Keypad for telephones and the like

A keypad for telephones and the like, preferably mobile telephones. There is provided at least one actuating mechanism (1) for stepwise input of call symbols. There is provided an additional mechanism for confirming the respective stepwise selected symbols or this consists of the actual actuating mechanism, pressure on or bending of the actuating mechanism causing the selection of symbols to be carried out. The actuating mechanism may consist of the telephone housing in that the housing is divided into an upper part (5) and a lower part (4) which are rotatable relative to one another, by a wheel (1) that is rotatable relative to the housing, and that is provided with call symbols or interacts with a scale provided with call symbols, a sliding key which can be moved in a groove provided in the telephone housing or on a slide bar affixed to the housing, or one or more keys for moving a marker in a menu on a display device (3).

FIELD OF INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a keypad for telephones and similar
 devices where it is necessary to key in several character symbols in order
 to use the device of the type having an actuating means provided in or on
 a housing for stepwise input of symbols and means for confirming the
 respective stepwise selected symbols.
 BACKGROUND
 Recently, mobile telephones have become increasingly common, and the most
 popular model is that which is light and small and which the user can
 easily carry around with him.
 However, the keypad has proven be a limiting factor for miniaturisation. In
 the smallest telephones found on the market, the keypads have already been
 found to be difficult to use because the keys are too small.
 An example of a previously known keypad which to a certain degree solves
 this problem on a bracelet-mounted calculator is taught in U.S. Pat. No.
 4,044,242. The keys here are replaced by two sliding means which are slid
 into a position on a scale corresponding to a desired symbol, and by
 pressing the sliding means the symbol is fed to the calculating part of
 the calculator at the same time as the symbol is displayed on a display
 device. In this known device, the means for transferring the chosen symbol
 to the calculator is connected to the sliding means so that when the
 sliding means is pressed the transfer takes place. This is a rather
 unsuitable solution as unintentional transfer of a symbol can easily take
 place, which is especially the case when the apparatus is kept in a
 pocket, bag or similar, i.e., not used as prescribed in the patent
 publication. This solution is thus not suitable for mobile telephones or
 similar handcarried units.
 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
 An objective of the present invention is to provide a keypad which can be
 used on handheld devices such as mobile phones, and which make possible
 the manufacture of, e.g., mobile phones as small as a fairly large pen,
 which can be used by anyone, even a person with quite large fingers
 without any problems.
 The present invention provides a keypad of the type mentioned above which
 avoids the drawbacks of the previously known devices and which is
 characterised by only one means for stepwise input symbols, and wherein
 the confirmation means consists of the means for stepwise input or of a
 separate means, said latter means being actuatable using the same hand as
 that holding the telephone.
 In this design of the keypad, less material is used and there are fewer
 devices on the apparatuses, which means that they can be produced more
 cheaply. The keypad according to the invention not only allows the
 apparatuses to be made smaller, but also makes possible completely new
 constructions/design as mentioned above, e.g., a mobile telephone shaped
 like a ball-point pen. Handheld apparatuses can be made lighter as the
 housing becomes smaller, which means that handheld apparatuses can more
 easily be operated with one hand. This results in greater safety, when
 using, e.g., a mobile telephone in road traffic.
 The keypad according to the invention can be used in the majority of areas
 where keypads having keys or buttons have hitherto been used for selecting
 individual numbers or letters. By way of example, mention can be made of
 mobile telephones, cordless telephones, remote controls for televisions
 and hi-fi and so forth. The mechanics-tele-electronics that are used
 inside the apparatuses with known push keypads can in principle be used
 with the keypad according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention where the actuating
 means consists of the actual housing of the telephone which consists of an
 upper part 5 and a lower part 4 which are rotatable relative to each
 other. In the gap between the two housing parts 4, 5 there is provided a
 scale 1 of symbols, which, when using the device as a telephone, are the
 call symbols, i.e., the symbols which may occur in a telephone number. The
 scale 1 may be affixed to one of the housing parts 4, 5.
 One of the housing parts may have a marker which points towards the scale
 1, so that when the one housing part is turned relative to the other, the
 marker will point towards the selected symbol. It will also be possible to
 connect the turning position to an electronic unit that is known per se
 which highlights the respective selected symbols.
 The selected symbol is fed to a display means 3 of a commonly known type,
 which today is used in the majority of mobile telephones, in that an
 actuating means suitable for the purpose is operated. This actuating means
 may be an extra key for this purpose, or the one housing part is bent
 relative to the other housing part and thus actuates an inbuilt key. The
 one housing part will in this case be connected in a hinge-like manner to
 the other housing part, so that when the one housing part is bent relative
 to the other housing part, a key inside the housing will be actuated.
 The stepwise selected symbols, which appear automatically on the display
 device can automatically be transmitted as a telephone number as they are
 selected or transmitted once selection is completed by actuating a key for
 this purpose.
 The, e.g., lower part 4 of the telephone housing may also be provided with
 additional keys 6 according to need: a # key, a * key, a clear key and so
 forth. In spite of these extra keys 6, the number of keys is still reduced
 so much that this does not affect the size of a telephone or the necessary
 keys.
 The connection between the respective actuating means, keys and the actual
 telephone unit, and the display devices are considered to be technically
 obvious and can be carried out using commonly known art within the
 construction of a telephone, and will therefore not be described in any
 more detail in connection with this embodiment or any of the subsequent
 embodiments.
 FIGS. 2a and 2b show an embodiment of the keypad in the form of a wheel 1',
 1" on a mobile telephone fashioned like a ball-point pen.
 In FIG. 2a the wheel 1' is shown projecting from the upper part of the
 housing with the symbols on the wheel 1' and an arrow marker 7, which
 shows the selected symbol when the wheel 1' is turned.
 The wheel may also be sunk into the housing as shown in FIG. 2b. In this
 case a scale 2' is provided, which indicates a selected symbol in the same
 way as described when referring to FIG. 1.
 The determination of a symbol in the form of, e.g., a letter or number, may
 take place by pressing the wheel 1', 1" or by using a separate button
 suitably located on the housing.
 The two embodiments described here may also have a display device 3 and
 extra keys 6 as described when referring to FIG. 1.
 FIGS. 3a to 3d show the keypad in the form of a sliding key 8 having
 different embodiments in connection with a mobile telephone.
 In these embodiments, the actuating means consists of a sliding means 8
 which can be moved in a groove or along a slide bar 9. The groove 9 may be
 straight (FIGS. 3a and 3b), curved (FIG. 3d) or non-linear, of which an
 example is shown in FIG. 3c. The groove or slide bar 9 may be constructed
 as a part of the apparatus housing as a more or less open groove 9 or in
 the form of a slide bar affixed to the housing. The symbols may be marked
 along the groove or slide bar 9 on the housing or even on the actual
 display means 3 as shown in FIG. 3a. Confirmation of the selected symbol
 may take place by pressing the sliding means 8, bending the sliding means
 up or down, or by operating a key designated for this purpose, that is to
 say in principle in the same way as described in connection with the
 aforementioned embodiments.
 FIG. 4 shows a keypad in the form of arrow keys in connection with a mobile
 telephone. The actuating means here consists of a type of toggle key 11.
 By pressing the key 11 on the arrows towards left and right respectively,
 the arrow 12 on the display means 3 will be moved along the symbols shown.
 The symbol is selected by pressing on the centre of the toggle key 11. The
 toggle key 11 may also be replaced by three keys.
 By using only one of the three keys 11, it will thus be possible to select
 symbols in a display means by moving the arrow backwards and forwards in a
 menu in the display means 3. This entire operation requires much less
 space and fewer internal functions than known keypads which require space
 for a minimum of about ten keys.
 The display device may be designed in many different ways. The symbols may
 be marked by using a marker, or by the symbols rolling over the display
 means, or by highlighting the symbols in colour or shading The technical
 solution of the display means may vary according to need and desire. The
 display means may also be supported by an audible signal from the
 apparatus.