Keyboard arrangement
US7048456B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2221/078
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a keyboard arrangement and a method for detecting an input character. In particular the invention relates to a method and arrangement for reducing the number of keys in a QWERTY-keyboard (20) or the like. One idea of the invention is to provide keys (210) with several characters and to provide alternative ways to press the key for entering a selected one of the alternative characters. The keys are preferably triangular or have three arms, and one of three characters can be selected by pressing the corresponding corner/arm of the key. The keyboard may preferably be formed of interlaced rows of keys. Linguistic disambiguation is advantageously used in addition to said mechanical disambiguation. The invention is well suited for mobile station keyboards.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.