Input device

• US 7,928,963 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Inventors: Ho, David, Yang, An-Ping, Tseng, Steven, Chang, Ching-Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PREMAL R
• Application Number:
  US11/896,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/022 other then row-column disposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• 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

An input device constructed in a carrier electronic apparatus comprises a letter button module and a number button module. The letter button module has a plurality of letter buttons to represent different letters respectively, and the number button module has a plurality of number buttons to represent different numbers respectively. The number buttons are separated from the letter buttons by being located in the intervals formed by adjacent rows of the letter buttons. The size, form, and color of the number buttons are different to those of the letter buttons.

Claims

1. An input device applied to a mobile electronic apparatus comprising:

a button layer, comprising;

a letter button module, having a plurality of letter buttons to represent different letters respectively, the letter buttons being arranged into a plurality of rows, wherein every two adjacent said rows has a respective interval; and

a number button module, having a plurality of number buttons to represent different numbers respectively, the number buttons being arranged into a plurality of rows, wherein each said row of said number button module disposed in the respective interval between the adjacent said rows of said letter button module,

wherein the number buttons are different in shape from the letter buttons;

a support layer formed to provide strength to support the button layer, said support layer comprising a plurality of through holes arranged under the button layer and opposite to the letter buttons and the number buttons; and

a buffer layer used to enhance elasticity of the button layer, said buffer layer being arranged under the support layer and having a plurality of prominent pillars located corresponding to the through holes, wherein said pillars pass through the through holes to touch the button layer, and each of the pillars has a downward extended pressing column to stand on a metal dome on a printed circuit board located under the buffer layer.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein each said letter button represents an alphabetic letter.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said number buttons represent number zero to number nine, the sign “

*”

, and the sign “

#”

respectively.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said number button module is located in a center of said input device.

5. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising at least an LED lamp, said support layer guiding a light of said LED lamp to said letter buttons and said number buttons.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a color of said number buttons is different to another color of said letter buttons.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic apparatus is a mobile phone.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said letter button module is arranged in accordance with an arrangement of a qwerty keyboard.

9. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said letter button is block-shaped and said number button is strip-shaped.

10. The input device according to claim 1, said mobile electronic apparatus comprising two LED lamps, wherein one color light of one of the LED lamps is to be guided to said letter buttons by said support layer and a different color light of the other LED lamp is to be guided to said number buttons by said support layer.