KEYPAD FOR TELEPHONES AND THE LIKE

Abstract: A keypad for stationary telephones, mobile telephones, cordless telephones, calculators, remote controls and the like, having an actuating means (1") provided in or on a housing for stepwise input of symbols and means for confirming the respective stepwise selected symbols. Only one means (1) is provided for stepwise input of symbols and the confirmation means consists of the means for stepwise input or of a separate means, said means being actuatable using the same hand as that holding the telephone. The actuating means for stepwise input consists of a wheel (1") that is rotatable relative to the housing, said rotatable wheel (1") can be provided with symbols or may interact with a scale provided with symbols.

Description: KEYPADFORTELEPHONESANDTHELIKE 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 disclosed in the preamble of claim 1. 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 objective of the present invention is to provide a keypad which can be used on handheld apparatuses 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. An example of a previously known keypad which to a certain degree solves this problem on a bracelet-mounted calculator is taught in US Patent 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 hand- carried units. 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 the features disclosed in claim 1. 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. Additional features of the invention are set forth in the other dependent claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the keypad in the form of a rotary keypad on a mobile telephone fashioned like a ball-point pen. Figs. 2a and 2b show two respective embodiments ofthe keypad in the form of a wheel keypad on a mobile telephone fashioned like a ball-point pen. Figs. 3a to 3d show the keypad in the form of a sliding key having a different embodiments in connection with a mobile telephone. Fig. 4 shows the keypad in the form of arrow keys in connection with a mobile telephone. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment ofthe present invention where the actuating means consists ofthe 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 ofthe 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 ofthe 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 ofthe 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 1 1. By pressing the key 1 1 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 1 1. The toggle key 1 1 may also be replaced by three keys. By using only one of the three keys 1 1, 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 ofthe display means may vary according to need and desire. The display means may also be supported by an audible signal from the apparatus.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. An keypad for stationary telephones, mobile telephones, cordless telephones, calculators, remote controls and the like, having an actuating means provided in or on a housing for stepwise input of symbols and means for confirming the respective stepwise selected symbols, characterised in that there is provided only one means for stepwise input of symbols, and that the confirmation means consists ofthe means for stepwise input or of a separate means, said means being actuatable using the same hand as that holding the telephone. 2. A keypad according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the actuating means for stepwise input consists of a wheel(l ';l ") that is rotatable relative to the housing. 3. A keypad according to Claims 1 - 2, characterised in that the rotatable wheel (1 ') is provided with symbols. 4. A keypad according to Claim 2, characterised in that the rotatable wheel (1 ") interacts with a scale provided with symbols. 5. A keypad according to Claim 1, characterised in that the actuating means consists of a sliding key (8) which can be moved in a groove (9) provided in the housing or along a slide bar (9) affixed to the housing. 6. A keypad according to Claim 1, characterised in that the actuating means consists of one key in the form of a toggle key for movement of a marker towards the right or left in a menu on a display device (3). 7. An keypad according to Claim 1 , characterised in that one ofthe housing parts serves as the confirmation means, in that it is connected in a hinge-like manner to the other housing part so that by bending the one housing part relative to the other housing part an key means inside the housing will be actuated. 8. An keypad according to Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the actual actuating means serves as the confirmation means, in that pressing or bending the actuating means causes the selection of a symbol to be carried out.

Inventors: BADARNEH ZIAD, BADARNEH, ZIAD
Applicants: BADARNEH ZIAD, BADARNEH, ZIAD
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: G06F3, G06F15, H04M1, H04Q9