Abstract:
A keyboard comprising: (1) one or more rows of letter indicia entry keys and/or number indicia entry keys; and (2) additional indicia positioned over or proximate to at least a selected portion of said letter indicia entry keys and/or said number indicia entry keys to facilitate placement of telephone calls or entry of alphanumerical data. A method of facilitating placement of telephone calls or entry of alphanumerical data using a keyboard having one or more rows of letter indicia entry keys and/or number indicia entry keys, including the step of positioning additional indicia over or proximate to at least a selected portion of said letter indicia entry keys and/or said number indicia entry keys. A keyboard comprising: (1) one or more rows of letter indicia entry keys adapted for operating in a first mode and a second mode; and a series of individual numbers associated with at least a portion of the letter indicia entry keys wherein in the first mode the letter indicia entry keys correspond to letters of an alphabet and in the second mode the letter indicia entry keys correspond to the associated individual numbers.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. US60/722,881 filed Sep. 30, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. US60/729,703 filed Oct. 24, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to keyboards or other input devices for computer systems and electronic and communication devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     An example of input device, a conventional (computer) keyboard  10  having letter/alphabet indicia entry keys  14 , numerical indicia entry keys  16  and symbol/function indicia entry keys  18  is shown in  FIG. 1  with an enlarged portion of the numerical keys  16  shown at  12 . As shown several numerical keys  16  and symbol/function keys  18  may have more than one indicia. For example the number  16  “4” includes a “$” operable by simultaneously pressing the SHIFT key, for example.  
         [0004]     In many cases telephone and fax numbers contain letters. For example, a number can be presented and advertised in an easy to remember format such as, for example, 1-800-TALK-2-ME. When someone needs to dial a number presented in such format, he or she will need to check the dial pad on a telephone apparatus to see what numbers correspond to these letters and then dial the number from the machine (computer). A typical conventional telephone keypad  20  is shown in  FIG. 2  with groupings of letters of the alphabet affixed to key numbers 2 through 9 and “OPER” for operator affixed to key number 0.  
         [0005]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0245293 A1 to Provencher et al. describes a computer keyboard having hybrid computer/telephone keypad.  
         [0006]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2002/0150416 A1 to VanDruff describes a modal computer keyboard stenography emulation apparatus and method.  
         [0007]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2002/0015609 A1 to Webber describes a modular ergonomic multi-function, multi-layer, universal standard keyboard.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,145 B1 to Nelson describes an alphanumeric keyboard with telephone dialing capability.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,812 B1 to Kim describes a computer having LED display keyboard device.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,165 to Haber et al. describes a computer keyboard having both a standard keyboard mode and a telephone control mode.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,940 to Abecassis describes a user selectable numeric keycaps layout.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,342 to Danner describes a computer-telephone interface method and apparatus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     A keyboard comprising: (1) one or more rows of letter indicia entry keys and/or number indicia entry keys; and (2) additional indicia positioned over or proximate to at least a selected portion of the letter indicia entry keys and/or said number indicia entry keys to facilitate placement of telephone calls or entry of alphanumerical data. A method of facilitating placement of telephone calls or entry of alphanumerical data using a keyboard having one or more rows of letter indicia entry keys and/or number indicia entry keys, including the step of positioning additional indicia over or proximate to at least a selected portion of said letter indicia entry keys and/or said number indicia entry keys. A keyboard comprising: (1) one or more rows of letter indicia entry keys adapted for operating in a first mode and a second mode; and a series of individual numbers associated with at least a portion of the letter indicia entry keys wherein in the first mode the letter indicia entry keys correspond to letters of an alphabet and in the second mode the letter indicia entry keys correspond to the associated individual numbers.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a conventional keyboard layout.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a conventional telephone dial pad.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of yet other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a number indicia entry key illustrating more exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is a schematic illustration of yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]     The present invention relates to input-output devices for electronic and communication machines such as, for example, keyboards, keypads, computers, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) with telephone capabilities. In particular, the subject invention relates to enabling the input devices (keyboards) to be used for easy dialing of telephone (or other) numbers from electronic machines (computers). For example, the numbers so entered could be personal identification numbers (PINs) or the like for secure financial or other transactions. This would permit PIN numbers or other secure series of numbers and or letters to correspond to words comprised of letters of an alphabet to facilitate memorization of such numbers. For example a PIN could be HELP that could be 4357 as will be understood by a proper reading of the specification.  
         [0026]     For example, inter alia, with the teachings of the present invention, the numbers that contain letters can be dialed easily from input devices (computer keyboards, smart phones keypad), without the need for checking the telephone dial pad to determine what numbers correspond to the letters.  
         [0027]     As a further example, inter alia, additional indicia/labeling is applied on/proximate to the keys of input devices used for entering numbers for electronic and communication machines such as, for example, computers, smart phones, PDAs, broadcasting interfaces and Internet terminals. The labeling may add letter indicia to the numerical indicia entry keys that may correspond to telephone keypad labeling. This may improve the functionality of standard input devices and makes it easier to enter phone numbers that contain letters from the input devices (such as, for example, an interface keyboard, a keypad).  
         [0028]     The present invention may relate to input and/or output devices for, inter alia, electronic and communication machines such as computers, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants with telephone capabilities (PDAs), Internet terminals, radios, interactive radios, broadcasting interfaces or systems such as TV (television) or Web TV. In particular, the subject invention relates to enabling the input devices (keyboard) to be used for easy entering of numbers to electronic machine and communication devices (computer).  
       First Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIG.  3   
       [0029]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, numerical indicia entry keys  32  (1 through 9 inclusive and 0) of the keyboard/input device  30  have additional indicia/characters, such as alphabetic indicia/letters that correspond to the letters found on, for example, telephone dialing keypads, positioned over or proximate to corresponding numerical indicia entry keys.  
         [0030]     The additional indicia/characters can differ based on the keyboard country (local) specifics. For example, the keyboard used in the USA will have the letters from the Latin alphabet on the numeric keys in the following format and order: 
        Numeric key 2 will have ABC;     Numeric key 3 will have DEF;     Numeric key 4 will have GHI;     Numeric key 5 will have JKL;     Numeric key 6 will have MNO;     Numeric key 7 will have PQRS;     Numeric key 8 will have TUV;     Numeric key 9 will have WXYZ; and     Numeric key 0 will have OPER (for operator).        
 
         [0040]     The numerical indicia input keys  32  may have different locations on keyboards  30  that are designed and used in different countries. When a country uses other characters on the phone-dialing pad, the keyboard  30  that is used in such country will have these specific non-numeric characters on its numerical indicia entry keys.  
         [0041]     For convenience, we may call these non-numerical indicia/characters used in phone numbers, “telephone characters”.  
         [0042]     The telephone characters can be positioned over/placed on numerical indicia entry keys  32  the same way as all other characters are placed on the keys  32 , e.g. paint, use of an alternative color for the new telephone characters, use of a sticker, or by change of the key&#39;s surface (for example at the time keys  32  are manufactured or thereafter). The telephone character can be placed on the top of the key, near the numeric character, or on any one of the key&#39;s sides (see  FIG. 6 , for example). It is noted that holds for the remaining embodiments of the present invention as applicable.  
         [0043]     Also as shown in  FIG. 3 , the telephone characters may be positioned proximate to numerical indicia entry keys  32  such as on a, for example, strip  34  having the telephone characters, for example, above numerical indicia entry keys  32 . It is noted that strip  34  may also be placed below numerical indicia entry keys  32  on keyboard designs having sufficient space there below and that separate labels or the like may be placed beside numerical indicia entry keys  32  on keyboard designs having sufficient space thereby. It is noted that holds for the remaining embodiments of the present invention as applicable.  
       Second Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIG.  4   
       [0044]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrates a so-called compact keyboard  40  used, for example, on laptop computers, wherein in addition to numerical indicia entry keys  42 , located above letter indicia entry keys  46 ,  48 , the telephone characters are also positioned over or proximate to letter indicia keys  48  that can be activated when a “NumLk” (number lock or the like) key is depressed/activated. Letter indicia entry keys  48  may be positioned below numerical indicia entry keys  42  having numbers “7,” “8,” “9” and “0” (see the enlarged portion of keyboard  40  at circle “A”) as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0045]     It is noted that the grouping of letter indicia keys  48  may be located elsewhere on keyboard  40  in which instance other letter indicia keys  46  may take the place of numerical indicia entry keys  42  having numbers “7,” “8,” “9” and “0”.  
       Third Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIG.  5   
       [0046]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the telephone characters may be applied on any key that can be used as a numeric key with the keyboard&#39;s functionality. For example, on a 102-key keyboard  50 , the telephone characters are applied on the numerical indicia entry keys  52  above the letter indicia entry keys  56  (see the enlarged portion of keyboard  50  at rectangle “C”) and are also applied on numerical indicia entry keys  53  on number pad  51 , at the right hand side of the keyboard (see the enlarged portion of keyboard  50  at circle “B”). The functionality of numerical indicia entry keys  53  (and any navigation entry keys  57 ) on number pad  51  may be enabled by a “NumLk” (number lock) key.  
         [0047]     On compact keyboards (e.g. used in laptops), in addition to the numerical indicial input keys  52  located above letter indicia input keys  56 , the telephone characters can be applied on the keys that can be turned into numeric keys when used with enhanced functionality key, e.g. by pressing the “function key” (Fn).  
       Fourth Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIG.  6   
       [0048]     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary (numerical) indicia entry key  62  is illustrated having an exemplary telephone characters  63  (1) positioned over indicia entry key  62  at either the left side, the right side, the lower face or on the upper face or (2) proximate indicia entry key  62  above or below indicia entry key  62  as shown. It is noted that telephone characters  63  may also be proximate indicia entry key  62  on its left or right side or at another proximate position (not shown). The telephone characters  63  may be positioned over or proximate to indicia entry key  62  at only one, any or all the positions illustrated in  FIG. 6  (or as described above).  
       Fifth Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIG.  7   
       [0049]     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with electronic modification (by software or hardware for example) of the electronic machine (computer, smart phone, PDA) or of the input device, the letter keys of the input device can be turned into numeric mode, when the keystrokes are transformed into number entry. The numbers correspond to the letters that can be found on the telephone dialing keypad. The mapping of letters and numbers follows this logic: 
    Keys for the letters A, B, and C results in numeric input ‘2’    Keys for the letters D, E, and F results in numeric input ‘3’    Keys for the letters G, H, and I results in numeric input ‘4’    Keys for the letters J, K, and L results in numeric input ‘5’    Keys for the letters M, N, and O results in numeric input ‘6’    Keys for the letters P, Q, R, and S results in numeric input ‘7’    Keys for the letters T, U, and V results in numeric input ‘8’    Keys for the letters W, X, Y, and Z results in numeric input ‘9’    There are no letter keys that will translate into numeric entry 0.    
 
         [0059]     It is noted that there are no additional number indicia that are seen in association with the respective letter indicia entry keys.  
         [0060]     Referring to  FIG. 7  for keyboard  70 : the number “2” would be associated to the letter indicia entry keys for “A,” “B” and “C;” the number “5” would be associated with the letter indicia entry keys for “J,” “K” and “L;” the number “6” would be associated with the letter indicia entry keys for “M,” “N” and “O;” and the number “7” would be associated with the letter indicia entry keys for “P,” “Q,” “R” and “S.” This would also be done for the number 3 (for letter entry keys D, E and F),  4  (for letter entry keys G, H and I), 8 (for letter entry keys T, U and V) and 9 (for letter entry keys W, X, Y and Z). Again, there would be no association of the numbers 1 or 0 for any letter entry keys for this embodiment.  
         [0061]     The “number” mode of letter keys may be activated by, for example, pressing a special key (hot-key) or a combination of keys. For example Alt or Command, or by pressing a combination of keys, for example Ctrl+Shift, Alt+Shift, etc., depending upon the type of computer or device. As a result, when the numeric mode of the letter keys is enabled, and user enters 1-800-TALK-2-ME, that will result into input of this numeric string: 18008255263 that is used for dialing out a number. That is, the user will type the 1, 8, 0, 0, T, A, L, K, 2, M then E indicia entry keys to ‘dial’ the 18008255263 phone number. This mode may make entry of such “word phone numbers” more quickly and easily.  
         [0062]     The ability to enable numeric mode of the letter keys may be done by, for example, a software driver in stalled on the computer, or by, for example, a build-in design of the keyboard electronic functionality or the electronic machine.  
         [0063]     The electronic modifications (software or hardware), that allows the keyboard to have a numeric mode for the key letters would take under consideration the computer local settings. Therefore, it will enable different keys for the numbers depending on the country and local settings.  
       Sixth Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIG.  8   
       [0064]     The sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a combination of two or more of the above embodiments on a single keyboard/device. For example, the input devices of electronic machines (such as, for example, computers, smart phones, PDAs, etc.) can be enabled for easy entering of numbers that contain letters by using a combination of functional design (described above in the First Embodiment, for example) and electronic modification (described above in the Fifth Embodiment). Example of input device that can use a combination of these different methods is illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 8  for keyboard  80 .  
       Seventh Exemplary Embodiment of the Present Invention—FIGS.  9 ,  10  and  11   
       [0065]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9, 10  and  11  in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the numeric keys of the input device (for example a computer keyboard) may be associated with alphabetic characters by using a cover or overlay  92 ,  102 ,  112  overlying the keys, where the letter indicia are applied on the cover/overlay instead of directly on the keys or keyboard. The cover can be for the entire input device or but a part of it. For example, a computer keyboard cover will have the alphabetic characters (letters) at the location that covers the numeric keys.  
         [0066]     Such covers  92 ,  102 ,  112  may be flexible for ease of placement, removal and use. Such covers  92 ,  102 ,  112  may also be transparent or translucent so that the indicia on the underlying entry keys are easily visible. It is also noted that covers  92 ,  102 ,  112  may be opaque with only the indicia on covers  92 ,  102 ,  112  being discernable when in use. In that case, select indicia from the underlying entry keys may be included on covers  92 ,  102 ,  112  for ease of use in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0067]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary cover  92  that will have these characters on it and once cover  92  is placed on keyboard  90 , the keyboard&#39;s numeric keys may be enabled with the alphabetic letters  94 ,  96 .  
         [0068]     Cover  92  may also include only a portion  94  with additional alphabetic characters (letters) that can be also applied only on part of the input devices, for example only for the numeric keys.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show examples of covers  92 ,  102  with portions  94 ,  96 ;  104  only for the numeric keys/the numeric input pad keys.  FIG. 11  illustrates at least a portion of an exemplary cover  112  for placement over an upper horizontal row of number indicia entry keys 1 through 9 and 0. It is noted that “OPER” may also be included on the far right section for overlying the number 0 entry key.  
         [0069]     Another option for associating alphabetic characters with numeric keys of input devices such as keyboards is the use of self adhesive labels (stickers) or strips (see  FIG. 3 , for example) that have the alphabetic characters on it. With stickers/strips that have the alphabetic characters organized in a way that correspond to the alphabetic characters on the telephone keypad, an input device (for example a computer keyboard) could be easily enabled with the functional design that allows easy dialing of numbers that contain letters.  
         [0070]     It is understood that for any of the above relevant exemplary embodiments the specific way of associating the additional letter indicia and/or additional number indicia with the corresponding letter entry keys and or number entry keys so that the additional letter indicia and/or additional number indicia are positioned over or proximate to the letter entry keys and or number entry keys of the keyboard.  
         [0071]     It is also noted for any of the above relevant exemplary embodiments that the additional indicia may also comprise symbols, pictograms or other information conveying indicia to be: (1) positioned over or proximate to at least a selected portion of the letter indicia entry keys and/or said number indicia entry keys; (2) associated with at least a selected portion of the letter indicia entry keys and/or said number indicia entry keys for the fifth exemplary embodiment described above, for example.  
         [0072]     It is further noted that the teachings of the present invention may be applied to input and/or output devices for, inter alia, electronic and communication machines such as computers, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants with telephone capabilities (PDAs), Internet terminals, radios, interactive radios, broadcasting interfaces or systems such as TV (television) or Web TV. In particular, the subject invention relates to enabling the input devices (keyboard) to be used for easy entering of numbers to electronic machine and communication devices (computer).  
         [0073]     Given the variety of exemplary embodiments of the present invention just described, the above description and illustrations should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention defined by the claims.  
         [0074]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.