Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8419303 | Keyboard with overlaid numeric phone keypad A physical keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional keys with a reduced column QWERTY key arrangement overlaid with a numeric phone key arrangement for use in both text entry and telephony. Another physical keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional ... | 04/16/2013 |
| 8414207 | Ultra-compact mobile touch-type keyboard An ultra compact mobile keyboard. The keyboard has a plurality of mechanical keys suitable for touch typing. Each such key has a travel distance sufficient to provide a touch type feel and a rigid cap for crisp actuation by a user. The keyboard has a deployed config... | 04/09/2013 |
| 7439957 | Compact universal keyboard A keyboard type input device has multiple key positions provided as character entry keys. Each key corresponds to one key in the selected row of the conventional QWERTY keyboard. A second set of control buttons provide for the selection of which row of a conventiona... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7385530 | Key system for a communication device A key activation system for use in a handheld communication device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the ke... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7378991 | Condensed keyboard for electronic devices Methods, apparatuses, systems, and media for generating characters for electronic devices using condensed keyboards are disclosed. Embodiments comprise a method of manipulating a set of keys adapted to be manipulated using fingers of a left hand and a right hand of ... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7372454 | Keyboard with variable-sized keys A computer keyboard is provided having keys that vary in size based on the keys' frequency of use. The keyboard may, for example, be modeled after the standard QWERTY keyboard, but modified such that keys for letters of the most-commonly used letters in the alphabet... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7339580 | Method and apparatus for integrating manual input Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, compliant, and flexible multi-touch surface. The surface consists of compressible cushion dielectric, el... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7302322 | Vehicular interface including armrest control assembly A user control assembly is provided for use on a vehicle equipped with a processor, an armrest, and a plurality of vehicular systems each having at least one adjustable feature associated therewith that may be controlled by the processor. The user control assembly c... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7287921 | Key array of keyboard A key array for a keyboard is provided having an input key section including a plurality of input keys. Each input key has a left key part, a central key part, and a right key part. A left control key is positioned on a left side of the input key section so as to co... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7220431 | Methods and compositions for applying pharmacologic agents to the ear Methods and materials useful for applying pharmacologic agents to the ear are described. The methods involve delivering a composition that contains at least one viscogenic agent and at least one pharmacologic agent to the epidermal surface of the tympanic membrane v... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7215257 | Depression judgment device A depression-judgment apparatus which properly judges the ON/OFF of a key switch without being affected by chattering that occur when key switch is turned ON is provided. The depression-judgment apparatus of the present invention comprises a timer selector circuit c... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7190351 | System and method for data input The invention provides a system and a method for data input that can be used with or incorporated into electronic, computer, and portable devices. The interface includes a small set of control buttons or keys that are used to provide access to an associated set of s... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7181251 | Mobile communication terminal with multi orientation user interface The invention relates to a mobile communication terminal comprising a user interface with a display and a keypad for supporting various functions. According to the invention, the orientation of the content of a hard label or a soft label of at least one of the keys ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7160042 | Two sensor movement Multiple methods of using only two sensors to control the state of an object in a one dimensional environment, a two dimensional environment or a three dimensional environment. A method of using only two sensors to control the state of an object in a secondary mode ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7155683 | Communication terminal having a predictive editor application A communication terminal having a display; a keypad having a plurality of keys associated with several letters each; a processor for controlling the display in accordance with the operation of the keypad; a selectable predictive editor program for generating an outp... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7137749 | Faster, practical keyboard A keyboard for computers and data entry devices is disclosed, which increases typing speed, but at the same time eases the transition from the Standard Qwerty keyboard for experienced typists. Two letter sequences called digraphs are typed rapidly when struck by opp... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7131780 | Keyboard A keyboard has a single row of eight multi-position keys with the letters arranged in a standard QWERTY keyboard configuration. The eight keys correspond to the eight fingers used when touch typing; each finger operates one key, and that key contains all the letters... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7129932 | Keyboard for interacting on small devices A QWERTY-based cluster keyboard is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the keyboard comprises fourteen alphabet keys arranged such that all the letters in the alphabet are distributed in three rows of keys and in the standard QWERTY positions. Stochastic languag... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7083342 | Keyboard arrangement A physical keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional keys with a reduced column QWERTY key arrangement overlaid with a numeric phone key arrangement for use in both text entry and telephony. Another physical keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional ... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7081837 | Compressed standardized keyboard A keyboard of reduced size is provided in which multiple characters are assigned to each of the primary keys. The selection of the characters to be assigned to each specific primary key is based on the touch typing rules associated with a specific standardized keybo... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7056043 | Keyboard for a mobile device An apparatus has a keyboard panel with a QWERTY array of alphabetic key actuation indicia. The apparatus further has a QWERTY array of keys that are free of alphabetic key actuation indicia, and are located adjacent to corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7048456 | Keyboard arrangement The invention relates to a keyboard arrangement and a method for detecting an input character. In particular the invention relates to a method and arrangement for reducing the number of keys in a QWERTY-keyboard (20) or the like. One idea of the invention is ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7038659 | Symbol encoding apparatus and method An apparatus and method of encoding and communicating symbols is provided. A user encodes a symbol using a sliding motion of a fingertip in relation to a proximity and touch-detecting glance pad. The user imagines a polygon on the surface of the pad. The user makes ... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7027037 | Conditionally illuminated keypad legends A user input device employs a number of legends that are selectively illuminable to indicate an active one of alternative input values of a user selectable key. ... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7014099 | Data entry device A data entry device is provided. The data entry device includes a key having a first data entry value associated with depressing the key, and one or more additional discrete data entry values associated with deflecting the key in a predetermined direction, where a u... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7003446 | Grammar-based automatic data completion and suggestion for user input In a computer, a user interface allows users to input requests to various applications or software modules executing on the computer. During the input process, the invention presents to the user a grammar-based automatic completion of the user input so far, and/or a... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6980200 | Rapid entry of data and information on a reduced size input area A method and device designed to improve the speed, accuracy, and ease of entry of characters and other symbols by a user. The device is designed to use a reduced size input area as an input source and optionally as a display screen. A set of characters or other symb... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6965372 | User friendly keyboard A keyboard arranged for enhanced typing speed and easy memorization includes a home row provided with a series of simple words which incorporate the most commonly used letters of the alphabet. Arranged in a central zone above the home row are tab and delete keys, to... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6948869 | Compact ergonomic telephony keypad A compact, ergonomic telephony keypad is described which comprises three principle buttons capable of performing twelve distinct electronic switch operations. The three principle buttons are positioned in a group comprising a telephony keypad with each button formed... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6948868 | Keyboard structure A word transcription keyboard utilizing at least one keypad which is available for access by a finger of the user. A second keypad accessible to the finger of the user is extended and terminated in a press pad for allowing contact of the palm region of the hand simu... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6943776 | Computer-compatible, visualizably presented, intuitive and self-explanatory manual input system A manual input system for efficient generation of inputs by entering chords comprises a keyboard (66) with ten colored keys (74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, and 92) and a legend (94) The keys of the keyboard (66) each are opera... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6944018 | Control system input apparatus and method A control system interface integrates an electronic switching or sensing mechanism with an existing or custom-fabricated, functional or decorative equipment panel. The electronic switching or sensing mechanism is located on the rear surface of the equipment panel an... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6932525 | Keyboard arrangement for easy acquisition of typing skills A keyboard arrangement that assigns alphanumeric and special character symbols to keys based upon the shapes of the symbols in order to facilitate learning to type. Attribute classes are defined according to the number, position, direction, or contours of the line s... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6922810 | Grammar-based automatic data completion and suggestion for user input In a computer, a user interface allows users to input requests to various applications or software modules executing on the computer. During the input process, the invention presents to the user a grammar-based automatic completion of the user input so far, and/or a... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6912552 | Method and system for migrating stored data to a build-to-order computing system A method and system for migrating data to a build-to-order computing system is provided. The method comprises storing an image at a remote site. The image comprises data stored on a computing system. An order is received to provide a second computing system to a cus... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6911970 | Keypad apparatus and method for inputting data and characters for a computing device or cellular phone A keypad and key device featuring a plurality of contacts on the rear face of a keypad key that each mate with an individual contact pad from a plurality of contact pads placed below the upwardly biased and tiltable keys. Pushing a key on a right side or left side m... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6909382 | Polyphonic/chordic annotation method A programmatic organisation method, or concept, for augmented use of a standardized keyboard, capable of detecting depression/touching of single keys as well as simultaneously depressed/touched combinations of keys. According to the invention, simultaneous depressio... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6805506 | Keyboard with multiple indicia sets The present invention discloses a method for displaying individually on a plurality of keys of a keyboard or keypad two or more indicia representing two or more functions performed by each key. The keys are characterized in that each of the two or more indicia is pr... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6789967 | Distal chording keyboard Apparatuses for a distal chording keyboard are described. Key configurations are selected based on the frequency of use of the characters. In one embodiment, a chording keyboard comprises two keypads, one for use with each of a user's hands, the keypads disposed on ... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6698957 | Foldable keyboard with point stick The present invention relates to a foldable keyboard, and more particularly, to a foldable keyboard adapted for a point stick and/or at least one hot key. Two or more keypad portions are hingably connected by a connection board on which a point stick or a... | 03/02/2004 |
