IIIH
US007107083B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: Us 7,107,083 B2
Watanabe (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 12,2006
(54) INPUT DEVICE CONNECTED TO MOBILE
COMMUNICATION TERMINAL WITH
WHICH CHARACTERS CAN BE INPUT
EASILY
(75) Inventor: Kazutoshi Watanabe, Fukushima-ken
(JP)
(73) Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 540 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/144,206
(22) Filed: May 10, 2002
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2002/0173340 Al Nov. 21, 2002
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
May 15, 2001 (JP) 2001-144072
(51) Int. CI.
H04M1/00 (2006.01)
H04B 1/38 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 455/575.3; 455/556.1;
455/557; 455/575.1; 455/575.4; 455/90.3
(58) Field of Classification Search 455/556.1,
455/557, 566, 575.1, 575.3, 575.4, 90.3 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,666,694 A * 9/1997 Slow et al 16/368
An input device includes a supporting unit which is provided with first shafts, and a rotating unit is connected to the first shafts in a rotatable manner. In addition, an operating unit is provided with second shafts, and the rotating unit is also connected to the second shafts in a rotatable manner. When the operating unit is at an operating position, it is closely attached to an input unit provided on the front surface of a mobile phone. When the operating unit is at a stored position, the second shafts of the operating unit is moved from the front side of a mobile phone to the back side thereof, so that the operating unit is closely attached to the back surface of the mobile phone.
39 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
