...Chester Carlson was a patent agent who tired of having to make multiple copies of patent applications using the only duplication method available at the time: carbon paper. In 1959 he came up with a new copying system and took it to IBM for evaluation. The "experts" at IBM determined potential sales to be only 5,000 units because people wouldn't want to use a bulky machine when they had carbon paper. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, the company founded on the system is Xerox.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7627110 | Enhanced user functionality from a telephone device to an IP network This invention encompasses the utilization of all of the 16 DTMF tone signals on telephone devices and their use for additional adjunct feature controls over IP networks that offer a plethora of new options from telephone devices. Calls on the PSTN only require the ... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7489775 | Input method using standard numeric keypad An input method using standard numeric keypad which complies with CCITT standards and comprises a plurality of CCITT standard keys is disclosed. Each CCITT standard key has a corresponding CCITT key value. The method comprises the steps of: reassigning a first CCITT... | 02/10/2009 |
| 7444163 | Mobile digital devices A mobile digital device comprises a ten-key pad being comprised of a key mat 21 on which ten-key buttons 21a-21c with respective projections 21aa-21cc on the under surfaces thereof are laid out and a key... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7437184 | Input device, especially for a mobile telephone, module comprising an input device, mobile telephone and method for the production thereof The present disclosure relates to an input device, especially for a mobile telephone, a module comprising an input device and a method for the production of an input device and/or a module. An input device is provided, including, a module comprising an input device,... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7425904 | Keypad circuit with electrostatic discharge protection A keypad device having a circuit of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is disclosed. The circuit has n and m numbers of column conductive lines and row conductive lines formed on the print circuit board wherein at least one column or row conductive line is con... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7397413 | Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements In communication units the input and/or output of data is normally performed using keypad input, voice input/output or display output. This limits the input/output of the communication unit. The claimed invention proposes a new way of inputting/outputting of data by... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7391861 | Input devices and their use A keypad in which output keystrokes are determined both from individual switch activation and from the combined activation of adjacent switches. The keypad has a substrate carrying an array of sense elements arranged to change state in response to keypad operation, ... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7373180 | Method and apparatus for accentuating graphical elements on a mobile handset housing A transparent mobile handset housing with graphical elements such as alphanumeric characters, icons, and logos positioned directly onto the housing with visibility enhanced through backlighting. The transparent housing is covered with an opaque coating and omitted p... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7362243 | Apparatus and method using color-coded or pattern-coded keys in two-key input per character text entry Letters (more generally, language symbols) are entered electronically by selecting, in sequential fashion, two keys on a standard phone layout. The first key in the two-key sequence is that key on which the desired letter is displayed. The keys and the letters displ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7360957 | Thin keypad assemblies and components for electronics devices and methods A keypad assembly, the keypad assembly including a keycap layer 110 having multiple user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier portion, a luminescent layer 120 disposed toward a backside of the plurality of key cap layer, the luminescent lay... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7361853 | Button assembly with status indicator and programmable backlighting A configurable switch matrix assembly with button assembly is disclosed for keypads used in devices such as primary control points for automation systems in homes vehicles, or commercial environments. The configurable switch matrix assembly preferably includes a fra... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7362229 | Ensuring the performance of mandated inspections combined with the collection of ancillary data During an inspection discrete checkpoints provide data to a portable reader, enabling a record to be generated identifying each checkpoint visited during an inspection. At least one checkpoint associated with the inspection will convey ancillary data to the portable... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7359500 | Method for carrying out predetermined actions by a receiving telecom device using an answer prefix A method for carrying out predetermined actions by a telecom receiving device. A predetermined answer string is entered and stored in a memory portion of a receiving telecom device. Incoming calls are checked for appropriateness. Accepted incoming calls are monitore... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7356361 | Hand-held device A hand-held device that provides communication services and symbol processing is described. The device includes a case having a front side comprising a display and a lid having a transparent portion through which the display can be seen in a lid-closed state. In one... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352363 | Single finger or thumb method for text entry via a keypad A single press method for entering text using a keypad is disclosed. A conventional four-row by three-column 12-key keypad is used to enter all of the letters of the alphabet using single key actuation. Depending on the letter, either a single key or multiple side-b... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7349688 | Mobile communications terminal, application program execution state control method, and execution state control computer program product In the mobile telephone 1 relating to the present invention, a control section 2 performs control for switching between a non-active state which refuses inputs to an application program, and an active state which permits inputs to an application progra... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7348512 | Key unit with reinforcing plate The object of the present invention is to utilize a reinforcing plate formed out of a metal or a hard resin introduced into a key unit in order to overcome the weak point that conventional rubber keypads are too soft and lack shape stability, as a design element of ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7342776 | Portable electronic apparatus having an extendable keyboard The present invention is to provide a portable electronic apparatus having an extendable keyboard which comprises a main body having a storage slot extends inwardly at a front edge of the main body for slidably accommodating a keyboard and enabling the keyboard to b... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7332681 | Modular operating switch assembly A modular operating switch assembly comprises a housing defining a plurality of switch operating cells. Each of the operating cells has guide walls, a switch actuating member in sliding contact with the guide walls, and a switch contact carrier configured to be sele... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7333602 | Information entry system The present invention is an information entry system comprising a touch panel monitor screen, wherein the touch panel monitor screen displays keys for information entry, which are arranged circularly in order and the keys are rotationally shifted by a random number ... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7330743 | Casing A casing for a portable communication device having an operating face comprising a fragile input region providing recesses for operation of respective user input elements and a protection arrangement protruding beyond the fragile input region having an external prof... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7283623 | Internet browsing using a uniform interface A system and method for providing a uniform interface on heterogeneous access devices, that are capable of requesting specified classes of information from a server. Access devices, such as those that access Internet content, are often of different hardware and soft... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7276670 | Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet output part that outputs the sheet having the image formed thereon by the image forming unit, and an operation panel for controlling the image forming unit disposed in ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7277274 | Keypad of portable wireless terminal and fabrication method thereof A keypad of a portable wireless terminal includes a sheet having a plurality of holes, a plurality of keys inserted into respective ones of the holes, and a silicon adhesive layer on a lower surface of the sheet to fix the keys to the sheet. A protrusion at a lower ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7268705 | Input detection based on speckle-modulated laser self-mixing A keyboard detects press or release of keys based on laser output which is changed by speckle-modulated self-mixing. Unique targets are attached to keys. As a target is moved into and/or out of the path of a laser, speckling causes light to shine back into the laser... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7266194 | Self-lighting type push button input device A self-lighting type push-button input device according to the presently disclosed subject matter can include a button base portion formed of a transparent material. Holes can be formed in predetermined positions of the button base portion, and spring portions can b... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7259339 | Enhanced key structure with combined keycap for a mobile computing device A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7257528 | Method and apparatus for Chinese character text input A method and apparatus for inputting Chinese character text into a machine such as a word processor or personal computer. The system consists of an apparatus which forms a closed feedback loop with the operator. The operator supplies stroke selections and other data... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7239700 | Radiotelephone An electronic radiotelephone comprising: a first housing; a second housing releasably attachable to the first housing to meet with the first housing around the periphery of the radiotelephone; and retaining means comprising a cover for holding the electronic compone... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7234119 | Device and method for editing processed data input A portable electronic device (100) and method (400) is capable of editing processed data input. The portable electronic device (100) comprises a display area (224) and a processor (206) coupled to the display area. The device colle... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7228111 | Keypad structure A keypad structure. A mobile phone has a casing and an elastic sheet. The casing includes a plurality of resilient cantilever arms and a plurality of protrusions formed on the plurality of resilient cantilever arms. The elastic sheet includes a plurality of keypad b... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7218727 | Apparatus and method for inputting alphabet characters on small keypad User can input characters and numerals without mode transition on a keypad using Part-Whole Selection (PWSM). Moreover, by allocating characters having higher use frequency to lattice elements on each button in the Order of Proximity to Base Lattice Element (OPBLE),... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7216292 | System and method for populating forms with previously used data values A system and method is provided for learning data values over time as they are entered by a user on a form such as a web page form. An Internet web browser can be modified to suggest previously used data values for any form field that is the same as or similar to a ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7209730 | Telephone adapted for emergency dialing by touch A telephone has a key pad with ten number keys arranged to dial the digits from 0 to 9 inclusive, each of these number keys being marked with a visual indicator denoting the digit which the number key is arranged to dial. The 1 and 9 number keys are provided with ta... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7203521 | Method of displaying speed dials on a screen of a mobile communication terminal Disclosed is a method of displaying speed dials on a screen of a mobile communication terminal with speed dialing map that may make users of the mobile communication terminal use the speed dials more efficiently. The method comprises: setting speed dialing in... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7203903 | System and methods for spacing, storing and recognizing electronic representations of handwriting, printing and drawings A system for spacing, storing and recognizing electronic representations of handwriting and printing comprises a central processing unit that couples with a display device, an input device, and a memory. The memory includes means for spacing ink stroke representatio... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7187306 | Key input device and portable telephone comprising same The invention provides a key input device comprising a plurality of key tops 7 arranged on a surface of a main body case, each of the key tops 7 having a body 73 of transparent resin, the key body 73 being provided with a light blocking f... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7181007 | Flat-profile keypad assembly and label A keypad apparatus includes a printed circuit (110) configured for a keypad. Dome actuators (108) are placed on top of the printed circuit. A backlight (106) with apertures (103) is placed over the dome actuators such that the dome actuat... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7173204 | Control panel assembly with moveable illuminating button and method of making the same A control panel assembly including at least one moveable button defining an outer surface. The control panel assembly also includes an electroluminescent film operatively supported on the outer surface of the button such that the electroluminescent film is adapted f... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7170995 | Automatic dialing device, a system, and a method for automatically dialing a telephone number and/or placing an order An automatic dialing device, system, and method for automatically dialing telephone numbers, placing orders and making announcements are provided. A user of the device places the device near the receiver of a telephone and presses a button on the device. By pressing... | 01/30/2007 |