Text entry device with radial keypad layout

• US 8,717,200 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey C. Weller
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey C. Weller
• Inventors: Weller, Jeffrey C
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, BRIAN K
• Application Number:
  US13/530,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 345/168, 400/486
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/22 Static coding H03M11/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A text entry device is provided. The device includes a concentric and a first grouping of letters including the letters A, B, C and D and that has at least one key that is touched by a user when actuated. A second grouping of letters including the letters E, F, G and H is included and has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated. At least a portion of the key of the first grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping.

Claims

1. A text entry device, comprising:

a concentric, wherein at least one key is located at the concentric and wherein all of the letters of the alphabet are spaced from the concentric;

a first grouping of letters including the letters A, B, C and D, wherein the first grouping has at least one key that is touched by a user when actuated; and

a second grouping of letters including the letters E, F, G and H, wherein the second grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the first grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping.

2. The text entry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first grouping has four keys and each one of the four keys is associated with one of the letters A, B, C and D, wherein the key of the first grouping associated with the letter A is closest to the concentric, and wherein the keys of the first grouping extend in the radial direction from the concentric;

wherein the second grouping has four keys and each one of the four keys is associated with one of the letters E, F, G and H, wherein the key of the second grouping associated with the letter E is closest to the concentric, and wherein the keys of the second grouping extend in the radial direction from the concentric; and

further comprising;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has four keys and each one of the four keys is associated with one of the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the key of the third grouping associated with the letter I is closest to the concentric, and wherein the keys of the third grouping extend in the radial direction from the concentric;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has four keys and each one of the four keys is associated with one of the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the key of the fourth grouping associated with the letter O is closest to the concentric, and wherein the keys of the fourth grouping extend in the radial direction from the concentric;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has four keys and each one of the four keys is associated with one of the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the key of the fifth grouping associated with the letter U is closest to the concentric, and wherein the keys of the fifth grouping extend in the radial direction from the concentric; and

a sixth grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the sixth grouping has five keys and wherein each one of four of the five keys are associated with one of the letters T, V, W and X, and wherein the fifth one of the five keys is associated with both of the letters Y and Z, wherein the key of the sixth grouping associated with the letter T is closest to the concentric.

3. The text entry device as set forth in claim 2, wherein a space key is located at the concentric, and wherein the keys of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth groupings are arranged in a spiral configuration about the concentric.

4. The text entry device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the keys of the first grouping are associated with the color blue;

the keys of the second grouping are associated with the color green;

the keys of the third grouping are associated with the color yellow;

the keys of the fourth grouping are associated with the color orange;

the keys of the fifth grouping are associated with the color red; and

the keys of the sixth grouping are associated with the color purple.

9. The text entry device as set forth in claim 1, Wherein the first grouping has a plurality of keys that are touched by the user when actuated, wherein the plurality of keys are arranged so as to extend from the concentric in a linear direction in the radial direction and then at a 90°

angle.

10. The text entry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first grouping is associated with the color blue;

the second grouping is associated with the color green;

and further comprising;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the third grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping, wherein the third grouping is associated with the color yellow;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the third grouping, wherein the fourth grouping is associated with the color violet;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping, wherein the fifth grouping is associated with the color red; and

a sixth grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the sixth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the sixth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping, wherein the sixth grouping is associated with the color orange.

11. The text entry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first grouping is associated with the color red;

the second grouping is associated with the color green;

and further comprising;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the third grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping, wherein the third grouping is associated with the color yellow;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the third grouping, wherein the fourth grouping is associated with the color orange;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping, wherein the fifth grouping is associated with the color blue; and

a sixth grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the sixth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the sixth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping, wherein the sixth grouping is associated with the color violet.

12. The test text entry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first grouping is associated with the color red;

the second grouping is associated with the color green;

and further comprising;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the third grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping, wherein the third grouping is associated with the color yellow;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the third grouping, wherein the fourth grouping is associated with the color violet;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping, wherein the fifth grouping is associated with the color blue; and

a sixth grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the sixth grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the sixth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping, wherein the sixth grouping is associated with the color orange.

21. The text entry device as set forth in claim 1, wherein all of the keys of the concentric, the first grouping, and the second grouping are soft keys.

5. A text entry device, comprising:

a concentric;

a first grouping of letters including the letters A, B, C and D, wherein the first grouping has at least one key that is touched by a user when actuated; and

a second grouping of letters including the letters E, F, G and H, wherein the second grouping has at least one key that is touched by the user when actuated, wherein at least a portion of the key of the first grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping;

wherein;

the first grouping has a first key associated with the letters A and B, and a second key associated with the letters C and D, wherein the first key of the first grouping is located closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the second key of the first grouping;

the second grouping has a first key associated with the letters E and F, and a second key associated with the letters G and H, wherein the first key of the second grouping is located closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the second key of the second grouping;

and further comprisings;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has a first key associated with the letters I and J, and a second key associated with the letters K and L, wherein the first key of the third grouping is located closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the second key of the third grouping;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has a first key associated with the letters O and M, and a second key associated with the letters N and P, wherein the first key of the fourth grouping is closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the second key of the fourth grouping;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has a first key associated with the letters U and Q, and a second key associated with the letters R and S, wherein the first key of the fifth grouping is closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the second key of the fifth grouping; and

a sixth grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the sixth grouping has a first key associated with the letters T and V and a second key associated with the letters Y and Z, wherein the first key of the sixth grouping is closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the second key of the sixth grouping.

6. The text entry device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the sixth grouping has a third key associated with the letters W and X, wherein the first key of the sixth grouping is closer to the concentric in the radial direction than the third key of the sixth grouping, and wherein the second key and third key of the sixth grouping are located at the same distance from the concentric in the radial direction.

7. The text entry device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first key of the sixth grouping is associated with the letter W, and wherein the second key of the sixth grouping is associated with the letter X.

8. The text entry device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

the keys of the first grouping are associated with the color blue;

the keys of the second grouping are associated with the color green;

the keys of the third grouping are associated with the color yellow;

the keys of the fourth grouping are associated with the color orange;

the keys of the fifth grouping are associated with the color red; and

the keys of the sixth grouping are associated with the color purple.

22. The text entry device as set forth in claim 5, wherein all of the keys of the first grouping, the second grouping, the third grouping, the fourth grouping, the fifth grouping, and the sixth grouping are soft keys.

13. A text entry device, comprising:

a first secondary concentric;

a first grouping of letters including the letters A, B, C and D, wherein the first grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the first secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the first grouping is actuated by a left thumb of a user, and wherein all of key(s) of the first grouping is/are actuated by only the left thumb of the user;

a second secondary concentric;

a grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the grouping of letters has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the second secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the grouping is actuated by a right thumb of the user.

14. The text entry device as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

a second grouping of letters including the letters E, F, G and H, wherein the second grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the first secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the second grouping of letters is actuated by the left thumb of the user, wherein at least a portion of the key of the first grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the first secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the first secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the third grouping of letters is actuated by the left thumb of the user, wherein at least a portion of the key of the third grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the first secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the second secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the fourth grouping of letters is actuated by the right thumb of the user;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the second secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the fifth grouping of letters is actuated by the right thumb of the user, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the second secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping; and

wherein the grouping that includes the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z is a sixth grouping, wherein at least a portion of the key of the sixth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the second secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping.

15. The text entry device as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

a second grouping of letters including the letters E, F, G and H, wherein the second grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the second secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the second grouping of letters is actuated by the right thumb of the user;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the first secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the third grouping of letters is actuated by the left thumb of the user, wherein at least a portion of the key of the third grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the first secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the first grouping;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the second secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the fourth grouping of letters is actuated by the right thumb of the user, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the second secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the second grouping;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has at least one key that is located immediately adjacent the first secondary concentric, wherein the at least one key of the fifth grouping of letters is actuated by the left thumb of the user, wherein at least a portion of the key of the fifth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the first secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the third grouping; and

wherein the grouping that includes the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z is a sixth grouping, wherein at least a portion of the key of the sixth grouping is located at a different angular position with respect to the second secondary concentric than at least a portion of the key of the fourth grouping.

16. The text entry device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the first grouping has two keys that extend linearly from the first secondary concentric in a radial direction of the first secondary concentric, and wherein the key associated with the letters A and B is closer to the first secondary concentric than the key associated with the letters C and D;

the second grouping has two keys that extend linearly from the first secondary concentric in the radial direction of the first secondary concentric, and wherein the key associated with the letters E and F is closer to the first secondary concentric than the key associated with the letters G and H, wherein all portions of the keys of the second grouping are located at a different angular position with respect to the first secondary concentric than all portions of the keys of the first grouping;

the third grouping has two keys that extend linearly from the first secondary concentric in the radial direction of the first secondary concentric, and wherein the key associated with the letters I and J is closer to the first secondary concentric than the key associated with the letters K and L, wherein all portions of the keys of the third grouping are located at a different angular position with respect to the first secondary concentric than all portions of the keys of the second grouping;

the fourth grouping has two keys that extend linearly from the second secondary concentric in the radial direction of the second secondary concentric, and wherein the key associated with the letters O and M is closer to the second secondary concentric than the key associated with the letters N and P;

the fifth grouping has two keys that extend linearly from the second secondary concentric in the radial direction of the second secondary concentric, and wherein the key associated with the letters U and Q is closer to the second secondary concentric than the key associated with the letters R and S, wherein all portions of the keys of the fifth grouping are located at a different angular position with respect to the second secondary concentric than all portions of the keys of the fourth grouping;

the sixth grouping has three keys and the key associated with the letters T and V is closest to the second secondary concentric than the other keys of the sixth grouping, wherein the key associated with the letters W and X is located at the same radial distance from the second secondary concentric as the key associated with the letters Y and Z, wherein all portions of the keys of the sixth grouping are located at a different angular position with respect to the second secondary concentric than all portions of the keys of the fifth grouping.

17. A text entry device, comprising:

a concentric about which all of the letters of the alphabet are disposed;

a first grouping of letters including the letters A, B, C and D, wherein the first grouping has at least one key and wherein all of the keys of the first grouping are located on a left side of the concentric;

a second grouping of letters including the letters E, F, G and H, wherein the second grouping has at least one key and wherein all of the keys of the second grouping are located on the left side of the concentric;

a third grouping of letters including the letters I, J, K and L, wherein the third grouping has at least one key and wherein all of the keys of the third grouping are located on the left side of the concentric;

a fourth grouping of letters including the letters O, M, N and P, wherein the fourth grouping has at least one key and wherein all of the keys of the fourth grouping are located on a right side of the concentric that is on a side of the concentric opposite to the left side of the concentric;

a fifth grouping of letters including the letters U, Q, R and S, wherein the fifth grouping has at least one key and wherein all of the keys of the fifth grouping are located on the right side of the concentric; and

a sixth grouping of letters including the letters T, V, W, X, Y and Z, wherein the sixth grouping has at least one key and wherein all of the keys of the sixth grouping are located on the right side of the concentric.

18. The text entry device as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the first grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter A is the closest key of the first grouping to the concentric;

the second grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter E is the closest key of the second grouping to the concentric;

the third grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter I is the closest key of the third grouping to the concentric;

the fourth grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter O is the closest key of the fourth grouping to the concentric;

the fifth grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter U is the closest key of the fifth grouping to the concentric; and

the sixth grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter T is the closest key of the sixth grouping to the concentric.

19. The text entry device as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the first grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter A is the farthest key of the first grouping from the concentric;

the second grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter E is the farthest key of the second grouping from the concentric;

the third grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter I is the farthest key of the third grouping from the concentric;

the fourth grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter O is the farthest key of the fourth grouping from the concentric;

the fifth grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter U is the farthest key of the fifth grouping from the concentric; and

the sixth grouping has a plurality of keys and wherein the key associated with the letter T is the farthest key of the sixth grouping from the concentric.

20. The text entry device as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the first grouping has a plurality of keys that are arranged in an up/down configuration;

the second grouping has a plurality of keys that are arranged in an up/down configuration, wherein the keys of the second grouping are located closer to the concentric than the keys of the first grouping;

the third grouping has a plurality of keys that are arranged in an up/down configuration, wherein the keys of the third grouping are located closer to the concentric than the keys of the first grouping and second grouping;

the fourth grouping has a plurality of keys that are arranged in an up/down configuration;

the fifth grouping has a plurality of keys that are arranged in an up/down configuration, wherein the keys of the fourth grouping are located closer to the concentric than the keys of the fifth grouping;

the sixth grouping has a plurality of keys that are arranged in an up/down configuration, wherein the keys of the fourth grouping are located closer to the concentric than the keys of the sixth grouping and wherein the keys of the fifth grouping are located closer to the concentric than the keys of the sixth grouping.