Mobile communication device

• US 7,489,953 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/143,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050272484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/575, 455/4, 455/575.5, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/500, 455/517, D14/341, D14/138, D14/346, 345/168, 345/156, 345/169, 345/172, 379/433.01, 379/433.06, 379/433.07
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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
• 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 1/72403 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 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, a display associated with the front wall, and a keyboard associated with the front wall. Each of the side walls includes a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the length of the side walls. In addition, a reduced key keyboard has arcuate rows, with a top row that includes a send, end, and web browser key. The top row of the keyboard is also arcuate.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a housing having a length and at least a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein at least one of the first and second side walls includes a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the length of the housing, with the side walls having an upper portion and a lower portion defined on the housing and separated from one another at an intermediate point on the associated side wall, and the recessed channel extends in the upper portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the recessed channel is associated with both the first side wall and the second side wall.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are divided by a center line at the intermediate point.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the recessed channels tapers from flush with the side walls at the center line to recessed at the top of the upper portion relative to the side walls.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the recessed channels tapers from flush with the side walls at a point within the lower portion to recessed relative to the side walls at a point within the upper portion.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the upper portion comprises the upper half of each of the side walls, and the lower portion comprises the lower half of each of the side walls.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a roller wheel associated with one of the side walls, the roller wheel being positioned in the recessed channel.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a front wall and a rear wall associated with the housing, with the first and second side walls being positioned between the front and rear walls, and with a display and a keyboard being coupled to the front wall, wherein at least one input or output device is positioned in the recessed channel.

9. A housing for a mobile communication device comprising:

a front wall;

a rear wall;

a left side wall comprising a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the left side wall such that at least part of the left side wall is recessed relative to the remainder of the left side wall; and

a right side wall comprising a recess that extends along at least part of the right side wall such that at least part of the right side wall is recessed relative to the remainder of the right side wall, with the side walls each having an upper portion and a lower portion that are separated from one another at an intermediate point on the associated side wall, and the recessed channel extends only in the upper portion.

10. The housing of claim 9, wherein the recessed channel on the left side wall extends along part of the length of the wall and the recessed channel on the right side wall extends along part of the length of the wall, and further comprising at least one auxiliary input and output positioned within the recessed channels.

11. The housing of claim 10, wherein the at least one auxiliary input and outputs comprises a roller wheel positioned in the recessed channel of the right side wall.

12. The housing of claim 11, wherein the roller wheel has a dimension that extends outwardly from the side wall past the front and rear walls.

13. A mobile communication device comprising:

a housing having a length, a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall positioned between the front and rear walls on a first side of the housing, and a second side wall positioned between the front and rear walls on a second side of the housing, with each side wall having a top point, an intermediate point, and a bottom point, wherein at least one of the first and second side walls includes a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the length of the respective wall, with the recessed channel tapering from the intermediate point where it is not recessed relative to the respective side wall to at least one of the top or bottom points where it is recessed relative to the respective side wall.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein both the first and second side walls having a recessed portion, the top point is defined in the vicinity of the top end of the respective side wall, and the intermediate point is defined in the vicinity of the center of the side wall, and the recessed channel tapers from flush with the respective side wall at the intermediate point to recessed at the top point.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the amount of recess of the recessed portion is greatest at the top point.