Apparatus and configuration method for a small, hand-held computing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hand-held computing device for left and right single-handed operation, the hand-held computing device comprising:
- a substantially rectangular elongated housing having a top surface and an axis, wherein the axis is parallel with the elongated dimension of the top surface and centered within the housing;
a display screen coupled to the top surface of the housing;
a first side of the housing oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis;
one or more input means coupled to the first side and arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis, wherein the input means comprises first and second buttons on the first side arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis;
top and bottom sides of the housing, wherein the top and bottom sides are adjacent to the first side and opposite each other;
control signal means for indicating first and second modes of operation;
processing means coupled to the buttons and the control signal for selectively performing first and second functions, wherein, in the first mode, the processing means performs the first function when the first button is activated and performs the second function when the second button is activated, and wherein, in the second mode, the processing means performs the first function when the second button is activated and performs the second function when the first button is activated; and
wherein the hand-held computing device is grasped by a hand so that the thumb of the hand contacts the top side and the little finger of the hand contacts the bottom side.
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Abstract
A hand-held computer having symmetrically placed buttons on one side so that left or right handed operation by the grasping hand is easily achieved. The hand-held computer includes a configuration method so that the functions of buttons and the orientation of images on the display screen can be adjusted for left or right handed use of the computer. Stylus input is modified by button presses thereby allowing more flexibility in inputing information to the computer. The computer includes rounded buttons as an aid to holding and operating the computer so as to improve operator comfort.
154 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A hand-held computing device for left and right single-handed operation, the hand-held computing device comprising:
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a substantially rectangular elongated housing having a top surface and an axis, wherein the axis is parallel with the elongated dimension of the top surface and centered within the housing; a display screen coupled to the top surface of the housing; a first side of the housing oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis; one or more input means coupled to the first side and arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis, wherein the input means comprises first and second buttons on the first side arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis; top and bottom sides of the housing, wherein the top and bottom sides are adjacent to the first side and opposite each other; control signal means for indicating first and second modes of operation; processing means coupled to the buttons and the control signal for selectively performing first and second functions, wherein, in the first mode, the processing means performs the first function when the first button is activated and performs the second function when the second button is activated, and wherein, in the second mode, the processing means performs the first function when the second button is activated and performs the second function when the first button is activated; and wherein the hand-held computing device is grasped by a hand so that the thumb of the hand contacts the top side and the little finger of the hand contacts the bottom side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hand-held computing device operable by a human user, the device comprising:
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an elongated housing having a central axis parallel to the direction of elongation; a top surface of the housing substantially parallel to the central axis; a display screen coupled to the top surface, wherein the display screen is arranged symmetrically about the central axis; a primary side of the housing substantially perpendicular to the central axis; first, second and third buttons arranged in a row along the primary side, wherein the arrangement of buttons is symmetrical about the central axis; top and bottom sides of the housing, wherein the top and bottom sides are adjacent to the first side and opposite each other; wherein the hand-held computing device is grasped by a hand of the human user so that the thumb of the hand contacts the top side and the little finger of the hand contacts the bottom side; processing means coupled to the buttons for processing signals derived from the buttons; wherein the device is operable in a first position and a second position; the first position comprising the device held in the user'"'"'s left hand wherein the user'"'"'s left first finger operates the first button, left middle finger operates the second button and left ring finger operates the third button; and the second position comprising the device held in the user'"'"'s right hand wherein the user'"'"'s right first finger operates the third button, right middle finger operates the second button and right ring finger operates the first button; the device further comprising; position sensing means for detecting whether the device is in the first or second position; and configuration means coupled to the position sensing means for assigning functions to the buttons in a first order when the position sensing means detects that the device is in the first position, and for assigning functions to the buttons in a second order when the position sensing means detects that the device is in the second position.
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10. A hand-held computing device comprising:
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a housing; a display screen coupled to the housing; stylus sensing means for determining the position of a stylus near the display screen, wherein the stylus is manipulated by a human user; input means coupled to the housing, wherein the input means is responsive to manipulations by a human user to indicate first and second stylus modes; processing means within the housing, the processing means coupled to the display screen, stylus sensing means and input means, wherein the processing means controls the display of information on the screen in response to signals from the stylus sensing means and the input means; and stylus mode control means responsive to the input means for causing the processor to display a first image in response to a given stylus manipulation when the first stylus mode is indicated, and for causing the processor to display a second image in response to the same given stylus manipulation when the second stylus mode is indicated. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for processing input signals in a hand-held computer, the hand-held computer including a housing having a processor, memory, display screen, stylus sensor and stylus control;
- wherein the housing is substantially rectangular and elongated and has top and bottom sides along the elongated dimension;
wherein the hand-held computer is grasped by a hand so that the thumb of the hand contacts the top side and the little finger of the hand contacts the bottom side wherein the stylus sensor senses the position of a stylus manipulated by a human user'"'"'s first hand, wherein the stylus control is operable by the human user'"'"'s second hand to indicate at least two states, wherein the processor is coupled to the memory, display screen, stylus sensor and input control, wherein one or more locations in the memory correspond to locations on the display screen, the method comprising the steps of;accepting signals from the stylus control to indicate first state; accepting signals from the stylus sensor to indicate a first position on the display screen; using the processor to determine a first memory location corresponding to the first position; using the processor to display mark on the display screen at the first position by writing data to the first memory location; accepting signals from the stylus control to indicate a second state; accepting signals from the stylus sensor to indicate a second position on the display screen; using the processor to translate the second position into a scrolling direction; and using the processor to scroll the displayed mark on the display screen in accordance with the scrolling direction.
- wherein the housing is substantially rectangular and elongated and has top and bottom sides along the elongated dimension;
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20. A hand-held computing device for left and right single-handed operation, the hand-held computing device comprising:
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a substantially rectangular elongated housing having a top surface and an axis, wherein the axis is parallel with the elongated dimension of the top surface and centered within the housing, the housing substantially fitting within the palm of a human hand so that when the housing is held the fingers are curved around the housing; a display screen coupled to the top surface of the housing; a first side of the housing oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis; one or more input means coupled to the first side and arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis; top and bottom sides of the housing, wherein the top and bottom sides are adjacent to the first side and opposite each other; a button slideably coupled to the housing and operable by a finger of the holding hand, wherein the direction of slide of the button is substantially from the second to the first knuckle of the operating finger; a convex surface integral to the button and facing the operating finger, wherein the convex surface substantially follows the curved shape of the operating finger; and wherein the hand-held computing device is grasped by a hand so that the thumb of the hand contacts the top side and the little finger of the hand contacts the bottom side.
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21. A hand-held computing device comprising a housing sized to be held in a right hand;
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control means coupled to the housing at an end of the housing so that the control means is operated by the fingers of the right hand, wherein the control means includes first, second and third buttons operated by the right index finger, right middle finger and right ring finger, respectively, wherein the right thumb contacts the top side of the housing and the right little finger contacts the bottom side of the housing; a display screen coupled to the housing so that the display screen is facing outward from the palm of the right hand in a normal orientation when the fingers of the right hand are operating the control means, wherein the display screen and buttons are symmetrically oriented along an axis; and wherein the orientations of the display screen and control means are such that when the device is held in a left hand the display screen is turned upside down and the left fingers operate the control means such that the first, second and third buttons are operated by the left ring finger, left middle finger and left index finger, respectively, wherein the left thumb contacts the top side of the housing and the left little finger contacts the bottom side of the housing.
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Specification