Segmented keyboard for portable computer system

• US 6,888,534 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Northway, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US09/774,913
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 341/22, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, D14/331, D14/333, 463/37, 163/37, 163/68, 445/550, 445/556
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus enabling users to input/manipulate data for portable computer systems. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a segmented keyboard adapted to be coupled with a portable computer system. In the present embodiment, the segmented keyboard is comprised of a first flippable portion and second flippable portion, both of which are hinged to the fixed portion of the segmented keyboard. A compliment of input keys are disposed within those portions. In the present embodiment, a first rotatable hinge is coupled with the segmented keyboard. A second rotatable hinge is coupled with the first rotatable hinge. In the present embodiment, an electrical connector is coupled with the second rotatable hinge. The electrical connector is adapted to provide a communicative link between the segmented keyboard and a coupled portable computer system. The present invention, when in a closed position, is of a size and shape approximate to a portable computer system.

Claims

1. A segmented keyboard adapted to provide user inputting of data, said segmented keyboard comprising:

a compliment of input keys comprising a segmented keyboard;

a central keyboard section;

a first flippable keyboard portion hinged to said central keyboard section and having an open and a closed position;

a second flippable portion hinged to said central keyboard section and having an open and a closed position;

an attachable numeric input pad, adapted to be optionally coupled with a flippable hinged portion of said segmented keyboard;

a first rotatable hinge coupled with said central keyboard section;

a second rotatable hinge coupled with said first rotatable hinge; and

an electrical connector coupled to said second rotatable hinge, wherein said electrical connector detachably couples said second rotatable hinge of segmented keyboard to a portable electronic device.

2. The segmented keyboard of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector is adapted to couple said segmented keyboard with a portable computer system.

3. The segmented keyboard of claim 1 wherein when said first flippable portion and said second flippable portion are in said open position a compliment of input keys are accessible to a user for said inputting of data.

4. The segmented keyboard of claim 1 wherein when said first flippable portion and said second portion are in said closed position, said segmented keyboard is of a size and shape approximate to the size and shape of said portable electronic device a portable computer system.

5. The segmented keyboard of claim 1 wherein said first rotatable hinge is adapted to provide angular positioning of said segmented keyboard.

6. The segmented keyboard of claim 5 wherein said angular positioning of said segmented keyboard provided by said first rotatable hinge enables optimum ergonomic positioning of said segmented keyboard relative to an individual user.

7. The segmented keyboard of claim 1 wherein said second rotatable hinge adapted to provide angular positioning of a portable computer system, when said portable computer system is coupled to said segmented keyboard.

8. The segmented keyboard of claim 7 wherein said angular positioning of said portable computer system provided by said second rotatable hinge enables optimum view angle positioning of the display panel of said portable computer system relative to an individual user.

9. The segmented keyboard of claim 1 wherein the hinges of said first rotatable hinge and said second rotatable hinge are clutch hinges, said clutch hinges are adapted to maintain an optimum ergonomic positioning of said segmented keyboard and to maintain an optimum view angle positioning of a display panel of a portable computer system with regard to an individual user.

10. A computer system having a portable computer and a segmented keyboard, said segmented keyboard detachably coupled with said portable computer, said segmented keyboard for providing user inputted data for said portable computer, said segmented keyboard comprising:

a compliment of input keys comprising a segmented keyboard;

a central keyboard portion;

a first flippable portion hinged to said central keyboard portion and having an open and closed position;

a second flippable portion hinged to said central keyboard portion and having an open and closed position;

an attachable numeric Input pad, adapted to be optionally coupled with a flippable hinged portion of said segmented keyboard;

a first rotatable hinge coupled with said segmented keyboard;

a second rotatable hinge coupled with said first rotatable hinge; and

an electrical connector coupled to said second rotatable hinge wherein said electrical connector detachably couples said second rotatable hinge of said segmented keyboard to a portable electronic device.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said electrical connector is adapted to detachably couple said segmented keyboard with said portable computer.

12. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said compliment of input keys are accessible to a user for said inputting of data provided said first flippable hinged portion and said second flippable hinged portion of said segmented keyboard are in said open position.

13. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said segmented keyboard is of a size and shape approximate to the size and shape of said portable computer when said first flippable hinged portion and said second flippable hinged portion of said segmented keyboard are in said closed position.

14. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said first rotatable hinge is adapted to provide angular positioning of said segmented keyboard.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said angular positioning of said segmented keyboard provided by said first rotatable hinge enables optimum ergonomic positioning of said segmented keyboard relative to an individual user.

16. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said second rotatable hinge is adapted to provide angular positioning of said portable computer, provided said portable computer is coupled with said segmented keyboard.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein said angular positioning of said portable computer provided by said first rotatable hinge enables optimum view angle positioning of the display panel of said portable computer relative to an individual user.

18. The computer system of claim 10 wherein said hinges of said first rotatable hinge and said second rotatable hinge are clutch hinges, said clutch hinges for maintaining an optimum ergonomic position of said segmented keyboard and maintaining an optimum view angle positioning of a display panel of a portable computer relative to an individual user.

19. In a portable computer system detachably coupled with a segmented keyboard, said segmented keyboard having a first rotatable hinge and a second rotatable hinge coupled with said first rotatable hinge an electrical connector coupled to said second rotatable hinge, wherein said electrical connector detachably couples said second rotatable hinge of said segmented keyboard to a portable electronic device, a method of optimizing the positioning of said segmented keyboard and said portable computer system relative to an individual user, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning said segmented keyboard via said first rotatable hinge such that an optimum ergonomic position is obtained relative to an individual user; and

positioning said portable computer system via said second rotatable hinge such that an optimum view angle position is obtained relative to an individual user.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein said hinges of said first rotatable hinge and said second rotatable hinge are clutch hinges, such that said clutch hinges maintain said optimum ergonomic position of said segmented keyboard and said optimum view angle positioning of said portable computer system relative said individual user.