Folding keyboard for an electronic communications device

• US 7,057,887 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gioscia, Richard, Webb, William, Northway, David, Lam, Lawrence, Urban, Alan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/707,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680, 361/683, 361/686, 361/681, 361/692, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 341/22, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 455/344, 455/348, 455/556, 379/110.01, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.07, 379/433.13, 379/434, 400/472, 400/479, 400/492, 400/682
• US Class Current: 361/679.15
• 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 1/1626 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 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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

Abstract

A miniature keyboard for a palm held computer is disclosed. The miniature keyboard includes a plurality of keys for providing input to a hand held computing device. The keyboard includes a platform supporting the plurality of keys. The platform is configured to be sized for use by a single hand and the platforms is selectively foldable to substantially conceal the plurality of keys from view. The keyboard also includes a support structure that couples the platform to the hand held computing device body. The support structure is configured to prevent substantial movement of the platform relative to the hand held computing device body. A handheld electronic communications device is also disclosed. The handheld electronic communications device comprises a housing supporting communication electronics and a display. The housing has a periphery. A first platform is integrated into the housing and supports a first set of keys. The first set of keys is a subset of a full set of alphabetic keys. The full set of alphabetic keys comprises raised key buttons. A second platform supporting a second set of keys is further disclosed. The second set of keys is a subset of the full set of alphabetic keys. A hinge is coupled between the first platform and the second platform. The hinge allows movement of the second platform from a first position to a second position. The second platform in the first position is within the periphery.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic communications device, comprising:

a housing supporting communication electronics and a display, the housing having a periphery;

a first platform integrated into the housing and supporting a first set of keys, the first set of keys being a subset of a full set of alphabetic keys, the full set of alphabetic keys comprising raised key buttons;

a second platform supporting a second set of keys, the second set of keys being a subset of the full set of alphabetic keys; and

a hinge coupled between the first platform and the second platform, the hinge allowing movement of the second platform from a first position to a second position, wherein the second platform is within the periphery when the second platform is in the first and second positions.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second platform in the first position conceals the alphabetic keys from view.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the alphabetic keys comprise a QWERTY keyboard.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second platform in the second position allows the user to hold the housing in one hand and to type with the thumbs.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a mobile phone transceiver.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises cellular phone capabilities.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises handheld computer capabilities.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises personal digital assistant capabilities.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises wireless e-mail capabilities.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein the configuration of the first set of keys is symmetrical with the configuration of the second set of keys.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one input key that is exposed when the second platform is in the first position.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the at least one input keys is an application launching key.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the at least one input keys is a navigation key.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one input keys includes at least one navigation key and at least one application launching key.

15. A method of providing textual information to a handheld electronic device, comprising:

providing a handheld electronic device with a support area, the support area supporting a first subset of keys of a set of raised keys, and the support area being an integrated portion of a housing for the handheld electronic device;

rotating a platform, supporting a second subset of keys of the set of keys, about a hinge supported by the support area, to expose the set of keys to a user, the platform being configured such that when the set of keys is not exposed to the user, the platform and the support area are within an outer periphery of the housing, and such that the platform remains substantially fixed within the outer periphery when the set of keys is exposed to the user; and

typing using the set of keys, the typing generating input to the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

rotating the platform about the hinge to conceal the set of keys from view.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the set of keys comprises alphabetic keys.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the set of keys comprises alphanumeric keys.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

holding the housing in one hand; and

typing with the thumbs.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device includes a mobile phone transceiver.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises cellular phone capabilities.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises handheld computer capabilities.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises personal digital assistant capabilities.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises wireless e-mail capabilities.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the first set of keys is configured on the support area symmetrically with the second set of keys on the platform.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

activating at least one button when the set of keys is concealed from view.

27. A keyboard for an electronic communications device, comprising:

a folding section supporting a first subset of keys of a set of raised keys;

a fixed section supporting a second subset of keys of the set of keys; and

a coupling enabling movement of the folding section relative to the fixed section, the first subset of keys being concealed from view when the folding section is in a closed position, and the folding section is substantially within a footprint of the electronic communications device when in the closed position, and wherein the folding section remains substantially within the footprint of the electronic communications device in an open position.

28. The keyboard of claim 27, further comprising:

a hinge coupling the folding section and the fixed section.

29. The keyboard of claim 27, wherein the fixed section is integrated into a body of the electronics communications device.

30. The keyboard of claim 27, wherein the electronic communications device comprises at least one navigation button on a body of the electronic communications device that is not concealed from view when the folding section is in the closed position.