Ramped-key keyboard for a handheld mobile communication device

• US 8,449,208 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rak, Roman P., Griffin, Jason T., Ladouceur, Norman M.
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/431,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400490-4951, 400/496, 400/488
• US Class Current: 400/490
• 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 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type

Abstract

Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each depressible key has a top engagement surface with an upper inboard portion that is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each depressible key is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with a remaining surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a wireless handheld mobile communication device, the keyboard comprising:

a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard; and

each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface having a single centrally-disposed diagonal ridge of which;

a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and

a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge;

wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a first side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a first angle and the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a second side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a second angle, which second angle is different from the first angle.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for at least one of the depressible keys has an upper portion that is directed towards the vertical centerline of the keyboard.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge is directed towards the vertical centerline of the key board at other than a perpendicular angle.

4. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein at least a majority of all depressible keys that comprise the keyboard have the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge.

5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein all of the depressible keys that comprise the keyboard have the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge.

6. A keyboard for a wireless handheld mobile communication device, the keyboard comprising:

a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard; and

each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface of which;

a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and

a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge;

wherein;

the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a first side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a first angle and the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a second side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a second angle, which second angle is different from the first angle; and

at least one of;

the first portion comprises an upper inboard portion of the top engagement surface; and

the second portion comprises a lower outboard portion of the top engagement surface.

7. A keyboard for a wireless handheld mobile communication device, the keyboard comprising:

a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard, wherein the keyfield further comprises;

a right-hand keyfield composed of a plurality of the depressible keys that are located on a right-hand side of the vertical centerline of the device, wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for at least some of the right-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower right to upper left; and

a left-hand keyfield composed of a plurality of keys located on a left-hand side of the vertical centerline of the device, wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for at least some of the left-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower left to upper right; and

each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface having a single centrally-disposed diagonal ridge of which;

a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and

a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge.

8. The keyboard as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for all of the right-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower right to upper left; and

the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for all of the left-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower left to upper right.

9. A wireless handheld mobile communication device comprising:

a housing with a display located in a top portion thereof for displaying information; and

a keyboard located in a lower portion thereof below the display and wherein the keyboard comprises;

a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard;

wherein each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface having a single centrally-disposed diagonal ridge of which;

a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and

a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge;

wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for depressible keys on a first side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a first angle and the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for depressible keys on a second side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a second angle, which second angle is different from the first angle.

10. The wireless handheld mobile communication device as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of depressible keys have letter indicia arranged in a QWERTY format associated therewith.