Ergonomic lay flat folding remote control with keyboard

• US 20080239168A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I-Interactive LLC
• Original Assignee: I-Interactive LLC
• Inventors: Henty, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements

Abstract

An ergonomic folding remote control with keyboard is disclosed. The folding remote control with keyboard has an ergonomic angled typing surface and thicker forward section along with a lay flat design. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.

Claims

1. A remote control, comprising:

a top section having a top surface with a first set of inputs and a bottom surface;

a bottom section movably coupled to the top section, the bottom section having a top surface and a bottom surface;

wherein the top and bottom sections are movable from a first closed configuration, where the bottom surface of the top section and the top surface of the bottom section are adjacent and mate at least along a portion thereof to define an angled cross section relative to a horizontal plane, to a second open configuration adapted to lie flat on a support surface wherein the bottom surface of the top section and the top surface of the bottom section provide an opened surface having a second set of inputs including text entry keys, the opened surface being angled relative to a horizontal plane.

2. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom sections are coupled by one or more hinges along an edge portion and wherein the top section pivots 180 degrees about the hinge in moving from said first to second configuration.

3. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the angled cross section is between about 8-13 degrees from horizontal.

4. A remote control as set out in claim 3, wherein the angle of the open surface is between about 8-13 degrees from horizontal.

5. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein said text entry keys are configured on both the bottom surface of the top section and the top surface of the bottom section.

6. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein said first set of inputs comprise one or more of TV, game or other entertainment device control inputs.

7. A remote control as set out in claim 5, wherein said text entry keys comprise QWERTY keyboard text entry keys of approximately 19 mm pitch.

8. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom sections have substantially flat matching side surfaces along at least a portion of the edge where the sections are coupled which form a substantially flat surface when in the closed configuration and which mate when in the open configuration.

9. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the first and second plurality of inputs are oriented for operation at 90 degree orientations in said closed and opened configurations, respectively.

10. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom sections in the closed configuration define a height of the remote and wherein the top section and the bottom section are coupled along one side at a point about one half of said height and mate when closed at the opposite side at a higher point.

11. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the inner surface includes a multi-directional input.

12. A remote control, comprising:

a housing having a top surface with a first plurality of inputs configured in a generally planar portion of the top surface and a bottom surface, the housing comprising a top section and a bottom section pivotally coupled on one side and movable between a closed configuration with the two sections together and mating along end portions at an angle relative to said generally planar portion of the top surface and an open configuration exposing an inner second plurality of inputs configured on the inner surfaces of the two sections and generally aligned across the two sections; and

means for ensuring approximately 180 degrees of relative pivoting motion between said top and bottom sections in moving between said open and closed configurations.

13. A remote control as set out in claim 12, wherein said means for ensuring approximately 180 degrees of relative pivoting motion comprises side portions of the top and bottom sections configured to mate and stop said pivoting at about 180 degrees.

14. A remote control as set out in claim 12, wherein said top surface of the housing moves to a configuration in said open configuration which aligns with the bottom surface such that at least portions of the top and bottom sections are configured to engage a flat support surface so as to provide a substantially flat support contact.

15. A remote control as set out in claim 12, wherein the top and bottom sections are pivotally coupled at a point halfway between the top and bottom surfaces of the housing.

16. A remote control as set out in claim 12, wherein the angle relative to said generally planar portion of the top surface in said closed configuration is between about 8-13 degrees and wherein said second plurality of keys are aligned at an angle between about 8-13 degrees relative to said generally planar portion of the top surface in said open configuration.

17. A remote control, comprising:

a housing having a top section and a bottom section both having a general wedge shape with oppositely oriented thicker and thinner portions so as to mate in a generally rectangular shape, said bottom section having a larger volume than said top section, the top surface of the top section having a first plurality of inputs and the inner surfaces of the top and bottom sections having a second plurality of inputs, wherein the top and bottom sections are pivotally coupled such that the sections are movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration where said second plurality of inputs are exposed.

18. A remote control as set out in claim 17, wherein said bottom section is adapted to receive a battery in a thicker portion of said wedge shape.

19. A remote control as set out in claim 17, wherein said bottom section includes a trackball configured in a thicker portion of said wedge shape.

20. A remote control as set out in claim 17, wherein in said open configuration the wedge portions of the top and bottom sections together create an angle for said second plurality of inputs relative to a flat support surface of between 8-13 degrees.