PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH KEYBOARD

• US 20090195508A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T.
• Application Number:
  US12/363,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

A keyboard for a handheld electronic device having a row of alphanumeric keys, each alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric characters. A plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated counter-clockwise and a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated clockwise.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a display;

a keyboard, said keyboard comprising a row of a plurality of alphanumeric keys, each alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric characters; and

wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated counter-clockwise and the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated clockwise.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein a majority of the alphanumeric keys have three alphabetic characters associated therewith.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the alphanumeric keys have only two alphabetic characters associated therewith.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the alphanumeric keys has one number and one alphabetic character associated therewith.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a keystroke interpreter operating on a microprocessor of said device.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said keyboard has a width approximately equal to a width of said display.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary input.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric characters comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys is provided by an electronic touch display.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises an elongate SPACE key positioned below said plurality of alphanumeric keys.

11. A keyboard comprising:

a row of a plurality of alphanumeric keys, each alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric characters; and

wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated counter-clockwise and the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated clockwise.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein a majority of the alphanumeric keys have three alphabetic characters associated therewith.

13. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein at least two of the alphanumeric keys have only two alphabetic characters associated therewith.

14. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein at least one of the alphanumeric keys has one number and one alphabetic character associated therewith.

15. The keyboard of claim 11, further comprising a keystroke interpreter operating on a microprocessor of said device.

16. The keyboard of claim 11, further comprising an auxiliary input.

17. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric characters comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout.

18. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys is provided by an electronic touch display.

19. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein said keyboard further comprises an elongate SPACE key positioned below said plurality of alphanumeric keys.