Abstract:
The array of keys constituting a numeric phone keypad on a mobile communication device only partially overlaps the array of keys that make up the text input keypad creating an offset so that only subsets of the keys constituting the two keypads are common to both. With this configuration, the numeric phone keypad can be more easily distinguished from the text input keypad while still reaping the benefits of having some shared keys.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/610,334, filed on Sep. 16, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Aspects of this invention are directed to keyboard arrangements for mobile communication devices, and particularly, to keyboard arrangements that integrate yet differentiate two different keypads such as text input keypad and a numeric phone keypad. 
     2. Background Information 
     Many types of keyboard arrangements are known. The most widely used English-language alphabetic key arrangement is the QWERTY arrangement. Other types of standard English-language alphabetic key arrangements include the QWERTZ arrangement, the AZERTY arrangement, and the DVORAC arrangement. Alphabetic key arrangements are often presented along with a numeric key arrangement. In a common arrangement, the numbers one through nine and zero are positioned above the alphabetic keys. In another known numeric key arrangement, numbers share keys with the alphabetic characters, such as the top row of the QWERTY keyboard. In a common arrangement, the numeric key arrangement is separate and spaced to the side of the alphabetic/numeric key arrangement. This numeric keypad, which may be found on personal computer keyboard arrangements, places the numbers “7” “8” “9” arranged in the top row, “4” “5” “6” arranged in the second row, “1” “2” “3” arranged in the third row, and “0” in a bottom row. 
     In a common numeric phone key arrangement, the numbers “1” “2” “3” are arranged in the top row, “4” “5” “6” are arranged in the second row, the numbers “7” “8” “9” are arranged in the third row, and the numeral “0” is arranged in the middle of a fourth row between “*” and “#” keys. Phone keypads also often include an alphabetic key arrangement overlaying or coinciding with the numeric keys with three or four letters included on the keys for the numbers “2” through “9”. Such alphanumeric phone keypads are used in many traditional handheld mobile communication devices, such as cellular handsets. 
     Mobile communication devices that include a combined text-entry keyboard and a telephony keyboard are also known. Examples of such mobile communication devices include mobile stations, cellular phones, wireless personal digital assistance (PDAs), two-way paging devices, and others. Combining a traditional style text-entry keyboard (e.g., a QWERTY-style keyboard) with a traditional style telephony keyboard on the same mobile communication device typically involves undesirable ergonomic and/or intuitive user interface compromises. One prior art mobile communication device implements a combined alphabetic and numeric keyboard by having the numeric characters share keys with alphabetic characters on the top row of the QWERTY keyboard. In another prior art device, the numeric characters share keys with alphabetical characters on the left side of the keyboard. Many other arrangements that integrate an alphabetic keyboard and a numeric keyboard for a mobile communication device have been proposed. To my knowledge, in all of these proposed arrangements, the text input and numeric keypads fully overlap. 
     Some mobile communication devices incorporate a reduced alphabetic keyboard, such as a QWERTY keyboard in which the number of alphabetic keys is reduced by including two alphabetic characters on most keys. Such devices include a disambiguation engine that analyzes the sequence of keystrokes to resolve the intended input. One such device superimposes a numeric phone keypad over the center of the alphabetic keypad with the “0” included on the spacebar. 
     There is room for improvement in keyboard arrangements for mobile communication devices that make them more intuitive and easier to use while limiting the overall size of the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a mobile communication device incorporating a physical keyboard in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial front elevation view of a mobile communication device having a physical keyboard in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is alternative embodiment of the keyboard shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial front elevation view of a mobile communication device having a physical keyboard in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a mobile communication device  1  incorporating aspects of the invention. The device  1  has a user input system  3  that includes a display  5 , a physical keyboard  7  and a thumbwheel device  9 . The physical keyboard  7  and the thumbwheel device  9  allow the user to input, select and manipulate text, data and functions that are presented on the display  5 , as is known. 
     Various aspects of the invention are directed to the physical keyboard  7 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the physical keyboard  7  is made up of a first user interface  11  in the form of a first array of keys and a second user interface  13  in the form of a second array of keys. The first array of keys  11  constitute a text input keypad having a plurality of keys that includes keys  15  bearing alphabetic characters, and a spacebar  17 . The alphabetic keys  15  are laid out in a reduced QWERTY keyboard arranged in three rows  19 ,  21  and  23 . Each of these rows has five columns except the last row  23 . Most of the alphabetic keys  15  represent two alphabetic characters as indicated. The spacebar  17  is centered under the pattern of alphabetic keys  15 . 
     The second array of keys  13  constitutes a numeric phone keypad. The exemplary numeric phone keypad  13  corresponds to the international telecommunication union (ITU) Standard E.161, entitled “Arrangement of Digits, Letters, and Symbols on Telephones or Other Devices That Can Be Used for Gaining Access to a Telephone Network”. This standard is also known as ANSI TI.703-1995/1999 and ISO/IEC 9995-8:1994. Thus, as can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the numeric phone pad  13  is laid out in four rows of three columns each with the bottom row containing the numeral “0” in the center flanked by the “*” symbol on the left and the “#” symbol on the right. Other numeric keypad arrangements could be utilized. 
     In accordance with aspects of the invention, the second array of keys  13 , representing the numeric phone keypad is offset from the first array of keys representing the text input keypad. As a result, there is a subset  27  of the keys  25  of the numeric phone keypad  13  represented by the second, third and fourth rows of the second array which overlap and are therefore common with a subset  29  of keys in the second, third and fourth columns of the first, second and third rows of the text input keypad  11 . Thus, one row, the top row  31  in  FIG. 1 , of the numeric phone keypad  13 , extends above the alphabetic keys  15  of the text input keypad  11  so that the keys of this first row  31  are not in the subset  27  of the keys of the numeric phone keypad that are common with keys in the subset  29  of keys of the text input keyboard  11 . 
     With the above described arrangement of the physical keyboard  7 , the numeric phone keypad  13  can be more easily distinguished from the text input keypad  11  while at the same time realizing the better part of the efficiencies of having the two keypads share some keys. 
     The physical keyboard  7  also includes a number of auxiliary keys  33 . As is well known, these auxiliary keys  33  can be used to implement functions such as enter, delete, backspace and the like. Some such auxiliary keys  33  can be located above the text input keypads such as in line with the top row  31  of the numeric phone keypad  13  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates another embodiment  7 ′ of the physical keyboard. This keyboard  7 ′ is similar to that of  FIG. 1  except that the spacebar  17 ′ is larger than the remainder of the keys. The exemplary spacebar  17 ′ is elongated and extends under all three columns of the numeric phone keypad  13 ′ to further help in identifying the boundary of the numeric phone keypad from that of the text input keypad  11 ′. 
     Additional variations are within the scope of the invention. For instance, other text input key arrangements other than the exemplary reduced QWERTY arrangement could be used for the text input keypad. The keys of the second array of keys  13  constituting the numeric phone keypad could be further distinguished in other ways, such as by making these keys a different size and/or shape as illustrated in  FIG. 2   b.    
     Other enhancements can be provided to further differentiate between the two overlapping keyboards. For instance, the faces of the common keys can be divided into sections such as with the numerals in the upper half  35  and the letters in the lower half  37  as shown in  FIG. 2A . Different indicia can be utilized to further distinguish the two halves. For instance, different colors or textures could be used for the sections  33  and  35 . Furthermore, these different colors or textures could be extended to the full face of the other keys of the respective arrays that are not common to both arrays as shown in  FIG. 2A . Alternatively, the keys of the numeric phone keypad  13 ′ could be provided with a different physical appearance such as a distinguishing color, surface texture, size or shape to make that keyboard stand out as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Here, the second array of keys  13 ″ of the physical keyboard  7 ″ constituting the numeric phone keypad is offset vertically downward relative to the first array of keys  11 ″ constituting the text input keypad. In this configuration, the top row of the numeric phone keypad  13 ″ coincides with the second row of the alphabetic keys  15  of the text input keypad  11 ″. Hence, the third row of the numeric phone keypad  13 ″ is below the lowest row of alphabetic keys  15  forming the third row of the text input keypad  11 ″. This puts the numeric phone key for the numeral “8” on the same key that forms the spacebar  17 ″ for the text input keypad and extends the fourth row of the numeric phone keypad  13 ″ containing keys with the characters “*”, “0” and “#” in a separate row below all the other keys. In this arrangement some of the auxiliary keys  33 ″ can be above, and aligned with, the numeric phone keypad. 
     Also, the numeric indicia for the numeric phone keypad  13  could be provided on the face  39  of the mobile communication device  1  adjacent the corresponding key rather than being on the key itself. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details may be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.