Mobile device

• US 7,153,049 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pletikosa, Velimir
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/178,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20050244207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 400/472
• 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 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions

Abstract

An apparatus has a keyboard panel with a QWERTY array of alphabetic key actuation indicia. The apparatus further has a QWERTY array of keys that are free of alphabetic key actuation indicia, and are located adjacent to corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel. Other parts of the apparatus include an output device responsive to actuation of the keys, and a processing device operatively coupled between the keys and the output device. Summarized alternatively, the apparatus includes a keyboard with keys arranged in arcuate horizontal rows. The keys in each row have centerlines projecting radially from a respective common centerpoint.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a keyboard panel having a QWERTY array of alphabetic key actuation indicia;

a QWERTY array of keys that are free of alphabetic key actuation indicia and are located adjacent to corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel;

an output device responsive to actuation of the keys; and

a processing device operatively coupled between the keys and the output device;

wherein the keys are horizontally spaced apart from each other in the rows of the QWERTY array, and the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel are located in the spaces extending horizontally between the keys; and

the keys on the left-hand side of the QWERTY array are located to the left of the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel, and the keys on the right-hand side of the QWERTY array are located to the right of the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel.

2. A mobile device as defined in claim 1 wherein the keyboard panel is defined by a housing that contains the output device and the processing device.

3. A mobile device comprising:

a keyboard panel having a QWERTY array of alphabetic key actuation indicia;

a QWERTY array of keys that are free of alphabetic key actuation indicia and are located adjacent to corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel;

an output device responsive to actuation of the keys; and

a processing device operatively coupled between the keys and the output device;

wherein the keys are horizontally spaced apart from each other in the rows of the QWERTY array, and the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel are located in the spaces extending horizontally between the keys; and

the keys on the left-hand side of the QWERTY array are located on one side of the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel, and the keys on the right-hand side of the QWERTY array are located on the opposite side of the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel.

4. A mobile device as defined in claim 3 wherein the keyboard panel is defined by a housing that contains the output device.

5. A mobile device comprising:

a keyboard panel having a QWERTY array of alphabetic key actuation indicia;

a QWERTY array of keys that are free of alphabetic key actuation indicia and are located adjacent to corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel;

an output device responsive to actuation of the keys; and

a processing device operatively coupled between the keys and the output device;

wherein the keys are horizontally spaced apart from each other in the rows of the QWERTY array, and the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel are located in the spaces extending horizontally between the keys.

6. A mobile device as defined in claim 5 wherein the keyboard panel further has a telephone keypad array of numerical key actuation indicia located in the spaces extending horizontally between the keys that are part of the QWERTY array.

7. A mobile device as defined in claim 5 wherein the keyboard panel is defined by a housing that contains the output device and the processing.

8. A mobile device comprising:

a keyboard with elongated keys arranged in arcuate horizontal rows, with all of the keys in each arcuate horizontal row having longitudinal centerlines projecting radially from a respective common center point;

an output device responsive to actuation of the keys; and

a processing device operatively coupled between the keys and the output device;

wherein the keyboard includes a keyboard panel having alphabetic key actuation indicia, and the keys are alphabetic keys that are free of alphabetic key actuation indicia and are located adjacent to corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel; and

the alphabetic keys are horizontally spaced apart from each other, and the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia on the keyboard panel are located in the spaces extending horizontally between the alphabetic keys.

9. A mobile device as defined in claim 8 wherein the alphabetic keys are arranged in an array having a left-hand side and a right-hand side, the alphabetic keys on the left-hand side of the array are located to the left of the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia, and the alphabetic keys on the right-hand side of the array are located to the right of the corresponding alphabetic key actuation indicia.

10. A mobile device as defined in claim 8 wherein the keyboard panel is defined by a housing that contains the output device and the processing device.