EP 1696448 A1 20060830 - Handheld electronic device and keypad providing enhanced usability and reduced size, and associated method
Title (en)
Handheld electronic device and keypad providing enhanced usability and reduced size, and associated method
Title (de)
Elektronisches Handgerät und Tastatur mit verbesserter Bedienbarkeit und reduzierten Abmessungen und dazugehöriges Verfahren
Title (fr)
Dispositif électronique portatif et clavier avec utilité améliorée et taille réduite et procédé correspondant
Publication
Application
Priority
EP 05251030 A 20050223
Abstract (en)
An improved handheld electronic device, keypad, and method in accordance with the invention meet these and other needs. An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keypad provides enhanced usability and reduced size by organizing its keys in pairs, with a pair of keys being disposed on a support. Each key of a pair of keys is individually actuatable. An actuation of a key causes a primary conductor associated with the key set to electrically to connect a pair of contacts and to cause a secondary conductor associated with the key to electrically connect another pair of contacts. The primary conductor is a collapsible dome or a tactile switch that can electrically connect the pair of contacts and that can provide a particular tactile feedback to the user. The secondary conductor is a conductor other than a collapsible dome or a tactile switch. An actuation of any key or of any pair of keys thus provides to the user a consistent tactile feedback, i.e., from a collapse of a single dome. An improved method in accordance with the invention is also disclosed.
IPC 8 full level
H01H 13/705 (2006.01); G06F 3/023 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
H01H 13/705 (2013.01); H01H 13/807 (2013.01); H01H 23/30 (2013.01); H01H 25/041 (2013.01); H01H 2215/054 (2013.01); H01H 2221/016 (2013.01); H01H 2225/01 (2013.01)
Citation (applicant)
- US 2003012368 A1 20030116 - SMALLWOOD GREGORY N [US]
- US 6452588 B2 20020917 - GRIFFIN JASON T [CA], et al
- US 6489950 B1 20021203 - GRIFFIN JASON T [CA], et al
Citation (search report)
- [X] WO 9944212 A1 19990902 - TSO KEVIN H K [US], et al
- [X] US 2003012368 A1 20030116 - SMALLWOOD GREGORY N [US]
- [X] DE 3607689 A1 19870917 - TELEFONBAU & NORMALZEIT GMBH [DE]
- [A] US 6377685 B1 20020423 - KRISHNAN RAVI C [US]
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated extension state (EPC)
AL BA HR LV MK YU
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 1696448 A1 20060830; EP 1696448 B1 20081224; AT E418788 T1 20090115; AT E475192 T1 20100815; CA 2537491 A1 20060823; CA 2537491 C 20110412; CN 1862736 A 20061115; CN 1862736 B 20120208; DE 602005011926 D1 20090205; DE 602005022510 D1 20100902; EP 2019402 A1 20090128; EP 2019402 B1 20100721; SG 125237 A1 20060929
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 05251030 A 20050223; AT 05251030 T 20050223; AT 08168945 T 20050223; CA 2537491 A 20060222; CN 200610088797 A 20060222; DE 602005011926 T 20050223; DE 602005022510 T 20050223; EP 08168945 A 20050223; SG 200601185 A 20060222