Preventing inadvertent striking of keys and like buttons in handheld palm-type devices when such devices are not in handheld usage

• US 7,076,268 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Blacklock, Brian D., Spielberg, Anthony Cappa
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/845,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 455/407, 455/411, 455/550.1, 455/90, 455/410, 455/575.1, 455/556.2, 345/175, 345/168, 345/169, 379/433.07, 379/433.1, 341/22, 341/26, 713/310
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A handheld palm-type device senses that it is being held in a human hand, but not any specific human hand. It can sense whether it is held in any human hand. A handheld palm-type device with keys for data entry and apparatus for preventing inadvertent striking of the keys when the palm-type device is not handheld that comprises the combination of an implementation on the device for sensing a bi-stable physical condition having an on state when the device is handheld and an off state when not handheld and apparatus responsive to the sensing means for locking the data entry keys when the off state is sensed. The device has a housing with a surface for engaging the palm of a user'"'"'s hand so that the sensor means are at the surface that interfaces with the palm of the hand. The bi-stable electrical condition sensed may be temperature, electrical capacitance or resistance at the palm-device interface.

Claims

1. In a handheld palm-type device with keys for data entry, apparatus for preventing inadvertent striking of said keys when the palm-type device is not handheld comprising:

means on said device for sensing a bi-stable physical condition selected from the group consisting of a temperature condition, an electrical capacitance condition, and an electrical resistance condition having an on state when said device is handheld and an off state when not handheld;

means responsive to said sensing means for locking said data entry keys when said off state is sensed;

delay means responsive to said sensing of an off state by said sensing means for delaying said locking of said keys for a predetermined time period; and

means responsive to the striking of any key during said predetermined time period for preventing the locking of said data entry keys.

2. The handheld palm-type device of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing having a surface for engaging the palm of a user'"'"'s hand; and

wherein said sensing means are at said surface.

3. The handheld palm-type device of claim 2 wherein said sensed bi-stable condition is temperature.

4. The handheld palm-type device of claim 2 wherein said sensed bi-stable condition is electrical capacitance.

5. The handheld palm-type device of claim 2 wherein said sensed bi-stable condition is electrical resistance.

6. The handheld palm-type device of claim 1 further including:

delay means responsive to said sensing of an on state by said sensing means for delaying the unlocking of said keys for a predetermined time period; and

means responsive to said sensing means for preventing the unlocking of said data entry keys if a data entry key is not struck during said predetermined time period.

7. In a handheld palm-type device with keys for data entry, a method for preventing inadvertent striking of said keys when the palm-type device is not handheld comprising:

sensing a bi-stable physical condition selected from the group consisting of a temperature condition, an electrical capacitance condition, and an electrical resistance condition having an on state when said device is handheld and an off state when not handheld;

locking said data entry keys when said off state is sensed;

responsive to said sensing of an off state, delaying said locking of said keys for a predetermined time period; and

preventing the locking of said data entry keys responsive to the striking of any key during said predetermined time period.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sensed bi-stable condition is temperature.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said sensed bi-stable condition is electrical capacitance.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said sensed bi-stable condition is electrical resistance.

11. The method of claim 7 further including:

delaying the unlocking of said keys for a predetermined time period responsive to said sensing of an on state; and

preventing the unlocking of said data entry keys if a data entry key is not struck during said predetermined delay time period.