Abstract:
A mobile phone includes an alphanumeric keypad on a first portion of a front surface thereof and including keys arranged in rows and columns; a direction key on a second portion of the front surface thereof; and a display on a third portion of the front surface thereof, wherein the keys of the keypad have an uneven surface so that dialing by touching the keys can be made, for example, in a dark environment or while driving. In one embodiment, the first portion is an upper portion of the front surface of the mobile phone, and the third portion is a lower portion of the front surface thereof. In another embodiment, the first portion is a lower portion of the front surface of the mobile phone, and the third portion is an upper portion of the front surface thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to mobile phones and more particularly to a mobile phone having keys of the keypad with an uneven surface so that dialing by touching the keys can be made, for example, in a dark environment or while driving. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, a user has to watch the keys of an alphanumeric keypad of a mobile phone when dialing. However, this mobile phone use (i.e., dialing) is not suitable while, for example, driving because it can increase the risk of road traffic accidents. 
         [0005]    Most conventional types of mobile phone have the display provided on an upper portion of its phone body and the keypad, the function keys, and the direction key provided on lower and intermediate portions of its phone body. Thus, a user may instinctively push upward a mobile phone in the hand by the thumb so that the user may hold the mobile phone stably (i.e., hold the center of gravity of the mobile phone). 
         [0006]    Thereafter, the user may use the thumb to press keys for dialing or do other operations. However, such design (i.e., the display above the keypad) does not take ergonomics and the center of gravity of the mobile phone into consideration. It is often that a mobile phone may fall if sufficient care is not taken when using the mobile phone. As a result, the mobile phone is damaged. Thus, a need for improvement exists. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a mobile phone having keys of its keypad with an uneven surface so that dialing by touching the keys can be made, for example, in a dark environment or while driving. 
         [0008]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first preferred embodiment of mobile phone according to the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  where keys of the alphanumeric keypad are arranged in a first configuration and shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  where a row of the alphanumeric keypad is shown in a sectional view taken along line A-A″; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  where keys of the alphanumeric keypad are arranged in a second configuration and shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  where a column of the alphanumeric keypad is shown in a sectional view taken along line B-B″; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  where the direction key is shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an environmental view of the mobile phone being held by the hand with the thumb pressing the key of the keypad; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  schematically depicts holding and dialing of the first preferred embodiment of mobile phone of the invention and holding and dialing of a conventional type of mobile phone as comparison; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a second preferred embodiment of mobile phone according to the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  where keys of the alphanumeric keypad are shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  where the direction key is shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an environmental view of the mobile phone being held by the hand with the thumb pressing the key of the keypad; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  schematically depicts holding and dialing of the second preferred embodiment of mobile phone of the invention and holding and dialing of a conventional type of mobile phone as comparison; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a third preferred embodiment of mobile phone according to the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  where keys of the alphanumeric keypad are arranged in a first configuration and shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  where a row of the alphanumeric keypad is shown in a sectional view taken along line A-A″; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 15  where keys of the alphanumeric keypad are arranged in a second configuration and shown in a detailed view in a circle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  where a column of the alphanumeric keypad is shown in a sectional view taken along line B-B″; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  where the direction key is shown in a detailed view in a circle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , a mobile phone  11  in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The mobile phone  11  comprises an operation section on upper and intermediate portions of the front surface thereof, and a display on a lower portion on the front surface thereof. The operation section comprises an alphanumeric keypad  211  and a direction key  41  below the keypad  211 . The display is implemented as an LCD (liquid crystal display) display  51  in this embodiment or an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display in other embodiments. 
         [0029]    A quick dialing key  61  is provided on the top left corner of the front surface of the mobile phone  11 . A user may store his or her most frequently used phone numbers in a memory card. The user may browse through the list of stored numbers shown on the display  51 . Thereafter, the user may initiate a call by pressing the quick dialing key  61  after finding the desired number shown on the display  51 . 
         [0030]    It is contemplated by the invention that a user can hold the center of gravity of the mobile phone  11  by one hand by configuring the mobile phone  11  as an ergonomic one as above. Therefore, benefits including easy dialing (i.e., the thumb being naturally disposed on the key of the keypad  211  when holding the mobile phone  11 ) and reducing the possibility of carelessly dropping the mobile phone  11  can be obtained. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first configuration of the keypad  211  is shown and the keypad  211  comprises a set of 3×4 (i.e., four rows and three columns) keys  2111 ,  2112 ,  2113 ,  2114 ,  2115 ,  2116 ,  2117 ,  2118 ,  2119 ,  211   a,    2110 , and  211   b;  and a direction key  41  (see  FIG. 6 ). Each of the keys  2111 ,  2114 ,  2117 , and  211   a  has a longitudinal, central ridge  311 . Each of the keys  2112 ,  2115 ,  2118 , and  2110  has a convex outer surface  312 . Each of the keys  2113 ,  2116 ,  2119 , and  211   b  has a gable outer surface  313 . The keypad  211  comprises 12 keys 0 to 9, * and #. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the direction key  41  comprises four direction arrows  411 ,  412 ,  413 , and  414 ; and three set keys  415 ,  416 , and  417 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a second configuration of the keypad  212  is shown and the keypad  212  comprises a set of 3×4 (i.e., four rows and three columns) keys  2121 ,  2122 ,  2123 ,  2124 ,  2125 ,  2126 ,  2127 ,  2128 ,  2129 ,  212   a ,  2120 , and  212   b ; and a direction key  41  (see  FIG. 6 ). Each of the keys  2121 ,  2122 , and  2123  has a convex outer surface  312 . Each of the keys  2124 ,  2125 , and  2126  has a longitudinal, central ridge  311 . Each of the keys  2127 ,  2128 , and  2129  has a gable outer surface  313 . Each of the keys  212   a ,  2120 , and  212   b  has a raised platform  314  on its outer surface. The keypad  212  comprises 12 keys 0 to 9, * and #. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , an operation of the first preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below. A user can correctly know a digit by touching the key of the keypad by the thumb, i.e., similar to seeing the digit printed on the key when making a call. This feature is applicable to situations including dialing in a dark environment and dialing while driving in which dialing by seeing the keys by bending the head is not desired or even impossible. This feature is also applicable to a situation in which a user can dial by touching the keys when the mobile phone  11  is placed in a cloth pocket. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , it is seen that a user can easily make a call by holding and dialing the first preferred embodiment of mobile phone  11  of the invention. In comparison, the dialing of a conventional type of mobile phone  7  is much inconvenient because the user cannot correctly hold the center of gravity of the mobile phone  7 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 to 13 , a mobile phone  12  in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are detailed below. The mobile phone  12  comprises an operation section on upper and intermediate portions of the front surface thereof, and a display on a lower portion on the front surface thereof. The operation section comprises an alphanumeric keypad  22  and a direction key  42  below the keypad  22 . The display is implemented as an LCD (liquid crystal display) display  52  in this embodiment or an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display in other embodiments. 
         [0037]    A quick dialing key  62  is provided on the top left corner of the front surface of the mobile phone  12 . A user may store his or her most frequently used phone numbers in a memory card. The user may browse through the list of stored numbers shown on the display  52 . Thereafter, the user may initiate a call by pressing the quick dialing key  62  after finding the desired number shown on the display  52 . 
         [0038]    It is contemplated by the invention that a user can hold the center of gravity of the mobile phone  12  by one hand by configuring the mobile phone  12  as an ergonomic one as above. Therefore, benefits including easy dialing (i.e., the thumb being naturally disposed on the key of the keypad  22  when holding the mobile phone  12 ) and reducing the possibility of carelessly dropping the mobile phone  12  can be obtained. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the keypad  22  comprises a set of 3×4 (i.e., four rows and three columns) keys  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 ,  225 ,  226 ,  227 ,  228 ,  229 ,  22   a ,  220 , and  22   b ; and a direction key  42  (see  FIG. 11 ). Each of the keys  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 ,  225 ,  226 ,  227 ,  228 ,  229 ,  22   a ,  220 , and  22   b  has a flat outer surface. The keypad  22  comprises 12 keys 0 to 9, * and #. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the direction key  42  comprises four direction arrows  421 ,  422 ,  423 , and  424 ; and three set keys  425 ,  426 , and  427 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an operation of the second preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below. It is seen that a user can easily make a call by holding and dialing the second preferred embodiment of mobile phone  12  of the invention. In comparison, the dialing of a conventional type of mobile phone  7  is much inconvenient because the user cannot correctly hold the center of gravity of the mobile phone  7 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 to 19 , a mobile phone  13  in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the third preferred embodiment are detailed below. The mobile phone  13  comprises an operation section on lower and intermediate portions of the front surface thereof, and a display on an upper portion on the front surface thereof. The operation section comprises an alphanumeric keypad  231  and a direction key  43  below the keypad  231 . The display is implemented as an LCD (liquid crystal display) display  53  in this embodiment or an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display in other embodiments. 
         [0043]    A quick dialing key  63  is provided on the top left corner of the front surface of the mobile phone  13 . A user may store his or her most frequently used phone numbers in a memory card. The user may browse through the list of stored numbers shown on the display  53 . Thereafter, the user may initiate a call by pressing the quick dialing key  63  after finding the desired number shown on the display  53 . 
         [0044]    It is contemplated by the invention that a user can hold the center of gravity of the mobile phone  13  by one hand by configuring the mobile phone  13  as an ergonomic one as above. Therefore, benefits including easy dialing (i.e., the thumb being naturally disposed on the key of the keypad  231  when holding the mobile phone  13 ) and reducing the possibility of carelessly dropping the mobile phone  13  can be obtained. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a first configuration of the keypad  231  is shown and the keypad  231  comprises a set of 3×4 (i.e., four rows and three columns) keys  2311 ,  2312 ,  2313 ,  2314 ,  2315 ,  2316 ,  2317 ,  2318 ,  2319 ,  231   a,    2310 , and  231   b;  and a direction key  43  (see  FIG. 19 ). Each of the keys  2311 ,  2314 ,  2317 , and  231   a  has a longitudinal, central ridge  331 . Each of the keys  2312 ,  2315 ,  2318 , and  2310  has a convex outer surface  332 . Each of the keys  2313 ,  2316 ,  2319 , and  231   b  has a gable outer surface  333 . The keypad  231  comprises 12 keys 0 to 9, * and #. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 19 , the direction key  43  comprises four direction arrows  431 ,  432 ,  433 , and  434 ; and three set keys  435 ,  436 , and  437 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , a second configuration of the keypad  232  is shown and the keypad  232  comprises a set of 3×4 (i.e., four rows and three columns) keys  2321 ,  2322 ,  2323 ,  2324 ,  2325 ,  2326 ,  2327 ,  2328 ,  2329 ,  232   a ,  2320 , and  232   b ; and a direction key  43  (see  FIG. 19 ). Each of the keys  2321 ,  2322 , and  2323  has a convex outer surface  332 . Each of the keys  2324 ,  2325 , and  2326  has a longitudinal, central ridge  331 . Each of the keys  2327 ,  2328 , and  2329  has a gable outer surface  333 . Each of the keys  232   a ,  2320 , and  232   b  has a raised platform  334  on its outer surface. The keypad  232  comprises 12 keys 0 to 9, * and #. 
         [0048]    Operation and benefits of the third preferred embodiment of the invention are the same as that described with respect to the first preferred embodiment thereof. Therefore, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. 
         [0049]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.