Portable device comprising keypad and screen

• US 6,373,501 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Fiero
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Fiero
• Inventors: Fiero, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US09/525,564
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 345/352, 345/341, 345/123, 345/339, 345/156, 345/164, 345/168, 345/348, 345/326, 345/700, 345/810, 345/764, 345/835, 379/354, 379/355, 379/457, 379/170, 379/428, 379/433
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0281 for providing single handed use or left/right hand conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Portable electronic devices including housings in which input keypads are disposed above display screens and in which input keypads and/or display screens are optionally directly oriented for one-handed operation are provided. Devices including input keypads and/or display screens that are adjustably rotatable relative to device housings are also provided. Methods of manufacturing and using these portable electronic devices are additionally provided.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing comprising a front surface and a back surface, the front surface comprising an upper region and a lower region;

an input keypad in or proximal to the upper region, the input keypad comprising input keys for inputting each number in a ten digit system; and

,

a display screen in or proximal to the lower region, the display screen providing an output for at least one or more numbers inputted from the input keypad or for stored or received data.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display screen, the input keypad, or both, can be adjustably rotated relative to the housing.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing, the display screen, and the input keypad each comprise at least one relative orientational axis, wherein the relative orientational axes are substantially parallel.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing, the display screen, and the input keypad each comprise at least one relative orientational axis, wherein the relative orientational axes are substantially non-parallel.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing, the display screen, and the input keypad each comprise at least one relative orientational axis, wherein the relative orientational axes of the display screen and the input keypad are substantially parallel, and wherein an angle formed between the relative orientational axis of the display screen and the relative orientational axis of the housing is greater than zero.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing, the display screen, and the input keypad each comprise at least one relative orientational axis, wherein each relative orientational axis comprises one or more distance selected from the group consisting of:

a length, a width, a base, a height, and a non-diagonal length.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the front or the back surface of the housing forms at least one shape selected from the group consisting of:

a regular n-sided polygon, an irregular n-sided polygon, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, and an oval.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein an external surface of the display screen and of the input keypad individually comprise at least one shape independently selected from the group consisting of:

a regular n-sided polygon, an irregular n-sided polygon, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, and an oval.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display screen displays textual information, graphical information, or video information, or combinations thereof, or,

wherein the display screen comprises the input keypad on an upper region thereof, wherein the input keypad is a graphical screen keypad.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the input keys of the input keypad comprises at least one symbol disposed thereon;

or,

wherein the input keypad is a graphical screen keypad or a virtual keypad;

or,

wherein the input keypad comprises at least 10 input keys;

or,

wherein the input keypad comprises less than 10 input keys, wherein at least some of the input keys are pressed more than once or wherein multiple input keys are pressed simultaneously.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 1, the input keypad further comprising additional input keys for inputting letters from an alphabet or commands represented by abstract insignia disposed on the additional input keys.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the input keys of the input keypad is elevated or depressed relative to the front surface.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one or more of:

a telephone, a telephone headset, a cellular phone, a cordless telephone, a cordless telephone headset, a calculator, a computer, an electronic organizer, a personal information manager, a personal digital assistant, a television, a global positioning device, a paging device, a radio, a CB radio, or a short-wave radio.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises additional elements comprising:

a microphone, a speaker, or an antenna.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the front surface is movable relative to the back surface;

or,

wherein a portion of the back surface is movable relative to the front surface.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one dimension of the device is capable of at least one dimensional change.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the at least one dimensional change comprises telescoping or folding a portion of the device in at least one dimension.

18. A method of manufacturing a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

forming a housing, a display screen, and input keys using one or more fabrication technique, wherein the housing comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the front surface comprises an upper region and a lower region; and

,

assembling the display screen and the input keypad in or on the front surface such that the input keys are disposed in or proximal to the upper region and the display screen is disposed in or proximal to the lower region, wherein the input keys are assembled in or on the front surface into an input keypad comprising input keys for each number in a 10 digit system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more fabrication technique comprises one or more of:

injection molding, compression molding, cast molding, die cutting, or laser cutting.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising assembling the display screen and the input keypad in or on the housing such that either or both can be adjustably rotated relative to the housing.

21. A method of using a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

holding the device in at least one hand of a user, wherein the device comprises;

a housing comprising a front surface and a back surface, the front surface comprising an upper region and a lower region;

an input keypad in or proximal to the upper region, the input keypad comprising input keys for inputting each number in a ten digit system; and

a display screen in or proximal to the lower region, the display screen providing an output for at least one or more numbers inputted from the input keypad or for stored or received data; and

,

positioning the device proximal to a head of the user, wherein the user engages the device by viewing the display screen, operating the input keypad with at least one finger on the at least one hand, listening to sounds produced by at least one speaker disposed in the device, speaking into at least one microphone disposed in the device, or by performing a simultaneous or non-simultaneous combination thereof.