Dial Pad Data Entry
Interpreting keystrokes from the key pad of a device incorporates both key touch and key stroke into the decision to display a character, advance a cursor or execute a command. The device contains switches capable of determining when a keystroke cycle is completed. The switches may include touch sensitive switches or two position switches. The touch sensitive switches detect when a user breaks touch contact with the switch. The two position switches detect the completion of the keystroke sequence when the switch is pressed into the second position. Several different types of touch sensitive switches can be used including capacitive coupled, light sensing, pressure sensing and heat sensing.
1 . A communication device, comprising:
a dial pad including a plurality of touch sensitive switches;
a display; and
a microprocessor module;
wherein one switch of the touch sensitive switches provides a signal to the microprocessor module when a user breaks touch contact with the switch, the breaking of touch contact with the switch signifying that a keystroke sequence is completed.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a cursor on the display is advanced when the user breaks touch contact with the switch.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a command is executed when the user breaks touch contact with the switch.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each switch of the plurality of touch sensitive switches contains an electrical sensor, the electrical sensor providing capacitive coupling between the user and the switch.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each switch of the plurality of touch sensitive switches contains a pressure sensor.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each switch of the plurality of touch sensitive switches contains a light sensor.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the light sensor uses an infra-red light.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each switch of the plurality of touch sensitive switches contains a heat sensor.
9 . A method for interpreting keystrokes from a plurality of touch sensitive switches, the method comprising:
monitoring for a keystroke from a switch;
processing a first signal each time the switch is pressed and released;
monitoring when a user breaks touch contact with the switch; and
processing a second signal when the touch contact is broken with the switch, the breaking of the touch contact with the switch signifying that a keystroke sequence is completed.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising advancing a cursor position when touch contact is broken with the switch.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising executing a command when touch contact is broken with the switch.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein monitoring when the user breaks the touch contact further comprises monitoring a capacitive coupling between the user and the key to monitor when the user breaks the touch contact.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein monitoring when the user breaks the touch contact further comprises monitoring a pressure between the user and the key to monitor when the user breaks the touch contact.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein monitoring when the user breaks the touch contact further comprises monitoring a light emitted from the key to monitor when the user breaks the touch contact.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the light is an infra-red light.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein monitoring when the user breaks the touch contact further comprises monitoring heat from the key to monitor when the user breaks the touch contact
17 . A method for interpreting keystrokes from a plurality of two position switches, the method comprising:
monitoring for detection of a switch in a first position;
processing a first signal each time the switch is in the first position;
monitoring for detection of the switch in a second position;
processing a second signal when the switch is in the second position;
monitoring for detection of the switch in a starting position after it has been detected in the first position; and
processing a third signal when the switch is detected in a starting position after it has been detected in a first position, the detection of the switch in the starting position after it has been detected in the first position signifying completion of a keystroke sequence.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying a character when the switch is in the first position.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising advancing a cursor when the switch is detected in the starting position after detecting the switch in the first position.
20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising executing a command on a communication device when the switch is detected in the starting position after detecting the switch in the first position.