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:
Jan. 31, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2002
Charles Wu, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Jin Guo, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
LU Chang, Cupertino, CA (US);
Carlos Mcevilly, Redwood City, CA (US);
Charles Wu, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Jin Guo, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Lu Chang, Cupertino, CA (US);
Carlos McEvilly, Redwood City, CA (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for entering information into an electronic device are provided. The apparatus () includes five text-input buttons (, etc) that can be activated by pressing or by touching. In one embodiment, the buttons are located on a disk (). Text is entered by pressing or touching a single text-input button and then passing a finger or thumb over additional buttons in a prescribed order. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with additional input devices, such as an 'accept' or 'OK' button. Four navigation buttons (, etc) are also provided. In one embodiment, these are additional buttons. In a further embodiment, four of the five text-input buttons are selectable as navigation buttons. The selection may be achieved by rotation of the disk () on which the buttons are located. The apparatus may also include a rotatable wheel or roller () to permit scrolling through lists. The apparatus may be used to enter navigation (command), text or number information.