Handheld electronic device and keypad having keys with upstanding engagement surfaces
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld electronic device that is structured to be operated by the thumbs of a user, the handheld electronic device comprising:
- a housing having a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion;
a keypad disposed on the housing;
the keypad comprising a plurality of keys situated in a plurality of rows that extend along a first direction and a plurality of columns that extend along a second direction;
the keys being arranged in a first array and a second array, the first array being disposed on the right-hand portion of the housing, the second array being disposed on the left-hand portion of the housing;
the keys being of a stepped shape and comprising a base portion and an upstanding engagement portion disposed on the base portion, the base portions each having a base surface, the engagement portions each having an upstanding engagement surface;
the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys each being oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another;
the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the first array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the first array; and
the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the second array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the second array.
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Abstract
An improved handheld electronic device and keypad include keys having upstanding engagement surfaces that provide a greater effective space between keys than the nominal key-to-key distance therebetween. More particularly, an upstanding engagement surface of one key is spaced farther from that of an adjacent key than the nominal key-to-key distance therebetween. The added space facilitates input by reducing miskeying errors, which allows for faster input with reduced visual and mental attention being required during such input.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A handheld electronic device that is structured to be operated by the thumbs of a user, the handheld electronic device comprising:
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a housing having a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion; a keypad disposed on the housing; the keypad comprising a plurality of keys situated in a plurality of rows that extend along a first direction and a plurality of columns that extend along a second direction; the keys being arranged in a first array and a second array, the first array being disposed on the right-hand portion of the housing, the second array being disposed on the left-hand portion of the housing; the keys being of a stepped shape and comprising a base portion and an upstanding engagement portion disposed on the base portion, the base portions each having a base surface, the engagement portions each having an upstanding engagement surface; the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys each being oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another; the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the first array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the first array; and the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the second array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the second array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A keypad structured for use with a handheld electronic device and being further structured to be operated by the thumbs of a user, the keypad comprising:
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a plurality of keys situated in a plurality of rows that extend along a first direction and a plurality of columns that extend along a second direction; the keys being arranged in a first array and a second array; the keys being of a stepped shape and comprising a base portion and an upstanding engagement portion disposed on the base portion, the base portions each having a base surface, the engagement portions each having an upstanding engagement surface; the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys each being oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another;
the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the first array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the first array; andthe engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the second array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the second array. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification