Telephone keypad with multidirectional keys

• US 9,141,201 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• 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): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US14/150,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 341 22- 23, 348/734, 715701-715, 345168-172, 345/173, 345/520, 178/17.A, 178/17.C, 178/18.01, 400485-486, 379368-369
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An optical switch with positional detection, comprising in combination:

an optical switch having a switch base;

a key cap adjoined to a key stem having a centerline perpendicular to said switch base through the center of said key stem;

said key stem is configured to move laterally to said switch base;

at least one emitter and at least one detector bi-lateral to said centerline;

said at least one emitter to emit an emitted beam directed to said key stem;

said at least one detector to detect said directed beam;

a surface on said key stem to attenuate said directed beam when lateral applied pressure is applied to said key stem; and

wherein the amount of said lateral applied pressure of said key stem produces an output from said optical switch including at least said lateral applied pressure.

2. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said surface is substantially parallel to said centerline.

3. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mirrors in a path of said directed beam from said at least one emitter to said at least one detector, said mirrors reflecting said directed beam on said path.

4. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 further including

a circuit to identify and calculate oscillation on said key stem when said key stem is oscillated back and forth by said lateral applied pressure and output said calculated oscillation as a vibrato effect.

5. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said at least one emitter and at least one detector includes a second pair of at least one emitter and at least one detector, where each of said second pair of at least one emitter and at least one detector are positioned on opposite sides of said centerline.

6. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 5 wherein

each of said at least one emitter and at least one detector project from said optical switch base in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal centerline.

7. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said key stem is part of a keyboard for a computer.

8. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch is part of a musical instrument.

9. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said optical switch has a plurality of switches.

10. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 9 wherein

a keypad having said plurality of said optical switches which can be used to enter numbers, alphabet letters, or symbols using a plurality of keys where the keys are arranged to mimic a “

qwerty”

keyboard, comprising;

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 move in at least two different directions parallel to said keypad 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.

11. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said optical switch is part of a foot switch.

12. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 further including

A microprocessor to triangulated said lateral direction and cursor direction and output said triangulation and cursor direction to a host.

13. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch is used in a foot pedal.

14. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch outputs in MIDI format.

15. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch outputs in PS2 format.

16. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch outputs in USB format.

17. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch outputs in a format conducive to a host input.

18. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch is sealed from outside contaminates.

19. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said switch is stabilized by said elastomer.

20. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1 further including

an illuminator to emit visible light positioned on said centerline with a beam projecting through said optical switch.

21. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said key stem is configured to move longitudinally being perpendicular to said switch base on said centerline;

said key stem having a lower surface;

said lower surface is sensed in longitudinal position by attenuating said emitted beam; and

wherein the amount of said attenuation applied to said key stem produces an output from said optical switch including at least said longitudinal applied pressure.

22. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 21 further including

said lower surface having serrations to laterally attenuate said emitted beam;

and

whereas the amount of said lateral attenuation equating to at least one lateral position in said emitted beam.

23. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 21 further comprising:

an elastomer configured to give tactile feedback identifying an interim position when said key stem is moved longitudinally, wherein said elastomer is configured to allow said key stem to be moved beyond said interim position when moved in said longitudinal direction to a point where said longitudinal movement stops,

wherein said at least one emitter and at least one detector positioned when said key cap is at said interim position and at least one increasing position that equates to at least one position of said key cap which is after said interim position and prior to said key cap reaching a point where said key stem stops.

24. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 23 wherein

said elastomer is constructed from an elastomeric material.

25. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 23 wherein

said elastomer is positioned on said key cap.

26. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 23 wherein

said elastomer is positioned on said key stem.

27. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 23 wherein

said elastomer is positioned below said key stem.

28. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 23 wherein

said interim position coincides with said key stem contacting said elastomer.

29. A optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 21 further including

a microprocessor to calculate said longitudinal position to be the velocity of said key stem to said emitted beam and output.

30. An optical switch with positional detection, comprising in combination:

an optical switch having a switch base;

a key cap adjoined to a key stem having a centerline perpendicular to said switch base through the center of said key stem;

said key stem is configured to move laterally to said switch base when applied lateral pressure is applied to said key cap;

said key stem is configured to move longitudinally being perpendicular to said switch base on said centerline when applied longitudinal pressure is applied to said key cap;

at least one emitter and at least one detector bi-lateral to said centerline;

said at least one emitter to emit an emitted beam directed to said key stem;

said at least one detector to detect said directed beam;

said key stem having a lower surface;

said lower surface is sensed in longitudinal position by attenuating said emitted beam; and

wherein the amount of said attenuation applied to said key stem produces an output from said optical switch including at least said longitudinal applied pressure.

31. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 30, wherein

wherein the amount of said applied lateral pressure of said key stem produces an output from said optical switch including at least said lateral applied pressure.

32. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 30 further including

said lower surface having serrations to laterally attenuate said emitted beam;

and

whereas the amount of said lateral attenuation equating to at least one said lateral position in said emitted beam.

33. An optical switch with positional detection as claimed in claim 30 further comprising a plurality of mirrors in a path of said directed beam from said at least one emitter to said at least one detector, said mirrors reflecting said directed beam on said path.