Compact universal keyboard

• US 7,439,957 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kamijo, Noboru, Tang, Denny Duan-lee, Chu, Frank Rui-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): AWAD, AMR A
• Application Number:
  US09/768,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,826 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/55, 345/168, 341/22, 341/23, 341/34, 400/479, 400/485, 400/489, 400/472, 379/433.07, 379/433.08, D10/31
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 1/0231 Including a rotatable keypad body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• 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 keyboard type input device has multiple key positions provided as character entry keys. Each key corresponds to one key in the selected row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard. A second set of control buttons provide for the selection of which row of a conventional QWERTY keyboard are represented by the character keys in addition to other functions such as case shift, and alpha-numerical control functions. A selected row is shown on a display, as visual feedback. Alternatively the keys are implemented as LCDs with pressure sensors and the characters of the selected row are displayed directly on the corresponding key positions. The keyboard finds particular use in portable devices as it demands less space than traditional keyboards. The keyboard type input device is implemented with various electronic appliances, including portable phones.

Claims

1. An electronic appliance having an input/output device, said appliance comprising:

a display, said display displaying a selected set of input characters;

a wrist band connected to said display for securing said display to the wrist of a user;

a flexible assembly operatively connected to said display;

said flexible assembly having a set of character keys located thereon, each of said character keys associated with an individual character of said selected set of input characters and at least one control key, wherein said selected set of input characters comprises a single row of characters from a set of keyboard rows,

wherein actuation of any of said characters keys causes the character associated with said actuated key to be input into said device and actuation of said control key causes said currently selected set of input characters to be changed to a different set of input characters, and

wherein said flexible assembly is pivotal from a position where said assembly extends substantially along and underneath said wristband to a position substantially perpendicular to said wristband.

2. A portable phone including a housing having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces connecting said top and bottom surfaces and a reduced set character entry system, said portable phone comprising:

a display located on said top surface;

an input assembly operatively connected to said portable phone, wherein said input assembly is externally attachable to said portable phone;

said input assembly having a set of character keys located thereon, each of said character keys associated with an individual character of a selected set of input characters, said selected set comprising a single row of characters from a set of keyboard rows, and at least one control key, and

wherein actuation of any of said characters keys causes the character associated with said actuated key to be input into said device and actuation of said control key causes said currently selected set of input characters to be changed to a different set of input characters.

3. An electronic appliance including a housing having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces connecting said top and bottom surfaces and a reduced set character entry system, said electronic appliance comprising:

a first set of input keys located on any of said side surfaces, said set of input keys arranged in a single row, each of said input keys associated with an individual character of a first subset of a set of input characters, said set of input characters comprising a row from a set of keyboard rows, and actuation of any of said input keys causing the character associated with said actuated input key to be input to said electronic appliance;

at least one selection key located on any of said side surfaces,

wherein actuation of said selection key changes said first subset to a second subset so that each of said input keys is associated with an individual character of said second subset, and

wherein said input keys and said selection key are located on different ones of said side surfaces.

4. An electronic appliance including a housing having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces connecting said top and bottom surfaces and a reduced set character entry system, said electronic appliance comprising:

a first set of input keys located on any of said side surfaces, said set of input keys arranged in a single row, each of said input keys associated with an individual character of a first subset of a set of input characters, said set of input characters comprising a row from a set of keyboard rows, and actuation of any of said input keys causing the character associated with said actuated input key to be input to said electronic appliance;

at least one selection key located on any of said side surfaces;

a display located on said top surface;

wherein actuation of said selection key changes said first subset to a second subset so that each of said input keys is associated with an individual character of said second subset, and

wherein information displayed on said display is rotating to be in an orientation appropriate for viewing by a user utilizing said input keys.

5. An electronic appliance including a housing having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces connecting said top and bottom surfaces and a reduced set character entry system, said electronic appliance comprising:

a first set of input keys located on any of said side surfaces, said set of input keys arranged in a single row, each of said input keys associated with an individual character of a first subset of a set of input characters, said set of input characters comprising a row from a set of keyboard rows, and actuation of any of said input keys causing the character associated with said actuated input key to be input to said electronic appliance;

at least one selection key located on any of said side surfaces;

wherein actuation of said selection key changes said first subset to a second subset so that each of said input keys is associated with an individual character of said second subset, and

wherein an equal number of input keys and selection keys are located upon said first one and second one of said side surfaces, at least one key of said set of input keys acting as a selection key and at least one selection key acting as an input key as a result of switching between dominate hand modes.