Keyboard with integrated and numeric keypad
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile computing device comprising:
- a keypad comprising a plurality of keys;
a processor that is coupled to control use of the keypad, including to enable use of the keypad in each of a letter entry mode or an alternative entry mode;
wherein the plurality of keys include a subset of keys, each key in the subset being (i) enlarged as compared to other keys of the keypad that are not part of the subset, (ii) assigned m letter values for when the keypad is operated in the letter entry mode, and (iii) assigned n numeric values, where 1≦
n<
m, for when the keypad is operated in the alternative entry mode;
wherein the keypad is structured to distinguish, for each key in the subset, contact made at a left region of that key versus contact made at a right region of the key;
wherein in the letter entry mode, the processor identifies a first letter value when contact is made at the left region, and a second letter value when contact is made at the right region; and
wherein in the alternative entry mode, the processor identifies a first numeric value when contact is made at the left region, the right region, or both of the left region and the right region.
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Abstract
A keypad includes a plurality of keys, and a processor that is coupled to control use of the keypad, including to enable use of the keypad in each of a letter entry mode or an alternative entry mode. The plurality of keys include a subset of keys, each key in the subset being (i) enlarged as compared to other keys of the keypad that are not part of the subset, (ii) assigned m letter values for when the keypad is operated in the letter entry mode, and (iii) assigned n numeric values, where 1≦n<m, for when the keypad is operated in the alternative entry mode.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A mobile computing device comprising:
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a keypad comprising a plurality of keys; a processor that is coupled to control use of the keypad, including to enable use of the keypad in each of a letter entry mode or an alternative entry mode; wherein the plurality of keys include a subset of keys, each key in the subset being (i) enlarged as compared to other keys of the keypad that are not part of the subset, (ii) assigned m letter values for when the keypad is operated in the letter entry mode, and (iii) assigned n numeric values, where 1≦
n<
m, for when the keypad is operated in the alternative entry mode;wherein the keypad is structured to distinguish, for each key in the subset, contact made at a left region of that key versus contact made at a right region of the key; wherein in the letter entry mode, the processor identifies a first letter value when contact is made at the left region, and a second letter value when contact is made at the right region; and wherein in the alternative entry mode, the processor identifies a first numeric value when contact is made at the left region, the right region, or both of the left region and the right region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mobile computing device comprising:
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a keypad assembly including; a layer of key structures to provide a plurality of keys, including a subset of keys that are (i) enlarged as compared to other keys of the plurality of keys that are not part of the subset, (ii) assigned m letter values for when the plurality of keys is operated in a letter entry mode, and (iii) assigned n numeric values, where 1≦
n<
m, for when the plurality of keys is operated in an alternative entry mode;a plurality of detectors positioned beneath the layer of key structures, wherein (i) for each key in the subset of keys, a first detector is positioned beneath a first region of the key and a second detector is positioned beneath a second region of the key to distinguish contact made at the first region of the key versus contact made at the second region the key, and (ii) for each key of the other keys of the plurality of keys that are not part of the subset, a single detector is positioned beneath the key; a processor that is coupled to control use of the keypad, including to enable use of the keypad in each of the letter entry mode or the alternative entry mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification