Asymmetric handheld electronic device

• US 20060246954A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Tyneski, Frank, Rak, Roman P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• 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

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device includes a case having an asymmetry provided by an outwardly protruding corner. The handheld electronic device includes an earphone disposed at the outwardly protruding corner. The positioning of the earphone allows a user to rapidly locate the with respect to the user'"'"'s ear. Additionally, by positioning the earphone at a protruding corner of the handheld electronic device, the protruding corner can be positioned at an inner location of the user'"'"'s outer ear, which is more comfortable to the user than positioning the handheld electronic device atop the outer ear. The earphone is offset from a main axis of the handheld electronic device in a direction generally toward the side of the handheld electronic device on which the outwardly protruding corner is disposed. In a second embodiment, a display of the handheld electronic device is offset from a main axis thereof in a second direction away from the offset earphone.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a case having a front surface;

an input apparatus; and

an output apparatus comprising an audio transducer and a display disposed on the case;

the input apparatus comprising a keypad having a plurality of keys arranged on the front surface of the case in a number of rows and columns with respect to a main axis of the case, the main axis being disposed generally centrally on the case, extending across the display, and being one of;

disposed substantially centrally along a column of keys; and

disposed substantially between two adjacent columns of keys;

the case being formed to have an outwardly protruding corner at a first side of the main axis that provides to the case an asymmetry with respect to the main axis.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the audio transducer is disposed on the outwardly protruding corner at a location offset from the main axis in a direction toward the first side.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the protruding corner comprises an at least partially rounded apex, an elongated first leg, and an elongated second leg, the first leg being oriented generally oblique to the main axis.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 wherein the first leg and the second leg extend from the apex along a first axis and a second axis, respectively, oriented at most at about ninety degrees with respect to one another.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 4 wherein the first axis and the second axis are oriented at an acute angle with respect to one another.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the protruding corner protrudes away from the display in a direction generally parallel with the main axis.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the case is formed to have a second corner adjacent the outwardly protruding corner and disposed at a second side of the main axis, the second corner having an at least partially rounded apex, the second leg extending generally between the apex of the outwardly protruding corner and the apex of the second corner, substantially all tangents to the second leg being oriented oblique to the main axis.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 wherein the second corner includes a third leg extending from the apex thereof, the third leg extending along a third axis, the second axis and the third axis being oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to one another.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the display is offset from the main axis in a direction away from the first side.