NZ510480A - Keypad for mobile phones characterised that the commonly used alpha-numeric keys are ergonomically placed within the reach of a thumb whereupon the operation of the keypad is able to fully controlled by a single thumb - Google Patents

Abstract

An ergonomically angled keypad for use with an opposable thumb suitable for communication devices such as cellular phones. The keypad is preferably located above a display screen.

Description

Pat. 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Form No. 5 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ. 2 3 AUG 2001 RECEIVED PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (To be furnished in Duplicate) Where priority as provided by subsection (2) or (3) of section 11 of the Patents Act 1953 is desired in respect of one or more provisional specifications, quote number or numbers and date or dates 510480 No.

Date 14 March 2001 (a) Insert title of Invention. (a) A keypad for cellular phones (b) State (in full) name, address and nationality of applicant or applicants as in application form (b) Wayne George Young.

L1A, 10 Ruskin St, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand citizen (c) Here begin full description of invention. The continuation of the specification should be upon paper of the same size as this form, on one side only with the lines well spaced and with a margin of 2.5cm on the left hand side of the paper. The completion of the description should be followed by the words "What I (or we) claim is" after which should be written the claim or claims numbered consecutively (see note below). The specification and the dup-licate thereof must be signed at the end. 21 785F-1,500/11/90MK HEREBY declare the invention, for which 1/v^pray that a patent may be granted to xndysS and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to keypads especially suitable (C) for miniature cellular phones, palm NOTE. The claims must relate to a single invention, must be clear and succinct, and must be fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification. They should form in brief a clear statement of that which constitutes the invention. Applicants should be careful that their claims include neither more nor less than they desire to protect by their patent. Any unnecessary multiplicity of claims or prolixity of language should be avoided.

Claims should not be made for the efficiency or advantages of the invention. computers, remote controls for television, DVD, video or Playstations. Also telecommunications applications such as mobile internet that switch between voice, text messaging, animation and music. Also included are other 3G wireless application protocol (WAP), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA IX), digital audio broadcasting (DAB), interactive TV (ITV), multi-media home platform (MHP) and other similar activities.

For such activities ordinary cellular phones are made so small that it is difficult to read the digits, letters or symbols, which is harmful by straining the eyes.

Furthermore, ordinary cellular phones have the keypad located at the bottom of the cellphone; this is not always satisfactory as the thumb has to bend back unnaturally to operate the keypad where this causes repetitive strain injury (RSI). To compensate or avoid the discomfort of using ordinary cellular phones the cellphone is usually balanced on the tips of the fingers. This is also not always satisfactory as the cellphone is likely to drop causing expensive loss through damage and loss of data through malfunctions.

In addition, ordinary cellular phones have display screens located at the top of the keypad which , during the daytime, is particularly hard to read because of glare.

Furthermore, previous art of telecommunications equipment demonstrate the use of virtual touch screens, track balls, pen touch, voice activation and toggle switching for the input device or keypad. This constitutes die use of extremely expensive and delicate computer technology which is limited by its storage capacity and physical size, its mechanical or physical connections that are prone to failure and its virtual display controls or letters that are too small to see or requires two hands to operate.

A previous attempt to overcome these difficulties was to provide cellular phones with optional extras such as FM radio, digital recording and computer facilities, other accessories which have been adapted are plug-in keypads, which while provides a unit which was safe and easier to type in instructions, email or text messages, this solution had some disadvantages. For example, when the accessory such as a plug-in keypad is used in conjunction with the cellular phone this constitutes an extra component or unit, is difficult to carry, is prone to breakdowns because of physical connections and defeats the main purpose of a cellular phone's mobility and ultra convenience.

The object of the present invention is to provide a very fast and large, easy to read, easy to operate keypad that is an integral part of or integrated with a display screen that will go at least someway towards avoiding the above disadvantages.

One preferred form of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of which Figure 1 shows a cellular phone shown in a typical grip of the palm of the hand, according to the invention and shown as (7) seven items. It shows the same items when in operational use. There are (3) three items describing the cellular phone namely a cellular phone 1., a keypad 2., and a display screen 3. This or these three parts are preferably made of rigid plastics, although other suitable materials may be used such as metal, acrylics and electronic components.

Items 4. identifies an opposable thumb with 5. and 6. representing the thumb's natural movement through an arch from side to side pivoting from the base of thumb as in item 5.

In addition, the thumb's natural movements through extension and retraction over the length of the thumb as in item 6 and the palm of the hand holding a cellular phone centrally as in item 7. ^ 2 The keypad 2. is located at the top of the cellular phone 1. so as the tip of the thumb 4. falls directly and naturally onto the keypad 2. for pressing the buttons. Also the keypad 2. is angled by approximately 10° so as to closely match the thumb's 4. naturally radius movement or arching from side to side as shown by item 5. and the thumb's extension and retraction as shown in the form of item 6.

For ease of operation all the keypad buttons are located in a position so as the opposable thumb 4. falls naturally on them without having to continuously reposition the cellphone between the palm of the hand and tips of the fingers in the form shown in figure 1.

In order to prevent the cellphone from accidentally falling while being held from the tips of the fingers, the cellphone is centrally gripped firmly in the palm of the hand in the form shown in figure 1.

The display screen 3. is located at the bottom of the cellular phone while in the palm of the hand 7. it provides a unobstructed view of the screen which is shaded by the thumb from the sun's glare and shielded by a full hand grip for added privacy as shown in the item 7. of figure 1.

In operation the seven (7) items are described herein and put together in the configuration shown in figure 1.

The projections and items are correctly located as shown in figure 1 that shows how the cellular phone is used so as it is unlikely to cause repetitive strain injuiy (RSI).

With extreme ease and high speed the opposable thumb 4, simply presses on the buttons of the keypad 2. That is needed to activate the cellular phone directory, menu, computer, dialling, text messaging or other apparatus - while held in the palm of the hand, the animation on the display screen is shaded for enhanced viewing.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A communications device wherein an ergonomically angled keypad is located above a display screen. 2. A communications device as in Claim 1 where in the device is substantially a cellular phone. 3. A communications device as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the ergonomically angled keypad is suitable for use with an opposable thumb. 4. A communication device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the angled keypad is located at the top of a front surface of the device, with large numerals, letters and/or symbols that are in proportion with large clearly marked press buttons so arranged with the most commonly used buttons in a position that closely matches the natural extension, retraction and movements of the opposable thumb.

. An ergonomically angled keypad as in Claim 4, wherein the large clearly marked press buttons are on either a soft touch pad or an integrated virtual touch screen. 6. A communications device with an ergonomically angled keypad substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawi

Claims (1)

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