Telephone keypad with multidirectional keys

• US 8,648,737 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Harrison Bowen
• Original Assignee: James Harrison Bowen
• Inventors: Bowen, James Harrison
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US13/527,190
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• 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 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 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• 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 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/022 with opto-electronic switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/026 Internal encoding, e.g. validity bit
• 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 telephone keypad for one touch text messaging the QWERTY pattern of keys in a matrix of nine keys. Using the multi position biasing keys only one touch is needed for each character, so in use to input the letter “C” you touch one key one time, decreasing the time spend text messaging from cell phones or desk tops and dialing phone numbers advertised in letters. The keypad also has a shift key to get upper case included in the nine keys, and a 2^nd key to double functionality of the keys.

Claims

1. A multi-directional keypad switch, comprising

a lower keypad switch surface;

a key stem

a first sensing element;

said key stem flanked by said first sensing element mounted perpendicular to a key stem movement, and perpendicular to said lower keypad switch surface;

said key stem with a first position separate from said first sensing element;

wherein said key stem is moveable in a lateral direction from said first position substantially parallel to said lower keypad switch surface in the direction of said first sensing element to a second position to make contact with said first sensing element;

wherein said contact depends on pressure applied to said key stem and produces an output from a single lateral motion of applied pressure, and,

wherein said key stem is moveable in downward and upward directions which are perpendicular to said lower keypad switch surface.

2. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1 further comprising

a second sensing element opposing said first sensing element with said key stem there between.

3. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1 further comprising

a third sensing element disposed on the same plane and 90 degrees to said first sensing element.

4. The multidirectional keypad of claim 1 wherein said key stem is configured to be moveable in said lateral direction by laterally sliding.

5. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1 wherein

said key stem is translucent, and further comprising a light emitting diode disposed on said lower mount surface to emit illuminating light through said key stem.

6. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1,

wherein said sensing elements are selected from the group consisting of Hall effect sensors, magnetic sensors, resistive sensors, capacitive sensors, and RF based sensors.

7. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1 further including,

a fourth sensing element disposed on the same plane and opposed to said third sensing element with said key stem therebetween.

8. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1 further including:

a plurality of multidirectional key pad switches associated with a keypad which has a plurality of key positions to mimic a “

qwerty”

keyboard using nine key matrix of three rows by three keys,

each said key can be used to enter numbers, alphabet letters, or symbols using said plurality of keys,

nine keys arranged in three rows of three keys each where the three keys of said three rows are arranged in columns, said three rows constituting a top row, a middle row, and a bottom row, wherein each key of said nine keys has a top surface which has a plurality of letters thereon, and wherein a majority of said nine keys are moveable in at least two different directions parallel to said keypad said lower switch surface from a resting position,

wherein said three keys in said top row indicate at least nine of ten letters of a top row of a “

qwerty”

keyboard and indicate at least nine of letters Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, and P,

wherein said three keys in said middle row indicate nine letters of a middle row of a “

qwerty”

keyboard and indicate letters A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K and L, and

wherein said three keys in said bottom row indicate seven letters of a bottom row of a “

qwerty”

keyboard and indicate letters Z, X, C, V, B, N, and M.

9. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 1 further including:

at least a fifth pressure sensing element disposed to sense pressure from said key stem when said key stem is moved longitudinally.

10. The multidirectional keypad switch of claim 3 wherein

said key stem is moveable to contact said first sensing element and said third sensing element to be triangulated and provide said multidirectional outputs.