Hand-held device

• US 7,356,361 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey C, Haitani, Robert Y, Skillman, Peter N, Colligan, Edward T, Rees, William B, Yurochko, Michael A
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/976,841
• Time in Patent Office: 2,369 Days
• Field of Search: D14399-401, 379/368, 379/453.07, 178/17.A, 178/17.C, 341/23, 708/145, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• 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 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 : including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 : methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

A hand-held device that provides communication services and symbol processing is described. The device includes a case having a front side comprising a display and a lid having a transparent portion through which the display can be seen in a lid-closed state. In one version, the hand-held device comprises a QWERTY keyboard including an arrangement of digits as in a touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement. In another version, the display includes a handwriting area for data entry using a stylus or other screen data entry device. In a closed position, the lid extends over the display and the keyboard, leaving another user input device physically accessible to touch for receiving input wherein the device performs processing responsive to receiving input from the physically accessible user input device in the lid closed state.

Claims

1. A hand-held computing device structured to include a telephone component comprising:

a case having a front face, the case having within a plane a long axis and a short axis;

a display screen located on the front face;

a speaker located along a top portion of the front face above the display screen;

a microphone below the display screen; and

a non-foldable keyboard located on the front face below the display screen comprising three rows of keys oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the case, at least nine keys comprising a primary symbol and a secondary symbol, the primary symbols for successive keys in the first row of keys representing the letters “

Q”

, “

W”

, “

E”

, “

R”

, “

T”

, and “

Y”

,

the at least nine keys having secondary symbols “

1”

to “

9”

comprising a touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement of keys, the secondary symbols “

1”

, “

2”

, and “

3”

in the first of the three rows of keys, the secondary symbols “

4”

, “

5”

, and “

6”

in a second of the three rows of keys, and the secondary symbols “

7”

, “

8”

, and “

9”

in a third of the three rows of keys, each secondary symbol associated with a key including a primary symbol, and comprising an option key configured to set the non-foldable keyboard in one of a plurality of states, a first state corresponding to a single use of a secondary symbol in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement, a second state corresponding to consecutive use of any secondary symbols in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement, and a third state corresponding to use of only primary symbols in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement,

wherein the keys in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement have a common visual characteristic,

at least one key not in the telephone keypad arrangement lacks the common visual characteristic of the keys in the telephone keypad arrangement, and

wherein in response to execution of the telephone component, the non-foldable keyboard is set to the second state for use of the secondary symbols of the keys in the telephone keypad arrangement.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a key having a secondary symbol of “

0”

is in a fourth row of keys.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a row of the keyboard includes a key representing at least one of the “

*”

symbol and the “

#”

next to a key of the telephone keypad arrangement.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each primary symbol is a separate key.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the option key is in one of the three rows of keys.

54. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display screen located on the front face of the case, positioned above the keyboard, wherein both the keyboard and the display screen are horizontally centered about the long axis of the case.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the keys in a telephone keypad arrangement form a block that is not horizontally centered about the long axis of the case.

56. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of navigation controls on the front face of the case and positioned symmetrically about the long axis of the case.

57. The device of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is usable without unfolding the device.

58. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to function as a wireless telephone.

6. In a handheld device comprising a data entry component and a wireless telephone component, the device having a long axis and a short axis within a plane, a non-foldable keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in a configuration having key rows oriented perpendicularly with respect to the long axis of the device, one of the key rows comprising successive keys representing the letters Q, W, E, R, T, and Y,

wherein the plurality of keys comprises at least nine multi-value keys, each multi-value key associated with at least a primary value and a numeric secondary value, the at least nine multi-value keys having a common visual characteristic and being arranged to form part of the configuration, the at least nine multi-value keys further being arranged in a telephone keypad arrangement, the keys in the configuration comprising at least one key not having the common visual characteristic of the nine multi-value keys, the non-foldable keyboard located below a display screen along the long axis of the handheld device,

wherein the plurality of keys further comprises an option key configured to set the plurality of keys in one of a plurality of states, a first state corresponding to a single use of a numeric secondary value of a multi-value key, a second state corresponding to consecutive use of any numeric secondary value of the multi-value keys, and a third state corresponding to use of only the primary value of a multi-value key, and

wherein in response to activation of the wireless telephone component, the least nine multi-value keys initially set to the second set and operable as touch-tone keys.

7. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the at least nine multi-value keys are arranged in at least three rows, each row comprising at least three multi-value keys.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the at least three rows comprise:

a first row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 1, 2, and 3;

a second row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 4, 5, and 6; and

a third row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 7, 8, and 9.

9. The keyboard of claim 8, further comprising a tenth multi-value key associated with at least a primary value and a numeric secondary value of 0, wherein the tenth multi-value key is arranged in a fourth row.

10. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the at least three rows comprise:

a first row comprising multi-value keys associated with at least three primary values selected from the group consisting of Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, and P, and further associated with numeric values of 1, 2, and 3;

a second row comprising multi-value keys associated with at least three primary values selected from the group consisting of A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, and “

;

”

, and further associated with numeric values of 4, 5, and 6; and

a third row comprising alphabetic/numeric multi-value keys associated with at least three primary values selected from the group consisting of Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, “

,”

, and “

.”

, and further associated with numeric values of 7, 8, and 9.

11. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the at least three rows comprise:

a top row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 1, 2, and 3;

a middle row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 4, 5, and 6; and

a bottom row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 7, 8, and 9.

12. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the plurality of keys further comprises at least one additional multi-value key associated with at least a primary value and a secondary value, the additional multi-value key being arranged to form part of the configuration, the at least one additional multi-value key further being arranged in a fourth row, so that the at least nine multi-value keys and the at least one additional multi-value keys collectively emulate a telephone keypad arrangement.

13. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the at least one additional multi-value key is associated with a numeric value of 0.

14. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein the plurality of keys further comprises at least three additional multi-value keys, each associated with at least a primary value and a secondary value, the at least three additional multi-value keys being arranged to form part of the configuration, the at least three additional multi-value keys further being arranged in a fourth row, so that the at least nine multi-value keys and the at least three additional multi-value keys collectively emulate a telephone keypad arrangement.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein the at least three rows comprise:

a first row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 1, 2, and 3;

a second row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 4, 5, and 6; and

a third row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 7, 8, and 9; and

wherein the fourth row comprises multi-value keys associated with secondary values of *, 0 and #.

16. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein the at least three rows comprise:

a top row comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 1, 2, and 3;

a second row, below the top row, comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 4, 5, and 6; and

a third row, below the second row, comprising multi-value keys associated with numeric values of 7, 8, and 9;

and wherein the fourth row, located below the third row, comprises multi-value keys associated with secondary values of *, 0 and #.

17. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the at least nine multi-value keys comprise:

at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a key associated with a primary value of Y and a numeric value of 1,

a key associated with a primary value of U and a numeric value of 2, and

a key associated with a primary value of I and a numeric value of 3;

at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a key associated with a primary value of H and a numeric value of 4,

a key associated with a primary value of J and a numeric value of 5, and

a key associated with a primary value of K and a numeric value of 6; and

at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a key associated with a primary value of B and a numeric value of 7,

a key associated with a primary value of N and a numeric value of 8, and

a key associated with a primary value of M and a numeric value of 9.

18. The keyboard of claim 17, further comprising a multi-value key associated with at least a numeric value of 0.

59. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the keyboard is horizontally centered about the long axis of the case and is positioned below a display screen located on the front face of the case and also centered about the long axis of the case.

60. The keyboard of claim 59, wherein the at least nine multi-value keys form a block that is not horizontally centered about the long axis of the case.

61. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the keyboard is positioned on a front face of the device that also includes a plurality of navigation controls positioned symmetrically about the long axis of the case.

62. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the keyboard is usable without unfolding the device.

19. In a handheld device structured to include data entry operation and a wireless telephone operation, the device having within a plane a long axis and a short axis, a non-foldable keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in a configuration having key rows oriented perpendicularly with respect to the long axis of the device, one of the key rows comprising successive keys representing the letters Q, W, E, R, T, and Y;

wherein the plurality of keys comprises at least nine multi-value keys, each multi-value key associated with at least a primary value and a numeric secondary value, the at least nine multi-value keys having a common visual characteristic, the at least nine multi-value keys having the common visual characteristic arranged in at least three successive rows and three successive columns, the non-foldable keyboard located below a display screen along the long axis of the handheld device,

wherein the plurality of keys further comprises an option key configured to set the at least nine-multi-value keys in one of a plurality of states, a first state corresponding to a single use of a numeric secondary value of the multi-value keys, a second state corresponding to consecutive use of any numeric secondary values of the multi-value keys, and a third state corresponding to use of only primary keys of the multi-value keys, and

wherein in response to operation of the wireless telephone the at least nine multi-value keys are initially set to the second state and operable as a touch-tone keys.

20. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the plurality of keys further comprises at least one additional multi-value key, associated with at least a primary value and a secondary value, the at least one multi-value key being arranged in a fourth row.

21. The keyboard of claim 20, wherein the secondary value of the additional multi-value key is 0.

22. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the plurality of keys further comprises at least three additional multi-value keys, each associated with at least a primary value and a secondary value, the at least three multi-value keys being arranged in a fourth row.

23. The keyboard of claim 22, wherein the secondary values of the at least three additional multi-value keys are *, 0, and #.

24. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein each primary value comprises an alphabetic value.

25. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the plurality of keys arranged in the configuration further comprises at least one multi-value key associated with at least a primary value and a non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value.

26. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein the multi-value keys associated with numeric secondary values are visually distinguishable from the at least one multi-value key associated with a non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value.

27. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of each multi-value key associated with a numeric secondary value is a first color, and at least a portion of each multi-value key associated with a non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value is a second color different from the first color.

28. The keyboard of claim 25, further comprising:

for at least one multi-value key associated with a numeric secondary value, a label identifying the secondary value, the label having a first color; and

for at least one multi-value key associated with a non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value, a label identifying the secondary value, the label having a second color different from the first color.

29. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein at least one non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value comprises a punctuation mark.

30. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the device further comprises a processor, for interpreting user activation of a multi-value key as one of the values of an activated multi-value key.

31. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the device interprets user activation of a multi-value key as one of the values of an activated multi-value key.

32. The keyboard of claim 19,

wherein the keyboard is adapted to detect key presses by a user;

and

wherein, responsive to the keyboard detecting a key press of a multi-value key, the device interprets the key press as one of the values of the pressed key.

33. The keyboard of claim 32, further comprising:

a modifier key, for specifying which value of a multi-value key is intended.

34. The keyboard of claim 33, wherein, responsive to the keyboard detecting a key press of the modifier key, the device interprets a subsequent key press of a multi-value key as the secondary value of the pressed multi-value key.

35. The keyboard of claim 33, wherein, responsive to the keyboard detecting the modifier key being held in a pressed position while a multi-value key is pressed, the device interprets the key press of the multi-value key as the secondary value of the pressed multi-value key.

36. The keyboard of claim 33, wherein:

the keyboard has at least two modes, including a first mode in which the device interprets a key press as the primary value of the pressed key, and a second mode in which the device interprets a key press as the secondary value of the pressed key, and

wherein, responsive to the keyboard detecting a key press of the modifier key, the keyboard switches from one of the modes to another of the modes.

37. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein:

the keyboard has at least two modes, including a first mode in which the device interprets a key press as the primary value of the pressed key, and a second mode in which the device interprets a key press as the secondary value of the pressed key.

38. The keyboard of claim 19, further comprising:

a modifier key, for specifying which value of a multi-value key is intended.

39. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein each key in the plurality of keys arranged in the configuration is associated with an alphabetic value and a secondary value.

40. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the handheld device comprises an e-mail device.

41. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the handheld device comprises an e-mail device adapted to operate in conjunction with a wireless network.

42. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein:

for each of at least a subset of the multi-value keys, the keyboard further comprises a label identifying at least the primary value and the numeric secondary value of the multi-value key.

43. The keyboard of claim 42, wherein each label is printed on the corresponding key.

44. The keyboard of claim 42, wherein each label is printed adjacent to the corresponding key.

45. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the handheld device further comprises a telephone dialing component, for, responsive to user activation of a sequence of keys having numeric secondary values, dialing a telephone number specified by the key sequence.

46. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein each key in the plurality of keys is tilted at a substantially common angle.

47. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein each key in the plurality of keys is oval shaped.

48. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the handheld device further serves as an e-mail device.

49. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the plurality of keys further comprises at least one additional multi-value key, associated with a primary value and a secondary value, the at least one additional multi-value key being arranged in a fourth row.

50. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the plurality of keys further comprises at least three additional multi-value keys, each associated with a primary value and a secondary value, the at least three additional multi-value keys being arranged in a fourth row.

63. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the keyboard is horizontally centered about the long axis of the device and is positioned below a display screen located on the front face of the device and also centered about the long axis of the device.

64. The keyboard of claim 63, wherein the at least nine multi-value keys form a block that is not horizontally centered about the long axis of the device.

65. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the keyboard is positioned on a front face of the device that also includes a plurality of navigation controls positioned symmetrically about the long axis of the device.

66. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the keyboard is usable without unfolding the device.

51. In a handheld device structured to include a data entry operation and a wireless telephone operation, the device having within a plane a long axis and a short axis, a non-foldable keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in a configuration having key rows oriented perpendicularly with respect to the long axis of the device, one of the key rows comprising successive keys representing the letters Q, W, E, R, T, and Y;

wherein the plurality of keys comprises at least ten multi-value keys, each associated with at least a primary value and a secondary value, the at least ten multi-value keys having a common visual characteristic and being arranged in at least four rows, wherein at least three of the rows each comprise at least three multi-value keys, the keys in the configuration comprising at least one key not having the common visual characteristic of the ten multi-value keys, the non-foldable keyboard located below a display screen along the long axis of the handheld device,

wherein the plurality of keys further comprises an option key configured to set the at least ten multi-value keys in one of a plurality of states, a first state corresponding to a single use of a secondary value of a multi-value key, a second state corresponding to consecutive use of any secondary value of the multi-value keys, and a third state corresponding to use of only the primary values of a multi-value key, and

wherein in response to operation of the wireless telephone the at least nine multi-value keys initially set to the second state and operable as a touch-tone keys.

52. The keyboard of claim 51, wherein the plurality of keys arranged in the configuration further comprises at least one multi-value key associated with at least a primary value and a non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value.

53. The keyboard of claim 52, wherein the at least ten multi-value keys are visually distinguishable from the at least one multi-value key associated with a non-alphabetic non-numeric secondary value.

67. The keyboard of claim 51, wherein the keyboard is horizontally centered about the long axis of the device and is positioned below a display screen located on the front face of the device and also centered about the long axis of the device.

68. The keyboard of claim 67, wherein the at least ten multi-value keys form a block that is not horizontally centered about the long axis of the device.

69. The keyboard of claim 51, wherein the keyboard is positioned on a front face of the device that also includes a plurality of navigation controls positioned symmetrically about the long axis of the device.

70. The keyboard of claim 51, wherein the keyboard is usable without unfolding the device.