US4532378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone apparatus capable of inputting character data
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-08-03
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Granted: 1985-07-30
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Expires: 2004-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A telephone apparatus which can input character/symbol data. The apparatus has a keyboard including a plurality of numeral keys each assigned to characters/symbols, a mode change key for switching numerical mode to character/symbol mode, or vice versa and a special key for executing a predetermined sequence. After the apparatus has been set to the character/symbol mode, the numeral keys assigned for the characters/symbols and the special key are operated in the predetermined sequence, thereby inputting character/symbol data. The data are applied to a electronic calculator CPU, are outputted in the form of character/symbol pattern signals from a character generator, and are displayed by a display section in the predetermined sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasunobu Nakayama
- 👤 Takeshi Kunii
- 👤 Yasuji Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04M11/066; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0238; H03; H03M; H03M11/00; H03M11/02; H03M11/04; H03M11/06; H03M11/08; H03M11/12; H03M11/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting character/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol, said keyboard means including a key having a switching instruction function which causes preparation for an additional character/symbol to be displayed with the next depression of one of said numeral keys; controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard and including memory means for storing keyed in data, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for display one of the character/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after said mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, (3) changing the character/symbol selected for display in said function (2) to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key in response to each repeated depression of the same numeral key previously depressed, (4) selecting for display one of the characters/symbols assigned to another of said numeral keys which has been depressed immediately after said one numeral key, (5) preparing for an additional character/symbol to be displayed with the next depression of one of said numeral keys in response to depression of said switching instruction function key when said additional character/symbol is associated with the same one of said numeral keys as the character/symbol just entered, and (6) holding in said memory means a representation of said character/symbol selected by said functions (2)-(4); and display means, connected to said controller means, for displaying said character/symbols whose representation is stored in said memory means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting character/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol, said keyboard means including a key having a switching instruction function which causes preparation for an additional character/symbol to be displayed with the next depression of one of said numeral keys; controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard and including memory means for storing keyed in data, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for display one of the character/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after said mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, (3) changing the character/symbol selected for display in said function (2) to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key in response to each repeated depression of the same numeral key previously depressed, (4) selecting for display one of the characters/symbols assigned to another of said numeral keys which has been depressed immediately after said one numeral key, (5) preparing for an additional character/symbol to be displayed with the next depression of one of said numeral keys in response to depression of said switching instruction function key when said additional character/symbol is associated with the same one of said numeral keys as the character/symbol just entered, and (6) holding in said memory means a representation of said character/symbol selected by said functions (2)-(4); and display means, connected to said controller means, for displaying said character/symbols whose representation is stored in said memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting character/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols, and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol mode, said keyboard means including a single key having a switching instruction function which switches, with each depression, a character/symbol being displayed in a character/symbol mode to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key; and controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for entry one of the characters/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after the mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, and (3) changing the character/symbol selected for entry in said function (2) to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key in response to each repeated depression of said single switching instruction function key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting character/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols, and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol mode, said keyboard means including a single key having a switching instruction function which switches, with each depression, a character/symbol being displayed in a character/symbol mode to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key; and controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for entry one of the characters/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after the mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, and (3) changing the character/symbol selected for entry in said function (2) to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key in response to each repeated depression of said single switching instruction function key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
249 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting character/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol mode, said keyboard means including a key having a switching instruction function which causes preparation for an additional character/symbol to be displayed with the next depression of one of said numeral keys; and controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for entry one of the character/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after said mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, (3) changing the character/symbol selected for entry in said function (2) to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key in response to each repeated depression of the same numeral key previously depressed, (4) selecting for entry one of the characters/symbols assigned to another of said numeral keys which has been depressed immediately after said one numeral key, and (5) preparing for an additional character/symbol to be entered with the next depression of one of said numeral keys in response to depression of said switching instruction function key when said additional character/symbol is associated with the same one of said numeral keys as the character/symbol just entered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
249 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting character/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol mode, said keyboard means including a key having a switching instruction function which causes preparation for an additional character/symbol to be displayed with the next depression of one of said numeral keys; and controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for entry one of the character/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after said mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, (3) changing the character/symbol selected for entry in said function (2) to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key in response to each repeated depression of the same numeral key previously depressed, (4) selecting for entry one of the characters/symbols assigned to another of said numeral keys which has been depressed immediately after said one numeral key, and (5) preparing for an additional character/symbol to be entered with the next depression of one of said numeral keys in response to depression of said switching instruction function key when said additional character/symbol is associated with the same one of said numeral keys as the character/symbol just entered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
262 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting characters/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol mode, said keyboard means including a single key having a switching instruction function which switches, with each depression, a character/symbol being displayed in a character/symbol mode to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key; and controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard and including memory means for storing keyed in data, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for display one of the characters/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after the mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, (3) outputting a character/symbol pattern signal representing character/symbol selected, (4) holding in said memory means the character/symbol pattern signal from said outputting function (3), (5) selecting another character/symbol than the character/symbol selected by said selecting function (2), said another character/symbol being assigned to the same key, by operating the same key and then operating said single switching instruction function key, and (6) outputting a character/symbol pattern signal representing said another character/symbol selected and (7) holding in said memory means said character/symbol pattern signal from said outputting function (6); and display means connected to said controller means, for displaying said outputted character/symbol pattern signals stored in said memory means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
262 words
A telephone apparatus capable of inputting characters/symbol data comprising: telephone network means connected to a handset and terminals connected to a telephone exchange station; keyboard means having numeral keys each assigned to a plurality of characters/symbols and a mode switching key for switching between a numeral mode and a character/symbol mode, said keyboard means including a single key having a switching instruction function which switches, with each depression, a character/symbol being displayed in a character/symbol mode to a different character/symbol associated with the same numeral key; and controller means connected to the telephone network means and the keyboard and including memory means for storing keyed in data, said controller means for: (1) setting a desired mode as the mode switching key is operated, (2) selecting for display one of the characters/symbols assigned to one of said numeral keys which has been depressed after the mode setting means has been set to the character/symbol mode, (3) outputting a character/symbol pattern signal representing character/symbol selected, (4) holding in said memory means the character/symbol pattern signal from said outputting function (3), (5) selecting another character/symbol than the character/symbol selected by said selecting function (2), said another character/symbol being assigned to the same key, by operating the same key and then operating said single switching instruction function key, and (6) outputting a character/symbol pattern signal representing said another character/symbol selected and (7) holding in said memory means said character/symbol pattern signal from said outputting function (6); and display means connected to said controller means, for displaying said outputted character/symbol pattern signals stored in said memory means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |