Apparatus and method for data entry from a removable portable device cover

• US 8,279,589 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine Hana Kim
• Original Assignee: Christine Hana Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Christine Hana
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US12/698,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 36167908-6792, 361/679.3, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 4555751-5754, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 361/679.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00

Abstract

One or more apparatuses and methods are disclosed for data entry from a removable portable device cover which are configured to cover, surround, and/or encapsulate at least a portion of an exterior shell of a portable electronic device. In one embodiment of the invention, a physical keyboard is operatively connected and/or attached to a removable portable device frame of the removable portable device cover, wherein the removable portable device frame is designed to fit a portable electronic device. In some embodiments of the invention, the operative connection and/or attachment of a physical keyboard to a removable portable frame may be accomplished by using straps, connector ports, and/or wireless protocols. Furthermore, a physical keyboard operatively connected and/or attached to the removable portable device frame may be a foldable physical keyboard which enables easy touch-typing for a user if the foldable physical keyboard is fully expanded.

Claims

1. An apparatus for data entry from a removable portable device cover, the apparatus comprising:

a removable cover frame configured to cover, surround, and/or encapsulate at least a portion of an exterior shell of a portable electronic device;

a physical keyboard operatively connected to the removable cover frame via a cover-to-keyboard strap;

a first detachable strap attached to the physical keyboard; and

a second detachable strap and a third detachable strap both pivotally attached to and extending from a body of the removable cover frame, wherein the first detachable strap and the pivotally-attached second detachable strap and the pivotally-attached third detachable strap are configured to form a strapped-on position for the physical keyboard on a rear surface of the removable device cover by providing a detachable adhesion upon contact, and wherein the pivotally-attached second detachable strap and the pivotally-attached third detachable strap provides an adjustable tightness for the strapped-on position for the physical keyboard on the rear surface of the removable portable device cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a text/graphic readout display operatively connected to the removable cover frame via a cover-to-display strap.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the text/graphic readout display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the text/graphic readout display is configured to display at least some text information typed by a user on the physical keyboard.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detachable strap contains a Velcro surface of first gender and the second detachable strap and the third detachable strap contains a Velcro surface of an opposite gender from the first gender.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rear wall attached to the removable cover frame, wherein the rear wall covers at least a portion of a rear surface area of the removable cover frame and wherein the rear wall provides a surface to which the physical keyboard can be positioned firmly.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cover-to-display strap and/or the cover-to-keyboard strap contains electrical and/or optical wires.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical keyboard is configured to communicate with the portable electronic device to share at least some textual information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a camera lens hole, a first cover opening for external connection, and/or a second cover opening for external connection.

10. An apparatus for data entry from a removable portable device cover, the apparatus comprising:

a removable cover frame configured to cover, surround, and/or encapsulate at least a portion of an exterior shell of a portable electronic device, wherein a rear surface of the removable cover frame includes an open rear space and a rear wall;

a physical keyboard and a text/graphic readout display operatively connected to the removable cover frame;

a first detachable strap attached to the physical keyboard; and

a second detachable strap and a third detachable strap both pivotally attached to and extending from a body of the removable cover frame, wherein the first detachable strap and the pivotally-attached second detachable strap and the pivotally-attached third detachable strap are configured to form a strapped-on position for the physical keyboard on the rear wall of the removable device cover by providing a detachable adhesion upon contact, and wherein the pivotally-attached second detachable strap and the pivotally-attached third detachable strap provides an adjustable tightness for the strapped-on position for the physical keyboard on the rear wall of the removable portable device cover.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a first cover opening and/or a second cover opening for external connection of the portable electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a camera lens hole.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the text/graphic readout display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the text/graphic readout display is configured to display at least some text information typed by a user on the physical keyboard.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the physical keyboard is configured to communicate with the portable electronic device to share at least some textual information.