Abstract:
A data input arrangement includes an array of input keys extending across a typing surface. At least one of the input keys includes a first viewable surface displaying a first set of input data and a second viewable surface angled relative to the first viewable surface. The second viewable surface displays a second set of input data.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/863,287, entitled “Data Input Arrangement With Multi-Facet Shaped Keys,” filed Oct. 27, 2006. The specification of the above-identified application is incorporated herewith by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a data input arrangement with at least one key having a multi-facet shape. Specifically, the multi-facet shape exists on a numeric key pad incorporated in a data-centric key pad. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Computing devices include a data input arrangement that allows a user to enter data. Conventional data input arrangements include keys with a corresponding data input. A conventional key pad such as key pad  10  of  FIG. 1  may be a data-centric key pad. Specifically, the conventional key pad  10  is for a Blackberry® manufactured by Research In Motion Limited. Data-centric key pads for mobile devices are miniaturized versions of the traditional QWERTY keyboard often used for computers. Mobile devices may also include functionality to operate as a telephone. Thus, mobile devices may also include a telephonic key pad  15 . However, as illustrated, due to cost and size restrictions for conventional mobile devices, the data-centric key pad will often incorporate (i.e., overlap) the telephonic key pad  15 . 
         [0004]    Conventional data-centric key pads that incorporate telephonic key pads display data to a user in the form of the types of inputs. In  FIG. 1 , the data-centric keys include the alphabet in the QWERTY format in addition to punctuation and symbols as a secondary data input. For example, the key “T” also includes the open parentheses (“(“). The numeric data of the telephonic key pad  15  are displayed as a second data input. Those skilled in the art will understand that conventional telephonic keys also display corresponding letters. For example, the key “7” is used for the letters “P”, “Q”, “R”, and “S”. Conventionally, to access the data input for the letters, the number key must be pushed a corresponding number of times depending on the order of the letters (e.g., pushed once for “P”, twice for “Q”, etc.). When a called party requires input from the caller in the form of corresponding letters of telephonic keys, mobile device users may have difficulty inputting the data since only numeric data is displayed. In addition, the called party is often equipped to only receive the data from the telephonic keys (i.e., cannot receive data from the data-centric keys). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a data input arrangement which includes an array of input keys extending across a typing surface. At least one of the input keys includes a first viewable surface displaying a first set of input data and a second viewable surface angled relative to the first viewable surface. The second viewable surface displays a second set of input data. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional data input arrangement for a computing device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2   a  shows a perspective view of a multi-facet key of the data input arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   b  shows a top view of the key shown in  FIG. 16   a.    
           [0009]      FIG. 2   c  shows a perspective view of a data input arrangement incorporating the multi-facet key of  FIG. 16   a.    
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view for a second exemplary embodiment of a multi-facet key for the data input arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view for a third exemplary embodiment of a multi-facet key for the data input arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view for a fourth exemplary embodiment of a multi-facet key for the data input arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view for a fifth exemplary embodiment of a multi-facet key for the data input arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view for a sixth exemplary embodiment of a multi-facet key for the data input arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view for a seventh exemplary embodiment of a multi-facet key for the data input arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The present invention describes a data input arrangement for a computing device (e.g., personal computer, laptop, pager, mobile device, cell phone, radio frequency identification device, scanner, a data acquisition device, an imager, etc.). According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the data input arrangement may include at least one multi-facet shaped key. The data input arrangement and the multi-facet shaped key(s) will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0017]    The following exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a data input arrangement for a computing device (e.g., personal computer, laptop, pager, mobile device, cell phone, radio frequency identification device, scanner, a data acquisition device, an imager, etc.). It should be noted that the use of a mobile device is only exemplary and, as discussed above, the data input arrangement may be applied to any computing device utilizing a data input arrangement. In the following exemplary embodiments, the data input arrangement is described using a key pad disposed within a housing for a mobile device. However, the data input arrangement may be any arrangement that utilizes one or more keys to input data such as a data-centric key pad, numeric key pad, keyboard, etc. It should be noted that the use of keys is only exemplary and the data input arrangement may utilize other data input means such as switches, light sensors, heat sensors, etc. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2   a  shows a perspective view of a multi-facet key  150  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The multi-facet key  150  exhibits a flat surface  155  with an angled surface  160 . The flat surface  155  and the angled surface  160  comprise the viewable surface of the multi-facet key  150 . The angled surface  160  may exhibit an angle ranging from 10° to 45°. The area of the flat surface  155  and the area of the angled surface  160  may exhibit a ratio in a range from 2:1 to 5:1, or vice versa. It should be noted that the angle range and surface ratio is only exemplary and other ranges and/or ratios may be used. It should also be noted that the multi-facet key  150  may exhibit conventional features found on keys of a key pad such as a curvature (e.g., concavity, convexity), rounded corners, rounded edges, etc. The shape of the multi-facet key  150  applied to a data-centric key pad alleviates the problems discussed above. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2   b  shows a top view of the multi-facet key  150  of  FIG. 2   a . As illustrated, the flat surface  155  displays the data-centric data (e.g., “E”) as a first data input and the numeric data (e.g., “2”) as the second data input. The angled surface  160  displays the corresponding letter data of the numeric data (e.g., “a”, “b”, “c”). Thus, the multi-facet key  150  displays the data-centric data, the numeric data, and the corresponding letter data. The increased surface area of the viewable surface of the multi-facet key  150  allows this additional input data to be displayed without creating a display on the key that is cluttered (e.g., no misinterpretations). The placement of the corresponding letter data on the angled surface  160  creates a sufficient separation of the data so a user easily operates the keys. It should be noted that the display of data-centric data and/or numeric data is only exemplary. The multi-facet key  150  may be used to display other types of input data such as a first language on a first surface and a second language on a second surface. This embodiment may be applied to, for example, a keyboard for a desktop computer. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2   c  shows the multi-facet key  150  of  FIG. 2   a  as part of a key pad  170  within a housing  501  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The key pad  170  is a key pad that incorporates the features of the multi-facet key  150  of  FIG. 2   a . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2   c , the features of the multi-facet key  150  are applied to the keys that display the numeric data from the telephonic keys (e.g., telephone key pad  15 ). Thus, when telephone functions are used on the mobile device, a key pad  170  also displays the corresponding letter data for each numeric data on the data-centric keys. It should be noted that the features of the multi-facet key  150  may be applied to all the keys of the key pad  170  to allow more input data to be displayed to a user beyond the corresponding letter input data. It should also be noted that the features of the multi-facet key  150  applied to data-centric keys is only exemplary and that the features may also be applied to non-conventional key pads (e.g., key pads not utilizing the QWERTY format). It should also be noted that the angled shape of the multi-facet key  150  is only exemplary and other shapes may be used for the multi-facet key to display different sets of data, as will be discussed below. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3-8  show further exemplary embodiments  175 ,  180 ,  185 ,  190 ,  195 ,  205  of the multi-facet shape of keys. The exemplary embodiment  175  as shown in  FIG. 3  includes a first surface  176  and a second surface  177 . The first surface  176  and the second surface  177  exist on a common plane (i.e., not angled). It should be noted that the first surface  176  and the second surface  177  may exist on parallel planes. A visible and tangible divider  178  exists between the first surface  176  and the second surface  177 . The divider  178  serves to display a separation of the available data displayed on the first surface  176  and the second surface  177 . Furthermore, the divider  178  is shown to be a solid, elevated surface. However, the solid, elevated surface for the divider  178  is only exemplary and the divider  178  may also be lower than the first and second surfaces, divided into multiple pieces, etc. 
         [0022]    The exemplary embodiment  180  as shown in  FIG. 4  includes a first surface  181  and a second surface  182 . The first surface  181  exhibits a curved surface that is viewable by the user. The second surface  182  exhibits a linear surface. It should be noted that both surfaces may be curved. For example, the first surface  181  may be curved convexly while the second surface  182  is curved concavely. Both surfaces may exhibit the same curvature (e.g., both convex, both concave). The curved surface of the first surface  181  permits a user to distinguish the data that is displayed on the first surface  181  from the second surface  182 . 
         [0023]    The exemplary embodiment  185  as shown in  FIG. 5  includes a first surface  186 , a second surface  187 , and a third surface  188 . The first surface  186  exhibits a linear surface. The second surface  187  and the third surface  188  are disposed on opposing sides of the first surface  186 . Furthermore, the second surface  187  and third surface  188  exist on an angled surface with respect to the first surface  186 . The third surface  188  further allows more data to be displayed on the viewable surface area of the multi-facet key in the exemplary embodiment  185 . 
         [0024]    The exemplary embodiment  190  as shown in  FIG. 6  includes a first surface  191 , a second surface  192 , a third surface  193 , and a fourth surface  194 . The first surface  191  exhibits a linear surface. The second surface  192  and the third surface  193  are disposed on opposing sides of the first surface  191 . The fourth surface  194  is disposed on another side of the first surface  191 . Furthermore, the second surface  192 , the third surface  193 , and the fourth surface  194  exist on an angled surface with respect to the first surface  191 . The fourth surface  194  further allows more data to be displayed on the viewable surface area of the multi-facet key in the exemplary embodiment  190 . 
         [0025]    The exemplary embodiment  195  as shown in  FIG. 7  includes two keys  196 ,  200 . The first key  196  includes a viewable surface comprising a first surface  197  and a second surface  198 . A first vertical surface  199  is included that spans across the raised side of the key  196 . The second key  200  includes a viewable surface comprising a third surface  201  and a fourth surface  202 . A second vertical surface  203  is included that spans across the raised side of the key  200 . The keys  196 ,  200  may be disposed in close proximity where the vertical surfaces  199 ,  203  are facing each other. It should be noted that the keys  196 ,  200  exhibit rounded corners. The substantial ell shape created with the different elevations (e.g., surface  198 ,  202 ) allows the exemplary embodiment  195  to display data to the user along the edge of the viewable surface for both the keys  196 ,  200 . 
         [0026]    The exemplary embodiment  205  as shown in  FIG. 8  includes a first surface  206  and a second surface  207 . The exemplary embodiment  205  also includes rounded corners. The substantial U-shape (e.g., surface  207 ) created with the different elevations allows the exemplary embodiment  205  to display data to the user along the edge of the viewable surface. 
         [0027]    It should be noted that the above described embodiments are only exemplary and that other embodiments exist for the multi-facet shape of keys. Furthermore, the use of angles or dividers is only exemplary and other embodiments exist to display multiple sets of data on the surface of a key. For example, the keys may include a single viewable surface using colors to distinguish the different sets of input data. Using the example of data-centric keys and numeric keys, the data-centric input data may be on a black background with white lettering while the numeric input data may be on a yellow background with blue lettering. The color scheme may also be used in combination with the above described embodiments. The angles of the above described embodiments may also be in an opposite direction. That is, the exemplary embodiments illustrate a decreasing angle with respect to the flat surface (e.g., surface  160  with respect to surface  155  of  FIG. 2   a ). However, this decreasing angle is only exemplary and the angled surface may be on an increasing angle with respect to the flat surface. 
         [0028]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.