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US 9,141,201 B2Granted
Telephone keypad with multidirectional keys
OwnerJames Harrison Boweninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A telephone keypad for one touch text messaging the QWERTY pattern of keys in a matrix of nine keys. Using the multi position biasing keys only one touch is needed for each character, so in use to input the letter “C” you touch one key one time, decreasing the time spend text messaging from cell phones or desk tops and dialing phone numbers advertised in letters. The keypad also has a shift key to get upper case included in the nine keys, and a 2nd key to double functionality of the keys.
Claims33
An optical switch with positional detection, comprising in combination:
- an optical switch having a switch base;
- a key cap adjoined to a key stem having a centerline perpendicular to said switch base through the center of said key stem;
- said key stem is configured to move laterally to said switch base;
- at least one emitter and at least one detector bi-lateral to said centerline;
- said at least one emitter to emit an emitted beam directed to said key stem;
- said at least one detector to detect said directed beam;
- a surface on said key stem to attenuate said directed beam when lateral applied pressure is applied to said key stem;
- and
- wherein the amount of said lateral applied pressure of said key stem produces an output from said optical switch including at least said lateral applied pressure.
6 more elements
An optical switch with positional detection, comprising in combination:
- an optical switch having a switch base;
- a key cap adjoined to a key stem having a centerline perpendicular to said switch base through the center of said key stem;
- said key stem is configured to move laterally to said switch base when applied lateral pressure is applied to said key cap;
- said key stem is configured to move longitudinally being perpendicular to said switch base on said centerline when applied longitudinal pressure is applied to said key cap;
- at least one emitter and at least one detector bi-lateral to said centerline;
- said at least one emitter to emit an emitted beam directed to said key stem;
- said at least one detector to detect said directed beam;
- said key stem having a lower surface;
- said lower surface is sensed in longitudinal position by attenuating said emitted beam;
- and
- wherein the amount of said attenuation applied to said key stem produces an output from said optical switch including at least said longitudinal applied pressure.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.