Title of Invention	" A KEYPADE SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING FAST AND EFFICIENT TEXT ENTRY IN A COMMUNICATION DEVICE"
Abstract	A keypad system(FIG. 2) and corresponding method (FIG. 3-4) simple for use in a subscriber device (1)includes a capacitive touchpad( 12) for detecting movement within a region, a driver device (12) coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein the driver device is for generating touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the touchpad and a controller (14) coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data signal and for resolving the signal to one of a plurality of characters corresponding to the region. A keypad device (16) may be used for generating a key selection signal indicative of the region.

Title of Invention

" A KEYPADE SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING FAST AND EFFICIENT TEXT ENTRY IN A COMMUNICATION DEVICE"

Abstract

A keypad system(FIG. 2) and corresponding method (FIG. 3-4) simple for use in a subscriber device (1)includes a capacitive touchpad( 12) for detecting movement within a region, a driver device (12) coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein the driver device is for generating touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the touchpad and a controller (14) coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data signal and for resolving the signal to one of a plurality of characters corresponding to the region. A keypad device (16) may be used for generating a key selection signal indicative of the region.

Full Text	1 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A DISAMBIGUATED Conventional alpha-numeric keypads (keypads) of subscriber devices include a plurality 10 of keys, A majority of the keys include a number and three or four letters primed thereon. For example, the number nine usually has "WXYZ" printed thereon. In many of these keypads a user must first press a text menu key and subsequently press a specific key several times for entering a text symbol. For example, a user must press the key with the number nine thereon four times in order to enter the text symbol "Z". Such a process for entering texts symbols is 15 time consuming and error prone. Furthermore, this process becomes even more time consuming as well as cumbersorne and inefficient when a user is attempting to write a text message with a multiplicity of alpha numeric key entries. Therefore, what is needed is a method and device for providing fast and efficient text entry. 20 BRIEF DES CRIPT1ON OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate a preferred 25 embodiment and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary subscriber device in which the system for providing a disambiguated keypad is implemented. 30 FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the system for providing a disambiguated keypad. FIGS. 3 - 4 illustrate a flow chart of a preferred methodology of operation of the subscriber device of FIG 1. FIG. 5 illustrates operation of the subscriber device of FIG. 1. WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 2 DETAILED DES CRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In overview, the present disclosure concerns user interfaces such as alpha-numeric keypads (keypads) found, for example, on subscriber devices, such as cellular handsets, 5 messaging devices, and most ordinary telephones. Note that subscriber device or unit may be used interchangeably herein with wireless device, mobile station or unit and each of these terms denotes a device ordinarily associated with a user and typically a wireless device that may be used with a public network is accordance with a service agreement or within a private network. As further discussed below, various inventive principles and combinations thereof are 10 advantageously employed to provide a disambiguated keypad, thus providing a more fast and efficient manner of text entry. The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an enabling fashion the best modes of making and using a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. The disclosure is further offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the inventive 15 principles and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. It is further understood that the use of relational terms, if any, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another unity or action 20 without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles are best implemented with or in software programs or instructions and in integrated circuits (ICs). It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design 25 choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions, programs and ICS with minimal experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring the principles and concepts according to the present invention, further discussion of such 30 software or ICs, if any, will be limited to the essential with respect to the principles and concepts used by the preferred embodiments. Referring to FIGS. 1 - 2, the system for providing a disambiguated keypad may be implemented in, for example, a subscriber device 1. Often, each key of the keypad may represent a multiplicity of different characters. For example a number and one of three or more WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 3 alphabetic characters, such as "2 or a, b, or c" for the 2 key. The procedure and apparatus for determining which one of these multiple alphanumeric characters a key activation or sequence of activations is supposed to be may, for example, be referred to as resolving the particular key or disambiguating the particular key. 5 The subscriber device 1 includes several functional components shown as elements in the block diagram of FIG. 2. The subscriber device 1, includes inter coupled as depicted, a capacitive touchpad 1D, a driver device 12, a controller 14, and a mechanical keypad (or keypad device) 16. These components will be discussed more fully below. The capacitive touchpad (touchpad) 10 is adjacent and mechanically coupled to the 10 mechanical keypad 16 and preferably disposed below the mechanical keypad 16. The touchpad 10 is for detecting movement of, for example, a user's finger, within a region defined by, for example, the outer perimeter of a key 2 (see FIG. 5). The touchpad 10 is further for detecting a direction of the movement within the region. The touchpad 10 is, preferably, composed of horizontal wires (at least one) and vertical wires (at least one) disposed adjacent to the horizontal 15 wires so that either, each of the vertical wires crosses over the horizontal wires or each of the horizontal wires crosses over the vertical wires. The cross over between each of the horizontal and vertical wires define a wire grid 22. Each of the horizontal and vertical wires is electrically coupled to a signal output from the driver device 12. Electrical charges received from the driver device 12, via the signal outputs, travel through the wire grid 22. The wire grid 22 in 20 conjunction with the electrical charges defines a coordinate plane. As will be more fully discussed below, the touchpad 10 outputs a resultant signal (shown as SNSP1 in FIG. 2) to the driver device 12. This resultant signal is induced by interaction between movement of a user finger on the wire grid 22 and one or more of the electrical charges in the wire grid 22. The capacitive touchpad 10 may be a touchpad made by Cirque such as, for example, the Single- 25 Chip Touchpad. The driver device 12 is an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the touchpad 10 and the controller 14. More specifically, the driver device 12 includes a plurality of signal outputs (GND, Y0...Y5, X0...X7 depicted generally by 20) for driving a plurality of electrical charges and sending these electrical charges to the capacitive touchpad 10 for mapping the capacitive 30 touchpad 10 into a coordinate plane. This may be done by, for example, directing electrical charges Y0 -- Y5 onto vertical wires of the wire grid 22 and electrical charges X0 - X7 onto horizontal wires of the wire grid 22. The electrical charges are preferaibly sent sequentially so that they may be distinguished from each other. However, the electrical charges may also be sent at the same time but with different potential levels so that they may be distinguished from WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 4 each other. The driver device 20 receives the resultant signal SNSP1 from the touchpad 10 and is able to match the resultant signal to a coordinate on the capacitive touchpad due to the sequential nature in which the pulse signals are sent. The driver device 12 subsequently generates a touchpad data signal corresponding to this resultant signal and sends it to the 5 controller 14. The driver device 12 may be, for example, a known integrated circuit made by Cirque. The controller 14 is preferably a baseband processor. The controller 14 includes a memory 24. a keyboard port 28 and a processor 30. As those skilled in the art should appreciate, the processor 30 operates in a known manner to control operation of the controller 14 and thus 10 the driver device 12 based upon software instructions (not shown) stored in the memory 24. The keyboard port 28 is for providing electrical coupling between the key switches of the mechanical keypad 16 and the controller 14. The memory 24 may be a combination of known RAM, ROM, EEPROM or magnetic memory. The memory 24 includes a plurality of lookup tables (not shown) stored therein. However, the lookup tables may alternatively be stored in an external 15 memory. Each of the plurality of lookup tables, preferably corresponds to a specific key of the mechanical keypad 16 and it comprised of a table of touchpad data signal values and corresponding character values. The controller 14 is also electrically coupled to the driver 12 via, for example, a wired connection for receiving the touchpad data signal(s) generated by the driver device 12. The controller 14 resolves the touchpad data signal(s) as one of a plurality of 20 character values by, preferably, matching this touchpad data signal(s) to a touchpad data signal in one of the lookup tables and finding its corresponding character value. The mechanical keypad 16 may be a known physical keypad or virtual keypad. The mechanical keypad 16 includes a phormality of keys (see FIG.1) and respective key switches (not shown). The key switches are for detecting pressing of or pressure on (selection of) one of the 25 plurality of keys, respectively and for outputting a selection indication signal corresponding to one of the plurality of keys to the controller 14. The keys switches may also output the selection indication signal having or demonstrating a corresponding time duration of the pressing. As mentioned above, the mechanical keypad 16 may be electrically coupled to the controller 14 via the keyboard port 28. The mechanical keypad 16 is preferably disposed above the capacitive 30 touchpad 10 so that a user can easily make directional movements subsequent to pressing one of the plurality of keys. Referring to FIGS. 3 - 4, a method of operation of the disambiguated keypad of the subscriber device I will now be discussed in view of the elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 2. At 310, a user presses one of the keys of the mechanical keypad 16. The pressed key represents a WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 5 plurality of characters, for example, text symbols and a number. The key switches of the mechanical keypad 16 detect the actuation or the pressing of (or press me on) a key and generate a key selection signal indicative of the pressed key. At 312, the mechanical keypad 16 communicates this key selection signal to the processor 30 via the keyboard part 28. 5 At 314, the processor 30, preferably, selects one of a plurality of lookup tables stored in the memory 24. Each of the plurality of lookup tables corresponds to one of the keys and represent or corresponds to touch pad data. Accordingly, the processor 30 selects one of the plurality of lookup tables based upon the key selection signal. At 316, the processor 30, based on software instructions stored in the memory 24, 10 commands the driver 12 to begin recording finger location data of the user and to send a data stream to the processor 30. The driver 12 then sequentially sends the electrical charges to the wire grid 22 of the capacitive touchpad 10 for defining the coordinate plane. As those skilled in the art should appreciate when a user touches the capacitive touchpad 10 and thus a particular wire intersection (between a horizontal and vertical wire) or vicinity thereof of the wire grid 22, 15 the potential of the pulse signal in that particular wire intersection or vicinity will be changed or distorted. This changed, or distorted potential signal, received by the driver device 12, will be referred to as a resultant signal. The driver device 12 converts the resultant signal to a touchpad data, signal and sends it to the processor 30. The driver device 12 is able to also record direction of the pressing by recording the change in the, different pulse signals for each wire and 20 continuing to send touchpad data signals to the processor 30 as part of the data stream. At 318, the processor 30 determines if the key was released. Tins determination can be done via the electrical coupling between the processor 30 and the mechanical keypad 16 at the keyboard port 28. If the processor 30 determines that the key was not released, then at 321 the processor 30 measures the time duration of the pressing or time lapsed while the key is pressed 25 This is done, preferably, by utilizing an internal clock (not shown) in the controller 14. Alternatively, the key switches of the mechanical keypad 16 could measure and report this time duration. At 333, the processor determines if the time duration was greater than a predetermined time period, A. This time duration may be user selectable and could be, for example, 1 - 3 seconds. If the processor 30 determines that the time duration is greater than the predetermined 30 time period, then, at 325, the processor 30 uses the top-level character choice of the key pressed and the method recycles to the beginning. For example, referring to the key 2 of FIG. 5, the top- level character is the number two. If, at 323, the processor 30 determines that the time duration is not greater than the predetermined time period, A, Or, if, at 318, the processor 30 determines that the key was WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 6 released, then at 320 the processor 30 begins to monitor the input data stream of touchpad data signals received from the driver device 12 as well as whether or not the finger is still on the capacitive touchpad 10 (whether or not a resultant signal is present). The touchpad data signals will be indicative of the current location of the finger on the wire grid 22. 5 At 322, the processor 30 compares the touchpad data signals received from the driver in the input data stream to touchpad data signals and associated character values in the lookup table selected at 314, Upon finding a touchpad data signal in the lookup table that matches or correlates or corresponds to the touchpad data signals received from the driver, the processor 30 may be able to resolve the touchpad data signals of the data stream to one of the character values 10 associated with the found touchpad data signal thereby removing any ambiguity or disambiguating the key pressed or activated. The manner by which the processor 30 matches the touchpad data signals received from the driver to a touchpad data signal in the lookup table can be done by conventional known database searching end matching techniques. At 324, the processor 30 determines if the user has removed his/her finger from the 15 capacitive touchpad 10. This may be accomplished by merely monitoring the touchpad data signals from the driver 12. If, at 324, the processor 30 determines that the user has removed his/her finger from the capacitive touchpad 10, at 326 the processor 30 determines if the input data stream matched or corresponded to at correlated with one of the character value entries in the lookup table. More 20 specifically, the processor 30 determines if it was able to successfully resolve the data stream of touchpad data signals to a character value of a plurality of character values at 326. If the processor 50 determines that the input data stream matched one the character values at 326, then at 330 the processor 30 uses this character value according to the application needs of the subscriber device 1 and the process returns to the beginning. 25 If, at 326, the processor 30 determines that the input data stream did not match any of the character values at 322, then at 328 the processor 30 concludes that the user abandoned the last input data stream and returns to 310 to start over. If, at 324, the processor 30 determines that the user has not removed his/her finger from the capacitive touchpad 10, then at 332 (FIG. 4) the processor 30 determines if a new 30 mechanical key was pressed. If the processor 30 determines that a new mechanical key was pressed, then at 334 the processor 30 concludes that the user abandoned the last input data stream and uses the new mechanical key for starting over at 312. If, at 332, the processor 30 determines that a new mechanical Key was not pressed, then at 336 the processor 30 displays a plurality of characters that can be input or selected based upon WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 7 the key pressed at 310. These characters may be displayed by the display 4 of the subscriber device I. At 338, the user chooses one of the characters from a menu, finger movement or a combination of both. Referring to FIG. 5, operation of the subscriber device 1 with the disambiguated keypad 5 will be discussed. Initially, operation of the subscriber device 1 will be discussed for entering the text symbol A. The user will initially press the key 2 with the number two thereon. The mechanical keypad. 16 will consultantly generate a key selection signal corresponding to the selection of this key 2. The processor 30 will receive this key selection signal via the keyboard port 28 and will choose a lookup table stored in memory 24 that corresponds to this key 2. If the 10 user subsequently releases the key 2 and slides the user's finger in the northwest direction as shown in FIG. 5 (arrow pointing toward A), the user's finger will begin to interact with the electrical charges in the wire grid 22 of the touchpad 10. More specifically, the user's finger will induce a differential potential value on the region of the wire grid to the northwest of this key 2. A signal corresponding to this differential potential value (resultant signal) will be output 15 to the driver 12. The driver 12 will subsequently send a data stream of touchpad data signals to the processor 30. The processor 30 will look in the selected look up table for matching the data stream of touchpad data, signal to a character value, and will subsequently match this data stream to the character A. The letter B or C could have been selected by the user sliding the user's Finger in the north or northeast directions, respectively. 20 Also, if the user initiated to enter the number two, the user would simply maintain picture on the key 2 for a time duration that is longer than a predetermined time period (sec 323 of FIG. 3). If the user would like to enter the text Z, the user will initially press the key 3 with the number nine thereon. The processor 30 would operate in the above-described manner so. that the 25 user could select the character Z by sliding the finger off the key and in the east direction. Note much of the prefenced logic discussed herein may be changed without deviating from the spirit without a finger slide, may result in selection of a numeric value whereas a relatively longer activation including a finger slide in a particular direction may represent a particular alpha 30 character. One of ordinary skill in view of the disclosure, principles and concepts discussed and described herein will likely be prepared, to develop other logical approaches. Therefore; the present invention advantageously provides a method and device for disambiguating a plurality of keys for a mechanical keypad by permitting a user to select a WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 8 particular character by sliding the user's finger in a particular direction. As a result, a user will be able to enter text in a more efficient manner. While the above description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the invention may be modified, altered, or varied without deviating 5 from the scope and fair meaning of the following claims. For example, the directions assigned to a particular character shown in FIG. 5 could be changed. In addition, the mechanical keypad could be replaced by merely using the capacitive touchpad to select a key. This can be done by further utilization of the pulse signals in the wire grid. Finally, the lookup table may be replaced by an alternative internally of externally stored data source of touchpad data signals 10 and corresponding disambiguating character data. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment(s) was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize 15 the invention in various embodiments and with various modification as are, suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention ad determined by the appended claims, as may be amended during the pendency of this application for patent, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. 9 WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O AMENDED CLAIMS received by the international Bureau on 28 september 2004 :claims 1 to 20 have been replaced by claims 1 to 10. CLAIMS 1. A keypad system comprising: a capacitive touchpad for detecting movement within a region; 5 a driver device electrically coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein the driver device is for generating a touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the capacitive touchpad; and a controller cloctrically coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data signal generated by this driver device and for resolving the touchpad data signal as one of a 10 plurality of character values corresponding to the region. 2. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein: the capacitive touchpad is further for detecting a direction of the movement within the region; and 15 the driver device is for generating the touchpad data signal to correspond to the direction of the movement 3. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein the controller in further for resolving the touchpad data signal, in accordance with a looking table stored in a memory, wherein the looking 20 table is comprised of touchpad data signal values and corresponding character values. 4. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein the driver device is further for sending a plurality of pulse signals to the capacitive touchpad for mapping the capacitive touchpad into a coordinate plane. 25 5. The keypad system of claim 4, wherein the capacitive touchpad is further for detecting a direction of the movement in a specific region by outputting a resultant signal induced by interaction between the movement and one or more of the plurality of pulse signals to the driver. 30 6. The keypad system of claim 5, wherein the driver device comprises a signal processing integrated circuit for processing the resultant signal and for generating the touchpad data signal to corresponded to the resultant signal. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 10 WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O 7. The keypad system of claim 5, further comprising a mechanical keypad adjacent end mechanically coupled to the capacity touchpad, wherein the mechanical keypad includes a plurality of mechanical keys. 5 8, The keypad system of claim 7, wherein the controller is electrically consted to the storred in a memorry, wherein the plurality of lookup tables correspond to the plurality of mechanical keys, respectively. 10 9. The keypad system of claim 1, further comprising: a memory electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the memory includes a plurality of lookup tables stored therein and the plurality of lookup tables correspond to the plurality of mechanical keys. 15 10. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touchpad comp rises a plurality of horizontal and vartical wires for defining a wire grid, AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) A keypad system(FIG. 2) and corresponding method (FIG. 3-4) simple for use in a subscriber device (1)includes a capacitive touchpad( 12) for detecting movement within a region, a driver device (12) coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein the driver device is for generating touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the touchpad and a controller (14) coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data signal and for resolving the signal to one of a plurality of characters corresponding to the region. A keypad device (16) may be used for generating a key selection signal indicative of the region.

Full Text

1
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A DISAMBIGUATED
Conventional alpha-numeric keypads (keypads) of subscriber devices include a plurality
10 of keys, A majority of the keys include a number and three or four letters primed thereon. For
example, the number nine usually has "WXYZ" printed thereon. In many of these keypads a
user must first press a text menu key and subsequently press a specific key several times for
entering a text symbol. For example, a user must press the key with the number nine thereon
four times in order to enter the text symbol "Z". Such a process for entering texts symbols is
15 time consuming and error prone. Furthermore, this process becomes even more time consuming
as well as cumbersorne and inefficient when a user is attempting to write a text message with a
multiplicity of alpha numeric key entries.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and device for providing fast and efficient text
entry.
20 BRIEF DES CRIPT1ON OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or
functionally similar elements and which together with the detailed description below are
incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate a preferred
25 embodiment and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary subscriber device in which the system for providing a
disambiguated keypad is implemented.
30 FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the system for providing
a disambiguated keypad.
FIGS. 3 - 4 illustrate a flow chart of a preferred methodology of operation of the
subscriber device of FIG 1.
FIG. 5 illustrates operation of the subscriber device of FIG. 1.

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
2
DETAILED DES CRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In overview, the present disclosure concerns user interfaces such as alpha-numeric
keypads (keypads) found, for example, on subscriber devices, such as cellular handsets,
5 messaging devices, and most ordinary telephones. Note that subscriber device or unit may be
used interchangeably herein with wireless device, mobile station or unit and each of these terms
denotes a device ordinarily associated with a user and typically a wireless device that may be
used with a public network is accordance with a service agreement or within a private network.
As further discussed below, various inventive principles and combinations thereof are
10 advantageously employed to provide a disambiguated keypad, thus providing a more fast and
efficient manner of text entry.
The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an enabling fashion the best
modes of making and using a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
The disclosure is further offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the inventive
15 principles and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention. The
invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the
pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
It is further understood that the use of relational terms, if any, such as first and second,
top and bottom, and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another unity or action
20 without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such
entities or actions.
Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles are best
implemented with or in software programs or instructions and in integrated circuits (ICs). It is
expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design
25 choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic
considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily
capable of generating such software instructions, programs and ICS with minimal
experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring
the principles and concepts according to the present invention, further discussion of such
30 software or ICs, if any, will be limited to the essential with respect to the principles and
concepts used by the preferred embodiments.
Referring to FIGS. 1 - 2, the system for providing a disambiguated keypad may be
implemented in, for example, a subscriber device 1. Often, each key of the keypad may
represent a multiplicity of different characters. For example a number and one of three or more

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
3
alphabetic characters, such as "2 or a, b, or c" for the 2 key. The procedure and apparatus for
determining which one of these multiple alphanumeric characters a key activation or sequence
of activations is supposed to be may, for example, be referred to as resolving the particular key
or disambiguating the particular key.
5 The subscriber device 1 includes several functional components shown as elements in
the block diagram of FIG. 2. The subscriber device 1, includes inter coupled as depicted, a
capacitive touchpad 1D, a driver device 12, a controller 14, and a mechanical keypad (or keypad
device) 16. These components will be discussed more fully below.
The capacitive touchpad (touchpad) 10 is adjacent and mechanically coupled to the
10 mechanical keypad 16 and preferably disposed below the mechanical keypad 16. The touchpad
10 is for detecting movement of, for example, a user's finger, within a region defined by, for
example, the outer perimeter of a key 2 (see FIG. 5). The touchpad 10 is further for detecting a
direction of the movement within the region. The touchpad 10 is, preferably, composed of
horizontal wires (at least one) and vertical wires (at least one) disposed adjacent to the horizontal
15 wires so that either, each of the vertical wires crosses over the horizontal wires or each of the
horizontal wires crosses over the vertical wires. The cross over between each of the horizontal
and vertical wires define a wire grid 22. Each of the horizontal and vertical wires is electrically
coupled to a signal output from the driver device 12. Electrical charges received from the driver
device 12, via the signal outputs, travel through the wire grid 22. The wire grid 22 in
20 conjunction with the electrical charges defines a coordinate plane. As will be more fully
discussed below, the touchpad 10 outputs a resultant signal (shown as SNSP1 in FIG. 2) to the
driver device 12. This resultant signal is induced by interaction between movement of a user
finger on the wire grid 22 and one or more of the electrical charges in the wire grid 22. The
capacitive touchpad 10 may be a touchpad made by Cirque such as, for example, the Single-
25 Chip Touchpad.
The driver device 12 is an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the touchpad 10 and
the controller 14. More specifically, the driver device 12 includes a plurality of signal outputs
(GND, Y0...Y5, X0...X7 depicted generally by 20) for driving a plurality of electrical charges
and sending these electrical charges to the capacitive touchpad 10 for mapping the capacitive
30 touchpad 10 into a coordinate plane. This may be done by, for example, directing electrical
charges Y0 -- Y5 onto vertical wires of the wire grid 22 and electrical charges X0 - X7 onto
horizontal wires of the wire grid 22. The electrical charges are preferaibly sent sequentially so
that they may be distinguished from each other. However, the electrical charges may also be
sent at the same time but with different potential levels so that they may be distinguished from

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
4
each other. The driver device 20 receives the resultant signal SNSP1 from the touchpad 10 and
is able to match the resultant signal to a coordinate on the capacitive touchpad due to the
sequential nature in which the pulse signals are sent. The driver device 12 subsequently
generates a touchpad data signal corresponding to this resultant signal and sends it to the
5 controller 14. The driver device 12 may be, for example, a known integrated circuit made by
Cirque.
The controller 14 is preferably a baseband processor. The controller 14 includes a
memory 24. a keyboard port 28 and a processor 30. As those skilled in the art should appreciate,
the processor 30 operates in a known manner to control operation of the controller 14 and thus
10 the driver device 12 based upon software instructions (not shown) stored in the memory 24. The
keyboard port 28 is for providing electrical coupling between the key switches of the mechanical
keypad 16 and the controller 14. The memory 24 may be a combination of known RAM, ROM,
EEPROM or magnetic memory. The memory 24 includes a plurality of lookup tables (not
shown) stored therein. However, the lookup tables may alternatively be stored in an external
15 memory. Each of the plurality of lookup tables, preferably corresponds to a specific key of the
mechanical keypad 16 and it comprised of a table of touchpad data signal values and
corresponding character values. The controller 14 is also electrically coupled to the driver 12
via, for example, a wired connection for receiving the touchpad data signal(s) generated by the
driver device 12. The controller 14 resolves the touchpad data signal(s) as one of a plurality of
20 character values by, preferably, matching this touchpad data signal(s) to a touchpad data signal
in one of the lookup tables and finding its corresponding character value.
The mechanical keypad 16 may be a known physical keypad or virtual keypad. The
mechanical keypad 16 includes a phormality of keys (see FIG.1) and respective key switches (not
shown). The key switches are for detecting pressing of or pressure on (selection of) one of the
25 plurality of keys, respectively and for outputting a selection indication signal corresponding to
one of the plurality of keys to the controller 14. The keys switches may also output the selection
indication signal having or demonstrating a corresponding time duration of the pressing. As
mentioned above, the mechanical keypad 16 may be electrically coupled to the controller 14 via
the keyboard port 28. The mechanical keypad 16 is preferably disposed above the capacitive
30 touchpad 10 so that a user can easily make directional movements subsequent to pressing one of
the plurality of keys.
Referring to FIGS. 3 - 4, a method of operation of the disambiguated keypad of the
subscriber device I will now be discussed in view of the elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 2. At
310, a user presses one of the keys of the mechanical keypad 16. The pressed key represents a

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
5
plurality of characters, for example, text symbols and a number. The key switches of the
mechanical keypad 16 detect the actuation or the pressing of (or press me on) a key and generate
a key selection signal indicative of the pressed key. At 312, the mechanical keypad 16
communicates this key selection signal to the processor 30 via the keyboard part 28.
5 At 314, the processor 30, preferably, selects one of a plurality of lookup tables stored in
the memory 24. Each of the plurality of lookup tables corresponds to one of the keys and
represent or corresponds to touch pad data. Accordingly, the processor 30 selects one of the
plurality of lookup tables based upon the key selection signal.
At 316, the processor 30, based on software instructions stored in the memory 24,
10 commands the driver 12 to begin recording finger location data of the user and to send a data
stream to the processor 30. The driver 12 then sequentially sends the electrical charges to the
wire grid 22 of the capacitive touchpad 10 for defining the coordinate plane. As those skilled in
the art should appreciate when a user touches the capacitive touchpad 10 and thus a particular
wire intersection (between a horizontal and vertical wire) or vicinity thereof of the wire grid 22,
15 the potential of the pulse signal in that particular wire intersection or vicinity will be changed or
distorted. This changed, or distorted potential signal, received by the driver device 12, will be
referred to as a resultant signal. The driver device 12 converts the resultant signal to a touchpad
data, signal and sends it to the processor 30. The driver device 12 is able to also record direction
of the pressing by recording the change in the, different pulse signals for each wire and
20 continuing to send touchpad data signals to the processor 30 as part of the data stream.
At 318, the processor 30 determines if the key was released. Tins determination can be
done via the electrical coupling between the processor 30 and the mechanical keypad 16 at the
keyboard port 28. If the processor 30 determines that the key was not released, then at 321 the
processor 30 measures the time duration of the pressing or time lapsed while the key is pressed
25 This is done, preferably, by utilizing an internal clock (not shown) in the controller 14.
Alternatively, the key switches of the mechanical keypad 16 could measure and report this time
duration. At 333, the processor determines if the time duration was greater than a predetermined
time period, A. This time duration may be user selectable and could be, for example, 1 - 3
seconds. If the processor 30 determines that the time duration is greater than the predetermined
30 time period, then, at 325, the processor 30 uses the top-level character choice of the key pressed
and the method recycles to the beginning. For example, referring to the key 2 of FIG. 5, the top-
level character is the number two.
If, at 323, the processor 30 determines that the time duration is not greater than the
predetermined time period, A, Or, if, at 318, the processor 30 determines that the key was

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
6
released, then at 320 the processor 30 begins to monitor the input data stream of touchpad data
signals received from the driver device 12 as well as whether or not the finger is still on the
capacitive touchpad 10 (whether or not a resultant signal is present). The touchpad data signals
will be indicative of the current location of the finger on the wire grid 22.
5 At 322, the processor 30 compares the touchpad data signals received from the driver in
the input data stream to touchpad data signals and associated character values in the lookup table
selected at 314, Upon finding a touchpad data signal in the lookup table that matches or
correlates or corresponds to the touchpad data signals received from the driver, the processor 30
may be able to resolve the touchpad data signals of the data stream to one of the character values
10 associated with the found touchpad data signal thereby removing any ambiguity or
disambiguating the key pressed or activated. The manner by which the processor 30 matches
the touchpad data signals received from the driver to a touchpad data signal in the lookup table
can be done by conventional known database searching end matching techniques.
At 324, the processor 30 determines if the user has removed his/her finger from the
15 capacitive touchpad 10. This may be accomplished by merely monitoring the touchpad data
signals from the driver 12.
If, at 324, the processor 30 determines that the user has removed his/her finger from the
capacitive touchpad 10, at 326 the processor 30 determines if the input data stream matched or
corresponded to at correlated with one of the character value entries in the lookup table. More
20 specifically, the processor 30 determines if it was able to successfully resolve the data stream of
touchpad data signals to a character value of a plurality of character values at 326. If the
processor 50 determines that the input data stream matched one the character values at 326, then
at 330 the processor 30 uses this character value according to the application needs of the
subscriber device 1 and the process returns to the beginning.
25 If, at 326, the processor 30 determines that the input data stream did not match any of the
character values at 322, then at 328 the processor 30 concludes that the user abandoned the last
input data stream and returns to 310 to start over.
If, at 324, the processor 30 determines that the user has not removed his/her finger from
the capacitive touchpad 10, then at 332 (FIG. 4) the processor 30 determines if a new
30 mechanical key was pressed. If the processor 30 determines that a new mechanical key was
pressed, then at 334 the processor 30 concludes that the user abandoned the last input data
stream and uses the new mechanical key for starting over at 312.
If, at 332, the processor 30 determines that a new mechanical Key was not pressed, then
at 336 the processor 30 displays a plurality of characters that can be input or selected based upon

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
7
the key pressed at 310. These characters may be displayed by the display 4 of the subscriber
device I. At 338, the user chooses one of the characters from a menu, finger movement or a
combination of both.
Referring to FIG. 5, operation of the subscriber device 1 with the disambiguated keypad
5 will be discussed. Initially, operation of the subscriber device 1 will be discussed for entering
the text symbol A. The user will initially press the key 2 with the number two thereon. The
mechanical keypad. 16 will consultantly generate a key selection signal corresponding to the
selection of this key 2. The processor 30 will receive this key selection signal via the keyboard
port 28 and will choose a lookup table stored in memory 24 that corresponds to this key 2. If the
10 user subsequently releases the key 2 and slides the user's finger in the northwest direction as
shown in FIG. 5 (arrow pointing toward A), the user's finger will begin to interact with the
electrical charges in the wire grid 22 of the touchpad 10. More specifically, the user's finger
will induce a differential potential value on the region of the wire grid to the northwest of this
key 2. A signal corresponding to this differential potential value (resultant signal) will be output
15 to the driver 12. The driver 12 will subsequently send a data stream of touchpad data signals to
the processor 30. The processor 30 will look in the selected look up table for matching the data
stream of touchpad data, signal to a character value, and will subsequently match this data stream
to the character A. The letter B or C could have been selected by the user sliding the user's
Finger in the north or northeast directions, respectively.
20 Also, if the user initiated to enter the number two, the user would simply maintain
picture on the key 2 for a time duration that is longer than a predetermined time period (sec
323 of FIG. 3).
If the user would like to enter the text Z, the user will initially press the key 3 with the
number nine thereon. The processor 30 would operate in the above-described manner so. that the
25 user could select the character Z by sliding the finger off the key and in the east direction. Note
much of the prefenced logic discussed herein may be changed without deviating from the spirit
without a finger slide, may result in selection of a numeric value whereas a relatively longer
activation including a finger slide in a particular direction may represent a particular alpha
30 character. One of ordinary skill in view of the disclosure, principles and concepts discussed and
described herein will likely be prepared, to develop other logical approaches.
Therefore; the present invention advantageously provides a method and device for
disambiguating a plurality of keys for a mechanical keypad by permitting a user to select a

WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
8
particular character by sliding the user's finger in a particular direction. As a result, a user will
be able to enter text in a more efficient manner.
While the above description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it
should be appreciated that the invention may be modified, altered, or varied without deviating
5 from the scope and fair meaning of the following claims. For example, the directions assigned
to a particular character shown in FIG. 5 could be changed. In addition, the mechanical keypad
could be replaced by merely using the capacitive touchpad to select a key. This can be done by
further utilization of the pulse signals in the wire grid. Finally, the lookup table may be
replaced by an alternative internally of externally stored data source of touchpad data signals
10 and corresponding disambiguating character data.
The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
The embodiment(s) was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of
the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize
15 the invention in various embodiments and with various modification as are, suited to the
particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention ad determined by the appended claims, as may be amended during the pendency of
this application for patent, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance with the
breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

9
WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
AMENDED CLAIMS
received by the international Bureau on 28 september 2004 :claims 1 to 20 have been replaced by claims 1 to 10.
CLAIMS
1. A keypad system comprising:
a capacitive touchpad for detecting movement within a region;
5 a driver device electrically coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein the driver device
is for generating a touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the
capacitive touchpad; and
a controller cloctrically coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data
signal generated by this driver device and for resolving the touchpad data signal as one of a
10 plurality of character values corresponding to the region.
2. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein:
the capacitive touchpad is further for detecting a direction of the movement within the
region; and
15 the driver device is for generating the touchpad data signal to correspond to the direction
of the movement
3. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein the controller in further for resolving the
touchpad data signal, in accordance with a looking table stored in a memory, wherein the looking
20 table is comprised of touchpad data signal values and corresponding character values.
4. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein the driver device is further for sending a plurality
of pulse signals to the capacitive touchpad for mapping the capacitive touchpad into a coordinate
plane.
25
5. The keypad system of claim 4, wherein the capacitive touchpad is further for detecting a
direction of the movement in a specific region by outputting a resultant signal induced by
interaction between the movement and one or more of the plurality of pulse signals to the driver.
30 6. The keypad system of claim 5, wherein the driver device comprises a signal processing
integrated circuit for processing the resultant signal and for generating the touchpad data signal
to corresponded to the resultant signal.
AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

10
WO 2004/061569 PCT/US2003/03791O
7. The keypad system of claim 5, further comprising a mechanical keypad adjacent end
mechanically coupled to the capacity touchpad, wherein the mechanical keypad includes a
plurality of mechanical keys.
5 8, The keypad system of claim 7, wherein the controller is electrically consted to the
storred in a memorry, wherein the plurality of lookup tables correspond to the plurality of
mechanical keys, respectively.
10 9. The keypad system of claim 1, further comprising:
a memory electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the memory includes a plurality
of lookup tables stored therein and the plurality of lookup tables correspond to the plurality of
mechanical keys.
15 10. The keypad system of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touchpad comp rises a plurality of
horizontal and vartical wires for defining a wire grid,
AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

A keypad system(FIG. 2) and corresponding method (FIG. 3-4) simple for use in a subscriber device (1)includes
a capacitive touchpad( 12) for detecting movement within a region, a driver device (12) coupled to the capacitive touchpad, wherein
the driver device is for generating touchpad data signal corresponding to the movement detected by the touchpad and a controller
(14) coupled to the driver device for receiving the touchpad data signal and for resolving the signal to one of a plurality of characters
corresponding to the region. A keypad device (16) may be used for generating a key selection signal indicative of the region.

Documents:

« Previous Patent

Next Patent »

Patent Number

216848

Indian Patent Application Number

00986/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

12/2008

Publication Date

21-Mar-2008

Grant Date

19-Mar-2008

Date of Filing

26-May-2005

Name of Patentee

MOTOROLA,INC.

Applicant Address

1303EAST ALGONQUIN ROAD, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60196, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	LAMONICA DONALD P	500 ALEXANDER BL VD, ELMHURST, IL 60126, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PCT International Classification Number

G09G 5/00

PCT International Application Number

PCT/US2003/037910

PCT International Filing date

2003-11-24

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	10/331.408	2002-12-30	U.S.A.