Abstract:
An input device. The input device may be coupled to an electronic device. The input device comprises a control capable of being moved to n activation points to respectively activate input functions, wherein n is an integer larger than or equal to ten. When activated, the input functions respectively enable n digits to be input to the electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an input device, and in particular to an input device comprising a control capable of moving between a plurality of activation points for triggering phone number digit input.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Typically, a conventional mobile phone provides a keypad comprising numeric and other function keys. A user typically looks at the keypad when entering a phone number. This method, however, is impossible for the blind. Additionally, when driving, it is dangerous to look at a keypad when entering a phone number. Voice control functions provided by some mobile phones are easily interfered with by environmental noise and are thus impractical.  
         [0005]     A keypad may be burdensome and add to the size of a mobile phone or encroach on the area available for the display. A keypad may also be difficult to use if too small.  
         [0006]     In addition, when using a mobile phone with a hinged cover to enter a phone number, even if an earphone is provided, a mobile user must first open the hinged cover and look at the keypad when entering a phone number.  
         [0007]     Hence, there is a need for a new input device for ameliorating the above-described disadvantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, the invention provides an input device. The input device may be coupled to an electronic device. The input device comprises a control capable of being moved to n activation points to respectively activate input functions, wherein n is an integer larger than or equal to ten. When activated, the input functions respectively enable n phone number digits to be input to the electronic device.  
         [0009]     In addition, the invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device comprises an input device coupled to the electronic device. The input device comprises a control capable of being moved to n activation points to respectively activate input functions, wherein n is an integer larger than or equal to ten. When activated, the input functions respectively enable n phone number digits to be input to the electronic device. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   a  is a cross-section of an input device of the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   b  is a schematic diagram of a top view of an input device in the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone of the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the configuration of mobile phone  30  in the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross-section of an input device of the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5   b  is a schematic diagram of a top view of the input device in the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a coordinate plane of the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a top view of an input device of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The present invention provides an input device for ameliorating the previously described disadvantages.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone  40  of the invention. Mobile phone  40  is provided with a hinged cover. The arrangement wherein mobile phone  40  comprises an input device  42  located in area  41 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , enables entry of phone numbers using the input device  42  without first opening the hinged cover. Mobile phone  40  is illustrated as an example of an electronic device with the input device  42  of the invention. It is noted that this is not intended to limit the invention. The input device of the invention can be located at any other portion of mobile phone  40  or other electronic device, such as a personal digital assistant.  
         [0022]     The input device  42  of the invention can be implemented using a channel structure of a specific shape, and input is accomplished via a movable control disposed therein.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2   a  is a cross-section of an input device  42  of the first embodiment of the invention. Input device  42  comprises a cover  1 , control  2  and a receptacle  3 . Control  2  comprises a T shaped structure with a spherical base. The T shape structure acts as a movable lever while the spherical base enables movement of control  2  in various directions. The receptacle  3  receives the spherical structure, and comprises a switch for activating a function. The function is activated when receptacle  3  receives pressure exerted via control  2  when pressed. In the embodiment, the function comprises calling a phone number. The surface of the spherical structure of control ball  2  and the surface of receptacle  3  may be smooth for reducing friction. A lubricant may also be used.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2   b  is a schematic diagram of a top view of the input device  42  in the first embodiment of the invention. A hollow area enclosed by cover  1  comprises a channel structure  100 . Channel structure  100  comprises a longer horizontal track, two vertical tracks, an upper-left track, a lower-left track, an upper-right track and a lower-right track. The two vertical tracks cross the horizontal track at a left cross point and a right cross point respectively. The upper-left track extends from the left cross point in an upper-left direction. The lower-left track extends from the left cross point in a lower-left direction. The upper-right track extends from the right cross point in an upper-right direction. The lower-right track extends from the right cross point in a lower-right direction. Channel structure  100  comprises ten end points. Five end points thereof respectively comprise end points of tracks extending radially from the left cross point. The other five end points thereof comprise end points of tracks extending radially from the right cross point respectively. As shown in  FIG. 2   b , a plurality of switches serving as activation points are located below cover  1  and correspond to the ten end points. The ten switches comprise buttons  10 - 19 . In the first embodiment, buttons  10 - 19  are respectively capable of activating ten input functions for inputting digits “0” to “9” to mobile phone  40 . The correspondence of digits and buttons as described above is not intended to limit the invention. The object of entering phone numbers can be achieved even if the correspondence of digits and buttons is changed.  
         [0025]     When a user moves control  2  along a track in channel structure  100  to an end point, a button corresponding to the end point is pressed, and a digit corresponding thereto is input to the mobile phone  40 .  
         [0026]     Hence, different digits are distinguishable and can be input by moving control  2  along different tracks of channel structure  100  to different end points. The structure enables correct entry of a phone number even if the user does not look at the input device  42  when dialing. Additionally, the arrangement wherein input device  42  is located at an outer side of mobile phone  40  enables a phone number to be entered without opening the hinged cover. Further, a phone number can be input to mobile phone  40  via control  2  and be called via mobile phone  40  when control  2  is pressed.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0027]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone  30  of the second embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , mobile phone  30  comprises an input device  32  located in an area  31  thereof for replacing a conventional keypad. Input device  32  may be implemented in a small area as it comprises only one control leaving the remaining are free for a large display.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the configuration of mobile phone  30  in the second embodiment of the invention. Mobile phone  30  comprises a display  62 , a central processing unit (CPU)  1 , an input/output (I/O) controller  63 , and an input device  32 . Input device  32  couples to I/O controller  63 . CPU  1  couples to display  62  and, I/O controller  63 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross-section of input device  32  of the second embodiment of the invention. Input device  32  comprises cover  4 , lever  5 , receptacle  6   a  bearing the base of lever  5 , wire  6   b, x -direction joint  7   a, y -direction joint  7   b , spring combination  9 , and base  33 .  
         [0030]     A user of mobile phone  30  may move lever  5  by finger.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5   b  is a schematic diagram of a top view of the input device  32  in the second embodiment of the invention. A hollow area enclosed by cover  4  in  FIG. 5   b  comprises channel structure  200  of a specific shape for directing movement of lever  5 . Receptacle  6   a  bears lever  5 . Receptacle  6   a  comprises a wire  6   b  coupling to I/O controller  63  of mobile phone  30 . Receptacle  6   a  activates a function when pressed. X-direction joint  7   a  bears lever  5  and receptacle  6   a  and pivots y-direction joint through an axle parallel to direction y. X-direction joint  7   a  enables the lever  5  to move along or against direction x. Direction x is perpendicular to direction z, as shown in  FIG. 5   a . Direction x is perpendicular to direction y, as shown in  FIG. 5   b . Direction y is perpendicular to directions x and z. Y-direction joint  7   b  pivots base  33  through an axle parallel to direction x. Y-direction joint  7   b  enables the lever  5  to move along or against direction y. X-direction joint  7   a  and  y -direction joint  7   b  enable lever  5  to be moved in any direction. Spring combination  9  enables lever  5  to return to a central position corresponding to the center of channel structure  200  when lever  5  is released. Two springs of spring combination  9  may be located in direction x and y respectively.  
         [0032]     Channel structure  200  comprises a longer vertical track, two horizontal tracks, an upper-left track, an upper-right track, a lower-left track and a lower-right track.  
         [0033]     The two horizontal tracks cross the vertical track at an upper cross point and a lower cross point respectively. The upper-left track extends from the upper cross point in an upper-left direction. The upper-right track extends from the upper cross point in an upper-right direction. The lower-left track extends from the lower cross point in a lower-left direction. The lower-right track extends from the lower cross point in a lower-right direction. Thus, channel structure  200  comprises ten end points. Five end points thereof comprise end points of tracks extending radially from the upper cross point respectively. The other five end points thereof comprise end points of tracks extending radially from the lower cross point respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5   b.    
         [0034]     When input device  32  is implemented in a joystick generating digital signals, ten buttons  20 - 29  serving as activation points of lever  5  are located below cover  4  and correspond to the end points. In the second embodiment, the buttons  20 - 29 , when pressed, activate ten input functions respectively for inputting digits “0” to “9” to mobile phone  30 .  
         [0035]     When a user moves lever  5  along different tracks of channel structure  200  to an end point of a track, a button corresponding to the end point is pressed by lever  5 , and a digit corresponding thereto is input to the mobile phone  30 . In the embodiment, buttons  20 - 29  couple to I/O controller  63  through wires (not shown). When detecting that one of the buttons  20 - 29  is pressed, I/O controller  63  generates an input signal for inputting a digit corresponding to the pressed button to CPU  64 . CPU  64  receives the input signal and displays the input digit on display  62 .  
         [0036]     Hence, a user can distinguish different digits and move lever  5  along with different tracks of channel structure  200  to different end points corresponding thereto to input a phone number.  
         [0037]     When the function of receptacle  6   a  comprises a calling function, pressing the lever  5  initiates a call through mobile phone  30 , wherein the phone number is input via input device  32 .  
         [0038]     When input device  32  is implemented as a joystick generating analog signals, the object of the invention can be achieved by a storage medium storing a computer application for performing the following method.  
         [0039]     Ten coordinate areas are defined to correspond to ten functions for inputting distinct digits.  FIG. 6  is a coordinate plane representing universal positions corresponding to lever  5 . Coordinate areas  300 - 309  are defined as acceptable ranges of coordinates of lever  5  at ten end points respectively. Coordinate areas  300 - 309  comprise activation points and correspond respectively to input functions for input of digits “0” to “9” to mobile phone  30 .  
         [0040]     When lever  5  is moved to an end point, and the coordinate corresponding to the position of lever  5  falls in coordinate area  300 , digit “0” is input to mobile phone  30 . For defining digit input frequency, digit “0” is input to mobile phone  30  once a second until position of lever  5  is no longer in coordinate area  300 . Similarly, when lever  5  is moved to another end point, and the coordinate corresponding thereto falls in another of coordinate areas  300 - 309 , a corresponding digit is input to mobile phone  30  accordingly.  
         [0041]     Input mechanism of input device  32  may be amended variously. For example, another digit input mechanism is described in the following. Lever  5  must be moved to an end point and pressed to trigger receptacle  6   a  to input a digit. The calling function is triggered by pressing receptacle  6   a  twice.  
         [0042]     The shape of the hollow area of cover  4  may be changed to accommodate a different channel structure and different operating style for lever  5 . Then number of activation points implemented in buttons or coordinate areas may be more than ten.  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a top view of an input device of the invention. A hollow area enclosed by the cover  35  comprises a channel structure  500 . The specific shape of channel structure  500  comprises four arms extending from a central position thereof in four directions. The outer portion of each arm comprises three angles, as shown in  FIG. 7 . A total of 12 angles are provided for locating activation points. Buttons  50 - 61  serving as activation points are located at the angles. Buttons  50 - 61  may respectively correspond to 12 input functions for inputting digits “0” to “9” and symbols “#” and “*”.  
         [0043]     Digit tones may be adopted to ameliorate the risk of dialing wrong number. A digit tone may sound when lever  5  is near an activation point.  
         [0044]     In conclusion, the invention eliminates the need to look at the display of a mobile phone when dialing. The input device of the invention comprises a control, thus eliminating the need for a keypad providing more available area for a display.  
         [0045]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.