Keyboard for mobile device

• US 7,953,448 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Pletikosa, Velimir, Lowles, Robert, Griffin, Jason T., Ladouceur, Norman M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan; Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hai V
• Application Number:
  US11/421,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20070281747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/564
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0225 Rotatable telephones, i.e. the body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0231 Including a rotatable keypad body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part
• 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 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A keyboard for a mobile device 400 having a processor 618 for interpreting signals comprises a plurality of keys 410-424 and corresponding indicia including keys associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to an array of letters A-Z. The keys 410-419 that are associated with alphabetic characters number fewer than twenty-six and correspond to one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, or DVORAK key arrangement. Each of the plurality of keys 410-424 have multiple input surfaces and are arranged in an array of rows and columns that include a first outer column, at least one middle column, and a last outer column. The first and last columns of keys are operable to input at least three different signals to a processor 618 of a mobile device 400 depending upon what input surface of the key 410-424 is pressed. A middle column of keys is operable to input at least five different signals to a processor 618 depending on what input surface of the key 410-424 is pressed.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a mobile device having a processor for interpreting signals, the keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys and corresponding indicia including keys associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to an array of letters A-Z, said keys that are associated with alphabetic characters numbering fewer than twenty-six and corresponding to one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, or DVORAK key arrangement, each of said plurality of keys having multiple input surfaces and being arranged in an array of rows and columns, including a first outer column, at least one middle column, and a last outer column,

wherein each key in the first and last columns of keys is a three-switch key operable to input at least three different signals to a processor of a mobile device depending upon what input surface of the key is pressed; and

each key in a middle column of keys is a five-switch key operable to input at least five different signals to a processor depending on what input surface of the key is pressed.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein each three-switch key has three input surfaces, and each of the three-switch keys is operable to input three different signals to a processor of a mobile device depending on which of the surfaces of the key is pressed;

and

each five-switch key has five input surfaces, and each of the five-switch keys is operable to input five different signals to a processor of a mobile device depending on which of surfaces of the key is pressed.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys comprises at least twelve keys having multiple input surfaces, with each key having a surface corresponding to one of the numeral 0-9 and the characters # and * such that a telephony key arrangement is present on the mobile device.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein each of the numerals 1, 4, 7, and * are associated with keys in the first outer column, each of the numerals 2, 5, 8, and 0 are associated with keys in the middle column, and each of the numerals 3, 6, 9, and # are associated with keys in the last outer column.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys are substantially rectangular and further comprising a single click dome switch positioned underneath each key, and corner actuators positioned underneath each corner of the middle column of keys.

6. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein the number of input surfaces associated with alphabetic characters is twenty-six and the number of input surfaces associated with telephony characters is twelve.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein each key of the outer columns of keys has two raised surfaces on an outer edge thereof and a depressed surface that is located in the vicinity of the center thereof.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, wherein each key of the middle column of keys has four raised surfaces on the outer edges thereof and a depressed center surface located in the vicinity of the center thereof.

9. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein each raised key surface is located at a corner of the respective key.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein each raised key surface is rounded for tactile response to a user.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a first outer column of keys comprises key surfaces corresponding in order to letters “

Q”

, “

W”

, “

E”

, “

R”

, “

T”

, “

Y”

, “

U”

, “

I”

, “

0”

, and “

P”

; and

the middle column of keys comprises a first key with four raised surfaces corresponding to letters “

A”

, “

S”

, “

Z”

, and “

X”

;

a second key with four raised surfaces corresponding to letters “

D”

, “

F”

, “

C”

, and “

V”

;

a third key with four raised surfaces corresponding to letters “

G”

, “

H”

, “

B”

, and “

N”

;

a fourth key with four raised surfaces, three of which correspond to letters “

J”

, “

K”

, and “

M”

; and

a fifth key with four raised surfaces, one of which corresponds to letter “

L”

.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein one of the key surfaces of the keys in the last column corresponds to a return/enter function.

13. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the array of alphabetic characters is associated with one of the two outer columns and the middle column of keys, and a telephony key arrangement is associated with each of the first outer, the middle, and the last outer columns.

14. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the indicia is positioned on the plurality of keys such that the keyboard may be utilized in a vertical or horizontal orientation.

15. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys are substantially square, the indicia positioned on the keys is positioned at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the keys.

16. A mobile device having a processor for interpreting signals comprising:

a display portion having a display screen;

a keypad portion rotatably coupled to the display portion and having a keyboard that is arranged in an array of rows and columns, with the columns including a first outer column, at least one middle column, and a last outer column, the keyboard being operatively associated with the processor;

the keyboard including

a plurality of keys and corresponding indicia including keys associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to an array of letters A-Z, said plurality of keys associated with alphabetic characters numbering fewer than 26 and being arranged in a key layout that comprises at least one of QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and DVORAK;

the two outer columns having a plurality of keys that are each a three-switch key operable to input at least three different signals to a processor depending on which surface of the key is pressed; and

the middle column having a plurality of keys that are each a five-switch key operable to input at least five different signals to a processor depending on which surface of the key is pressed.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising means for selectively lighting at least some of the keys and wherein at least some of the keys are selectively lighted.