Keypads for electrical devices

• US 20030193480A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 3, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Nuovo, Frank, Salazar, Eduardo, Wood, Todd, Morioka, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 6,756,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A mobile telephone includes a body, a display, and a keypad. The keypad has a plurality of individual numeral keys assigned to individual numerals and may be rotated with respect to the body. In this way it is possible for the presentation of information on the display to remain in a fixed orientation with respect to a user while the body is rotated about the display so that the mobile telephone can be converted from right-handed to left-handed use or the display can be moved from a first orientation to a second orientation.

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising:

a body;

a display secured to the body for visual presentation of information; and

a keypad rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the keypad is rotatable with respect to the body.

2. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the keypad has a plurality of individual numeral keys.

3. The electrical device according to claim 2, wherein the keypad has a navigation key for navigating about the display.

4. The electrical device according to claim 3, wherein the numeral keys are disposed about the navigation key.

5. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of individual numeral keys are disposed in a circular pattern about the navigation key.

6. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the keypad is rotatable by hand.

7. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein rotation of the keypad is driven by an electrical motor.

8. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual numeral keys and the navigation key are keyed together, such that the numeral keys and the navigational key rotate together.

9. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the keypad comprises a keymat defining the plurality of individual numeral keys and a corresponding plurality of pressure sensitive areas which detect key presses and produce corresponding electrical signals.

10. The electrical device according to claim 1 comprising a mobile telephone.