Applicant(s): none Issued/Filed Dates: June 18, 1996 / Sept. 22, 1994 Application Number: US1994000028771 IPC Class: none Class: Current: D14/115; Original: D14/115; Field of Search: D14/100,101,106,115 D18/1,2,7,11 235/145 A,145 R 200/5 A,5 R,6 A,6 R 345/160 341/22,23 364/708.1 400/109,110 Primary/Assistant Examiners: Nunn; Freda; U.S. References: Show the 1 patent that references this one Patent Issued Inventor(s) Title US4543631 9 /1985 Kurosu et al. Japanese text inputting system having interactive mnemonic mode and display choice mode US5197810 3 /1993 Zhang et al. Method and system for inputting simplified form and/or original complex form of Chinese character
To visit US D370899 for graphs 龄 いゅ块龄絃 [十键 中文输入键盘图] in IBM patents search site.
Foreign References: none (No patents reference this one) Other References: IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 29 No. 12 May 1987 pp. 5383-5384. Nominate this invention for the Gallery...:
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Applicant(s): none Issued/Filed Dates: Dec. 22, 1998 / Jan. 4, 1995 Application Number: US1995000368348 IPC Class: H03K 017/94; Class: Current: 341/022; 200/005.A; 200/006.A; 341/020; 708/145; Original: 341/022; 341/020; 341/022; 200/005.A; 200/006.A; 364/709.15; Field of Search: 341/20,21,22 345/168 200/5 A,6 A,6 R 364/709.12,709.15
Primary/Assistant Examiners: Hofsass; Jeffery; Mannava; Ashok
U.S. References: (No patents reference this one) Patent Issued Inventor(s) Title
US3705424 12 /1972 Harvey, Jr. ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS UTILIZING CONDUCTIVITY OF THE HUMAN SKIN
US3879618 4 /1975 Larson Touch sensitive electronic switch
US4159471 6 /1979 Whitaker Communication system using binary compatible characters
US4256931 3 /1981 Palisek Multiple dome switch assembly having pivotable common actuator
US4554426 11 /1985 Caste Multiple key with invisible hinge
US4891777 1 /1990 Lapeyre Single hand keyboard arrays providing alphanumeric capabilities from twelve keys
US5124514 6 /1992 Chen Structure of mechanical key switch
US5184490 2 /1993 Takahashi Key switch assembly
US5199556 4 /1993 Lee Structure of key switch
We claim: 1. A triangle-shaped 4-way-switching key for a keypad consisting of 10 keys alternating upwards- and downwards-pointing positioned for entering alphanumeric data into computer or communication device, while the keys are in its first state, these 10 keys are used to enter the numbers 0 to 9 respectively, while in other three states, these 10 keys are used to enter alphabets A to Z respectively wherein each of the 10 keys has four pressing areas consisting of a first are met by the center area and the other three areas met by the corner areas, and when the first area is being pressed, the key is in said first state and the whole key sinks, when the key is in one of said other three states, one of the corners is pressed and the pressed corner tilts downwards.
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