GB2360738A

GB2360738A - Keyboard having array of nine keys in a 3x3 matrix

Info

Publication number: GB2360738A
Application number: GB0007417A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Man Kin Lau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-27
Filing date: 2000-03-27
Publication date: 2001-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-27
Also published as: GB2360738B; GB0007417D0

Abstract

The keyboard, for use with a computer or mobile phone, has an array of nine keys in a 3 x 3 matrix (Fig 4). The surfaces of the keys are provided with the numbers 1-9 in large bold type to indicate the operation categories thereof. The key surfaces are also provided with small numbers, letters or symbols to imaginally indicate the target operations provided. A target operation of inputting a letter, number, symbol or a functional operation is achieved by clicking two keys. The key of the first click is a category key and key of the second click is determined by the ordinal number of the target operation. The keyboard may be divided into two separate arrays (Fig 14). Alternatively the keyboard may be replaced by a 9-position joystick.

Description

2360738 Keyboard for Character Input 9x9 Matrix System & It's Method

Technical field

This invention relates to computer and communication fields, especially relates to the inputting keyboard and the inputting method.

Background of the invention

Electronics devices have been getting smaller and smaller, the functionality of keyboard needs to be implemented on very small space and in userfriendly way. For examples, the biggest barrier preventing mobile phone from being used as editor and address book is the troublesome alphabet input and limited key set. The user interface have become a critical factor for the functionality and design of electronics devices such as mobile phone and personal digital assistant. And, the user interface needs to have a balance between size and usability, with consideration of learning curve and computation overhead involved. The information age requires information to be retrieved and inputted in anywhere, at anytime. This made the user interface of inputting text (with the functionality of computer keyboard) become more and more important. A smaller and multifunctional keyboard is need to be used in computer and communlication products.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard adapted for computer products, communication products such as hand phone, pager and pocket game machine and the like. With this keyboard, a user can input numbers, letters to fulfil a predetermined target operation and flinctional operation; and a method of using this keyboard which method is simple and convenient, and is easy to remember.

Summary of the invention

The present invention adopts a keyboard having 9 keys(3 x 3), which keyboard has two meanings, one is that every key denotes the category of the input respectively, the other is that every key denotes the specific operation showed on its surface respectively. The designated target operation is achieved by double-click. In order to indicate the first meaning, the keys are numbered sequentially with large bold numerals of 1 to 9 which show the key category. In addition, the second meaning is vividly indicated by characters such as small numbers, letters, operating symbols and the like provided on the surface of the keys so as to show the target coperations of the keys. That is, each key includes 9 numbers, or letters, or symbols. Thus, the nine keys can fulfil 81(9 x 9) specific operations, including 10 -numbers comprising 0-9, the 26 letters of a to z and a plurality of symbols, as well as some functions such as a space forward, backspace io and output. In the method and condition of the present invention, the input of a number, a letter, or a symbol, or carrying out of a specific flinctional target operation can be achieved by c 1 i c ki n g two keys, that is, by inputing a first key as category key, and inputing a second key as a sequential key for selecting a number, a letter, a symbol or a designated function so as to conveniently and quickly input the numbers, letters, various symbols by means of the keyboard of the present invention to fulfil several information input functions. For example, a user can input the information to be transmitted into a mobile phone by means of the handphone keyboard and then sends it out or sends to the internet.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is an illustrating view showing the shape and arrangement of the keyboard of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an illustrating view showing the arrangement of the letters, numbers and symbols according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is an illustrating view showing the nine letters, nine numbers or nine symbols(including functions) provided in each key of the keyboard according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is an illustrating view showing the highlighted numbers of 1-9 provided on the 9 x 9 key matrix of the Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of inputting WO Swith the method and keyboard of the present invention; Fig. 6 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment with the method of 35 the present invention and a phone keyboard; Fig. 7 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment for achieving the present invention with a joystick; Fig. 8 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input European Language; 2 Fig. 9 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Greek Language; Fig. 10 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Japanese Language; Fig. 11 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Chinese Language by Cangji input method; Fig. 12. is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Chinese Language by Taiwan io pinyin (phonetic) input method; Fig. 13 is an illustrating view showing an embodh-rient of the present invention with a keyboard including divination symbols and fimctional operations; Fig. 14 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment in which the 15 keyboard of the present invention is divided into dual keyboard with two hands to operate and the left hand to click the category keys; Fig. 15 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment mi which the keyboard of the present invention is divided into dual keyboard with two hands to operate and the right hand to click the category keys., Fig. 16 is an illustrating perspective view showing that a user is operating the keystick input according to the present invention.

Preferred embodiments The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is an illustrating view showing the shape and arrangement of the keyboard and the method of the present invention. In consideration of simplification and convenience, the present invention adopts a keyboard consisted of 9(3 x 3) keys which are of particular characteristic in maths and Chinese culture and which are arranged in three lines and three columns,- which arrangement can also be called matrix arrangement. This arrangement looks the same as the ordinary telephone keyboard of square arrangement of 1 to 9 numbers, but the concept of the present invention has two meanings. For convenience of the following description, the 19 keys are named according to their relative locations so as to differentiate from the number keys, that is, the nine keys are called upper left key, upper middle

3 key, upper right key, middle left key, middle middle key, middle right key, lower left key, lower middle key and lower right key.

Fig. 2 is an example of classifying the nine keys according to their 5 meanings. The classification is mainly based on the principle of convenient use and memory. In this example, the classification can be made according to that shown in the Figure, in which the middle left key, the middle middle -key and the middle right key of the middle line are letter family keys, for example, they can be assigned sequentially the twenty six letters a to z and lo the middle middle key is assigned the number 0, the upper middle key is assigned number, and other keys are assigned symbol, common punctuation mark and movement control. This is a very important step. In the method of the present invention, with regard to the specific requirements of different products and different key classification, a user can input according to the above key classification, and look for and determine the first key to be clicked according to the figure.

Fig. 3 is an embodiment of ftirther specifying the method and keyboard of the present invention. That is, according to the arrangement of the assigned values, assigned symbols or letters of each key in Fig. 2, the keys are further specified to obtain the second meanings, i.e. the particular target operation meanings, all of which are expressed with symbols, numbers or letters that are directly shown on the surfaces of the corresponding keys on the keyboard.

In Fig. 3, 8 symbols are shown on the upper left key, and the upper left corner of the key is a blank site which means "space", so there are totally 9 symbols. This key includes symbols such as The upper middle key includes 9 numbers of 1 to 9 which are arranged from left to right, and from upper to lower in such an order as shown in the figure.

The upper right key includes nine symbols of arrows and parenthesis which are arranged in such an order as shown in the figure.

The middle left key includes nffle symbols of A to 1 which are arranged from left to right, and from upper to lower in such an order as shown in the 4 figure.

The middle middle key includes 8 letters of J to Q and a number 0. The number 0 is located in the center, i.e. the fifth location which is easy to remember. J to Q are arranged from left to right, and from upper to lower in such an order as shown in the f i g u re - The middle right key includes nine keys of R to Z which are arranged firom left to right, and from upper to lower in this order.

The lower left key includes nine symbols of C,:",which are arranged in the order shown in the figure.

The lower middle key includes nine symbols of "=." ' "/" ' etc., is which are arranged according to the order shown in the figure.

The lower right key includes nine symbols of "-->", "t", etc., which are arranged according to the order shown in the figure.

Each key in the figure includes 9 letters or symbols and there are nine keys so as to form a particular 9 x 9 matrix. Therefore, the title of the present invention includes the term "9 x 9 matrik".

Fig. 4 is a view with the nffie big bold numbers added on the keys of Fig. 3.

The nine keys are assigned the nine numbers of 1 to 9 sequently from the left to the right, and from the upper to the lower to denotes the nine keys of the upper left key, upper middle key and the lower right key. The big bold type is used to show the first meaning of the keyboard according to the present invention so as to differentiate from the lower case, numbers, etc.. The bold numbers on the keys denote the category keys. Afler the category is elected, then the sequential number of the particular operation in the category, i.e. the sequential key clicked the second time, is elected.

The above is the necessary explanation of the keyboard and it's method 3s according to the present invention. The method of the present invention can input a letter, number or a symbol, or a target functional operation by clicking twice, which can be expressed as follows with respect to the keyboard of Fig. 4.

---------- (1) Symbol zone ---------- Symbol: 7+x where x= 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for ? (punctuation) Symbol: 1+x where x=l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for space @ $ % ^ & - Space, simple pressing of 11 (double click of upper left corner) Symbol: 3+x where x=l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for Shift Cap Bsp < + > 1} Bsp (Backspace): simple pressing of33 (double click of upper right corner) Cap: capital mode: all lower, all upper, auto first upper Shift: for turning tipper and lower case of one letter only ---------- (11) Number zone ---------- Number: 2+x where x=l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ........ (Ill) Letter zone --------Letter: 4+x where x= 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for A B C D E F G H I Letter: 5+x where x=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for J K L M 0 N 0 P Q Letter: 6+x where x= 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for R S T U V W X Y Z ---------- (IV) Control zone --------- Control: 9+x where x=l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 for Tab, Up, Bsp, Left, Del, Right, Enter, Down 99 for entering/exiting the position control mode e.g. 99(enter movement mode), 4 (left), 8 (down) 9 (exiting) useful for viewing message --------- Double click for commonly used operation ------- ll: space, 33: backspace, 99: enter movement mode, 77: comma Now the above expressions will be explained.

If a user wants to input the symbols in the lower left key, he should first click the category key, that is, click out the lower left key of bold number 7; then if he wants to input "(", he should click the upper left key, i.e. the key L because the ordinal number of the symbol "(" in the key is 1, so as to input 71. Thus, the symbol "(" is input. If he wants to input "-" whose ordinal number in the key is 2, he should click the upper middle key, i.e. the key with bold number 2 so as to input 72. Thus the symbol "-" is input.

6 The rest can be done in the same manner.

If the user wants to input the symbols in the upper left key, he should first click the category key, i.e. the key with bold number 1 or the upper left key; then if he wants to input "%" whose ordinal number in the key is 5, he should click the middle middle key, i.e. the key with the bold number 5 so as to input 15. Thus the symbol "%" is input. The rest can be done in the same manner.

io If the user wants to input the symbols in the upper right key, he should first click the category key, i.e. the key with bold number 3 or the tipper right key; then if he wants to input "P' whose ordinal number in the key is 8, he should click the lower middle key, i.e. the key with the bold number 8 so as to input 38. Thus the symbol "I" is input. The rest can be done in the same manner.

If the user wants to input the numbers 1-9 that are all located in the upper middle key, i.e. the key with the bold number 2, he should first click the category key, i.e. the key with bold number 2 or the upper Mliddle key; then if he wants to input the nurnber "I"' whose ordinal number Mi the key is 1, he should click the upper left key, i.e. the key with the bold number 1 so as to input 21, or if he wants to input "2", he should click the key with the bold number 2, and so on.

The method of inputting letters and control zone is shown in Fig. 5 and is explained below.

When inputting, the user should first click the bold numbered key comprising the target operation, such as the symbol, the number or the letter. At the second click, he has only to consider the ordinal number of the target operation in the key and clicks the key whose bold number is the same with the ordinal number so as to Mfil the input.

Fig. 5 is an embodiment of inputting a phrase. For example, if a user wants to input the following phrase into the system:

Cat Siy[backspaceIze the input is shown in Fig. 5, in which the upper contents and the lower contents are corresponding to each other. The upper contents are the letters or functions to be input, and the lower contents are the key numbers to be clicked by the user. That is, when inputting the letter "c" which is located in the middle left key which is bold numbered 4, the user should click 4 7 first, then he should clicks 3 for the letter "c" is the third in the key so as to input "C". In the same way, "a" is input by clicking "41 ", "t" is input by clicking "63 ", space is input by clicking " 11 ". The space is a much used function, so it is arranged as " 11 " for conveniently clicking and inputting and it's easy to remember. In the same way, the backspace is input by clicking "33". This function is also specifically arranged. The input of other letters is in the same manner with the above examples. Thus, the whole inputs are as follows:

io 43 4163 1162 49 68 33 69 45 The above numbers are clicked sequentially.

The above explanation has fully described the concept and embodiment of 15 the present invention. The method of the present invention is very simple and do not need to remember with great effort. The method can be understood with a glimpse at the keyboard, and it is easy to learn and is convenient to spread out.

Fig 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention in the form of ordinary phone or hand phone. The keyboard of a telephone ususally has 12 keys as shown in Fig. 6, including the keys 1-9 of the present invention with the same structure. Therefore, the present invention can be carried out by the keyboard. Although there are only shown the numbers 1 to 9 on the surface of the keys of the keyboard to show that it is the keyboard of an ordinary phone or hand phone, in practice, the surface of the keys should like that of Fig. 4. Besides the additional keys such as "" can be used for function shift or mode shift. For example, it is changed into English input by pressing and then pressing "I"; changed into Chinese Jitigong Input by pressing and then pressing '7; changed into Jitigong Code Input by pressing and then pressing "Y'; changed into Chinese Cangji Input by pressing and then pressing "4"; changed into Chinese Phonetic Alphabet Input by pressing "", and then pressing "Y', etc..

For example, when inputting the English word "cat", the user should sequentially presses 434163, the same as shown in Fig. 4.

For example, when Chinese is input, the "0" in the lower middle position of the keyboard can be used as space bar, etc..

Fig. 7 is a view showing the input method of the present invention is 8 carried out by a keystick. The joystick, instead of the keyboard of Fig.s 1 to 5,, includes the contents identical to the 3 x 3 keyboard and has the same operation, which are similar to that of the Fig. 6. Therefore, joystick is also an embodiment of the present invention, using a joystick as a keyboard with a single hand mobile human interface.

It is a form of this invention, which enable joystick to use as keyboard as total 9 positions can be represented by the joystick.

io The user can move it to 8 positions or leave it at center, and press the button. Every 2 clicks gives a character, with ouild-^ Fig. 8 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input European Language. The keys of this keyboard comprise the big bold numbers of 1 to 9 respectively, and the upper middle key, middle left key, middle right key, middle middle key are all the letter category keys, and due to the particular European characters, the content of the tipper middle key is added to the keyboard, for adding special symbols, 1E can be replaced by other commonly used symbols.

Fig. 9 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Greek Language. The Greek language includes the following letters:

A B F A E Z H E) 1 K A M N 0 H P E T T (D X T 0 a 0 Y 6 E C n e 1 K X g v 0 n P a T v ( X (P W The letters in the upper line are the upper case letters, and the letters in the lower line are the lower case letters. In the keyboard of the embodiment, the Greek letters are positioned in the middle left, middle middle and middle right keys, and the upper case-lower case shift is achieved by a fimction key. For example, the shift of upper-lower case is achieved by the target operation T and so on. The number 0 is still located in the center of the middle middle key for easy memory.

Fig. 10 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Japanese Language. The upper left key, the upper middle key, the middle left key, the middle middle key, the middle right key and the lower middle key are used letter keys to 9 include the fifity letters of the Japanese, and the upper-lower case shift is achieved by a function key, and for adding or removing 11, e.g. (t for adding or removing 0, e.g. (1 Q for making a symbol smaller or larger, e.g. A 1O for switching to and forth from kana to kata(similiar to lower and tipper case of English) -5 X,:s h ". (t -- i 1, t -C Zt f.

-:r- 4)-;, - + y,? (1 J J5k te tv) t L;5 b A, 4 A Z ZE -,c A, 11 t2 ry Fig. 11 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Chinese Language by Cangji input method. In this embodiment, 26 charater roots corresponding to the 26 letters of A to.-Z that.are:,A.B-CDt-P-dHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ -1 5r, They are all located in the middle left key 4, the middle middle key 5 and the middle right key 6. The Cangji input method is very popular in Hongkong and Taiwan. Therefore, the keyboard of the embodiment will have a large market.

Fig. 12 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard which can input Chinese Language by Taiwan piyin(phonetic) input method. The Taiwan Phonetic letters are widely used in Taiwan, they include:

Taiwan Phonetic Symbol:

17 J7 n c 7 -i 3 5 -5 F < T All 4 f W 17 A >( LJ Y -C:

177 L7)c L)L' v They are respectively arranged onto the upper middle key 2, the middle left key 4, the middle middle key 5 and the middle right key 6.

- 1 v,. corresponding to 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 key combinations denotes the first tone, the second tone, the third tone, the fourth tone and the short tone of the Chinese sounds.

Fig. 13 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment of the present invention with a keyboard including divination symbols 6d fittictional operations. Each key includes imaginal symbols,specially the middle left and middle middle keys, which includes divina(tion symbols which look interesting, and are listed as follows.

io For example, clock: (D(DGCD(DO(DQ)ED(DOO arrow: RP71<- x ->V\k.A computer:

hand: 4 9 t h c C. P weather: 0 choroscope:

This keyboard embodiment indicates that all the required target operations 20 can be provided onto the keys of the keyboard according to the technical solution of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment in which the keyboard of the present invention is divided into dual keyboard with two hands to operate and the left hand to click the category keys, in ^ which the big bold number portion is divided from the little symbol portion to be seperately located on a different keyboard. It is used in condition of two hands input, and its contents and spirit are the same as that shown in the Fig. 4. This embodiment is very useful for products suitable for two hand input, in which:

Select zone by right hand and position by left hand; Pressing the zone by right hand, selecting the desired key by left hand, then releasing fight hand (or vica versa).

Fig. 15 is an illustrating view showing an embodiment in which the keyboard of the present invention is divided into dual keyboard with two hands to operate and the right hand to click the category keys. Fig. 15 is similar to Fig. 14, except that the right and left keyboards are exchanged.

Because some people are accustomed to use right hands and some people are accustomed to use left hands, the embodiments shown in Fig. 14 and 15 can satisfy all the people.

Fig. 16 is an illustrating perspective view showing that a user is operating the keystick input according to the present invention. It is a single hand mobile human interface, the user can move the cursor to 8 positions or leave at center, and every two clicks of the press button gives a character, with sound also. It is also suitable for pager and pocket game machine.

Human interface for electronics device with small number of key, such as lo telephone, mobile phone, calculator, label printer, prsonal digital assistant and communication equipment.

This invention allows new class of application to be implemented on new or traditional electronics devices, such as build-in dictionary, editor and spell-checker within mobile phone. As another example, it allows user to input text in various language through the joystick of game machine and set-top box.

As the invention requires small computation overhead, it can be 20 implemented in micro-controller with low computation power and even pure electronics logic.

12

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard for being used in computer and communication system and products such as mobile phone, characterized in that the keyboard has nine s i.e. 3 x 3 keys on the surfaces of which are sequentially provided big bold numbers of 1 to 9 so as to indicate the operation categories thereof, and also on the surfaces of which are provided little numbers, letters, symbols and the like so as to imaginally indicate the provided target operations, that is, on the surface of every key there is provided with little images showing io nine different numbers,, nine different letters, nine different symbols, or nine different functional operations which are used'for inputting numbers, letters, symbols, or operation functions.

2. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that each of the nile keys is provided with a big bold character on its surface to indicate the operation category which is differentiated by the contents of the little images on its surface.

3. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the categories of the nine keys include letter, number, symbol, and functional operation indication.

4. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the ordinal number of the target operation indicated by a little image on the surface of one of the nine keys is determined by the order of the image among the iline target operations shown on the key, the ordinal numbers of the mine target operations include 1 to 9, arranged from left to right, and from upper to lower.

5. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the categories of the nine keys are defined by the following table:

Symbol Number Symbol Letter Letter and digit 0 Letter Common Direct Movement control Punctuation Symbol Mark 6. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may be defined by the following pattern: 35 13 12 3 3 2 t56 7 C. 9 4 A B r 5 KAM 6 11 p Z ll 1 !5 E Z TIO H e 1 0 X Y C? c 8 9 7 ?!" 7. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may be replace by a joystick, the operation pattern is as follows:

8. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may include European letters, and the keyboard can be defined by the following pattern:

2 3 AAA < > 4 ABC 5 i-f L 6 RST DEF MEN UW GEI OPQ M H 9 7 ?! 11 9. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may include Greek letters, and the keyboard can be defined by the following pattern:

1 123 -1 () ( 2 3 56 <+> 729 ( 1) 11 B r E AM 11 p Z 4 5 6 Aúz 0 TTO Hel N =_ 0 X 7 9 ) 8 ' ' 7 17.

10. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard can be defined by the following pattern:

14 1 2,ti 2 11 zl;! 3 1,0< 5A LTC <4> E IZ b ( 1) 4 U2,^ 6 C6t t3h )8 9 11. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may include the font of the Chinese Cangji input, and the keyboard can be defined by 5 the following pattern:

n te 2 3 056 <+> 789 4 6 ra r- 7 9 39 12. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may include io Taiwan Chinese pmyin(phonetic) input, and the keyboard can be defined by the following pattern:

7sz n 3 c.4 <+> 4 q 5'V 4 6 SI 3Z 5 Y t L7 8 v 13. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may include divination symbols and functional operation indicators, and the keyboard can be defined by the following pattern:

6d 9 14. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may be divided into two keyboards, and the keyboards can be defined by the 5 following pattern:

2 3 4 5 6 (Le,'t hand) (Ri gh: h. z.-. d 15. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard with press keys may be replace by a joystick with directional key.

16. A keyboard of claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard may be used as the keyboard of the phone.

17. A method for inputting letters, numbers, symbols, functional operations etc. into an electrical or electronic appliance, computer, or communication apparatus or products etc., characterized by using the keyboard of claim 1, and a target operation of inputting a letter, a number, a symbol, or a functional operation is achieved by clicking two keys.

18. A method of claim 10, characterized in that the key of the first click is a category key, the second clicked key is a key determined by the ordinal number of the target operation.

19. A method of claim 10, charactedzed in that when the keyboard is divided into two keyboards so that both the night hand and the left hand are used to operate, first the left hand clicks once, then the right hand clicks once, or the right hand clicks once, then the left hand clicks once.

16 G 1- 2 2 ^1 n <- <-> ABC j-KCL D= F 1 1 ON wr", MYZ 20. A keyboard substantially as shown in or as described with. reference to the accompanying drawings.

17