Apparatus and method for providing an improved character input display in a mobile communication terminal

• US 7,580,731 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Soo, Kim, Joon-Suh
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; John J
• Application Number:
  US11/221,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 4555561-5562, 455/566, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 345/173, 345/168
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• 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 apparatus and a method for providing improved character input displays in a mobile communication terminal. When the user inputs a first key, a first key number corresponding to the input key is displayed in an enlarged form on the display unit in the mobile communication terminal. Thereafter, if the user inputs a second key, then the second key number is displayed in the enlarged form of the preset magnification rate and the first key number is reduced to the original size on the display unit. The apparatus and the method enable user with poor vision to discern the last input key number from the preceding key numbers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing an improved character input display in a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a key input unit;

a controller for enlarging a first character corresponding to a first input key to an enlarged size corresponding to a preset magnification rate, and enlarging a second character corresponding to a second input key to the enlarged size by the preset magnification rate, while reducing the first character to an original size, which is smaller than the enlarged size; and

a display unit for displaying, on an area for displaying entered characters, the second character in the enlarged size with the first character in the original size,

wherein the controller displays a string of all inputted characters on the display unit according to a user'"'"'s input order, and only a lastly inputted character among the inputted characters is displayed in the enlarged size.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the character is a number corresponding to a number key input.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller enlarges both the first and the second characters in the enlarged size as a combination of characters, if the first and the second characters can be combined in a word.

4. A method for providing an improved character input display in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

enlarging a first character corresponding to a key input on a key input unit to an enlarged size according to a preset magnification rate;

determining if a new key is input; and

reducing the enlarged first character to an original size, which is smaller than the enlarged size, and enlarging a second character corresponding to the new key input to the enlarged size, if the new key is input; and

displaying, on an area for displaying entered characters, the second character in the enlarged size with the first character in the original size,

wherein a string of all inputted characters is displayed on the display area according to a user'"'"'s input order, and only a lastly inputted character among the inputted characters is displayed in the enlarged size.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the preset magnification rate can be set by a user.