Electronic device with extendable keyboard

• US 20040147278A1
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Miramontes, Ivan
• Application Number:
  US10/468,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0231 Including a rotatable keypad body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

An electronic device that has a lower portion that unfolds to reveal an extendable keyboard. When the keyboard is folded closed, a number pad is visible and the device looks similar to a traditional portable or cellular telephone. The device can be used as a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone or as the handset of a traditional wire line telephone. The fold-out keyboard of the electronic device can be used for easy entry of text data while a communication channel is active. The device includes two way messaging and Internet browsing capabilities.

Claims

1. An electronic device for telephonic and data communications, comprising:

a case;

a display screen connected to said case;

a speaker connected to said case;

a number pad connected to said case;

a microphone connected to said case;

an extendable keyboard connected to said case; and

,

control, communication and memory means connected to said case and coupled in electrical communication with said extendable keyboard to permit a user to enter data and transmit the data using said extendable keyboard.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard is constructed so that it has a first position in which it does not extend beyond the sides of the case and a second position in which it extends beyond the sides of the case.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein when the extendable keyboard is in its first position the user can operate the number pad while viewing the display screen and when the extendable keyboard is in its second position the user can operate the keyboard while viewing the display screen.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard comprises two sections coupled to each other by a hinge system.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard comprises two sections coupled to each other by a hinge system and constructed so that when the extendable keyboard is in its open position part of the keyboard extends beyond one side of the case.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard comprises one section coupled to the case by a hinge system.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the extendable keyboard is usable with software applications on the device to provide the user with easy entry of alphanumeric data.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard includes a plurality of keys.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the keys are arranged in rows to form a QWERTY layout.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein letters of the alphabet are assigned to different keys.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard comprises a plurality of alphanumeric keys and a plurality of control keys.

12. An electronic device for telephonic and data communications, comprising:

a case;

a display screen connected to said case;

a speaker connected to said case;

a number pad connected to said case;

a microphone connected to said case;

an extendable keyboard connected to said case, said extendable keyboard having an open position and a closed position; and

,

communication, control and memory means connected to said case and coupled in electrical communication with said extendable keyboard to permit a user to enter data via said extendable keyboard and transmit the data when said extendable keyboard is in its open position.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said extendable keyboard includes keys which are accessible to the user when said keyboard is in its open position and said keys are not accessible to the user when said keyboard is in its closed position.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said extendable keyboard is constructed so that when it is in its open position the keys are on the same side of the device as said display screen.

15. A device according to claim 12 wherein said extendable keyboard is constructed so that when it is in its open position the number pad is on the opposite side of the device from said display screen.

16. A device according to claim 12 further including a plurality of navigational buttons coupled to said case.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said navigational buttons are located so that they are accessible to the user when said extendable keyboard is in its closed position and in its open position.

18. A method of providing telephonic and data communication capabilities to a user via a hand held electrical device, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying information on a display screen of the device;

amplifying audio information through a speaker on the device;

receiving voice through a microphone on the device;

providing the user with easy entry of text data by an extendable keyboard both when a communication channel is open and when no communication channel is open.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data communication capabilities include text messaging.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data communication capabilities include at least one of the following:

Short Message Service (SMS), Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS), and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the data communication capabilities include accessing the Internet.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the data communication capabilities are compatible with SIM Application Toolkit and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

23. An electronic device for telephonic and data communications wherein the device is hand held and provides a user with text messaging and voice communications, the device comprising:

a display screen for displaying text and graphical information, such as icons, pictures and video, to the user;

at least one speaker for transmitting audio information, such as voice, to the user;

navigational buttons that control basic functions of the device, such as on/off, initiation and termination of a telephone call, and selection and activation of icons or other data displayed on the display screen;

a number pad that allows the user to input numeric and text data wherein the number pad is a primary input device of telephone number data;

at least one microphone for receiving audio data, such as voice, from the user;

software that provides a graphical user interface for the device and controls operation of hardware provided in the device;

a communication control unit that is part of the hardware provided in the device, the communication control unit providing transmission and reception of voice and text data from and to the device;

and, a fold out. section comprising approximately half of a portion of the device underneath the number pad wherein, the fold out section unfolds in a direction perpendicular to a length of the device and further wherein the section unfolds to reveal a an extendable keyboard contained underneath the number pad, the keyboard being usable with applications on the device and providing the user with easy entry of text data both when a communication channel is open and when no communication channel is open,

and wherein the entire display screen is visible to the user both when the extendable keyboard is in an open position and in a closed position.

24. An electronic device for telephonic and data communications, comprising:

a case;

a display screen connected to said case;

a speaker connected to said case;

a number pad connected to said case;

a microphone connected to said case;

communication, control and memory means connected to said case;

an extendable keyboard connected to said case and coupled in electrical communication with said communication, control and memory means for permitting a user to enter data into said communication, control and memory means; and

,

wherein said communication, control and memory means permits the user to transmit the data to a wireless network by RF signals.

25. A device according to claim 24 wherein said communication, control and memory means transmits and receives data and voice information to and from a wireless network.

26. A device according to claim 24 wherein the wireless network is selected from one of the following:

circuit-switched network, connectionless packet-switched signaling network, or two-way paging network.

27. A device according to claim 24 wherein said communication, control and memory means transmits and receives data to and from the Internet.

28. A device according to claim 24 wherein the communication, control and memory means is constructed to use at least one of the following protocols:

SMS, SIM, WAP protocol.