Data input apparatus and method therefor

• US 10,082,882 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ju Hyup Lee
• Original Assignee: Ju Hyup Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Ju Hyup
• Primary Examiner(s): Leiby, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US14/652,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20150324009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data input apparatus and a method thereof. The data input apparatus can input data independently or sequentially via a first input or a second input for selecting one of the indication positions or a pair of indication positions of an input unit provided with a plurality of front and back indication positions based on a reference line passing through a reference point, which is a reference position for a base within a finger movement range. When a finger is placed on the input unit, the indication positions of the input unit are easily recognized as front and back corresponding input selection positions based on the reference line or the center of the input unit. Therefore, a user can easily and rapidly input data upon inputting data using the input unit.

Claims

1. A data input apparatus comprising:

at least one input unit which is used to allow data to be inputted and provided to a base;

a detection unit which detects an input;

a memory unit which stores data assigned to a signal of an input made in the input unit; and

a control unit which extracts the data assigned to the input from the memory unit when the input signal is made in the input unit and then allows the extracted data to be inputted,

wherein the input unit comprises;

a rectangular first input unit having a predetermined width and length included in a range of one thumb fingerprint area;

a rectangular second input unit spaced forward from the first input unit with respect to the first input unit and separated from the first input unit and having a width corresponding to the first input unit and a length smaller than the length of the first input unit; and

a rectangular third input unit spaced rearward from the first input unit with respect to the first input unit and separated from the first input unit and having a width corresponding to the first input unit and a length smaller than the length of the first input unit,

wherein the rectangular first input unit, the rectangular second input unit, and the rectangular third input unit are physically separated and independently provided from one another;

wherein the rectangular first input unit comprises;

a first input region having only three input locations arranged in a line at a predetermined interval in the forward direction on the basis of a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular first input unit; and

a second input region having only three input locations arranged in a line at a predetermined interval in the rearward direction on the basis of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular first input unit,

wherein the rectangular second input unit comprises a third input region in which only three input locations corresponding to three input locations of the first input region are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals,

wherein the rectangular third input unit comprises a fourth input region in which only three input locations corresponding to three input locations of the second input region are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals,

wherein the input locations are vertical pressing inputs,

wherein the first input region and the third input region, and the second input region and the fourth input region are each included within a range of one thumb fingerprint area, and

wherein the control unit recognizes the input data as one data set in one input if the selection by the single input click performed by one finger is performed independently in at least one input region of the first input region to the fourth input region;

or wherein the control unit recognizes and processes new data different from each data assigned to the input location of the selected input pair if the selection by the single input click performed by one finger is performed independently in at least one input pair of three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the first input region and three input locations of the second input region corresponding to three input locations of the first input region, three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the first input region and three input locations of the third input region corresponding to three input locations of the first input region and three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the second input region and three input locations of the fourth input region corresponding to three input locations of the second input region.

2. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit detects the simultaneous contact or the time difference contact of the above and below input regions of the input pair, recognizes it as one set data, and processes the input if the selection by the single input click performed by one finger is performed independently in at least one input pair of three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the first input region and three input locations of the second input region corresponding to three input locations of the first input region, three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the first input region and three input locations of the third input region corresponding to three input locations of the first input region and three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the second input region and three input locations of the fourth input region corresponding to three input locations of the second input region.

3. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input unit is provided in a detachable form.

4. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input unit is provided in an integrated form, including a concave portion or an asymmetrical concave portion.

5. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the input to the input unit comprises a combination input in which a plurality of inputs is combined;

the combination input comprises a first combination input or a second combination input;

the first combination input is performed by sequentially performing a first separate input in which one of the input locations of the first input region and the second input region of the first input unit is selected and a first pair input in which a pair of the first input region and the second input region is selected;

the second combination input is performed by sequentially performing a second separate input in which one of the input locations of the second input unit is selected or one of the input locations of the third input unit is selected, and the first pair input; and

the control unit performs the input of new data different from data allocated to a corresponding input location in the combination input.

6. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one auxiliary portion is further formed at a location corresponding to each of the input locations of the first input unit, the second input unit or the third input unit on the input unit; and

the auxiliary portion assists location recognition of the finger for each of the input locations of the input unit, or assists a selection of the finger when an input operation is performed on each of the input locations.

7. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the input to the input unit comprises a stepwise separate input in which one of the input locations of the first input unit to third input unit is selected in a stepwise manner;

the stepwise separate input is performed by selecting a corresponding input location in a stepwise manner depending on a difference in an intensity of pushing or a difference in a number of selections in a first separate input in which one of the input locations of the first input region and second input unit of the first input unit is selected or in a second separate input in which one of the input locations of the second input unit is selected or one of the input locations of the third input unit is selected; and

the control unit performs an input of new data different from data allocated to a corresponding input location in the stepwise input.

8. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the input to the input unit comprises a stepwise pair input in which a plurality of input locations of the input locations of the first input unit to the third input unit is selected in a stepwise manner;

the stepwise pair input is performed by selecting a corresponding input location in a plurality of multiple steps depending on a difference in an intensity of pushing or a difference in a number of selections in a first pair input in which a pair of three input pairs formed above and below the first input region and the second input region of the first input unit are selected together, or in a second pair input in which a pair of three input pairs formed above and below the first input region and the third input region are selected or in which a pair of three input pairs formed above and below the second input region and the fourth input region are selected; and

the control unit performs an input of new data different from data allocated to the corresponding input location in the stepwise input.

9. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises one or more of a concave segmentation groove, a protruding segmentation line, a protrusion, and a protrusion frame in each of the shapes.

10. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a touch detection unit for detecting a touch of the finger is further provided on the input unit; and

the touch detection unit generates a corresponding input signal in response to a touch of the finger on each of the input locations of the input unit.

11. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein a support is included at a center of the input unit, and the support is provided in a form in which the support protrudes outside the input unit or a form in which the support is inwardly concave.

12. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first input unit of the input unit is provided in one or more of a form in which the first input unit is bisected on both sides based on the reference line, a form in which a concave groove is formed along the reference line, and a form in which a convex protrusion is formed along the reference line.

13. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein two or more input units are provided at specific locations of the base.

14. The data input apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

one or more input locations for generating an input signal in response to a selection when an input is performed are further provided on a left or right side of the input unit; and

the input unit further comprises a pair of input locations on a left or right side of the first input unit, an input location on a left or right side of the second input unit, and an input location on a left or right side of the third input unit.

15. A method of inputting data using an input unit provided in a base of a data input apparatus, the method comprising:

preparing the input unit,

wherein the input unit comprises;

a rectangular first input unit having a predetermined width and length included in a range of one thumb fingerprint area;

a rectangular second input unit spaced forward from the first input unit with respect to the first input unit and separated from the first input unit and having a width corresponding to the first input unit and a length smaller than the length of the first input unit; and

a rectangular third input unit spaced rearward from the first input unit with respect to the first input unit and separated from the first input unit and having a width corresponding to the first input unit and a length smaller than the length of the first input unit,

wherein the rectangular first input unit, the rectangular second input unit, and the rectangular third input unit are physically separated and independently provided from one another,

wherein the rectangular first input unit comprises;

a first input region having only three input locations arranged in a line at a predetermined interval in the forward direction on the basis of a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular first input unit; and

a second input region having only three input locations arranged in a line at a predetermined interval in the rearward direction on the basis of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular first input unit,

wherein the rectangular second input unit comprises a third input region in which only three input locations corresponding to three input locations of the first input region are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals, and

wherein the rectangular third input unit comprises a fourth input region in which only three input locations corresponding to three input locations of the second input region are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals;

storing a data set in a memory unit,

wherein the data set is configured by dividing an input, which is performed in the input unit, into a first input in which one or more input location of the first input region and second input region of the first input unit are selected, and a second input in which one or more input location of the input locations of the first input unit to the third input unit are selected, and allocating corresponding data to each of the inputs;

detecting, by a detection unit, the input to the input unit,

wherein the detection unit detects a signal of the input performed as the first input or the second input in the input unit and generates a corresponding input signal, wherein the first input is recognized the input data as one data set in one input if the selection by the single input click performed by one finger is performed independently in at least one input region of the first input region to the fourth input region, wherein the second input is recognized new data different from each data assigned to the input location of the selected input pair if the selection by the single input click performed by one finger is performed independently in at least one input pair of three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the first input region and three input locations of the second input region corresponding to three input locations of the first input region, three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the first input region and three input locations of the third input region corresponding to three input locations of the first input region and three input pairs consisting of three input locations of the second input region and three input locations of the fourth input region corresponding to three input locations of the second input region,

wherein each of the single input clicks is made in a downward direction or touch,

wherein two input signals of the second input generated by selection of each of the input pairs consist of is processed as one pair input, and

wherein when input locations selected together to make the pair input fail to come into contact with a predetermined sensor simultaneously, two signals corresponding to the input locations are sequentially generated and a control unit

determines the two signals as the pair input, based on a preset time value; and

performing, by the control unit, an input of the data, wherein the control unit distinguishes and determines the inputs in the input signals detected and generated by the detection unit when the input to the input unit is performed, extracts data, corresponding to the first input or the second input allocated to the determined input signal, from the data set of the memory unit, and performs the input of the data.