Active keyboard for handheld electronic gadgets

• US 6,947,028 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Shkolnikov
• Original Assignee: Mark Shkolnikov
• Inventors: Shkolnikov, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TAMMY T
• Application Number:
  US10/320,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/168, 345/169, 345/172, 345/173, 715/455, 715/738, 715/739, 715/823, 715/839, 715/840
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 1/169 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 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices which allows the user of the device to support the device and enter text and data while using only one hand. The device has a housing, a display, a processor, a memory, a selection device, and at least four keys. When the handheld device is gripped the keys underlay the tips of the user'"'"'s fingers and the selection device underlays the user'"'"'s thumb. The software outputs a grid design to the display showing several columns of values. The user highlights a set of four values using the selection device and those values are assigned to the keys. Pressing a key enters the values assigned to that key into the text area of the display or if the value represents a mode of operation, runs the program controlling that mode.

Claims

1. An active keyboard for handheld electronic devices comprising:

a housing designed to be gripped by a human hand, having an interior and an exterior surface;

a processor disposed within the interior of the housing;

a display electronically connected to the processor;

a selector disposed on the exterior surface of the housing, and positioned for activation by a thumb of a user;

a plurality of keys disposed on the exterior surface of the housing, and positioned for activation by fingers of the user;

a motion detector disposed within the interior of the housing;

a memory connected to the processor; and

a software means for displaying a menu on the display, the software means, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out steps comprising;

creating a grid of value boxes organized into a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows;

enabling a user (1), by using the selector or motion detector, to select a group of value boxes, and (2), by using the plurality of keys, to select a value contained within one value box from the selected group and inputting the value into the memory;

processing data from the motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the housing;

moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector or the selector; and

effecting functions of the active keyboard based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of the selector, or combinations thereof,

wherein the active keyboard is configured to be held and operated by a single human hand.

2. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the motion detector is selected from the group consisting of an acceleration sensor, a tilt sensor, a magnetic sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor.

3. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the housing is ergonomically shaped.

4. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the selector is selected from the group consisting of a joystick, a touch pad, a trackball, and a plurality of close proximity triangular buttons.

5. The active keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone and a speaker.

6. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the software means further comprises means for navigating the Internet using the motion detector to control a portion of a web page shown on the display, maintaining a cursor position in a center of the display, so that the cursor is moveable by the selector from the center of the display.

7. The active keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the software means further comprises means for navigating the Internet using the selector to control a portion of a web page shown on the display, maintaining a cursor position in a center of the display, so that when the display reaches a boundary of the web page, the cursor is moveable by the selector from the center of the display.

8. A method of inputting data into a handheld electronic device comprising the steps of:

using a processor and a memory to create a grid of value boxes organized into a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows;

displaying the grid on a display;

inputting at least one value into each value box;

creating a highlight box which marks a selected group of value boxes;

moving the highlight box to surround a selected value box having a desired value;

assigning one value from the selected value box surrounded by the highlight box to one of a plurality of keys;

depressing one of the plurality of keys and entering the value into the memory and displaying the value on the display;

moving the highlight box and assigning values surrounded by the highlight box to the plurality of keys and entering the assigned values as in the previous moving, assigning and depressing steps;

repeating the process until finished entering values;

processing data from a motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the electronic device;

moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector; and

effecting functions of the electronic device based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of a selector, or combinations thereof.

9. A method of inputting data into a handheld electronic device comprising the steps of:

using a processor and a memory to create a grid of value boxes;

displaying the grid on a display;

inputting up to four values into each value box;

creating a highlight box which surrounds a value box;

moving the highlight box to surround a value box having a desired value;

assigning each value from the value box surrounded by the highlight box to one of a plurality of keys;

depressing one of the plurality of keys and entering the value assigned to the one depressed key into the memory and displaying the assigned value on the display;

moving the highlight box and assigning values surrounded by the highlight box to one of the plurality of keys and entering the values as in the previous moving, assigning and depressing steps;

repeating the process until finished entering values;

processing data from a motion detector caused by a rotational change in position of the electronic device;

moving around the grid of value boxes based on processed data from the motion detector; and

effecting functions of the electronic device based on assigned values selected by keys, processed data from the motion detector, a state of a selector, or combinations thereof.