Portable electronic device with keyboard

• US 7,504,967 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US10/480,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20040198249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,472 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/23, 341/21, 341/26, 341/34, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/566, 345/169, 345/184, 345/168, 345/170, 345/172, 200/4, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/6.A, 200/6.R
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

A keyboard (32, 1230) for a handheld electronic device (100, 1100, 1200) comprising a row of keys (102) wherein each of said keys (102) represents at least two alphanumeric characters and the characters of each key (102) are positioned relative to the characters on adjacent keys (102) so as to form a QWERTY or DVORAK layout.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic wireless communication device comprising:

a display located above a keyboard; and

said keyboard comprising a row of a plurality of elongate alphanumeric keys, each elongate alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric values positioned one above the others and each elongate alphanumeric key being oriented so that a lengthwise axis of each key is substantially upright oriented;

wherein the lengthwise axis of a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of a vertical centerline of the keyboard forms an angle with the vertical centerline and is rotated clockwise from the vertical centerline; and

wherein the lengthwise axis of a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard forms an angle with the vertical centerline and is rotated counterclockwise from the vertical centerline and whereby thumb actuation of each of said keys is facilitated during user operation of the handheld electronic wireless communication device.

2. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein an angle of inclination of at least a plurality of said elongate keys is between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees relative to vertical.

3. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor and software that performs predictive text routines on signals from actuated keys.

4. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a keystroke interpreter operating on a microprocessor of said device.

5. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard has a width approximately equal to a width of said display.

6. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard has a width approximately equal to a width of said device.

7. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary input located above said keyboard.

8. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary auxiliary input located above said keyboard.

9. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary auxiliary input located horizontally adjacent to said display.

10. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric values comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a standard keyboard layout.

11. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric values comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout.

12. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric values comprise alphabetic characters arranged in horizontal rows.

13. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of alphanumeric keys have at least three substantially vertically arranged alphabetic values associated therewith.

14. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys is provided by an electronic touch display.

15. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 14, wherein the electronic touch display is a touch sensitive liquid crystal display.

16. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein each of said keys has a single protuberance from an underside of said key which is adapted to engage a switching element located upon a printed circuit board underlying said keyboard.

17. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of keys is arranged as a single row that extends parallel to a horizontal reference line through the device.

18. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises an elongate SPACE key positioned below said plurality of vertically elongate alphanumeric keys.

19. The handheld electronic wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard further comprises a RETURN key positioned in a lower right-hand corner of said keyboard.

20. A keyboard for a handheld electronic wireless communication device, said keyboard comprising a row of a plurality of elongate alphanumeric keys, each elongate alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric values positioned one above the others and each elongate alphanumeric key being oriented so that a lengthwise axis of each key is substantially upright oriented;

wherein the lengthwise axis of a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of a vertical centerline of the keyboard forms an angle with the vertical centerline and is rotated clockwise from the vertical centerline; and

wherein the lengthwise axis of a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard forms an angle with the vertical centerline and is rotated counterclockwise from the vertical centerline and whereby thumb actuation of each of said keys is facilitated during user operation of the handheld electronic wireless communication device.

21. The keyboard according to claim 20, wherein an angle of inclination of at least a plurality of said elongate keys is between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees relative to vertical.

22. The keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric values comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout.

23. The keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric values comprise alphabetic characters arranged in horizontal rows.

24. The keyboard according to claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of alphanumeric keys have at least three substantially vertically arranged alphabetic values associated therewith.

25. The keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said keyboard further comprises an elongate SPACE key positioned below said plurality of vertically elongate alphanumeric keys and a RETURN key positioned in a lower right-hand corner of said keyboard.