Data processing device

• US 8,390,573 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chris Trout
• Original Assignee: Chris Trout
• Inventors: Trout, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Leiby, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US12/799,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-184, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A data input device is disclosed herein. The input device includes a body having a rearward face and a forward face. Provided on the forward face is a display, and provided on the rearward face is a keyboard. The input device is configured to display a ghost image of the keyboard on the display to allow the user to locate the keys on the rearward face of the input device without having to turn the device around. The input device allows the user to operate a keyboard on the rear of the input device to increase the usable surface area of the display without having to include the extra bulk and size associated with a separate keyboard located adjacent the display.

Claims

1. A data input device comprising:

(a) a body having a rearward face and a forward face;

(b) a display located on the forward face of the body;

(c) a first key located on the rearward face of the body;

(d) a first map point displayed on the display, the first map point configured to indicate the location of the first key;

(e) a second key located on the rearward face of the body;

(f) a second map point displayed on the display, the second map point configured to indicate the location of the second key;

(g) a an input field displayed on the display;

(h) wherein the first map point is a ghost image;

(i) wherein the first key is depressible to a first position, in which the first key is not fully depressed, and a second position, which is more depressed than the first position;

(j) a non-transitory computer readable program code, encoded in a computer-readable medium executed by the data input device, the program code comprising;

(i) program code for identifying the depression of the first key to the first position;

(ii) program code for displaying the map point on the display in response to the depression of the first key to the first position;

(iii) program code for identifying the depression of the first key to the second position;

(iv) program code for generating a first predetermined alphanumeric character on the display in response to selection of the input field and the depression of the first key to the second position;

(v) program code for identifying the depression of the second key;

(vi) program code for generating a second predetermined alphanumeric character on the display in response to the depression of the second key; and

(k) wherein the ghost image is adjustable in intensity.

2. The data input device of claim 1, a keyboard comprising:

(a) the first key;

(b) the second key; and

(c) at least six additional keys.

3. The data input device of claim 2, at least six additional map points displayed on the display, the at least six additional map points configured to indicate the location of the at least six additional keys.

4. The data input device of claim 3, wherein the body has a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge and wherein the first button is located less than ten centimeters from the first edge, and wherein the second button is located less than ten centimeters from the second edge.

5. The data input device of claim 4, wherein at least three of the at least six additional keys are in a first concave configuration facing the first edge and wherein at least three of the at least six additional keys are in a second concave configuration facing the second edge.

6. The data input device of claim 5, wherein the display is a touch screen.

7. The data input device of claim 6, wherein the first map point is a ghost image.

8. The data input device of claim 1, a wireless signal transmitter.

9. The data input device of claim 1, an audio input receiver.

10. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the first map point is a first letter of an alphabet and the second map point is a second letter of an alphabet.

11. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the first map point is a first word and the second map point is a second word.

12. A data input device comprising:

(a) a body comprising;

(i) a rearward face

(ii) a forward face;

(iii) a left edge; and

(iv) a right edge;

(b) a display located on the forward face of the body;

(c) a first key located on the rearward face of the body;

(d) wherein the first key is depressible to a first position, in which the first key is not fully depressed, and a second position, which is more depressed than the first position;

(e) a map point displayed on the display, the map point configured to indicate the location of the first key;

(f) wherein the first map point is a ghost image;

(g) a second key located on the rearward face of the body; and

(h) wherein the ghost image is adjustable in intensity.

13. The data input device of claim 12, wherein the first key is separated from the second key by at least two centimeters.

14. The data input device of claim 12, further comprising:

(a) a first mapped point displayed on the display, the first mapped point configured to indicate the location of the first key; and

(b) a second mapped point displayed on the display, the second mapped point configured to indicate the location of the second key.

15. The data input device of claim 14, wherein the first mapped point is a ghost image.

16. The data input device of claim 15, further comprising information displayed on the display across the ghost image, wherein the information is unrelated to the first key.

17. The data input device of claim 15, wherein the ghost image corresponds to a first alphanumeric character.

18. A method of operating a data input device, the data input device comprising providing a body having a rearward face and a forward face, a display on the forward face of the body, and a keyboard on the rearward face of the body, the method comprising:

(a) suspending the body above the ground with a first hand along a first edge of the body;

(b) wherein a portion of the first hand is on the rearward face and a portion of the first hand is on the forward face;

(c) placing a second hand along a second edge of the body, wherein a portion of the second hand is on the rearward face and a portion of the second hand is on the forward face;

(d) providing a first key is depressible to a first position, in which the first key is not fully depressed, and to a second position, which is more depressed than the first position;

(e) displaying a map point on the display, wherein the map point is a ghost image configured to indicate the location of the first key associated with the keyboard;

(f) adjusting the intensity of the ghost image;

(g) typing the first key while maintaining a portion of the first hand on the rearward face and a portion of the first hand on the forward face;

(h) displaying a first character associated with the first key on the display;

(i) typing a second key of the keyboard while maintaining a portion of the second hand on the rearward face and a portion of the second hand on the forward face; and

(j) displaying a second character associated with the second key on the display.

19. The method of operating a data input device of claim 18, further comprising displaying a first map point on the display associated with the location of the first key.

20. The method of operating a data input device of claim 19, wherein the map point is a ghost image.