Device and technique for assigning different inputs to keys on a keypad

• US 7,511,700 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Skillman, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiby; Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US11/114,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 345/160, 345/161, 345168-172, 341/22
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7057 characterised by the arrangement of operating parts in relation to each other, e.g. pre-assembled groups of keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/036 Plural multifunctional miniature keys for one symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/0345 with keys positioned directly next to each other without an intermediate bezel or frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/016 Switch site protrusions; Force concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/022 Modular assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/028 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/034 Positioning of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/044 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/047 : Preformed layer in mould
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/002 : joined to form button rows
• 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
• 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 2250/70 : methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an effective keypad assembly and keypad layout for mobile computing devices. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide keyboard layouts and designs. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide for stack components to make keyboards operable on small-form factor devices.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing;

one or more processors contained within the housing;

a keypad coupled to the one or more processors and comprising a plurality of key structures provided on a surface of the housing, wherein key structures in a first set of the plurality of key structures are individually actuatable to register with the one or more processors a corresponding non-numeric character entry, and wherein key structures in a second set of the plurality of key structures are individually actuatable to register with the one or more processors a corresponding numerical entry;

wherein the first set of key structures and the second set of key structures have at least some of the same key structures;

and wherein the second set of key structures comprises a plurality of key structure pairs, each key structure pair including a first key structure and a second key structure; and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to register any of (i) actuation of the first key structure in a given key structure pair of the second set, or (ii) actuation of the second key structure of the given key structure pair to be of a same numerical value;

wherein the second set of key structures is arranged in a dial pad configuration, with each key structure pair forming a number of the dial pad, wherein the second set of key structures that arrange to form the dial pad configuration occupy only a portion of the keypad.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to register concurrent or simultaneous actuation of the first key structure and the second key structure of the given key structure pair to be of the same numerical value.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors register actuation of any one or more of the key structures in the second set as the corresponding numerical entry when the mobile computing device is operated in a number mode.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1,

wherein each key structure pair of the second set includes a pair marking delineating the key structure pair from other key structure pairs.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 4, wherein the pair marking of a given key structure pair corresponds to a perimeter formed around each of the key structures in that key structure pair.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 4, wherein each key structure pair includes a numerical marking that displays the single number of that key structure pair on or near at least one of the key structures that form the key structure pair.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein each key structure in each of the key structure pairs includes a non-numerical marking that displays a character of that key structure on that key structure.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein each key structure in the second set includes a footprint that is oblong and symmetrical about a length of that key structure.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the first key structure and the second key structure of a given key structure pair nearly abut one another.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the length of each key structure extends along a vertical direction.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein each key structure in the second set includes an outer surface having an outward curvature.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to operate the mobile computing device in a numerical mode, and wherein the processors register either of (i) actuation of the first key structure in a given key structure pair of the second set, and (ii) actuation of the second key structure of the given key structure pair to be of the single numerical value when the one or more processors are in the numerical mode.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are configured to operate the mobile computing device in a numerical mode when an application using numerical input is operated on the mobile computing device.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 13, wherein the application corresponds to a phone application for enabling the mobile computing device to be used as a phone.

15. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing;

one or more processors contained within the housing;

a keypad coupled to the one or more processors and comprising a plurality of key structures provided on a surface of the housing, wherein key structures in a first set of the plurality of key structures are individually actuatable to register with the one or more processors a corresponding alphanumeric input, and wherein key structures in a second set of the plurality of key structures are individually actuatable to register with the one or more processors a single corresponding non-alphanumeric input;

wherein the first set of key structures and the second set of key structures have at least some of the same key structures;

and wherein the second set of key structures comprises one or more key structure clusters, each key structure cluster comprising two or more adjacent key structures; and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to register independent actuation of any key structure in any of the one or more key structure clusters as a same corresponding non-alphanumeric input for that key structure cluster; and

wherein the second set of key structures is arranged in a dial pad configuration, with each key structure cluster forming a number of the dial pad, and wherein the second set of key structures that arrange to form the dial pad configuration occupy only a portion of the keypad.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein the non-alphanumeric input for that key structure cluster is an action that is to be performed by one or more processors.

17. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing;

one or more processors contained within the housing;

a keypad coupled to the one or more processors to enable operability of individual keys that comprise the keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of pair sets of keys;

wherein when the keypad is operated in a first mode, each key of each pair set is individually operable to signal a value that is different than a corresponding value of an other key in that pair set,

wherein when the keypad is operated in a second mode, each key of each pair set is operable to signal a same value as the other key in that pair set;

wherein the plurality of pair sets of keys are arranged to collectively form a dial pad, with each pair set of keys forming a number of the dial pad, and wherein the pair sets of keys that arrange to form the dial pad configuration occupy only a portion of the keypad.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 17, wherein the value of each key of each pair set in the first mode is alphabetical, and wherein the value of each key of each pair set in the second mode is numerical.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 17, wherein each pair set of keys shares abut one another.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 17, wherein at least some of the keys that comprise the keypad are formed by individually actuatable key structures.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 17, wherein each pair set includes a visual marker that indicates each key in the pair set has the same value when the keypad is operated in the second mode.

22. The mobile computing device of claim 21, wherein the visual marker corresponds to a perimeter ring that at least partially surrounds both the keys of the pair set.