WO2001067720A2

WO2001067720A2 - Multifunctional keypad

Info

Publication number: WO2001067720A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/004706
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Hirsberg
Original assignee: Friedman, Mark, M.; Jetway Technologies Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-03-03
Filing date: 2001-02-13
Publication date: 2001-09-13
Also published as: AU2001238242A1; WO2001067720A3

Abstract

A keypad (10) is disclosed. The keypad (10) comprises a plurality of keys (100-109, 10a, 10b), each for implementing at least two distinct functions associated therewith, wherein each of the at least two distinct functions associated with each key is implementable by a single activation of each key.

Description

MULTIFUNCTIONAL KEYPAD

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a keypad which includes a plurality of multifunctional keys and, more particularly, to a keypad configured such that each of at least two functions associated with each key of a set of keys of the keypad can be implemented via single key activation.

As telephones and other telecommunication devices have become more advanced, the applications performed thereby require an input of data other than dialed telephone numbers.

One example of such a communication device is the cellular telephone. Typical cellular telephones are small, hand-held devices that provide a keypad for data entry and a display for viewing the results of such entry. As the popularity of hand-held cellular telephones increases, so does the number of features and services offered thereby and which call for excessive use of both numeric and alphabet characters. For example, cellular communication devices include a searchable database for contacts and telephone numbers, which can be searched alphabetically. Text messages can be communicated between users of cellular communication devices. Cellular communication devices can now be used to access the Internet via an input of data including a complex strings of alphanumeric characters signifying, for example, a Web server address. Electronic mail messages can be received and mailed through cellular communication devices. Independently, advances, in the design of such cellular telephones have led to a reduction in their size. From an ergonomic viewpoint, it is only practical to reduce the size of these devices including the size of the traditional twelve button dialing keypad (0-9 and several function keys) and other functional interface buttons, to a size that still allows for speedy, effective and accurate use of these devices. However, as these communication devices continue to decrease in physical size, it becomes increasingly difficult to incorporate additional keys to their standard keypads. In standard keypads, a key represents several distinct characters and character selection is determined by a number of successive activations of the key.

Thus, one limitation of standard keypads is that the numerous features accessible by, for example, cellular telephones are frequently difficult and time consuming to implement since the keys of such keypads are each capable of more than one possible character input.

Since this mode of data input is time consuming and laborious, several alternative solutions to cellular telephone data input have been described in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,098 describes a cellular communication device which incorporates a predictive keyboard input method and a word completion method for speeding up input on a telephone with a space limited keyboard.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,260 describes a cellular communication device retrofitted for entering handwritten information.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,849 describes an ergonomic personal telecommunication device that is of optimum size for user operation and manipulation allowing the user to operate the device as a telephony device or an electronic messaging device with one finger by using virtual function keys and buttons appearing at a function display.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,408,1068 and 4,029,915 teach titling keys implemented in various devices and serving for actuating certain alternative functions. Although the devices described above substantially enhance data input into communication devices which posses a limited keypad, such solutions necessitate cumbersome and oftentimes expensive structural modification or requires the user to adjust to a new mode of data input, which adjustment can be time consuming and oftentimes difficult.

There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a keypad incorporatable into a communication device, such as a cellular telephone, which keypad is devoid of the above limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a keypad comprising a plurality of keys, each key of the plurality of keys being for implementing at least two distinct functions associated therewith, wherein each of the at least two distinct functions associated with each key of the plurality of keys is implementable by a single activation of each key.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for increasing a functionality of a keypad, the method comprising the steps of associating with each of a plurality of keys comprising the keypad at least two distinct functions and configuring each of the plurality of keys so that each of the at least two distinct functions associated with each key of the plurality of keys is implementable by a single activation of each key.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a communication and/or data processing device comprising the keypad described herein.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the communication and/or data processing device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a cellular telephone, a GPS terminal, television remote control, Web TV remote control, a personal digital assistant and a beeper.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the communication and/or data processing device further comprising a display screen for viewing said at least two distinct functions implemented by each key of the keypad.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the plurality of keys comprises keys of a basic numeric keypad. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one of the at least two distinct functions is a data input function.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the data input function represents a specific alphanumeric character.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one of the two distinct functions associated with at least one of the plurality of keys is a mathematical operation selected from the group consisting of addition, subtraction, multiplication, an exponential function, a logarithmic function, a trigonometric function, a summation, an integration, and a statistical function.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least two of the mathematical operations are associated with one of the plurality of keys. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one of the at least two distinct functions of at least one of the plurality of keys is a data deletion function. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one key of the plurality of keys serves for implementing at least three distinct functions associated therewith.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one key of the plurality of keys serves for implementing at least four distinct functions associated therewith.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one key of the plurality of keys serves for implementing at least five distinct functions associated therewith. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each key of the plurality of keys includes at least two distinct key activation regions, wherein each of the at least two distinct key activation regions activates a distinct function of the at least two distinct functions. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each key of the plurality of keys comprises at least two contact heads, the contact heads corresponding to the key activation regions and being configured such that the activation of the distinct function of the at least two distinct functions is effected by completion of an electronic circuit by a corresponding contact head.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the keypad is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical button keypad and a touchscreen keypad.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the keypad further comprising at least one additional key being for implementing a single function.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one of the plurality of keys implements additional functions implementable by successive activations of the key. The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a keypad with multifunctional keys configured such that each function associated with each key of the keypad can be implemented via single key activation. Such a configuration allows inclusion of many functions on a small keypad and is therefore ideally suited to use in small hand-held devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cellular phone equipped with a keypad according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 2 a and b are detailed views of a basic numeric keypad of the cellular phone shown in Figure 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an alternative configuration of the basic numeric keypad according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an upper view of the printed circuit board containing one key contact area as found in prior art keypads; FIG. 5 is cross sectional view taken along line A — A of Figure 4 of both the printed circuit board and the overlaying key of a prior art keypad;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the printed circuit board for a five-function key according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line A — A of Figure 6 of both the printed circuit board and the overlaying key according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line B — B of Figure 6 of both the printed circuit board and the overlaying key according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a five-function key of a keypad according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the printed circuit board for a four-function key of a keypad according to the present invention; FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line A — A of Figure 10 of both the printed circuit board and the overlaying key according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along line B — B of Figure 10 of both the printed circuit board and the overlaying key according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a four-function key of a keypad according to the present invention; and

FIG. 14 shows examples of alternate physical configurations of the visible portion of a five-function key of a keypad according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a keypad which includes a plurality of multifunctional keys which can be incorporated into a hand held device, for example a cellular telephone. Specifically, the present invention allows implementation of each function of each key of the keypad via a single key activation.

For purposes of better understanding the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1-3 and Figures 6-14 of the drawings, reference is first made to the construction and operation of a conventional (i.e., prior art) key of a keypad as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 4, a small region below one key in a printed circuit board 30 is shown. Printed circuit board 30 contains printed metal lines 32. Detection of pressure on face of key 40 of a keypad held by a housing 42 is accomplished via completing an electrical circuit between two metal lines 32. Circuit completion is effected by a single contact head 36 located at a rear end of key 40 (Figure 5). Contact head 36 is constructed from conducting materials. Head 36 makes contact with metal lines 32 in a small area 38 on printed circuit board 30, which is called a contact area. In contact area 38, lines 32 are arranged, for example, like two interlocking combs. Contact head 36 fills a gap between the two combs and completes an electronic circuit between printed metal lines 32 when key 40 is pressed. The surface of printed circuit board 30 is coated with a non-conducting coating 34 except for contact area 38. In Figure 5 a cross section of key 40 across line A — A of Figure 4 is shown. A face of key 40, protrudes from an appropriate hole 44 formed in housing 42. Key 40 is held in an idle position above printed circuit board 30 by returning springs 46. When key 40 is pressed, springs 46 bend and contact head 36 contacts contact area 38. It will be appreciated that key 40 can be designed for implementing either one or a plurality of distinct functions. In the latter case, however, activation of at least some of the distinct functions calls for multiple successive activations of key 40. This limitation, in particular, is addressed by the present invention. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings which described the present invention, Figure 1 depicts one embodiment of the invention in the form a hand held device 1, in this case a cellular phone, featuring a twelve key basic numeric keypad 10 modified according to the present invention, a set of additional adjacent keys 12, a power key 14, an alphanumeric display 16, an antenna 18, a speaker 20 and a microphone 22. Basic numeric keypads of other hand-held electronic devices, such as a calculator, may include, any number of keys in their key configuration, such as, for example, 16 or 20 keys. As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the phrase "basic numeric keypad" includes all keypads in which ten keys are employed each to represent a single digit of the digits 0-9 and optionally few other keys are employed to represent symbols such as # and * in a basic telephone keypad; "•", "=", *'+", "x", "÷, "-", "C" = etc. in a basic calculator keypad, TV/VIDEO select key in a TV remote control; and "•", "+", "x", "÷, "-", "ENTER", "NUMLOCK", etc., in a standard computer numeric keypad. Thus, as used herein the above phrase refers to any keypad including at least ten keys representing the ten digits.

Keypad 10 of device 1 includes a plurality of keys which are each configured to implement at least two, three, four or even five distinct functions (four options for each key are depicted in Figure 1). The unique feature of keypad 10, which sets it apart from prior art keypads, is that each of the at least two distinct functions associated with each key is implementable by a single activation of each key, for example in the form of pressure applied thereto by a finger of an operator. Frequently, at least one of the at least two distinct functions is a data input function, for example, a data input function representing a specific alphanumeric character as pictured, for example, for key 108 (Figures 2 a and b), which corresponds to the letters T, U, and V as well as the number 8. Alphanumeric display 16 facilitates viewing the at least two distinct functions implemented by each key of the keypad, as it is implemented. Device 1, containing key pad 10, is pictured as a telephone, but might also be any other communication device and/or data processing device, for example, a cellular telephone, a GPS terminal, television remote control, Web TV remote control, a personal digital assistant or a beeper. "Beeper" for purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims includes alphanumeric pagers and all other devices with a similar function.

Although keypad 10 is pictured as containing exclusively multifunctional keys, it may include at least one additional key which serves for implementing a single function in some configurations of the invention.

Such a key may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the prior art as pictured in Figures 4-5 and is further described hereinabove. In any case, keypad 10 may be, for example, a mechanical button keypad or a touchscreen keypad.

Alternately or additionally, at least one of the two distinct functions associated with at least one of the plurality of keys of keypad 10 may be a mathematical operation, such as, for example, addition, subtraction, multiplication, an exponential function, a logarithmic function, a trigonometric function, a summation, an integration or a statistical function. In Figure 2a, key 10a, for example, allows selection of the four basic math operations: multiplication (*), addition (+), subtraction (-) and division (/). It is often advantageous to have at least some of the distinct functions of a key to include a data deletion function, such as the clear (CLR) function of key 100 shown in Figure 2a. The clear operation may act as a delete character (DEL) in text insertion mode and clear result operation (C) in calculator mode.

Accordingly, the configuration of keypad 10 according to the present invention also embodies a method for increasing a functionality of a keypad.

The method includes the steps of associating with each of a plurality of keys of the keypad at least two distinct functions and configuring each of the plurality of keys so that each of the at least two distinct functions associated with each key of the plurality of keys is implementable by a single activation of each key.

One embodiment of keypad 10, which is shown in greater detail in Figure 2a, contains a twelve keys arrangement 100-109, 10a, and 10b. Each key is a four function key that can be activated by a press down operation combined with a directional fingertip tilt: up, down, left or right operation. The left tilt operation of each key is assigned to the 0-9, * and # regular phone operation, while the other three tilt operations of each key are assigned to other symbols or functions as is depicted on the keys. The 26 letters of the Latin alphabet are assigned, in the pictured embodiment, according to the U.S. phone letters to digits association. For example, the letters A, B and C, are assigned to up tilt, right tilt and down tilt of key 102, respectively. Two exception to US phone letters to digit association rule exist since digits "7" and "9" has four letters associated with each of which but only three letters can be assigned since the left tilt operation is reserved for the basic keypad operation. Therefore, the letters Q and Z are assigned to key 100 up tilt and down tilt operation, respectively. The pictured letter arrangement of keypad 10 is chosen for simplicity, however other arrangements chosen to speed data entry are certainly within the scope of the present invention.

The "press-tilt" operations left unassigned to any letter or basic numeric operation is assigned to other alphanumeric important characters such as space (SPC) (assigned to key 10b right tilt), parentheses (assigned to key 101 up and down tilt) and punctuation characters (,.;) which assigned to key 101 right tilt. A press-tilt-right once will represent comma (,), a second press-tilt-right immediately after will change the comma to dot (.), and the third immediate press-tilt-right will change the dot to a semi-colon (;).

An alternate embodiment of keypad 10, which is shown in greater detail in Figure 2b, contains a twelve keys arrangement 100-109, 10a, and 10b. Each key is a four function key that can be activated by a press down operation combined with a directional fingertip tilt: up, down, left or right operation. The down tilt operation of each key is assigned to the 0-9, * and # regular phone operation, while the other three tilt operations of each key are assigned to other symbols or functions as is depicted on the keys. According to this embodiment, the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet are assigned, in the pictured embodiment, to number keys 2 through 9 (102-109) and * 10a. For example, the letters A, B and C, are assigned to left tilt, up tilt and right tilt of key 102, respectively. The letter S is assigned to key 10a up tilt. The pictured letter arrangement of keypad 10 (Figure 2b) is chosen for simplicity, however other arrangements chosen to speed data entry are certainly within the scope of the present invention. The equal symbol is assigned to press-right-tilt operation of key 10b

(Figure 2a) and acts as the equal character in text insertion and calculate and display result in calculator mode. The press-down-tilt operation on key 10b is assigned to "ENTER" operation needed in some application. This basic numeric keypad of Figure 2a has all English letter and some of the other basic characters needed for word processing, is lacking some basic characters such as (:,?,!,$,&,...). One way to overcome this limitation is to assign those symbols to more sophisticated less quick input methods such as assign them to a sequence of press operation as described above for the punctuation characters. In this case, at least one key of the keypad would contain additional functions implementable by successive activations of that key. Another possibility is to use some additional keys that extend the keypad in the device.

Alternately, this problem can be solved by increasing the functionality of keypad 10 by, for example, configuring each key of the plurality of keys to implement at least five distinct functions as shown in Figure 3, thereby increasing the capacity of a 12 key keypad from 48 possible inputs to 60 possible inputs (Figure 3). Keypad 10 in this configuration includes a twelve keys arrangement 200-209, 20a, 20b. Each key is a five function key that can be activated by a press down operation combined with fingertip tilt up, down, left, right or no tilt (center) operation. The no tilt center press operation of each key is assigned to the 0-9, *, # regular phone operation, while the other four tilt operations of each key are assigned to other symbols or functions. The character assignment logic details are similar to the logic described above for the four function keys. In this configuration, keys 207 and 209 contain all four letters required by U.S. phone letters to digit assignment as well as the digit itself.

A brief description of the user interface of, device 1, for example a cellular phone, is now given for the sake of completeness. After powering on, device 1 is in regular cellular phone mode. In this mode a simple call can be initiated by pressing the telephone number on basic numeric keypad 10 and then pressing the send (SND) key on extended keypad 12. In this mode, the user does not need to do sensitive press-tilt operations since any press on the key, regardless of unintentional tilt, will be interpreted by device 1 as a basic operation (i.e., digit or *, # key press). When the user, via the use of additional menu selection keys (FN1 and FN2 in extended keypad 12), selects an application that requires text insertion, for example, storage of a name in memory, e-mail, SMS, or calendar editing, the device automatically switch to "tilt sensitive" operation and full text with one key press operation is available to the user. The arrows key in the middle of the extended keypad 12 is a four-function tilting key that helps the user navigate in the text as well as helping in menu selection. When the user selects a calculator mode, the operations such as (+, -, *, /, - and CLR) perform the expected reaction as in a standalone calculator. Additional advanced mathematical function can be activated using shortcuts composed of few letters which are accessible in the same easy way as in text mode. Many other applications on device 1 could conceivably benefit from the tilt sensitive keypad and the simple user interface it offers. For example, in a "tilt-sensitive" dialing mode, the user can type the initial name of the person to connect and then press the SND key and if the number is stored in the memory a call is initiated. Such a mode is sometimes found in existing cellular phones, however, owing to the complexity involved in entering the English letters in such devices, it is easier and quicker to dial the number directly or search the names memory. In contrast, typing a name is simple and quick using the present invention. Furthermore, as peoples tend to remember small numeric code such as the ATM card code by the spatial press sequence on the ATM machine keypad, short name and common words are better memorized and quickly operated using the present invention.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show the mechanism of activation of a five function key 40 of the present invention, for example as shown on keypad 10 in Figure 1. Activation is similar to as described hereinabove for a single function key (see Figures 4-5), except that the printed circuit board 30 below each key contains five contact areas 38 formed by contact lines 32. Each contact area 38 enables detection of one of five contact heads, a center press contact head 50, a right tilt contact 52, a left tilt contact head 54, an up tilt contact head 56, and a down tilt contact head 58, corresponding to actions that can be performed by the user: press-up-tilt, press-down-tilt, press-left-tilt, press-right-tilt and press-center-no-tilt, respectively.

Similarly, each key face 48 (Figure 9) displays five symbols located above the five contact heads 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58. The locations of contact heads 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 on key 40 are in accordance with the desired head action. Key 40 is configured such that when one tilting position is achieved, only one of contact heads 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 becomes in contact with printed circuit board 30. This is achieved, for example, by designing a rear face of key 40 to include a central portion surrounded by small inclinations in at least four directions, such that a tilting pressure causes a proper contact head to lay horizontally above its corresponding contact area, while, at the same time, keeping other contact heads away from their contact areas on printed circuit board 30. Figures 7 and 8 show cross sectional views of key 40 in planes A-A and B-B (Figure 6), respectively. Therefore, contact heads 50, 42 and 54 are visible in Figure 7, while contact heads 50, 56 and 58 are visible in Figure 8.

Figures 10 to 13 are similar to Figures 6-9 except that they depict a four function key, for example as shown on keypad 10 in Figure 1. The principles are similar, however, only four contact areas and four contact heads 52, 54, 56 and 58 are employed and arranged as faces of a four sided pyramid 48 which encourages key 40 to tilt to one of the four directions.

Figure 14 shows examples of possible configurations for five function keys suited for use with keypad 10 of the present invention. In each example a face of the key shown represents a set of 5 key activation regions, marked with the symbols P, Q, R, S and 7 as on key 207 of Figure 3. For example, face 60 includes a square surrounded by trapezoids of equal size, the trapezoids sloping down and away from the central square. Face 62 includes a raised X inscribed in a square such that 4 triangles are formed between the X and the 4 edges of the square. Face 64 is a square with 4 raised dots arrange midway between the center of the square and its 4 edges. Face 66 is an cross shaped key with symbols placed at its center and at the ends of the four arms of the cross. Face 68 and 70 provide examples in which a square is inscribed in a larger square, defining a triangle between each side of the inner square and the corresponding corner of the outer square.

In summary, each letter, number, or function assigned to each key 40 of keyboard 10 constitutes a distinct key activation region activates a distinct function. Implementation of the distinct functions may be accomplished, for example, by the use of contact heads 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58, corresponding to the key activation regions and being configured such that the activation of each distinct function is effected by completion of an electronic circuit by one of contact heads 50, 52, 54, 56 or 58 contacting contact lines 32 in contact areas 38. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A keypad comprising a plurality of keys operatively engaged by a housing, each of said plurality of keys being for implementing at least two distinct functions associated therewith, wherein each of said at least two distinct functions associated with each key of said plurality of keys is implementable by a single activation of each key.

2. The keypad of claim 1, wherein said plurality of keys comprises keys of a basic numeric keypad.

3. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two distinct functions is a data input function.

4. The keypad of claim 3, wherein said data input function represents a specific alphanumeric character.

5. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one of said two distinct functions associated with at least one of said plurality of keys is a mathematical operation selected from the group consisting of addition, subtraction, multiplication, an exponential function, a logarithmic function, a trigonometric function, a summation, an integration, and a statistical function.

6. The keypad of claim 5, wherein at least two of said mathematical operations are associated with one of said plurality of keys.

7. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two distinct functions of at least one of said plurality of keys is a data deletion function.

8. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one key of said plurality of keys serves for implementing at least three distinct functions associated therewith.

9. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one key of said plurality of keys serves for implementing at least four distinct functions associated therewith.

10. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one key of said plurality of keys serves for implementing at least five distinct functions associated therewith.

11. The keypad of claim 1, wherein each key of said plurality of keys includes at least two distinct key activation regions, wherein each of said at least two distinct key activation regions activates a distinct function of said at least two distinct functions.

12. The keypad of claim 11, wherein each key of said plurality of keys comprises at least two contact heads, said contact heads corresponding to said key activation regions and being configured such that said activation of said distinct function of said at least two distinct functions is effected by completion of an electronic circuit by a corresponding contact head.

13. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the keypad is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical button keypad and a touchscreen keypad.

14. The keypad of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional key being for implementing a single function.

15. The keypad of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of keys implements additional functions implementable by successive activations of said key.

16. A communication and/or data processing device comprising the keypad of claim 1.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the communication and/or data processing device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a cellular telephone, a GPS teπΗinal, television remote control, Web TV remote control, a personal digital assistant and a beeper.

18. The communication and/or data processing device of claim 16, further comprising a display screen for viewing said at least two distinct functions implemented by each key of the keypad.

19. A method for simplifying a functionality of a keypad, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) associating with each of a plurality of keys of said keypad at least two distinct functions; and (b) configuring each of said plurality of keys so that each of said at least two distinct functions associated with each key of said plurality of keys is implementable by a single activation of each key.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of keys comprises a keys arrangement of a basic numeric keypad.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of said at least two distinct functions is a data input function.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said data input function represents a specific alphanumeric character.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of said two distinct functions associated with at least one of said plurality of keys is a mathematical operation selected from the group consisting of addition, subtraction, multiplication, an exponential function, a logarithmic function, a trigonometric function, a summation, an integration, and a statistical function.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least two, of said mathematical operations are associated with one of said plurality of keys.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of said at least two distinct functions of at least one of said plurality of keys is a data deletion function.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one key of said plurality of keys serves for implementing at least three distinct functions associated therewith.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one key of said plurality of keys serves for implementing at least four distinct functions associated therewith.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one key of said plurality of keys serves for implementing at least five distinct functions associated therewith.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein each key of said plurality of keys includes at least two distinct key activation regions, wherein each of said at least two distinct key activation regions activates a distinct function of said at least two distinct functions.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each key of said plurality of keys comprises at least two contact heads, said contact heads corresponding to said key activation regions and being configured such that said activation of said distinct function of said at least two distinct functions is effected by completion of an electronic circuit by a corresponding contact head.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein the keypad is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical button keypad and a touchscreen keypad.

32. The method of claim 19, wherein said keypad further includes at least one additional key being for implementing a single function.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of keys implements additional functions implementable by successive activations of said key.