Apparatus and method for preventing inadvertant operation of a manual input device
US6449492B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/724
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A wireless communication device (100) includes a manual input device (120, 122), a key lock memory (108), and a key lock processor (104). The processor (104) accesses user-programmable parameters stored in the memory (108) that define conditions for automatically disabling and also enabling commands to be issued from the manual input device (120, 122). When the processor (104) determines that the disabling condition has been met, the manual input device (120, 122) is automatically disabled, and will remain disabled until the enabling condition is met. The wireless communication device (100) may further include a timer (130) to measure elapsed time, and a display (124) to show a label indicating the status of the manual input device (120, 122). The manual input device (120, 122) of the wireless communication device (100) may be either, or both, a conventional keypad (120) or a dual-function rotatable switch (122).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.