Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080224899 | RAMPED-KEY KEYBOARD FOR A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface of which an upper inboard portion is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with the rest of the top engagement surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes. | 09-18-2008 |
20090033521 | KEY DESIGNS FOR COMPACT KEYPAD OF HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A keypad for a mobile device having a housing comprises a plurality of keys coupled to the housing. Each of the keys has means for making the selection of smaller key sizes easier for a user. The keys may incorporate a flexible or resilient upper part, or be configured to transform to a larger surface area upon the application of pressure. The keys may be configured to rotate away from a selected key. The keys adjacent a selected key may be configured to lock mechanically or electrically. The keys may have multiple parts that are movable relative to one another. The upper part of the key may include a fluid, with a selection rod positioned inside the upper part to enter the fluid. | 02-05-2009 |
20090134000 | SWITCH CONFIGURATION - A switch configuration for use with a keyboard comprises a plurality of support structures positioned adjacent each other in spaced relation and a plurality of dome switches, with at least one dome switch being coupled to each of the plurality of support structures. A keyboard and mobile communication device incorporate the switch configuration. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135029 | Handheld Electronic Device That Has A Keypad Which Can Be Rendered Ineffective, And Associated Method - An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration. | 05-28-2009 |
20090182501 | USING A SHAPE-CHANGING DISPLAY AS AN ADAPTIVE LENS FOR SELECTIVELY MAGNIFYING INFORMATION DISPLAYED ONSCREEN - A method of displaying information on a display of a handheld electronic device includes steps of determining a target area onscreen to be visually magnified and causing a shape-changing zone of the display to change shape in the target area to visually magnify information displayed in the target area. The array of shape-changing zones on the touch-sensitive display can be independently actuated to form a magnifying lens over any onscreen object of interest. For example, this lens can be used to magnify a selected portion of a map, a portion of text or a specific point of interest. The lens can be used to magnify a route displayed on a map, or simply to zoom in on the current location of the device as displayed onscreen. | 07-16-2009 |
20090186660 | HINGING INTERCONNECTOR FOR A CLAMSHELL HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A clamshell handheld wireless communication device having a hinging interconnector between the two housings, one in which the display screen is located and the other upon which the keyboard is located. The hinging interconnector is positioned between the two housings and navigation tool is located on the hinging interconnector. | 07-23-2009 |
20090186663 | ROTARILY CONFIGURABLE HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Handheld electronic communication device rotarily transitionable between compact and expanded configurations. The device includes an elongate display panel positioned adjacent and in parallel orientation with an elongate keyboard panel in the compact configuration. The display panel and keyboard panel are coupled together by a rotary connection that interconnects with the keyboard panel in an upper quadrant area of a front face thereof at a distance from a vertical centerline of the keyboard panel. The interconnection enables relative rotation between the panels and maintains the panels parallel to one another through out rotational transition between the compact and expanded configurations. The elongate display panel includes a display screen having a greater length than width and a lengthwise oriented centerline, the lengthwise oriented centerline being horizontally oriented when the device is configured in the expanded configuration. | 07-23-2009 |
20090195959 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display device exposed by the housing, an input device for receiving user-input, a plurality of sensors on the housing for detecting touches on the portable electronic device, and functional components housed in the housing. The functional components include a memory device and a processor operably connected to the sensors, the display device the input device, and the memory device. | 08-06-2009 |
20100119922 | EXPANDABLE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes. | 05-13-2010 |
20100141484 | OPTIMIZED KEYBOARD FOR HANDHELD THUMB-TYPING AND TOUCH-TYPING - A keyboard optimized for handheld thumb-typing and conventional desktop touch-typing includes a reduced key keyboard having a plurality of keys each having at least an alphabetic character, a numeral, or a command indicia. The keyboard has a width greater than about 100 millimeters and less than about 160 millimeters, and each key has a width that is approximately 10 millimeters to 16 millimeters. The alphabetic keys are arranged such that when a user cradles the device in his/her hands he/she can actuate a first subset of the keys on the left of a vertical center line with his/her left thumb and can actuate a second subset of the keys on the right side of the vertical centerline with his/her right thumb. The keys are also positioned such that when the user places the device on a desktop surface, the user can type on the keyboard by conventional finger touch-typing. | 06-10-2010 |
20100159985 | DISABLING OPERATION OF A CAMERA ON A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED UPON ENABLING OR DISABLING DEVICES - A handheld communication device capable of transmitting and receiving at least voice and text communication. The device has a body assembly including a front face arranged to be directed toward an operator of the device when held in a text communicating orientation. A display screen and a text-input keyboard are included and are each exposed at the front face of the body assembly. The keyboard has a plurality of keys that include a set of alphabetic keys with which either QWERTY-, QWERTZ- AZERTY- or Dvorak-arranged alphabetic characters are associated. An integrated camera assembly is also included that is configured for taking photographs and the communication device enabled to wirelessly communicate photographs taken with the camera assembly to a remote receiver. The camera assembly includes a photo-initiating actuator having an actuated position and an unactuated position and at least one of a selective enablement device or a selective disablement device. | 06-24-2010 |
20100160010 | HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH MOVEABLE DISPLAY/COVER MEMBER - Handheld mobile communication devices according to the disclosure have a closed position, in which the display member of the device covers at least a portion of the keys of on the keypad member of the device, and an open position, in which the keys are accessible and the device is operated. When the display member is in the open position, it forms an ergonomically desirable angle (e.g., on the order of about 155°) relative to the keypad member. However, unlike clamshell-type cellular phones, the display member does not simply flip open about a conventional pivot joint. Rather, it moves from the closed position, where it is parallel and adjacent to the keypad member, to the open, angled position through a sliding/sweeping motion; through an eccentric, “up-and-over” rotational motion; or through a combination sliding/“up-and-over” motion. | 06-24-2010 |
20100210326 | SYSTEM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A wireless handheld device comprises a lower casing having a bottom end and a top end and a lid having a bottom end and a top end. The top end of the lid is rotatably coupled to the top end of the lower casing with at least one hinge component such that the handheld device is rotatable from a closed position to an open position and from an open position to a closed position. The lid and the lower casing have adjacent facing surfaces when in the closed position. When the wireless handheld device is in the closed position, at least the bottom end of the lid is displaceable relative to the lower casing generally in an axial direction of the hinge component such that the facing surfaces become misaligned for easy grasping of the lower casing and the lid. | 08-19-2010 |
20100216512 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE TRANSITIONABLE BETWEEN DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS - A handheld electronic device transitionable between different configurations includes a keyboard panel having a slot, a display panel, a coupler that rotary couples the keyboard panel and the display panel and slidingly engages the slot of the keyboard panel. The display panel is positioned such that is substantially parallel with the keyboard panel in a compact configuration. When the device is transitioned from the compact to translated configuration, the coupler engages the slot. When the device is transitioned from the translated to expanded configuration, the display panel is rotated about the coupler such that the centerpoint of the display panel is closer to the centerpoint of the keyboard panel in the expanded configuration as compared to the translated configuration. The coupler can comprise a rotation control mechanism coupled to a biasing member or can have teeth that engages a track or can be a cam that engages a t-shaped slot. | 08-26-2010 |
20100216513 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ROTATABLE MEMBER - A handheld electronic device includes a first device member and a second device member that is connected to the first device member via a connector. The second device member is rotatable between a first position and a second position about a rotation axis that is generally parallel to a first face of the second device member and a second face of the second device member. In the first position the second device member may have a portrait orientation in use. In the second position the second device member may have a landscape orientation in use. | 08-26-2010 |
20110092256 | HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A display is mounted in a display housing for displaying information to a user. An input is mounted in an input housing for inputting data. The input housing is permanently attached to the display housing and movable relative to the display housing between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the input and the display face in the same direction to allow simultaneous input of the data and viewing of the information. In the closed position, the input is behind the display and facing away from the display and operable for inputting the data. | 04-21-2011 |
20110128232 | INPUT APPARATUS FOR A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF ENABLING INPUT EMPLOYING THE SAME - An improved input apparatus and method of enabling input improve handheld electronic devices having a housing and a processor apparatus disposed on the housing. The processor apparatus comprises a processor and a memory. The input apparatus includes an input assembly with an input device for providing input to the processor, a plurality of input members, and at least a first actuating element movable between a first position and a second position. In the second position, the actuating element actuates the input device. Each input member of the portion of input members is movable among an unactuated position and an actuated position. Each of a plurality of input members of the portion of input members, in the actuated position, is engageable with the actuating element to move it toward the second position. The input apparatus enables close arrangement of the input members to provide, for example, a compact keyboard layout. | 06-02-2011 |
20110129724 | EXPANDABLE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes. | 06-02-2011 |
20110195747 | DISABLING OPERATION OF A CAMERA ON A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED UPON ENABLING OR DISABLING DEVICES - A handheld communication device capable of transmitting and receiving at least voice and text communication. The device has a body assembly including a front face arranged to be directed toward an operator of the device when held in a text communicating orientation. A display screen and a text-input keyboard are included and are each exposed at the front face of the body assembly. The keyboard has a plurality of keys that include a set of alphabetic keys with which either QWERTY-, QWERTZ- AZERTY- or Dvorak-arranged alphabetic characters are associated. An integrated camera assembly is also included that is configured for taking photographs and the communication device enabled to wirelessly communicate photographs taken with the camera assembly to a remote receiver. The camera assembly includes a photo-initiating actuator having an actuated position and an unactuated position and at least one of a selective enablement device or a selective disablement device. | 08-11-2011 |
20120148894 | EXPANDABLE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes. | 06-14-2012 |
20120190409 | Ramped-Key Keyboard for a Handheld Mobile Communication Device - Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each depressible key has a top engagement surface with an upper inboard portion that is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each depressible key is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with a remaining surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes. | 07-26-2012 |
20120225702 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT HAS A KEYPAD WHICH CAN BE RENDERED INEFFECTIVE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration. | 09-06-2012 |
20120280914 | HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH MOVEABLE DISPLAY/COVER MEMBER - Handheld mobile communication devices according to the disclosure have a closed position, in which the display member of the device covers at least a portion of the keys of on the keypad member of the device, and an open position, in which the keys are accessible and the device is operated. When the display member is in the open position, it forms an ergonomically desirable angle (e.g., on the order of about 155°) relative to the keypad member. However, unlike clamshell-type cellular phones, the display member does not simply flip open about a conventional pivot joint. Rather, it moves from the closed position, where it is parallel and adjacent to the keypad member, to the open, angled position through a sliding/sweeping motion; through an eccentric, “up-and-over” rotational motion; or through a combination sliding/“up-and-over” motion. | 11-08-2012 |
20130082934 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INPUTTING DATA USING MULTI-CHARACTER KEYS - Systems and methods are provided for inputting data to a mobile device using multi-character keys. A first input may be generated by pressing a multi-character key on the mobile device. In response to the first input, the mobile device may sequentially display a plurality of characters associated with the pressed multi-character key. When a desired character is displayed, a second input may be generated to select the currently displayed character as character data input. | 04-04-2013 |