Hand-held device

• US 8,254,565 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Skillman, Peter N., Rees, William B., Haitani, Robert Y., Colligan, Edward Thomas, Yurochko, Michael Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYTLE, JEFFREY P
• Application Number:
  US12/022,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/368, 379/352, 379/353, 379/355.05, 379/355.07, 455/418, 455/550.1, 455/564, 341/22
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• 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 area 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 handheld computing device structured to include a telephone component, comprising:

a display screen;

a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys distributed along at least three rows of keys, wherein a subset of the plurality of keys provides a primary character value and a secondary value;

wherein the first of the three rows of keys includes successive primary values “

Q”

, “

W”

, “

E”

, “

R”

, “

T”

, and “

Y”

, and wherein the subset includes secondary values “

1”

through “

9”

so that the subset is arranged in a touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement, the keys in the telephone keypad arrangement having a common visual characteristic distinct from the keys not in the telephone keypad arrangement, the secondary values “

1”

, “

2”

, and “

3”

being in the first of the three rows of keys, the secondary values “

4”

, “

5”

, and “

6”

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

7”

, “

8”

, and “

9”

being in a third of the three rows of keys, each secondary value associated with a key including a primary value; and

wherein the keyboard also comprises an option key configured to set the keyboard in one of a plurality of states, a first state corresponding to a single use of a secondary value in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement, a second state corresponding to consecutive use of any secondary values in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement, and a third state corresponding to use of only primary values in the touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement; and

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

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

0”

is in a fourth row of keys.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the at least three rows of keys of the keyboard includes a key representing at least one of the “

*”

value and the “

#”

value next to a key of the telephone keypad arrangement.

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

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each primary value corresponds to a separate key.

6. In a computing device comprising a data entry component and a telephone component, the device having a long axis and a short axis within a plane, a 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 at least nine multi-value keys;

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 the multi-value key; and

wherein in response to activation of the telephone component, the at least nine multi-value keys initially set to the second state 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 a 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.

19. In a computing device structured to include a data entry operation and a telephone operation, the device having, within a plane, a long axis and a short axis, a 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 of the at least ten multi-value keys being 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 at least four 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 at least ten multi-value keys;

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 use of the telephone operation, the at least nine multi-value keys initially set to the second state and operable as a touch-tone keys.

20. 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.

21. The keyboard of claim 20, 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.

22. The keyboard of claim 19, wherein the keyboard is horizontally centered about the long axis of the device.

23. The keyboard of claim 22, wherein the at least nine multi-value keys form a block that is not horizontally centered about the long axis of the device.

24. 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.

25. In a computing device comprising a telephone component configured to establish a telephone call, a keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in a configuration of a plurality of rows, one of the rows comprising successive keys having represented thereon the letters Q, W, E, R, T, and Y;

wherein the plurality of keys comprises at least nine multi-value keys arranged within three rows of the plurality of rows, each of the at least nine multi-value keys being 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 at least nine multi-value keys;

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 the multi-value key; and

wherein in response to activation of the telephone component, the least nine multi-value keys configured to activate the numeric secondary value.

26. The keyboard of claim 25, 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.

27. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein the at least three rows further comprises a fourth row, located below the third row, the fourth row comprising multi-value keys associated with secondary values of “

*”

, “

0” and

“

#”

.

28. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein the keyboard is structured below a display in a same plane as the display.

29. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein the each key of the at least nine multi-value keys includes a numerical value and at least one non-numerical character.

30. The keyboard of claim 25, wherein the each key of the at least nine multi-value keys includes a numerical value and at least one alphabet letter.