Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
  • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a keypad of an informational device.
• the invention relates to a keypad of a communication terminal, in which a single button can generate more than one signal, depending on the depressing position, such that input of various characters including special characters can be performed by a single time of depression.
• a keypad composed of 12 buttons, which includes numeric buttons of 0 to 9 and special symbols of ' * ' and '#'.
• this keypad is necessarily mounted in a cellular phone, a PDA, a TV remote controller, or the like.
• a computer keyboard is provided with a slightly varied keypad mounted to the right side thereof.
• plural alphabetic characters are engraved such that alphabetic characters can be input together with numerals, depending on a selected button.
• the input device mounted thereto is also to be miniaturized.
• FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a keypad in a cellular phone, which is nationwide used.
• the keypad of FIG. 1 is inconvenient in that a specific button must be depressed several times in order to input a Korean or English word.
• a specific button must be depressed several times in order to input a Korean or English word.
• the digits '6634882199210' must be depressed sequentially on the buttons of the keypad, i.e., in order to input C ⁇ ', 'H ⁇ ', and
• buttons must be depressed three times, respectively.
• the 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 buttons must be depressed three times, respectively.
• the digits '666166617772377723' must be depressed in a sequence on the keypad buttons .
• the digits '5566677332' must be depressed on the keypad buttons, such as 5 button twice for 'k', and 6 button twice for 'o', or the like. Accordingly, even when a short word is input, the buttons must be inconveniently depressed many times.
• this numeric keypad must be a very inconvenient input device for English letters or Korean alphabets , particularly to the users who are familiar with the conventional computer keyboard. Furthermore, with this keypad, a special character cannot be directly input.
• the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the invention to provide a keypad for informational devices, in whichvarious letters and characters can be input by a single time of depression, while taking in the basic form of the conventional keypads, thereby enabling an accurate and speedy input of desired information.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a keypad for informational devices having the same functions as those of the conventional computer keyboard.
• a keypad of an informational device including a plurality of buttons based on numeric input buttons, wherein each of the plurality of buttons generates at least three input signals, depending ona depressingpositionon the button, whereby English letters, Korean alphabets or special characters can be input.
• the button may include a 4-way button mode, in which the depressing position thereof is composed of central, left, right and lower portions, and the central portion is marked by a numeral sign.
• the button may include a 3-way button mode, in which the depressing position thereof is composed of left, right, and lower portions, the central portion of the button is marked by a numeral sign, and all the portions correspond to numeric input portions.
• the button may have one of a '+', diamond, clover or square shape.
• the button may include a 4-way button mode composed of left , right, upper and lower portions, and the upperportion corresponds to numeric input portions.
• the button may be provided with a proj ection formed in the depressingposition in a vertical direction to the plane thereof .
• English letters (A, B, C) , (D, E, F) , (G, H, I) , (J, K, L) , (M, N, 0) , (P, R, S) , (T, U, V) , and ( , X, Y) are placed respectively in the left, lower and right portions of the 3 -way or 4-way button.
• the button may include at least one of 'Shift', 'Control', 'Alt', 'Symbol', 'Caps Lock', 'Esc' and 'Space' keys.
• FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional keypad in a cellular phone
• FIG.2(A) illustrates a 4-way button according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 (B) shows a 3 -way button according to another embodiment of the invention
• FIGS. 3 (A), 3(B), 3(C) and 3(D) show various 4-way buttons according to another embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a telephone keypad using a ⁇ T' shaped button according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIGS.5 (A) , 5 (B) , 5 (C) and5 (D) showaconfigurationof a telephone keypad using respectively a +', diamond, clover and square shaped buttons according to another embodiment of the invention
• FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) show a con iguration of a keypad according to another embodiment of the invention, in which rows or columns of the button are arrayed on the same line
• FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a keypad for inputting special characters according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG.8 illustrates a configuration of a Korean alphabetic keypad according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of a Korean alphabetic consonants and vowels arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a keypad for inputting Korean and English alphabets according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a keypad in which both columns and rows of the button are not arrayed on the same lines according to one embodiment of the invention; and
• FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration of a keypad for inputting Korean, English and special characters according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG.2 shows one embodiment of the invention. More specifically, FIG. 2 (A) illustrates a 4-way button according to one embodiment of the invention, where the 4-way button is denoted by reference numeral 100.
• FIG. 2 (B) shows a 3-way button according to another embodiment of the invention, where the 3-way button is denoted at 200.
• one button corresponds to one input signal .
• one button is divided into three or four small buttons and thus capable of inputting three or four signals.
• a button having a ⁇ T' shape may be considered, which has four depressing points marked by circles, as illustrated in FIG. 2(A) .
• This button of the invention is hereinafter referred to as the "4-way button, " and each depressing point generates a different signal.
• FIG.2 (B) shows a ⁇ T' shaped button, in which three depressing points are marked by circles and is hereinafter referred to as the "3-way button.” Similarly, each depressing point produces a specific input signal.
• the above two ⁇ T' shaped buttons correspond to the ' button in the conventional keypad of FIG. 1.
• the center depressing point 110 generates a numeric ⁇ 4' signal
• the left depressing point 120 generates an English letter G' signal or a Korean alphabet T signal
• the right depressing point 130 generates an English letter 'I' signal or a Korean alphabet 'TV signal.
• the 3-way or 4-way button of the invention necessitates one time of depressing in order to produce an English letter or Korean alphabet signal.
• the N T' shaped button shown in FIG. 2 (B) is, in principle, identical to that of FIG. 2(A) .
• the ⁇ T' shaped button of FIG. 2(B) has three depressing points, i.e., a right depressing point 220, a left depressing point 230, and a lower depressing point 240 without the central depressing point of FIG.2 (A) .
• FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. More specifically, FIG.3(A) shows a ⁇ +' shaped 4-waybuttonwhich is denoted by a reference numeral 300, FIG. 3(B) shows a diamond shaped 4-way button which is denoted at 400, FIG.
• FIG. 3 (C) illustrates a clover shaped 4-way button which is denoted at 500
• FIG. 3 (D) depicts a square 4-way button which is denoted at 600.
• the operation of each button is the same as in the previous 'T' shaped button and thus will not be described.
• the method of using the 'T' shaped button will be explained.
• the operation of the 3-way button will be understood from that of the 4-way buttons, and thus will not be described.
• the depressing point is preferred to have a projection formed vertically on the plane of the button, although not shown in the drawings of this application.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a telephone keypad using a 'T' shaped button according to one embodiment of the invention.
• English letters 'A' , 'B' , and 'C are associatedwith the numeric '1' button.
• the numeric buttons and English letter buttons are combined in the same manner as in the conventional keypad, so that users, who are used to the conventional one, are not confused by these combinations in the keypad of the invention.
• a 'space' button which corresponds to the space bar in the computer keyboard
• a 'space' key 760 (marked by "Spc") is provided to the right side of the '#' button such that the input of a space can be easily performed.
• the '*' button associates a special 'shift' key 720 (marked by "Sft”) and a 'Caps Lock' key 740 (marked by “Cap”) , which are used in the conventional computer keyboard, and a 'symbol' key 730 (marked by "Sym” ) is further added.
• These threebuttons maygeneratemuchmore signals whencombined with other buttons.
• the English letter keys in the computer keyboard are made to input lowercase English letters, and also uppercase letters while depressing down the shift key.
• the cap key is used to input lowercase letters only or uppercase letters only as a toggle key.
• the 'Sym' key 730 is used to input a special character or a symbolic character, besides English letters, Korean letters and numerals. Details on the 'Sym' key will be hereafter described.
• the keypadof the invention therefore, thegeneration of English letter signal necessitates a single button-depressing as inthe convention computerkeyboard, and, inthisway, English lowercase letter can be easily input in a similar manner to the computer keyboard.
• FIGS. 5(A), 5(B), 5(C) and 5(D) show the configuration of a telephone keypad using respectively a +, diamond, clover and square shaped buttons according to another embodiment of the invention, which are used for inputting English letters only. In these keypads shown in FIG.
• FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) shows a configuration of a keypad according to another embodiment of the invention.
• the button rows and columns are not placed in the same line, so that the possibility of depressing a wrong button can be minimized.
• the depressing points for inputting English letters are evenly distributed over the keypad such that an erroneous depressing can be considerably prevented.
• the button column or row is arrayed on the same line, but the keypad of the invention may be configured in such a manner that both the button rows and columns are not placed on the same lines.
• the method of inputting special characters will be explained below. Withthe conventional computerkeyboard, thirty-two (32) special characters can be input, which are listed in the following table 1. Table 1 Special Characters ( Symbols)
• FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a keypad for inputting special characters according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the remaining thirty (30) special characters are distributed and placed on the left , lower and upper buttons of the numeric '0 - 9' buttons.
• the corresponding button is depressed simultaneously while depressing the right ' Sym' button of the '*' button.
• FIG.8 illustrates a configuration of a Korean alphabetic keypad according to one embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the method of implementing Korean alphabets to a numeric keypad will be explained below.
• a 'Kor/Eng' toggle button is provided to the lower button of the '#' button such that English letters or Korean alphabets can be selectively input, as in the conventional computer keyboard. Therefore, English letters or Korean alphabets can be selectively input, without necessity of selecting a software menu.
• This button serves as a toggle button and thus selects alternately Korean alphabet-input mode and English letter-input mode every time when it is depressed. According to the rules of Korean spelling (The Korean Minister of Education Notice No. 88-1), twenty-four basic Korean alphabets are listed in the following table 2. Table 2
• the fourteen consonants among the twenty four Korean alphabets and the five glottalized consonants are associated with the left, lower and right buttons of the numeric '4', '6', '7', '8', '9', and '0' buttons as shown in the following table 4.
• Table 4
• the above arrangement is based on the following rules and principles .
• the order of numerals is, in general, corresponding to that of Korean alphabets.
• the voiced consonants C 1 -, ⁇ , ⁇ , o) are collectively placed in a specific area.
• the frequency of consonants is considered.
• the glottalized consonants ( ⁇ ⁇ , tn. m- , M , XK ) are arranged in the same depressing point of each button.
• the consonant ' o ' which is most frequently encountered as an initial sound, is placed in the lower button of the numeric '0' button, which is well seen and easily depressed.
• the three consonants ' L ', ' ⁇ ', and ' ⁇ ' are arranged respectively in the left, lower and right button of the numeric '5' button.
• the aspirated sound (which is made by adding a stoke to a basic alphabet) and the glottalized consonants (which is made by writing twice a basic alphabet) are associated with the same numeric button.
• the basic alphabets are placed in the left button of each button, and the aspirated sound and the glottalized consonants are respectively in the lower and right buttons of the corresponding buttons .
• the basic sound'-!', 'C, 'y, ⁇ ', and ⁇ ' are in sequence arranged in the numeric '4', '6', '7', '8', and '9' buttons respectively.
• FIG .9 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of a Korean alphabetic consonants and vowels arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the vowels are associated with the numeric '1', '2', and '3' buttons.
• the three basic vowels ( • , —, 1 ) of the Korean alphabet are designed based on the sky, the ground and people, and othervowels are made by combining these three basicvowels .
• thevowel ' 1 ' is associated with the numeric '1' button
• the vowel '—' is associated with the numeric '3' button.
• thenumeric '1' and '3' buttons are configured to generate the vowel signal when any of the left, lower, or right button thereof is depressed.
• the vowel ' • ' symbolizing the sky and a symbol ' ⁇ • ' (which is made by doubling the vowel ' • ') are associated with the left and right buttons of the numeric ' 2 ' button respectively, so that the number of button-depressings is reduced when in use, as compared with where the vowel ' • ' is used alone .
• the remaining vowels are constructed by combining the vowels ' 1 ', '—', and ' • ', '"'as shown in the following table 5.
• FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a keypad for inputting Korean and English alphabets according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a keypad in which both the button columns and rows are not arrayed on the same lines according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the buttons constituting eachrowor column areplaced ina zigzag fashion, so that thepossibility of depressing a wrong button can be minimized, in other words, an erroneous depressing can be considerably prevented.
• the keypadof the invention can input numerals, English letters, symbols and Korean alphabets, as shown in FIG. 12, which is one embodiment of the invention.
• the keypad for informational devices can input various letters and characters by a single time of depressing while taking in the basic form of the conventional keypads, thereby enabling an accurate and speedy input of desired information.
• the keypad of the invention can be applied to a cellular phone, a mobile communication terminal, a TV remote controller and the like to thereby input various special characters, as in the conventional computer keyboard. While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34510767

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-29 KR KR20030033843U patent/KR200340166Y1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2004
  • 2004-04-14 WO PCT/KR2004/000853 patent/WO2005041544A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events