Mobile communications device with main display area and touch sensitive display area and keypad

• US 7,289,829 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ormson, Richard, Wallis, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US09/989,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 4555751-5759, 455/556.2, 345/173, 345/168
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile communications device having a main display area for displaying information to a user and a keypad for user data entry. The device further comprises a touch sensitive display area configured to display one or more function keys and to allow selection of the one or more functions by contact with the touch sensitive display area.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

a main display area for displaying information to a user;

a keypad for user data entry; and

a touch sensitive display area configured to display one or more function keys and to allow selection of one or more functions by contact with the one or more function keys;

wherein the touch sensitive display area is arranged between the main display area and the keypad; and

wherein the touch sensitive display area has a mask to show the one or more function keys as separate keys.

2. A mobile communications device as recited in claim 1, wherein the main display area and touch sensitive display area are each part of a single display.

3. A mobile communications device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

4. A mobile communications device according to claim 1, wherein the mask overlies the touch sensitive display area and has holes that allow for an insertion of a user'"'"'s finger to operate the one or more function keys.

5. A mobile communications device comprising:

a main display area for displaying information to a user;

a keypad for user data entry; and

a touch sensitive display area configured to display one or more function keys and to allow selection of one or more functions by contact with the one or more function keys;

wherein the touch sensitive display area has a mask to show the one or more function keys as separate keys, and

wherein the mask overlies the touch sensitive display area and has holes that allow for an insertion of a user'"'"'s finger to operate the one or more function keys.

6. A mobile communications device according to claim 5, wherein the main display area and touch sensitive display area are each part of a single display.

7. A mobile communications device according to claim 5, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.