DATA INPUT DEVICE

• US 20090189789A1
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eui-Jin Oh
• Original Assignee: Eui-Jin Oh
• Inventors: OH, Eui-Jin
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A character input device and its method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes: i) a base, ii) an input unit positioned at the base to allow each of first direction input and second direction input to be independently performed, the first direction input being performed by moving the input unit from a reference position to any one of a plurality of first direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially from the reference position within a predetermined input area and the second direction input being performed by selecting any one of a plurality of second direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially in the input unit itself; a first sensing unit for sensing the movement of the input unit, iii) a second sensing unit for sensing the second direction input and iv) a control unit for extracting and running a first character or a second character from a memory unit, the first character being assigned to the first direction indication position in which the movement of the input unit is sensed, and the second character being assigned to the second direction indication position in which the second direction input is sensed, thereby making it possible to minimize a necessary space for inputting characters and accurately input each character according to a user'"'"'s intention.

Claims

1-77. -77. (canceled)

78. A data input device comprising:

a base;

an input unit positioned at the base to allow each of first direction input and second direction input to be independently performed in a state where one finger is placed on the upper of the input unit, the first direction input being performed by moving the input unit from a reference position to any one of a plurality of first direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially from the reference position within a predetermined input area and the second direction input being performed by selecting any one of a plurality of second direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially in the input unit;

a first sensing unit configured to sense the first direction input;

a second sensing unit configured to sense the second direction input; and

a control unit configured to extract and run a first data or a second data from a memory unit, the first data being assigned to the first direction indication position in which the movement of the input unit is sensed, and the second data being assigned to the second direction indication position in which the second direction input is sensed, wherein

any one of the first direction input and the second direction input is configured to perform the input unit toward any direction of a plurality of the directions in a state where the other is performed, so that a first data assigned to the first direction input and a second data assigned to the second direction input can be respectively input or can be simultaneously input.

79. The data input device according to claim 78, further comprising central input to be performed by the select of a central input key positioned in the center of the input unit or the rise or fall of the input unit with respect to the base.

80. The data input device according to claim 79, wherein different data are input on the same path according to difference in the movement distance of the first direction input, the second direction input or the central input.

81. The data input device according to claim 79, wherein in the case where a sensing unit for sensing the first sensing unit, the second sensing unit and the central unit is provided as a pressure sensor, different data are input according to difference in the pressure value of the first direction input, the second direction input or the central input.

82. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the second direction input is performed by tilting the input unit toward any one of the plurality of second direction indication positions or by selecting any one of press units positioned on the input unit, corresponding to each second direction indication position.

83. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the first direction input and is performed by sliding-moving the input unit and a supporting unit from the reference position toward each first direction indication position or by tilting-moving the input unit toward any one of the first direction indication positions.

84. The data input device according to claim 79, wherein in the case where the central input is simultaneously performed with any one of the first direction input or the second direction input, a new data different from data originally assigned to each direction indication position is input.

85. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein a vowel character is assigned to only any one of the first direction indication positions or the second direction indication position.

86. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein one or more of the first direction input and the second direction input is performed by moving the input unit along the circumferential direction centering on the reference position within the input area.

87. The data input device according to claim 86, wherein only the final sensing signal is recognized as a input command when a plurality of sensing signals are input by moving the input unit along the circumferential direction.

88. The data input device according to claim 80, further comprising a plurality of elastic members having different elasticity coefficients to be number corresponding to the input, sequentially arranged so that the elasticity coefficient thereof progressively increases from the input unit toward each first direction indication position, thereby allowing the first direction input to be able to be distinguished and input by the respective steps according to the difference in the elasticity coefficient, between the input unit and the base.

89. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the input unit is formed of elastic material.

90. The data input device according to claim 78, further comprising a display unit for displaying input command extracted by the control unit.

91. The data input device according to claim 90, wherein the display unit displays data assigned in the selected input mode, and is further provided with a character display unit for displaying contents input according to an input operation of a user.

92. The data input device according to claim 90, wherein the display unit is attachable to or detachable from the base.

93. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the input unit itself is capable of being rotated in the right and left directions, centering on the reference position on the base.

94. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein two or more input units are positioned on the base.

95. The data input device according to claim 79, wherein a touch sensing unit for sensing the approach or touch of fingers is positioned at one or more of the upper end of each input unit or each press unit corresponding to each second direction indication position, or the central input key.

96. The data input device according to claim 95, further comprising a central touch sensing unit positioned in the center of the input unit to sense the touch of the finger, so that when the touch of the finger is sensed by the central touch sensing unit for more than a predetermined time, the control unit disregards a sensing result of the touch sensing unit, thereby allowing the touch input not to be performed.

97. The data input device according to claim 79, further comprising a central touch sensing unit positioned at the center of the input unit to sense the touch of the finger, wherein the control unit distinguishes between a case where a central touch sensing signal by the touch of the finger to the central touch sensing unit and a sensing signal of the second sensing unit according to the run of the second direction input are simultaneously received, and a case where only the sensing signal of the second sensing unit is received, thereby inputting different data.

98. The data input device according to claim 94, wherein one or more input of characters, numbers, F keys and functions is performed by any one of the two input units and a mouse function is performed by the other.

99. The data input device according to claim 94, wherein different data is input on the same path according to difference in the movement distance of the first direction input, the second direction input or the central input or in the case where the sensing unit for sensing the first sensing unit, the second sensing unit and central input is provided as the pressure sensor, different data is input according to difference in the pressure value of the first direction input, the second direction input or the central input.

100. The data input device according to claim 78, further comprising a transceiving unit for transceiving the data extracted by the control unit to/from the external device by a wire manner or a wireless manner.

101. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the input unit has a returning function automatically returning to the reference position after performing the first direction input or the second direction input.

102. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein, when in a state where any one of the first direction input and the second direction input is first performed, the other is subsequently performed, a direction combination input for inputting a third data assigned to the input operation subsequently performed can be performed.

103. The data input device according to claim 102, wherein the direction combination input inputs different data according to the order of the first direction input and the second direction input to be combined.

104. The data input device according to claim 78, further comprising an operation rod of which one end is inserted into the upper end of the input unit, and a connection unit into which the operation rod is inserted is formed on the upper end of the input unit.

105. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are provided as any one of a touch pad or a touch screen positioned throughout the input area.

106. The data input device according to claim 104, wherein the input unit is placed on the input area to perform the first direction input and the second direction input.

107. The data input device according to claim 106, wherein the input unit may further includes a supporting unit contacting with the input area, and the control unit is converted into the input mode when the touch pad or the touch screen senses the contact of the input unit or the supporting unit on the input area.

108. The data input device according to claim 106, wherein the position of the second sensing unit is changed as the input unit or the finger moves, thereby allowing the second direction input to be subsequently performed in a state where the first direction input is performed.

109. The data input device according to claim 106, further comprising a connection member for connecting the input unit to the base.

110. The data input device according to claim 109, wherein the connection member includes:

a body in a strip shape, a receiving unit positioned at the body and receiving the input unit to be able to perform the first direction input and the second direction input, and a movement supporting unit positioned at both ends of the body and slidably connected to the base.

111. The data input device according to claim 109, wherein the connection member includes:

a body, a receiving unit positioned at the body and receiving the input unit to be able to perform the first direction input and the second direction input, and a hinge unit pivoting the body about the base to allow the input unit to be placed on the input area.

112. The data input device according to claim 106, wherein the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are provided as the touch screen, and the touch screen displays one or more of a first key display unit for displaying the data assigned to each first direction indication position or a second key display unit for display the data assigned to each second direction indication position outside the input unit.

113. The data input device according to claim 112, wherein the second key display unit move along the input unit upon the first direction input so that in a state where the first direction input is performed, the second direction input can be subsequently performed.

114. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the data assigned in the selected input unit is displayed at one side of the base, and a character display unit for displaying the input contents according to the input operation of the user is further provided.

115. The data input device according to claim 102, wherein different data is input on the same path according to difference in the movement distance of the first direction input or the second direction input, or in the case where the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are provided as pressure sensors, different data is input according to difference in the pressure value of the first direction input and the second direction input.

116. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein each of the first direction indication positions and the second direction indication positions has any one of four to twelve input directions.

117. The data input device according to claim 116, wherein the number of the first direction indication positions is different from that of the second direction indication positions.

118. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein each of the first direction indication positions and the second direction indication positions has four input directions, and the first direction input and the second direction input can be performed as two or more levels.

119. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein each of the first direction indication positions and the second direction indication positions has eight input directions.

120. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the first sensing unit is arranged around each of the second direction indication positions so that the first direction input can be performed in state where the second direction input is performed.

121. The data input device according to claim 78, the first direction input is performed by sliding the input unit from a reference position to any one of a plurality of first direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially from the reference position within a predetermined input area, and

the second direction input is performed by selecting any one of press units positioned at the input unit, corresponding to a plurality of second direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially in the input unit.

122. The data input device according to claim 78, the first direction input is performed by sliding the input unit from a reference position to any one of a plurality of first direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially from the reference position within a predetermined input area, and

the second direction input is performed by tilting the input unit toward any one of a plurality of second direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially in the input unit.

123. The data input device according to claim 78, the first direction input is performed by sliding the input unit from a reference position to any one of a plurality of first direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially from the reference position within a predetermined input area, and

the second direction input is performed by tilting-moving the input unit toward any one of a plurality of second direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially in the input unit.

124. The data input device according to claim 78, the first direction input is performed by tilting-moving the input unit from a reference position to any one of a plurality of first direction indication positions spaced and arranged radially from the reference position within a predetermined input area, and

the second direction input is performed by tilting the input unit toward any one of a plurality of second direction indication positions or the second direction input is performed by selecting any one of press units positioned at the input unit, corresponding to the second direction indication positions.

125. The data input device according to claim 78, wherein the movement of a mouse pointer is performed by the first direction input, and the operations of mouse right/left buttons or scroll are performed by the second direction input or the central input and the second direction input.

126. The data input device according to claim 125, wherein in the case where two input units are provided, the movement of the mouse pointer may be performed by any one of the two input units, and the operations of mouse right/left buttons or scroll are performed by the other.

127. The data input device according to claim 125, wherein in the case where two input units are provided, one or more of the first direction input and the second direction input is capable of performing the multi-level input of two or more levels, so that the characters are input by any one of the direction input of each input unit, and the movement of a mouse pointer, direction indication, functional command or mode change are performed by the other of the direction input of each input unit.

128. The data input device according to claim 78, further comprising a guide unit positioned at the base and guiding the movement of the input unit.

129. The data input device according to claim 78, further comprising a projection projected from the input unit to easily operate the input unit when performing the first direction input and the second direction input.