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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Accused Products
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.
10 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