Keypads for electrical devices

• US 6,810,271 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Mustonen, Kari, Wood, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary, Erika
• Application Number:
  US09/703,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/564, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 379/433.01, 379/433.07, 379/368, D14/148, D14/149, D14/150, 345/168, 345/169, 341/20, 341/22
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile telephone including a body, a display, and a keypad. The keypad has a plurality of individual numeral keys assigned to individual numerals that are disposed about a navigation key for navigating about the display or a selected central key.

Claims

1. A mobile phone comprising:

a body;

an elongated display having a non-unity aspect ratio secured to the body whereon a browsable menu is displayed; and

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys in a circular arrangement around an acknowledgement ring key so that the distance between the plurality of keys and the acknowledgement ring key is substantially the same irrespective of which one of the plurality of keys are activated, and wherein the acknowledgement ring key defines a center in which is disposed a single centrally located key.

2. A mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the keypad is arranged to enable a 4 and 8-directional browsing of the browsable menu by rocking the acknowledgement ring key in the direction of one of the plurality of keys.

3. A mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the keys are provided with additional curvature at the outer edges.

4. A mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement ring key is provided with an illumination light.

5. A mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the outer circle of the acknowledgement ring key has eight digit/letter keys.

6. A mobile phone of claim 1 wherein the acknowledgement key is a navigation key.

7. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the keypad comprises:

a removable keymat defining the plurality of individual numeral keys; and

a corresponding plurality of pressure sensitive areas that detect key presses and produce corresponding electrical signals.

8. A mobile phone comprising:

a body;

an elongated display having a non-unity aspect ratio secured to the body whereon a browsable menu is displayed; and

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys in a circular arrangement around an acknowledgement ring key so that the distance between the plurality of keys and the acknowledgement ring key is substantially the same irrespective of which one of the plurality of keys are activated, and wherein the acknowledgement ring key-defines a center in which is disposed a single centrally located key and wherein the acknowledgement ring key is a receive key which can receive calls made to the mobile phone.

9. A mobile phone comprising:

a body;

an elongated display elongate laterally with respect to the body of the mobile phone having a non-unity aspect ratio secured to the body whereon a browsable menu is displayed; and

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys in a circular arrangement around an acknowledgement ring key so that the distance between the plurality of keys and the acknowledgement ring key is substantially the same irrespective of which one of the plurality of keys are activated, and wherein the acknowledgement ring key defines a center in which is disposed a single centrally located key.

10. An mobile phone comprising:

a body;

a display secured to the body, wherein said display having a non-unity aspect ratio elongated In a longitudinal direction; and

a keypad coupled to the body, wherein the keypad comprises;

a plurality of individual numeral keys assigned to individual numerals; and

a navigation key for navigating about the display, wherein the plurality of individual numeral keys disposed about the navigation key in a circular pattern.

11. The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein only some of the plurality of individual numeral keys are disposed about the navigation key.

12. The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein the keypad comprises:

a keymat defining the plurality of individual numeral keys; and

a corresponding plurality of pressure sensitive areas that detect key presses and produce corresponding electrical signals.