Abstract: A compact keypad is provided for inputting data into an electronic device. With the addition of a minimum of just four more keys than found on a telephone keypad, direct single-press-per-character data entry is made possible by the use of adjecent combination keypress entries. The keys are sufficiently sized and spaced to enable the direct activation of any of a set of characters comprised of numbers, letters and symbols with a single finger stroke of either one individual key, or an adjacent combination of keys. The present compact keypad conforms to the number-letter association of a standard telephone keypad. Such numerous combinations are made possible because of combinations arising from individual keys being arranged in a close-ordered hexagonal pattern. Seven or more characters can be directly selected with a single press of a single key actuated in combination with any or none of its six adjacent keys.

Abstract: A high resolution alphanumeric character display unit is disclosed which has a multi-segmented display screen. The display screen is a mosaic pattern of activatable display segments and dead spaces. The combined dead space accounts for less than 25% of the screen pattern. The activatable display segments have various non-uniform and curvilinear shapes and provide a high resolution alphanumeric character display.

Abstract: A global time reckoning system simultaneously indicates local time and global time. The global time reckoning system can be practiced with standard clock timer drivers, including electromechanical and digital clock motors, in combination with a novel global time system clock face to allow a user to reckon time locally or anywhere on the globe without time zone conversion calculations. The global time system clock face has multiple time scales, at least one of which is driven by the clock drive in cooperation with an hour indicator (e.g., an hour hand). The global time system clock face simultaneously displays global time (relative to any location on the globe) and local time. Additionally, the global time reckoning system, with the appropriate clock timer driver is adaptable to indicate a number of other global time related information, including sunrise/sunset, days of the week, lunar phase and solstices/equinoxes.