Multi-Position Toggle Button Data Entry for Portable Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for entering alphanumeric characters on portable devices with limited keypads are inefficient and less accurate due to the need for multiple key activations, increasing the time required for text input.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple-position toggle button data entry keys with a key mapping that assigns alphanumeric characters to specific positions and activation counts on standard telephone keys, allowing for faster and more accurate text entry by reducing the need for repeated key presses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple key activations are used to select alphanumeric characters, then character selection capability is achieved on limited keypad, but time required for text input increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keypad is segmented into multiple position toggle buttons, where each button has multiple distinct positions (e.g., left, center, right) that can be activated independently. This segmentation allows each button to represent multiple characters or functions simultaneously, enabling faster character selection without requiring multiple activations of the same key.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimensional key activation model (pressing a key once, twice, three times) to a multi-dimensional model where spatial position on the button matters. By adding the dimension of spatial position (left/center/right positions on a three-position toggle button), the system can encode multiple characters in a single activation event, reducing the time needed for text input.
2Device complexity
If standard numeric keypad is used for alphanumeric entry, then device complexity is minimized, but data entry efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple position toggle buttons serve multiple functions: they can be activated in different positions to represent different alphanumeric characters, and the same physical button structure can be used for both numeric and alphanumeric modes. This multi-functionality maintains simple device complexity while significantly improving data entry efficiency by allowing one button to perform the work of multiple traditional keys.
3Productivity
If multiple position toggle buttons are used, then data entry efficiency improves, but key mapping complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A key mapping table or lookup structure serves as an intermediary between the physical button positions and the alphanumeric characters. This mapping mechanism translates the multi-dimensional button activation (which position was activated) into the corresponding character code, managing the complexity centrally rather than distributing it across the hardware. The mapping table stores the correspondence between button positions and characters, making the system manageable and implementable.
Data Source
AI summary
On a portable electronic device, multiple-position toggle button data entry keys are provided within the data entry keypad. A controller detects activation of each multiple-position toggle button data entry key on the keypad by a user, and also detects the number of times the data entry key is activated. The controller then accesses a key map in memory to determine the letter or numeric digit selected by the user. All letters and numbers represented on the communication device may be activated with no more than two depressions or activations of a corresponding toggle button.