WO2004068329A1

WO2004068329A1 - Telephone keypad

Info

Publication number: WO2004068329A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/004062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Dixon; Tejal Chauhan; Axel Meyer
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2003-01-27
Filing date: 2003-08-20
Publication date: 2004-08-12
Also published as: GB0301832D0; AU2003259523A1

Abstract

A mobile phone in which the dialling keys carrying the numerals zero to nine run on either side of the display.

Description

Telephone Keypad

This invention relates to phones, in particular phone keypads.

Figure 1 shows a traditional pulse dialling telephone with a rotary dial for dialling telephone numbers. The rotary dial includes finger holes which are arranged around the outside of the dial and are labelled sequentially in an anticlockwise manner with the numbers 0-9.

Figure 2 shows a touch tone telephone with a keypad arranged in a similar fashion to the traditional pulse dialling telephone. The keypad includes keys which are positioned in a circular arrangement on the front of the telephone. The keys are labelled in an anticlockwise manner from 1 to 9 followed by 0, # and ^*.

Figure 3 shows a mobile radiotelephone 30 with a keypad 31 and a display 32. The keypad includes a joystick control key 33 and a 12 dialling keys 34. The 12 dialling keys are arranged in a grid 3 wide by 4 tall. The dialling keys 34 are labelled from 1-9 row by row from left to right starting from the top row and moving downwards. The last row is labelled *, 0, #.

As mobile telephones become smaller and their keypads decrease in size, so it becomes more difficult to hold the telephone and dial at the same time. With small mobile telephones of the kind shown in Figure 3, typically the fingers of one hand are curled around the back of the phone whilst the thumb of the same hand operates the keypad 31. Attempting to operate the keypad at the same time with the other hand is cumbersome and generally does not yield the increase in speed expected from a two handed operation. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a handheld communications device comprising an operating face having a display and respective rows of keys disposed alongside the display, one row disposed or located on each of respective opposing sides thereof.

An advantage of such an arrangement is the ability for a user to use two hands efficiently to input text or to provide a more stable hand grip while using the radio telephone for gaming applications. The positioning of two row, lines or columns of keys down either side of the LCD of the handheld communications device provides a means of allowing the columns of keys to have a plurality of functions. The two columns of keys may act simply as data input keys such as numeric keys, alpha keys or alphanumeric keys. As an option, however, they may be operation keys responsive to actuation of the key respective functions are performed in dependence on a prevailing mode of operation of the device. Such operation keys are sometimes known as soft keys. Soft keys are often associated with a variety of functions provided on a menu and can also be used to navigate through a simple or more complex menu structure. Particularly in gaming applications the mode of operation may be dependent upon the operating orientation of the device. An additional row of keys is provided between the display and at least one of the respective rows of keys.

Adjacent ones of the keys of the respective rows may carry consecutive characters. This provides the advantage of two rows of consecutive numbers one on either side of the display. This arrangement allows of easy and convenient input of data. The characters may be alpha characters, numeric characters or alpha numeric. The consecutive alpha numeric characters may be in groups such as abc, def, ... For ease of use it has been found that it is particularly advantageous to have keys carrying the numerals one to five are on one side of the display and those carrying the numerals six to nine on the other. Ideally the numbers increase in value from the top of the row to the bottom. The respective rows running beside the display are desirably the same length and provide symmetry in their arrangement about the display. This also aids useability.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for a handheld communications device comprising an operating face for presenting a display region and defining respective key regions for registration with actuation elements for operation of respective keys of the device, respective rows of the key regions being disposed adjacent the display region, one row on each of respective opposing sides thereof.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a handheld communications device comprising an operating face having an operating axis and a pair of rows of keys, individual ones of the keys of the pair of keys carrying respective ones of the numerals zero to nine, adjacent keys within the respective rows of the pair of rows carrying consecutive ones of the numerals.

Ends of the respective ones of the pair of rows may be aligned along an axis lateral with respect to an operating axis of the device.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for a handheld communications device comprising an operating face defining respective key regions for registration with actuation elements for operation of respective keys, the respective key regions being arranged in a pair of rows.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile telephone with dialling keys zero to nine arranged in two columns.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 4 illustrates a mobile telephone in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates the mobile telephone of Figure 4 in a further embodiment where the keys have a plurality of functions.

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention where the useable axis of the radio telephone may be changed.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention where more than two columns of keys are present.

Figure 4 illustrates a communications device such as a mobile telephone 40, also known as a radiotelephone, containing radio reception and transmission means (not shown) inside a housing 41. The radio telephone 40 has a major facia 42 comprising a LCD 43 positioned about a central useable axis. The major facia 42 also comprises a plurality of actuable keys 44 arranged in two substantially vertical columns. In a preferred embodiment the first column 45 is arranged on the left hand side of the LCD 43 and the second column 46 is arranged on the right hand side of the LCD 43. The front facia may also comprise additional keys, such as a joystick 47. Additional keys may also exist on other facias of the radiotelephone 40, such as volume control keys (not shown) or an on/off key (not shown). The actuable keys 44 will preferably comprise at least 10 keys which are numbered 0-9. Although the keys 0-9 may be arranged in any order in the two columns, the applicant has found, through user acceptability and performance tests, that arranging the keys 0-9 sequentially from the top of the first column 45, downwards through the first column 45, and returning to the top of the second column 46, and downwards through the second column 46 provides the most beneficial layout. Such an arrangement is in contrast to the two keypad arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Key 0 may be positioned above key 1 in the first column 45 (not shown) or, as shown in Figure 4, may be positioned below key 9 in the second column 46. Additional characters from the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Exchange) may be associated with keys 0-9 or with additional keys. In the present embodiment shown in Figure 4 additional keys * and # may be positioned at the bottom of the first 45 and second columns 46 respectively.

In a further embodiement (not shown) the two columns of keys may be positioned below the LCD 43.

Positioning the keys 0-9 in two columns enables the keypad to be operated more easily with two hands. This is particularly so when the two columns are arranged on the left and right hand side of the front face of the telephone.

This arrangement provides a compact user interface with an interesting form factor. Two handed operation can increase input speed of the keypad but does not interfere with viewing of the display. Two handed operation can at the same time provide stability when operating a camera built into or attached to the telephone.

As commonly found in mobile telephones, the keys 0-9 may have letters associated with them. For example, key 2 may have letters ABC, key 3 letters DEF, key 4 letters GHI, key 5 letters JKL, key 6 letters MNO, key 7 letters PQRS, key 8 letters TUV, and key 9 letters WXYZ.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the mobile telephone of Figure 4 is illustrated in Figure 5 with the two columns of keys 45,46 arranged so as to associate with menu options displayed on the LCD 43 of the radiotelephone 40. The keys 44 are each associated with menu options 48 displayed down the left and right hand sides of the LCD 43. Each menu option 48 is preferably horizontally aligned with its associated key 44. In an alternative embodiment not all of the keys 44 may have associated menu options 48, it may be preferable for clarity purposes to restrict the number of keys 44 which have associated menu options 48. In a preferred embodiment the menu options 48 are displayed on the LCD 43. This permits the menu options 48 to be changed by the user or to be changed by software code stored inside a processor contained within the radiotelephone 40. The menu options 48 are accessed by the actuation of the associated key 44. The ability to alter the menu options permits each key 44 to have a plurality of functions, keys used in this way are commonly referred to as soft keys

The functionality of the keys 44 may be switched from alphanumeric input to menu option 48 by the actuation of a further key (not shown). Alternatively the key switching functionality may be performed by the activation of a menu option 48 displayed on the LCD 43. Menu options 48 need not be displayed on the LCD 43, this may be advantageous to a user who wishes to maximise the LCD 43 for game playing applications. The keys 44 may be labelled with functions such as fire, move left, or move right characters, additionally or in preference to alphanumeric or functional characters.

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. The radiotelephone of Figure 5 is illustrated save for the joystick key 47 which has been removed. In the embodiment shown the second column of keys 46 have corresponding menu options 48 but the first column of keys 45 do not have corresponding menu options. This arrangement may prove advantageous to a radiotelephone 40 which has gaming functionality. The radiotelephone 40 has a useable axis which is substantially parallel to the two columns of keys 45,46 The keys 44 may be used for inputting alphanumeric text or for calling other users. The radiotelephone 40 may also have gaming applications and it may be preferable that these applications are better suited to viewing/playing in landscape mode. The radiotelephone 40 may permit the games to be viewed in landscape mode which would require the user to re-orientate the radiotelephone by 90 degrees so that the useable axis was now altered by 90 degrees and was now substantially perpendicular to the two columns of keys. For such a radiotelephone it would be advantageous that the second column of keys 46 would still permit the actuation of soft key menu options 48. Software within the radiotelephone 40 would recognise that the useable axis was being changed by either a mechanical switch or by the running of a gaming program which would set up in the gaming application in landscape mode.

The radiotelephone 40 of Figure 6 is illustrated in Figure 7 in a further embodiment of the present invention. The radiotelephones 40 of Figure 6 and 7 are the same save for an additional column of keys 49 inserted adjacent and parallel to the right hand column of keys 46. In this embodiment the LCD 43 is no longer positioned centrally but the additional column of keys 49 may provide further functionality. In this arrangement the left hand column of keys 45 and the additional column of keys 49 may be associated with alphanumeric characters such as 0-9. the outer most columns 45,49 still provide the user with ease and speed of use as outlined in the embodiment described by Figure 4. Additionally, the right hand column of keys 46 may now provide soft key functionality. In an alternative arrangement the additional column of keys 49 may have soft key functionality in preference to the right hand column of keys 46.

In the light of the foregoing description, it will be clear to the skilled man that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

The present invention includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimed invention or mitigates any or all of the problems addressed.

Claims

1. A handheld communications device comprising an operating face having a display and respective rows of keys disposed alongside the display, one row on each of respective opposing sides thereof.

2. A handheld communications device according to claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of the keys of the respective rows carry consecutive characters.

3. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein the respective rows of keys comprise numeric keys, alpha keys or alphanumeric keys.

4. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein individual ones of the keys of the respective rows of keys carry a respective one of the numerals zero to nine.

5. A handheld communications device according to claim 4 wherein the keys carrying the numerals one to four are on one side of the display.

6. A handheld communications device according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the keys carrying the numerals six to nine are on one side of the display.

7. A handheld communications device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein keys carrying the numerals zero and one are on respective ones of the opposing sides.

8. A handheld communications device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein keys carrying legends # and * are on opposite sides of the display.

9. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein the respective rows are coterminous.

10. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein there is symmetry in the arrangement of the respective rows of keys about the display.

11. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein the operating face has an operating axis aligned with at least one of the rows of keys.

12. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the keys is an operation key.

13. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the keys is a data input key.

14. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein the operating face carries alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric

15. A handheld communications device according to any preceding claim wherein responsive to actuation of the key respective functions are performed in dependence on a prevailing mode of operation of the device.

16. A handheld communications device according to claim 15 wherein the mode of operation is dependent upon the operating orientation of the device.

17. A handheld communications device according to claim 15 or 16 wherein an additional row of keys is provided between the display and at least one of the respective rows of keys.

18. A cover for a handheld communications device comprising an operating face for presenting a display region and defining respective key regions for registration with actuation elements for operation of respective keys of the device, respective rows of the key regions being disposed adjacent the display region, one row on each of respective opposing sides thereof,

19. A handheld communications device comprising an operating face having an operating axis and a pair of rows of keys, individual ones of the keys of the pair of keys carrying respective ones of the numerals zero to nine, adjacent keys within the respective rows of the pair of rows carrying consecutive ones of the numerals.

20. A handheld communications device according to claim 19 wherein the communications device has an operating axis and the ends of the respective ones of the pair of rows are aligned along an axis lateral with respect to the operating axis.

21. A handheld communications device according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein each of the rows of the pair of rows carry five of the numerals zero to nine.

22. A handheld communications device according to any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the pair of rows are substantially parallel

23. A handheld communications device according to any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein the pair of rows run alongside one another.

24. A cover for a handheld communications device comprising an operating face defining respective key regions for registration with actuation elements for operation of respective keys, the respective key regions being arranged in a pair of rows.