The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 20, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1998
William J Curtin, IV, Madison, WI (US);
William J Curtin, II, Madison, WI (US);
Charles W Mortell, Appleton, WI (US);
American Tel-A-System , Inc., McFarland, WI (US);
Abstract
The invention is a system for encoding inputs and methods of operation thereof. The inventions includes a plurality of inputs each displaying a different numerical value with at least some of the plurality of inputs each also displaying at least one input letter and at least one additional input each displaying at least one input not representing a numerical value or letter, each of the plurality of inputs displaying an input numerical value when selected singularity producing a signal representing selection of the displayed numerical input value and each additional input when selected producing a signal representing the input selection of the displayed at least one input, different ones of the plurality of inputs displaying a numerical input value further being selected to input consonants and vowels with an input vowel being selected and inputted with one input displaying an input numerical value and another input displaying an input numerical value and the input vowel with an input consonant being selected with one input displaying an input numerical value and another input displaying an input numerical value and the selected input consonant and an input other than a numerical value or letter being selected with one input being one of the at least one additional inputs and another input which is one of the plurality of inputs; and an encoder, responsive to the plurality of inputs and to the at least one additional input, having an output for outputting encoded inputs including at least alphabetical and numerical characters with each selected numerical value being inputted to the encoder in response to selection of a single one of the plurality of inputs displaying a numerical value and all inputs, other than numerical values, being inputted to the encoder in response to the combined selection of inputs chosen from the plurality of inputs and the at least one additional input.