Key arrangement for a keyboard

• US 7,439,959 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T., Tyneski, Frank M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US10/902,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 400/472, 400/486, 400/488, 400/489
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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: 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 key arrangement includes a plurality of keys that are arranged in a regular grid of rows and columns. The columns include a first column, a last column, and at least one middle column. The keys in the first and last columns are smaller than the keys in the at least one middle column. A method for improving the ergonomics of a key arrangement on a keyboard of a fixed size is provided. A method for designing a key arrangement for a mobile communication device is also provided.

Claims

1. A handheld mobile communication device comprising:

a housing; and

an alphabetic key arrangement comprising a plurality of alphabetic keys arranged in rows and columns, said columns including a pair of exterior columns and at least two interior columns, wherein the alphabetic keys in the pair of exterior columns are smaller than keys in the at least two interior columns.

2. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein said alphabetic key arrangement is one of QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, and Dvorak key arrangements.

3. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the alphabetic keys in the pair of exterior columns are narrower in width and reduced in height relative to the alphabetic keys in the at least two interior columns.

4. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of alphabetic keys has essentially the same shape.

5. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alphabetic keys have at least three different shapes.

6. The handheld mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the pair of exterior columns are adjacent a right side and a left side of the housing.

7. An alphabetic key arrangement comprising a plurality of alphabetic keys arranged in rows and columns, said columns including a pair of exterior columns and at least two interior columns, wherein the alphabetic keys in the pair of exterior columns are smaller than keys in the at least two interior columns.

8. The key arrangement of claim 7, wherein said alphabetic key arrangement is one of QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, and Dvorak key arrangements.

9. The key arrangement of claim 7, wherein the alphabetic keys in the pair of exterior columns are narrower in width and reduced in height relative to the alphabetic keys in the at least two interior columns.