Expandable computer keyboard

• US 6,266,234 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Leman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/105,760
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 361/682, 361/680, 361/683, 361/681, 361/686, 361/724-727, 364/708.1, 364/709.12, 400/489, 400/715, 341/21, 341/22, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, D14/115, D14/247, D18/1, D18/7, D18/52, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 361/679.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A keyboard for a hand-held computer. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes first and second portions that are removably coupled to each other. The second portion can be removably coupled to one part of the first portion to block access to input keys of the first portion, and can be removably attached to another part of the first portion to allow access to the input keys, forming a full-size keyboard for a hand-held device. The second portion can be reversible to allow access to input keys on either a top or bottom surface of the second portion, and can also be pivotable relative to the first portion about an axis that is generally perpendicular to an upper surface of the first portion.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a hand-held computer, comprising:

a first portion having a first plurality of input keys; and

a second portion having a second plurality of input keys, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, the second portion being removably attached to the first portion at least proximate to the first plurality of input keys to generally block access to the first plurality of input keys when the second portion is in the first position, and the second portion being at least proximate to the first portion with the first and second pluralities of input keys generally accessible when the second portion is in the second position, the second portion being movable to a third position between the first and second positions in which the second portion is separated from the first portion.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first and second portions are configured to be supported by a single human hand when the second portion is in the first position.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein when the second portion is in the second position the second portion is spaced apart from the first portion.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second portion is removably attached to the first portion with the first and second pluralities of input keys facing generally upward when the second portion is in the second position.

5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein the first portion has a first lower surface with a width configured to engage a first leg of a user and support the first portion, the second portion having a second lower surface with a width configured to engage a second leg of the user and support the second portion when the second portion is in the second position.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first portion has an upper surface that defines a first plane and the second portion has a top surface that defines a second plane, the second plane being generally parallel to the first plane when the second portion is in the second position, the second portion being pivotably coupled to the first portion and pivotable relative to the first portion about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the second plane when the second portion is in the second position.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the second portion has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the second input keys being positioned proximate to the bottom surface of the second portion, the second portion further having third input keys proximate to the top surface, further wherein the bottom surface and the second input keys face the first input keys of the first portion when the second portion is in the first position, and the bottom surface and the second input keys face generally upward when the second portion is in the second position.

8. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein the first and second input keys are a first size and together include a standard QWERTY input key configuration and the third input keys are a second size that is smaller than the first size.

9. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the first and second input keys are a first size and together include a standard QWERTY input key configuration.

10. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second portions of the keyboard includes a pointing device to manipulate images on a display of the hand-held computer.

11. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the pointing device includes a roller ball rotatable relative to the one of the first and second keyboard portions.

12. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the pointing device is accessible when the second portion is in the first position.

13. The keyboard of claim 10 wherein the pointing device is inaccessible when the second portion is in the first position and the pointing device is accessible when the second portion is in the second position.

14. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a communication link coupled between the first and second portions.

15. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein the communication link includes a first connector attached to the first portion and a second connector attached to the second portion, the first and second connectors being configured to be coupled together when the second portion is in the second position.

16. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein the communication link includes a cable connected between the first and second portions.

17. The keyboard of claim 14 wherein the communication link includes a wireless transmitting transducer coupled to at least one of the first and second portions and a wireless receiving transducer coupled to the other of the first and second portions.

18. The keyboard of claim 17 wherein the transmitting transducer includes a radio transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer includes a radio receiving transducer.

19. The keyboard of claim 17 wherein the transmitting transducer includes an infrared transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer includes an infrared receiving transducer.

20. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a display pivotably attached to the first portion and movable relative to the first portion between a stowed position and an unstowed position, the display being accessible to a user and facing at least partially away from the first portion when the display is in the unstowed position, the display being folded toward the first portion for transport when the display is in the stowed position.

21. A computer keyboard, comprising:

a first portion having a first plurality of input keys;

a second portion having a second plurality of input keys, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a stacked position and an unstacked position, the second portion being removably attached to a first attachment location of the first portion to be above the first plurality of keys and generally block access to the first plurality of keys when the second portion is in the stacked position, and the second portion being removably attached to a second attachment location of the first portion with the first and second pluralities of input keys generally accessible when the second portion is in the unstacked position, the second portion being movable to an intermediate position between the stacked position and the unstacked position in which the second portion is separated from the first portion; and

a signal communication link operatively coupling the first and second portions together in at least the unstacked position.

22. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the first portion of the keyboard has an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a first side surface between the upper and lower surfaces, the second attachment location being at the first side surface of the first portion.

23. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the second portion has a second side surface and includes a tab projecting away from the second side surface, further wherein the second attachment location includes an aperture configured to removably receive the tab.

24. The keyboard of claim 23 wherein the communication link includes first electrical contacts on the tab and second electrical contacts in the aperture, the second electrical contacts being configured to engage the first electrical contacts when the second portion is attached to the first portion in the second position.

25. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the first portion has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and the second portion has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the second plurality of input keys being at least proximate to the bottom surface, the second portion further having a third plurality of input keys at least proximate to the top surface, the bottom surface of the second portion and the second plurality of input keys facing upward and generally parallel with the upper surface of the first portion when the second portion is in the unstacked position, the top surface of the second portion and the third plurality of keys facing upward when the second portion is in the stacked position.

26. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the first portion has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and the second portion has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the second plurality of input keys being at least proximate to the bottom surface, the bottom surface of the second portion and the second plurality of input keys facing upward and generally parallel with the upper surface of the first portion when the second portion is in the unstacked position, the top surface of the second portion facing upward when the second portion is in the stacked position.

27. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the first and second portions are sized and configured to be supported by a single human hand when the second portion is in the stacked position.

28. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the first portion has an upper surface that defines a first plane and the second portion has a top surface that defines a second plane, the second plane being generally parallel to the first plane when the second portion is in the unstacked position, the second portion being pivotably coupled to the first portion and pivotable relative to the first portion about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the second plane when the second portion is in the unstacked position.

29. The keyboard of claim 21 wherein the first portion of the keyboard has a pointing device for manipulating images on a display of the hand-held computer.

30. A keyboard for a hand-held computer, comprising:

a base portion having a lower surface, an upper surface opposite the lower surface, a rear surface between the upper and lower surfaces, a forward surface between the upper and lower surfaces opposite the rear surface, and a side surface between the upper and lower surfaces and between the forward and rear surfaces, the base portion further having a first plurality of input keys proximate to the upper surface, the base portion still further having first and second attachment ports, the first attachment port being in a recess of the upper surface, the second attachment port being in the side surface;

an upper portion having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a side surface between the top and bottom surfaces, a tab projecting away from the side surface of the upper portion, a second plurality of input keys proximate to the top surface, and a third plurality of input keys proximate to the bottom surface, the upper portion being movable relative to the base portion between a stacked position and an unstacked position, the tab being removably received in the first attachment port of the base portion with the top surface of the upper portion being above the upper surface of the base portion to block access to the first plurality of input keys and expose the second plurality of input keys when the upper portion is in the stacked position, and the tab being removably received in the second attachment port of the base portion with the first and third pluralities of input keys facing upward and accessible when the upper portion is in the unstacked position; and

a communication link operatively coupling the base and upper portions together when the upper portion is in at least the unstacked position.

31. The keyboard of claim 30 wherein the communication link includes first electrical contacts in the first attachment port and corresponding second electrical contacts on the tab of upper portion coupled to the second input keys, the first and second electrical contacts being configured to couple with each other when the upper portion is in the stacked position.

32. The keyboard of claim 31 wherein the communication link includes third electrical contacts in the second attachment port and fourth electrical contacts on the tab of the upper portion coupled to the third input keys and configured to couple with the third electrical contacts when the tab is received in the second attachment port.

33. The keyboard of claim 32 wherein the first and third input keys are a first size and together include a standard QWERTY input key configuration and the second input keys are a second size that is smaller than the first size.

34. The keyboard of claim 30 wherein the upper surface of the base portion is generally co-planer with the top surface of the upper portion when the upper portion is in the unstacked position, the upper portion being pivotably coupled to the base portion and pivotable relative to the base portion about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the top surface of the upper portion when the upper portion is in the unstacked position.

35. A hand-held computer, comprising:

a first keyboard portion having a first plurality of input keys;

a second keyboard portion having a second plurality of input keys and being movable relative to the first keyboard portion between a first position and a second position, the second keyboard portion being removably attached to the first keyboard portion to block access to the first plurality of input keys when the second keyboard portion is in the first position, the second keyboard portion being removably attached to the first keyboard portion to allow access to the first plurality of input keys when the second keyboard portion is in the second position, the second keyboard portion being movable to a third position between the first and second positions in which the second portion is separated from the first keyboard portion;

a display portion pivotably attached to at least one of the first or second keyboard portions and movable relative to the first keyboard portion between a stowed position and an unstowed position, the display portion being accessible in the unstowed position;

a processor device and a memory device coupled to at least one of the first keyboard portion, the second keyboard portion, or the display;

a pointing device coupled to at least one of the first and second keyboard portions; and

a signal communication link operatively coupling between the first and second keyboard portions together when the second keyboard portion is in at least the second position.

36. The computer of claim 35 wherein the first keyboard portion has an upper surface that defines a first plane and the second keyboard position has a top surface that defines a second plane, the second plane being generally parallel to the first plane when the second keyboard portion is in the second position, the second keyboard portion being pivotably coupled to the first keyboard portion and pivotable, relative to the first keyboard portion about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the second plane when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

37. The keyboard of claim 36 wherein the second keyboard portion has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the second plurality of input keys being positioned proximate to the top surface, the second keyboard portion further having a third plurality of input keys proximate to the bottom surface, the top surface of the second keyboard portion and the second input keys facing generally upward when the second keyboard portion is in the first position, the bottom surface and the third input keys facing the first input keys of the first keyboard portion when the second keyboard portion is in the first position.

38. The keyboard of claim 35 wherein the communication link includes a first connector attached to the first keyboard portion and a second connector attached to the second keyboard portion, the first and second connectors being configured to be coupled together when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

39. A keyboard for a hand-held computer, comprising:

a first keyboard portion having an upper surface and a first plurality of input keys accessible through a first aperture in the upper surface;

a second keyboard portion having a top surface and a second plurality of input keys proximate to the top surface, the second keyboard portion being movable relative to the first keyboard portion between a first attached position, a second attached position, and a detached position between the first and second positions, the second keyboard portion being separated from the first keyboard portion when the second keyboard portion is in the detached position, the second keyboard portion being removably attached to the first keyboard portion and blocking access to the first input keys when the second keyboard portion is in the first position, and the second keyboard portion being pivotably coupled to the first keyboard portion and pivotable relative to the first keyboard portion about a pivot axis generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the first keyboard portion when the second keyboard portion is in the second position with the first input keys accessible;

a communication link operatively coupling the first and second keyboard portions together when the second keyboard portion is in at least the second position.

40. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the communication link includes a first connector attached to the first keyboard portion and a second connector attached to the second keyboard portion, the first and second connectors being configured to be coupled together when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

41. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the first and second pluralities of input keys together include a standard QWERTY input key configuration.

42. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the second keyboard portion has a bottom surface opposite the top surface and a third plurality of keys proximate to the bottom surface, the first and third pluralities of input keys together including a standard QWERTY input key configuration.

43. The keyboard of claim 42 wherein the second input keys are smaller than the third input keys.

44. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the first portion of the keyboard has a pointing device.

45. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the top surface of the second keyboard portion is generally parallel to the upper surface of the first keyboard portion when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

46. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the first keyboard portion includes a pivot member having a first hinge portion pivotably coupled to a second hinge portion and pivotable about the pivot axis relative to the first hinge portion, the first hinge portion being removably attached to the first keyboard portion, the second hinge portion being removably attached to the second keyboard portion when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

47. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the keyboard includes a hinge pivotably attached to the first keyboard portion and pivotable relative to the first keyboard portion about the pivot axis, the second keyboard portion being removably attached to the hinge when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

54. The keyboard of claim 39 wherein the communication link includes a pivot member having a first hinge portion pivotably coupled to a second hinge portion and pivotable about the pivot axis relative to the first hinge portion, the first hinge portion having first electrical contacts removably attached to the first keyboard portion, the second hinge portion having second electrical contacts removably attached to the second keyboard portion when the second keyboard portion is in the second position.

48. A hand-held computer, comprising:

a base keyboard portion having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a first edge between the upper and lower surfaces, a second edge between the upper and lower surfaces opposite the first edge, and base input keys at least proximate to the upper surface;

a display pivotally coupled to the base keyboard portion and movable relative to the base keyboard portion between a stowed position and an unstowed position, the display being accessible in the unstowed position; and

a first flap portion having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, top input keys at least proximate to the top surface, and bottom input keys at least proximate to the bottom surface, the first flap portion being pivotably attached to the base keyboard portion proximate to the first edge of the base keyboard portion and being pivotable relative to the base keyboard portion between a folded position and an unfolded position, the bottom surface of the first flap portion facing the upper surface of the base keyboard portion to generally block access to at least some of the base input keys of the base keyboard portion and the bottom input keys of the first flap portion and to expose the top input keys of the first flap portion when the first flap portion is in the folded position, the bottom surface of the first flap portion and the upper surface of the base keyboard portion facing in approximately the same direction with the bottom input keys of the first flap portion and the base input keys of the base keyboard portion generally accessible when the first flap portion is in the unfolded position; and

a second flap portion having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, top input keys at least proximate to the top surface of the second flap portion, and bottom input keys at least proximate to the bottom surface of the second flap portion, combined widths of the first and second flap portions being not greater than a width of the base keyboard portion, the second flap portion being pivotably attached to the base keyboard portion proximate to the second edge of the base keyboard portion and pivotable relative to the base keyboard portion between a folded position and an unfolded position, the second flap portion being configured to be moved to its folded position simultaneously with the first flap portion being moved to its folded position without overlapping the first and second flap portions, the bottom surface of the second flap portion facing the upper surface of the base keyboard portion to generally block access to at least some of the base input keys of the base keyboard portion and the bottom input keys of the second flap portion and to expose the top input keys of the second flap portion when the second flap portion is in its folded position, the bottom surface of the second flap portion and the upper surface of the base keyboard portion facing in approximately the same direction with the base input keys of the base keyboard portion and the top input keys of the second flap portion generally accessible when the second flap portion is in its unfolded position.

49. The computer of claim 48 wherein the bottom input keys of the first and second flap portions are larger than the top input keys of the first and second flap portions.

50. The computer of claim 49 wherein the bottom keys of the first and second flap portions together with the base keys of the base keyboard portion are arranged in a standard QWERTY input key configuration.

51. The computer of claim 49 wherein the top input keys of the first and second keyboard portions are arranged in a standard QWERTY input key configuration.

52. A computer keyboard, comprising:

a first portion having a first plurality of input keys;

a second portion having a second plurality of input keys, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a stacked position and an unstacked position, the second portion being removably attached to a first attachment location of the first portion to be above the first plurality of keys and generally block access to the first plurality of keys when the second portion is in the stacked position, and the second portion being removably attached to a second attachment location of the first portion with the first and second pluralities of input keys generally accessible when the second portion is in the unstacked position, the second portion having a second side surface and a tab projecting away from the second side surface, further wherein the second connection location includes an aperture configured to removably receive the tab; and

a communication link operatively coupling the first and second portions together in at least the unstacked position, the communication link including first electrical contacts on the tab and second electrical contacts in the aperture, the second electrical contacts being configured to engage the first electrical contacts when the second portion is attached to the first portion in the second position.

53. A keyboard for a hand-held computer, comprising:

a first portion having a first plurality of input keys; and

a second portion having a second plurality of input keys, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, the second portion being removably and separably attached to the first portion at least proximate to the first plurality of input keys to generally block access to the first plurality of input keys when the second portion is in the first position, the second portion being at least proximate to the first portion with the first and second pluralities of input keys generally accessible when the second portion is in the second position, the second portion being movable to a third position between the first and second positions in which the second portion is separated from the first portion.