Mobile device

• US 7,311,454 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• 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:
  US11/595,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20070053734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 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. An apparatus 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 keyboard panel further has a telephone keypad array of numerical key actuation indicia located in spaces extending horizontally between keys that are part of the QWERTY array; and

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

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

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the keyboard panel, the keys, the output device and the processing device are operatively interconnected pads of a hand-held mobile electronic device.

4. 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 keyboard panel further has a telephone keypad array of numerical key actuation indicia located in spaces extending horizontally between keys that are part of the QWERTY array; and

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

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