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of inputting data into a handheld electronic device comprising the steps of:
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using a processor and a memory to create a grid of value boxes organized into a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows;
displaying the grid on a display;
inputting at least one value into each value box;
creating a highlight box which marks a selected group of value boxes;
moving the highlight box to surround a selected value box having a desired value;
assigning one value from the selected value box surrounded by the highlight box to one of a plurality of keys;
depressing one of the plurality of keys and entering the value into the memory and displaying the value on the display;
moving the highlight box and assigning values surrounded by the highlight box to the plurality of keys and entering the assigned values as in the previous moving, assigning and depressing steps;
repeating the process until finished entering values;
processing data from a motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the electronic device;
moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector; and
effecting functions of the electronic device based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of a selector, or combinations thereof.
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9. A method of inputting data into a handheld electronic device comprising the steps of:
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using a processor and a memory to create a grid of value boxes;
displaying the grid on a display;
inputting up to four values into each value box;
creating a highlight box which surrounds a value box;
moving the highlight box to surround a value box having a desired value;
assigning each value from the value box surrounded by the highlight box to one of a plurality of keys;
depressing one of the plurality of keys and entering the value assigned to the one depressed key into the memory and displaying the assigned value on the display;
moving the highlight box and assigning values surrounded by the highlight box to one of the plurality of keys and entering the values as in the previous moving, assigning and depressing steps;
repeating the process until finished entering values;
processing data from a motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the electronic device;
moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector; and
effecting functions of the electronic device based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of a selector, or combinations thereof.
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Specification