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US 7,737,373 B2Granted
Mobile terminal key input device and method
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsHee Sik In, Huhn Kim, Sang Yeon Lim, Hyun Ho Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mobile terminal keypad is provided having a plurality of key switches on the keypad that provides a first signal or a second signal according to the pressure applied to the key switch. In each of the plurality of key switches, a plate is provided to sequentially contact with a first contact and a second contact according to the applied pressure.
Claims21
A mobile terminal comprising:
- a key input device comprising a plurality of key switches, each of the plurality of key switches comprising at least two contact points, a plate formed over the at least two contact points, and a key button formed over the plate, wherein pressing the key button urges the plate to sequentially contact each of the at least two contact points according to pressure applied to the key button;
- and
- a controller providing control signals in accordance with the sequential contact of the plate with the at least two contact points,
- wherein the controller feeds back at least one of the control signals to provide a feedback signal for checking user input.
1 more element
A mobile terminal, comprising:
- a key input device comprising a plurality of key switches, each of the plurality of key switches comprising at least two contact points, a plate formed over the at least two contact points, and a key button formed over the plate;
- and
- a controller providing control signals in accordance with the sequential contact of the plate with the at least two contact points,
- wherein pressing the key button urges the plate to sequentially contact each of the at least two contact points according to pressure applied to the key button, and
- wherein the key button comprises a first jaw for urging the plate into contract with a first protrusion when a first pressure is applied to the key button;
- and a second jaw for urging the plate into contact with a second protrusion when a second pressure greater than the first pressure is applied to the key button.
3 more elements
A mobile terminal, comprising:
- a key input device comprising a plurality of key switches, each of the plurality of key switches comprising at least two contact points, a plate formed over the at least two contact points, and a key button formed over the plate;
- and
- a controller providing control signals in accordance with the sequential contact of the plate with the at least two contact points,
- wherein pressing the key button urges the plate to sequentially contact each of the at least two contact points according to pressure applied to the key button,
- wherein concavo-convex regions having different distances to the at least two contact points are formed on the plate, and
- wherein jaws formed on a lower surface of the key button correspond to the at least two contact points for urging the plate to sequentially contact each of the at least two contact points.
3 more elements
A key input device comprising a plurality of key switches, the key input device comprising:
- at least two contact points formed in a substrate;
- a plate formed over the at least two contact points;
- and
- a key button formed over the plate for urging the plate into sequential contact with the at least two contact points according to pressure applied to the key button,
- wherein each of the at least two contact points is formed on a protrusion having a height in accordance with the shape of the plate.
2 more elements
A key input device comprising a plurality of key switches, the key input device comprising:
- at least two contact points formed in a substrate;
- a plate formed over the at least two contact points;
- and
- a key button formed over the plate for urging the plate into sequential contact with the at least two contact points according to pressure applied to the key button,
- wherein jaws formed on a lower surface of the key button correspond to the at least two contact points for urging the plate into sequential contact with the at least two contact points.
2 more elements
A method for processing an input from a key input device of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
- receiving a key switch signal from a key input device comprising a plurality of key switches, each of the plurality of key switches comprising at least two contact points, and a plate formed over the at least two contact points such that the plate sequentially contacts each of the at least two contact points according to pressure applied to the key input device in order to sequentially generate at least two signals;
- determining whether the key switch signal is a first signal or a second signal in accordance with the pressure applied to the key input device;
- processing a function according to whether the key switch signal is the first or the second signal;
- and
- feeding back at least one of the first signal and the second signal to display the input.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.