Mobile computer with foldable keyboard

• US 20050002158A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wakisoni Investments PA LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wakisoni Investments PA LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Olodort, Robert, Tang, John, Mead, Russell, Cazalet, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US10/661,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666

Abstract

A digital processing device including a keyboard assembly and a display assembly coupled to the keyboard assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard assembly has a collapsed form and an opened form and the display assembly has a display width of at least 800 pixels. The keyboard assembly unfolds to form a full-size keyboard (e.g., in conformance with an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) standard) that allows a user to comfortably, quickly, and accurately “touch-type” in a manner that the user may be accustomed to.

Claims

1. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4;

1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard; and

a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said display assembly has a display width of at least 320 pixels and a display length of at least 240 pixels.

2. The digital processing device of claim 1, wherein said display assembly has a display width of 800 pixels.

3. The digital processing device of claim 1, wherein said display assembly has a display length of 400 pixels.

4. The digital processing device of claim 1, wherein said display assembly has a fixed, full-width display.

5. The digital processing device of claim 1, wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.

6. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4;

1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard; and

a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said display assembly has a display screen with at least 80 columns of text.

7. The digital processing device of claim 6, wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.

8. The digital processing device of claim 6, wherein said keyboard assembly is stackable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.

9. The digital processing device of claim 6, wherein said keyboard assembly is a two-section keyboard.

10. The digital processing device of claim 6, wherein said keyboard assembly is a three-section keyboard.

11. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4;

1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard; and

a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said keyboard assembly, when in said open form, is substantially centered relative to said display assembly.

12. The digital processing device of claim 11, wherein said keyboard assembly is slideable.

13. The digital processing device of claim 12, wherein said keyboard assembly slides relative to said display assembly to center said keyboard assembly when in said open form.

14. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form;

a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly; and

a cursor control disposed on said keyboard assembly, wherein said cursor control is exposed in both said collapsed form and said open form.

15. The digital processing device of claim 14, wherein said cursor control comprises a pressure sensitive pointing stick.

16. The digital processing device of claim 14, wherein said cursor control is operational in both said open form and said collapsed form and wherein are openings in a portion of said keyboard assembly allows said cursor control to be exposed when said keyboard assembly is in said collapsed form.

17. The digital processing device of claim 14, wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said collapsed form to said open form.

18. The digital processing device of claim 14, wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a first keyboard section and a second keyboard section.

19. The digital processing device of claim 18, wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a linkage to center substantially, when in said open form, said keyboard assembly relative to said display assembly.

20. The digital processing device of claim 19, wherein said linkage operates to slide said first keyboard section in response to a rotation of said second keyboard section.

21. The digital processing device of claim 14, further comprising a hinge assembly that rotatably couples said keyboard assembly to said display assembly.

22. The digital processing device of claim 15, wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a first keyboard section, a second keyboard section, and a linkage that couples said first keyboard section to said second keyboard section.

23. The digital processing device of claim 22, wherein said pointing stick is disposed near said linkage.

24. The digital processing device of claim 23, wherein said pointing stick positioned near a same side of said first and second keyboard sections when in said collapsed form, and positioned between said first and second keyboard sections when in said open form.

25. The digital processing device of claim 23, wherein a key array is disposed on a top side and a bottom side of said second keyboard section, and wherein a full-size keyboard is formed by said first keyboard section and said top side of said second keyboard sections in said open form.

26. The digital processing device of claim 25, wherein a thumb-style keyboard is formed by said bottom side of said second keyboard section in said collapsed form.

27. The digital processing device of claim 26, wherein said cursor control is operational in both open and collapsed forms.

28. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said collapsed form exposing a thumb-style keyboard layout and said open form exposing a full-size keyboard layout;

a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly; and

a cursor control disposed on said keyboard assembly, wherein said cursor control is exposed in both said collapsed form and said open form.

29. The digital processing device of claim 28, wherein said full-size keyboard layout has a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 92414:

1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard.

30. The digital processing device of claim 28, wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a first keyboard section and a second keyboard section.

31. The digital processing device of claim 30, wherein said second keyboard section has a plurality of keys on a top side and a bottom side.

32. The digital processing device of claim 31, wherein said plurality of keys on said bottom side comprise thumb-style keys.

33. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said keyboard assembly having at least two keyboard sections and a pivot that couples said at least two keyboard sections, wherein a key top is positioned at a height less than a height of said pivot when said key top is pressed down.

34. The digital processing device of claim 33, wherein said key top is positioned at a height greater than said height of said pivot when said key top is not pressed down.

35. The digital processing device of claim 33, wherein said pivot allows said at least two keyboard sections to fold from said open form to said collapsed form.

36. The digital processing device of claim 33, wherein said open form of said keyboard assembly is a full size keyboard with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:

1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard.

37. A digital processing device, comprising:

a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys to form a full-size keyboard; and

a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said display assembly has a display width of at least 320 pixels and a display length of at least 240 pixels.

38. The digital processing device of claim 37, wherein said display assembly has a fixed, full-width display.

39. The digital processing device of claim 37, wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.

40. The digital processing device of claim 37, wherein said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:

1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard.

41. The digital processing device of claim 38, wherein said display assembly has a display width of 800 pixels.

42. The digital processing device of claim 41, wherein said display assembly has a display length of 400 pixels.

43. The digital processing device of claim 37, wherein said plurality of keys have a vertical and horizontal center to center spacing between 14 mm to 22 mm.