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created on 30 October 2001, last updated on 20 January 2003. |
RADIOTELEPHONE WITH ROTATING SYMBOL KEYPAD AND MULTI-DIRECTIONAL SYMBOL INPUT |
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Main Features of the offered radiotelephone Multidirectional symbol input and keypad realizing the same
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INTRODUCTION
This work introduces a radiotelephone (mobile terminal) which could be attractive for all kinds of customers – either young or senior, for business, for fun and for everyday routine as well. Two patents of the author are used in order to approach this goal.
BACKGROUND
Today's
radiotelephones are
used not only as a mean for
interchange of voice messages but as a multifunctional mean for work with
diverse data as well, so an ability
of the radiotelephone to work with multiple data defines its attraction to the
customer in more and more extent. At the
same time ergonomic characteristics of a working area of the radiotelephone, which
include display of this radiotelephone, symbol keypad and functional keys play
very important role and the manufacturers apply a lot of efforts in order to
work out a set of ergonomic features of the "ideal" radiotelephone. A few
mobile terminals which in our opinion are the most indicative attempts to create an
“ideal” radiotelephone are referred here. Below pluses and minuses of
these approaches are discussed. Ericsson R380 and Kyocera QCP 6035 Ericsson in their R380 mobile terminal
as well as Kyocera in their
QCP 6035 place a keypad in a separate keypad module, which can be rotated by
the user around axis situated along the shorter side of the terminal so that by
rotation of this module an access to initially hidden part of the
radiotelephone’s display may be provided. Such an approach allows increasing
of visible area of display during work with the radiotelephone as data terminal,
though this solution also increases size of the radiotelephone in some regimes
of its work and also can lead to some inconvenience during changing these
regimes. The
significant advantage of the Ericsson’s R380 is its ability to change
orientation of working area of the radiotelephone and to use it not only in
“portrait” orientation of image on display, when direction “top-bottom”
of the image is oriented along longer side of the radiotelephone, but also in
“landscape” orientation of image on display, when direction “top-bottom”
of the image is oriented along shorter side of the radiotelephone, what
substantially improves perception of image on a small display by the user. While
both the Ericsson’s R380 and the Kyocera’s QCP 6035 offer handwriting using
a stylus as a preferable mean of information input, this way of input needs two
hands to input information in most situations as well as to get the stylus out and then
to put
it back, what is not convenient in the same most situations. More, the way of
work with stylus usually “eats” valuable part of working area for handwrite input.
Plus the offered way of handwriting is not "common", i.e. way of
writing of some symbols differs from traditional writing plus the stylus
must be returned back after writing each symbol (not natural) what is a
significant ergonomic drawback (the user should keep in mind two ways of
handwriting what is not convenient). Inaccessibility
of the radiotelephone
keypad itself in some regimes of work of such radiotelephones is a
principal drawback since this decreases functionality of the working area, because it
is more convenient for the user to use same input device in all regimes
of the radiotelephone’s operation. Handspring Treo 180Having
introduced the Treo 180 Handspring
offers an interesting combination of PDA and radiotelephone with advantage of
big display. They even put a little keyboard with complete set of English characters into device what is useful since this allows to use same input device
in all regimes of operation. On
a negative side, the Treo
180 is too bulky and this is its principal drawback. This fact limits use of
this device significantly. Plus the built-in keypad is too small to be
convenient. Plus many users object touching display by “real life” fingers (regime
of dialing offered by Treo). Kyocera QCP 3035An
interesting example of a mobile terminal is the QCP 3035 manufactured by Kyocera.
Display of radiotelephone QCP 3035 has form similar to rectangular with
longer sides oriented along longer sides of the radiotelephone what provides
a bigger square of display, so more information can be presented in a time;
information on the display is displayed only in “portrait” format. This radiotelephone also has pointing device and functional keys
for operation of this radiotelephone. The radiotelephone also provides a lot of
functions for work with data, including ability to work with the Internet. Impossibility
to show information in “landscape” format (when direction “top-bottom”
of image on display is oriented along shorter side of the display) is a
shortcoming of the QCP 3035, while for the user, as a rule, it is more
convenient to perceive textual and graphical information on a small display just in “landscape”
format, what allows presenting several words of text within same row even though
radiotelephone has miniature size, what improves perception of text and other
information on display, especially of information presented in form of tables,
diagrams, as well as interfaces of many game applications. However, presence of
keypad with predefined, fixed direction “top-bottom” doesn’t allow to present textual and graphical
information on display of this radiotelephone in “landscape” format. Inputting
text in the QCP 3035 (like in other radiotelephones using the keypad for the
purpose) is not comfortable as well. And presence of T9 dictionary doesn’t improve the
situation significantly since it also has principal drawbacks like problems with
multi-language support, perception of the words on the screen when starting the
word’s input (and mistakes in this phase…), non-convenient input of digits,
etc.. OBJECT
OF THIS WORK
It is
thus an object of this work to create such methods of changing orientation of
working area in a radiotelephone and of inputting symbols, that symbol keypad of
the radiotelephone could be comfortably used in either "portrait" or
"landscape" orientation of image
on the display, and the
user could have an ability to input all variety of symbols using standard
telephone keypad via one simple, intuitively clear movement for input of each symbol. HOW THE OBJECT IS
ACHIEVED
General description of the RadiotelephonePreferable layout of the offered radiotelephone is shown on Fig. 1. The
offered radiotelephone's main features which in their totality
provide a significant synergetic effect are as following:
If you have a question how to put a decent loudspeaker into a mobile phone with such design, just visit the Linear Speaker page. The radiotelephone's
principal features introduced by the author are further
described. METHOD OF CHANGING ORIENTATION OF WORKING AREA IN A RADIOTELEPHONE AND ITS REALIZATION (Ukrainian patent 46599 A)In
accordance with the method the author offers together with change of direction “top-bottom” of image on
display of the mobile terminal (hereinafter the radiotelephone) to also rotate
symbols on the keys of symbol keypad so that directions “top-bottom” of
image on display of the radiotelephone and that of symbols on the keys of symbol
keypad coincide. In
order to realize this method
the author
proposes to equip the radiotelephone
with unit for rotation of symbols presented on keys of symbol keypad either
clockwise or counter-clockwise with 90 degrees angle step, as well as with additional block of software for
providing coincidence of direction “top-bottom” of image on display with
direction “top-bottom” of symbols on keys of symbol keypad. The
offered radiotelephone comprises a housing 1 (Fig. 1) which accommodates a
display 2, a pointing device 3 for navigation over the display 2 of the
radiotelephone, this pointing device 3 is manufactured in form of joystick, the
housing 1 also holds the functional keys 4 for controlling of main functions of
the radiotelephone, the module of symbol keypad 5, which comprises set of keys 6
with the presented on them symbols 7 located in a central region 8 of the key 6.
With
purpose of providing automatic identification of the user the pointing device 3 comprises
a built-in fingerprint detector 9. PIN-code security mechanism can be used
together with fingerprint recognition to guarantee access to the radiotelephone
in any conditions (e.g. when working in gloves). The
display 2 of the radiotelephone is fabricated as big as possible for increasing
comfort of work with the radiotelephone as a data terminal and has elongated
form with apparent longer and shorter sides. At the same time the module of symbol
keypad has as little size as possible though big enough for comfortable work of
the user with the symbol keypad situated in this module of symbol keypad 5.
As shown
on Fig. 2, the module of symbol keypad 5 has equal sides and is fabricated
movable in relation to the housing 1 with ability to rotate in plane of its
upper surface with angle step of 90 degrees in clockwise or counter-clockwise
direction and comprises the keys 6, plurality of which forms the symbol keypad.
On the side of the module of symbol keypad facing the housing 1 the contacts 10
are located as well as an electronic element 11 of the electronic circuit of
module of symbol keypad, this element 11 supports data exchange with the
electronic elements in the housing 1 via the contacts 10 contacting with one of the
groups of contacts 12 situated in a deepening 13 in the housing 1. An elastic
gasket 14 situated in the deepening 13 provides tightness of space between the
module of symbol keypad 5 and the housing 1 as well as additional comfort during
use of the radiotelephone, for example when lowering the module of symbol keypad into
the deepening 13 in the housing 1. Which
the contacts 12 in the deepening 13 in the housing 1 contact with the contacts
10 in the module of symbol keypad 5 uniquely defines orientation of direction
“top-bottom” of image on the display 2, at the same time direction
“top-bottom” of image on the display 2 coincides with direction
“top-bottom” of the symbols on the keys 6 in the module of symbol keypad 5. A
protrusion 15 of square section is located in geometrical center of the module
of symbol keypad 5 and corresponds to a rectangular opening 16 in the deepening
13 in the housing 1 so that in working position of the module of symbol keypad 5
this protrusion 15 is tightly located in the opening 16, while when the module
of symbol keypad 5 is lifted above the deepening 13 up to the limit, this
protrusion 15 goes completely out of the opening 16 allowing the user to rotate
the module of symbol keypad 5 and not allowing to lower it into the deepening 13
in the housing 1 unless the angle of turn of the module of symbol keypad 5 by
the user is aliquot 90 degrees. A round
stem 17 is firmly located at the end of the protrusion 15, diameter of this stem
17 is similar, but not bigger than side of the protrusion 15. There is a
threaded hole 18 in the stem 17 into which a screw 19 can be screwed.
As shown
on Fig. 3, free end of a laminar spring 20 is connected by the screw 19 to the
stem 17, another end of the laminar spring 20 is quiescently fixed, for example,
by screws to the housing 1. The laminar spring 20 tends to press the module of
symbol keypad 5 in direction of the housing 1, providing its tight adjacency to
the elastic gasket 14 as well as secure contact between the contacts 10 in the
module of symbol keypad 5 and the corresponding contacts 12 in the deepening 13
in the housing 1. This
embodiment also allows the user extracting and installing back the module of
symbol keypad 5 (Fig. 3) under condition of access to the screw 19 from beneath
of the housing 1, for example, from a battery compartment of the radiotelephone.
The user can provide this operation with purpose of interchanging of the module
of symbol keypad by, for example, a module of symbol keypad of another color or
of another construction, or by another input device, for example, a touchpad. How orientation of the working area is changed
In order to rotate the module of symbol keypad 5 (Fig. 4) the user has to
lift the module of symbol keypad 5 above the housing 1 up to the mechanically
defined by the unit for rotation of symbols limit, then to rotate this module
either clockwise or counter-clockwise with 90 degree angle step, and then to
lower the module of symbol keypad 5 into its place in the deepening 13 in the
housing 1. If angle of turn of the module of symbol keypad is not aliquot 90
degrees then it cannot be placed into deepening 13 in the housing 1 because of
mechanical reasons. On completion of rotating and installing the module of
symbol keypad 5 in the deepening 13 in the housing 1, the electronic circuit of
the radiotelephone changes orientation of text 21 and graphics 22 on the display
2 so that directions “top-bottom” of both image on the display 2 and the
symbols on the keys 6 of symbol keypad coincide, as shown, for example, on Fig.
5 for case of turn of the module of symbol keypad 5 on 90 degrees clockwise from
its initial state shown on Fig. 1. On completion of this rotational motion (Fig.
5) text 21 and graphics 22 on the display 2 appear in “landscape” format
that improves perception of text 21 and graphics 22 on the display 2 by the
user.
Similarly on completion of this rotational motion corresponding directions of
the pointing device 3 are changed so that direction “top-bottom” of the
pointing device 3 coincides with directions “top-bottom” of both image on
the display 2 and the symbols on the keys 6.
Thus, the technique described above realizes the offered method of changing
orientation of working area in a radiotelephone which is confined in that that
together with changing of direction “top-bottom” of image on the display of
the radiotelephone the symbols on the keys of symbol keypad of the
radiotelephone are also rotated so that directions “top-bottom” of both
image on the display and of the symbols on the keys of symbol keypad coincide. Fig. 6 shows the radiotelephone just after the module of symbol keypad 5
has been rotated on 90 degrees counter-clockwise from its initial position shown on
Fig. 1.
Fig.
7 shows the radiotelephone just after the module of symbol keypad 5 has been
rotated on 180 degrees from its initial position shown on Fig. 1.
It is important to point out that orientation of working area in the
radiotelephone as shown on Fig. 5 is preferable for right-handed people, while
orientation of working area in the radiotelephone as shown on Fig. 6 is
preferable for left-handed people. Such ability to comfortably use the same
apparatus by both left-handed and right-handed people is another advantage of
this radiotelephone. Orientation of working area in the radiotelephone as shown
on Fig. 7 is preferable in situations when it is desirable to restrict
visibility of display of the radiotelephone by other people, since in this case
the user can comfortably shadow it by his/her hands; this regime of work can be
especially useful when using radiotelephone as a data terminal, for example, in
public transport. So
totality of described substantial features provide the user with ability to
arbitrary change orientation of textual and graphical information on the display
from “portrait” to “landscape” format and vise versa with angle step 90
degrees, simultaneously with changing direction “top-bottom” of symbol
keypad of the radiotelephone, so that in any regime of work of the radiotelephone
directions “top-bottom” of both keypad and the image on the display of the
radiotelephone coincide regardless of orientation of direction “top-bottom”
of image on the display of the radiotelephone, at the same time the user has
ability to use symbol keypad of the radiotelephone in all regimes of its
operation what realizes one of the objects of this work. MULTI-DIRECTIONAL SYMBOL INPUT
AND KEYPAD REALIZING THE SAME (Ukrainian patent 46628 A, PCT application filed)
The
offered radiotelephone features a touch sensitive keypad which realizes so called
multi-directional symbol input. This keypad's trade name is the MIK™,
Multi-directional Input Keypad. The essence of the multi-directional symbol input
lies in that that lateral motion of touching object (e.g. finger) in defined
direction after touching defined part of the key uniquely defines the inputted
symbol. By other words, the initial touch point and the trajectory of the following lateral movement
uniquely define the inputted symbol. General view of the MIK™ is shown on Fig. 8. Note:
the actual design of the keys in the working prototypes of the MIK™ may differ from the
design shown here.
The symbol keypad (Fig. 8) is situated in the module of symbol keypad mentioned above and comprises thin dielectric plate 23 on which keys 6 are formed. Surface of central region 8 of the key 6 is noticeably convex in order to ease tactile identification of this central region 8 of the key 6 during operation. The X-conductors 24 parallel to axis X and the Y-conductors 25 parallel to axis Y are placed under the plate 23. Measurable change of mutual capacitance of corresponding pairs of X- and Y-conductors allows defining position of a touching object on the plate 23 (actually a central point of the touched surface). As
shown on Fig. 9, the plate 23, the X-conductors 24 and the Y-conductors 25 are
placed on a flexible base plate 26; the membrane 28 and the contacts 29 are
located under the base plate 26. The membrane 28 and the contacts 29 form a dome
switch, plurality of which form a mechanical keypad.
Electronic
block diagram of the symbol keypad is shown on Fig. 10. The X-conductors 24 and
the Y-conductors 25 are electrically connected to a Module of
Measuring Touch Point Coordinates 30 which electrically interacts with a Module
of Analysis of Lateral Movement
Trajectory 31. An Interface Module 32 interacts with both the Module of
Analysis of Lateral Movement Trajectory 31 and a Module of Mechanical
Keypad 33 to which the mentioned above dome contacts 34 are connected.
Digital X- and Y-coordinates of touch point are sent from the Module of Measuring Touch Point Coordinates 30 to the Module of Analysis of Lateral Movement Trajectory 31 in real time with predefined time interval. From this information Module 31 defines initial touch point (initial region of the key) and trajectory of lateral movement and compares this information with located in this Module 31 table of symbols, according to which to each pair “initial touch point – trajectory of lateral movement” a definite symbol uniquely corresponds. The Module 31 processes data in accordance with algorithm shown on Fig. 11.
It is important to
note that in case when no symbol corresponds to a pair “initial touch point
– trajectory of lateral movement” or if the lateral movement continues longer
than predefined maximum period of time the input is considered indefinite and no
symbol is inputted. How
the multi-directional
symbol input works is explained on the MIK™ page.
RESUMEThe offered solutions in their combination achieve the Object of this work. |
