HANDHELD DEVICE WITH SECONDARY SCREEN FOR SOFT KEY DESCRIPTORS

• US 20100123643A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Moran, Dov
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A handheld electronic device, including a first device including a keypad including at least one soft key, the functionalities of the at least one soft key being indicated by corresponding at least one soft key descriptor, and a second device, insertable within the first device, including a processor for operating in cooperation with the keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within the first device, and a soft key screen for displaying the at least one soft key descriptor, wherein each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed proximate the location of its corresponding soft key on the keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within the first device.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a first device comprising a keypad comprising at least one soft key, the functionalities of the at least one soft key being indicated by corresponding at least one soft key descriptor; and

a second device, insertable within said first device, comprising;

a processor for operating in cooperation with said keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within said first device; and

a soft key screen for displaying the at least one soft key descriptor, wherein each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed proximate the location of its corresponding soft key on said keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within said first device.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein said at least one soft key surrounds the soft key screen, when the second device is fully inserted within said first device.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein said first device further comprises a user interface screen for displaying a graphical user interface.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 wherein said first device comprises a casing comprising a body and a flip cover, wherein said second device is insertable within said body, wherein said keypad is housed within said body, and wherein said user interface screen is housed within said flip cover.

5. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a wireless communicator for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications, comprising a communicator display screen for displaying information; and

a jacket into which said wireless communicator may be inserted, comprising a jacket keypad comprising at least one soft key, the functionalities of the at least one soft key being indicated by corresponding at least one soft key descriptor,

wherein each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed on said communicator display screen proximate the location of its corresponding soft key on said jacket keypad, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted within said jacket.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 5 wherein said wireless communicator inserts into a cavity of a casing of said jacket, and wherein the casing has an opening through which at least a portion of said communicator display screen shows.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 5 wherein said wireless communicator inserts into a cavity of a casing of said jacket, and wherein a portion of the casing has a transparent surface through which at least a portion of said communicator display screen shows.

8. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a wireless communicator comprising;

a modem for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications;

a communicator connector for making electrical connection with a jacket for the modular communicator;

a communicator display screen for displaying information; and

a communicator controller (i) for executing programmed instructions for operating said modem, (ii) for transmitting data to and receiving data from said connector, and (iii) for generating information for display on said display screen; and

a jacket into which said wireless communicator may be inserted, comprising;

a jacket connector that mates with said communicator connector to make electrical connection with said wireless communicator, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted within the jacket;

a jacket keypad comprising at least one soft key, the functionalities of the at least one soft key being indicated by corresponding at least one soft key descriptor; and

a jacket controller operable (i) to receive and process user input provided via said jacket keypad, and (ii) to transmit data to and receive data from said communicator controller, via said jacket connector, in response to the user input, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted within the jacket,

wherein the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed on said communicator display screen when said wireless communicator is fully inserted within said jacket.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 wherein said jacket further comprises a jacket display screen for displaying a graphical user interface, and wherein said jacket controller is also operable to transfer information for display on said jacket display screen in response to the user input.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 9 wherein the information for display on said jacket display screen is transmitted to said jacket controller by said communicator controller, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted within said jacket.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 wherein said wireless communicator inserts into a cavity of a casing of said jacket, and wherein the casing comprises an opening through which at least a portion of said communicator display screen shows, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted into the cavity.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein said opening is located proximate said at least one soft key, so that each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed on said communicator display screen proximate the location of its corresponding soft key, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted into the cavity.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 12 wherein said at least one soft key surrounds said opening.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 wherein said wireless communicator inserts into a cavity of a casing of said jacket, and wherein a portion of the casing comprises a transparent surface through which at least a portion of said communicator display screen shows, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted into the cavity.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 14 wherein said transparent surface is located proximate said at least one soft key, so that each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed on said communicator display screen proximate the location of its corresponding soft key, when said wireless communicator is fully inserted into the cavity.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 15 wherein said at least one soft key surrounds said transparent portion.