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US 6,788,294 B2Granted
Device and method for implementing a key
AssigneeNokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
InventorsRoope Takala, Antti Kujala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for implementing a key, in which a field applied to a layer comprising a material whose volume is responsive to the magnitude of field is altered at a specified position to create a key in said position; said field being one of the following: electric field, magnetic field, both of the above.
Claims31
A key element for pressing by a user, comprising:
- a first layer including material whose volume is responsive to the magnitude of a field, said field being one of the following:
- electric field, magnetic field, both of the above;
- and
- means for altering the field in a wanted position in said layer to create a key, for pressing by a user in that position wherein said key is generated by causing an area of the first layer to protrude from the surface, in a specified position in said first layer, for creating a key distinguishable from its surrounding by protruding from the surface.
1 more element
A key element for pressing by a user, comprising:
- a first layer comprising material whose volume is responsive to the magnitude of a field, said field being one of the following:
- electric field, magnetic field, both of the above;
- the key element being distinguishable from its surrounding by protruding from the surface;
- means for detecting a press of the key element;
- and
- means for altering said field to make the volume of the material decrease to make the key element move downward in response to the detected press.
3 more elements
A method for creating a key for pressing by a user comprising:
- altering a field applied at a specified position to a first layer comprising material whose volume is responsive to the magnitude of a field to create a key in the specified position, said field being one of the following:
- electric field, magnetic field, both of the above;
- and
- distinguishing the key from a surface by causing an area of the first layer to protrude from the surface at the specified position.
1 more element
An electronic device comprising:
- a layer comprising material whose volume is responsive to the magnitude of a field, said field being one of the following:
- electric field, magnetic field, both of the above;
- and
- means for altering the field in a wanted position in said layer to create a key for pressing by a user in that position, wherein the key is generated by causing an area of the layer to protrude from the surface in a specified position in the layer such that the key is distinguishable from a surrounding surface.
1 more element
A manufacturing method for manufacturing a key element, wherein the manufacturing method comprises:
- joining a layer comprising material whose volume is responsive to the magnitude of a field with means for altering said field at a specified position to create a key for pressing by a user, the field being one of the following:
- electric field, magnetic field, both of the above;
- and
- providing the means for altering the field with the ability to cause an area of the layer to protrude from a surface at the specified position to distinguish the key from the surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.