Handheld electronic device that has a keypad which can be rendered ineffective, and associated method

• US 8,547,254 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2012
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ladouceur, Norman M., Griffin, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US13/471,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20120225702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 341 22- 34, 345168-184, 379368-370, 200 5 A- 5 EB
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor apparatus;

an input apparatus structured to provide input to the processor apparatus and comprising a keypad that comprises actuators;

an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus;

at least a portion of each of the processor apparatus, the input apparatus, and the output apparatus together forming a body that comprises a first member and a second member movably connected together, the first and second members being movable with respect to each other between a first configuration of the body and a second configuration of the body;

in the first configuration, the actuators being offset in relation to respective switches, the respective switches being operationally connected to the processor, the offset to prevent the actuators from actuating the respective switches when the actuators are subjected to an actuation force; and

in the second configuration, the actuators being aligned with the respective switches, the alignment of the actuators with the respective switches to allow the actuators to actuate the respective switches when the actuators are subjected to the actuation force.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 further comprising additional actuators each having associated thereto a respective additional switch, each respective additional switch being operationally connected to the processor, wherein in the second configuration, the additional actuators are offset in relation to the additional switches to prevent the additional actuators from actuating the respective additional switches when the actuators are subjected to an actuation force.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 wherein in the second configuration, the additional actuators are aligned with the respective additional switches to allow the additional actuators to actuate the respective additional switches when the actuators are subjected to the actuation force.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 3 wherein the actuators and the additional actuators are disposed on one of the first member and the second member, the switches and the additional switches being disposed on the other of the first member and the second member.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a seal that is interposed between the first and second members in the first configuration.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 comprising:

a holder defined by one of the first member and the second member, the holder being structured to receive an object therein, the body in the first configuration being structured to resist removal of the object from the holder, and the body in the second configuration being structured to permit removal of the object from the holder.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the holder has a receiving section into which at least portion of the object is receivable, in the first configuration at least a portion of the other of the first member and the second member extending across at least a portion of the receiving section, in the second configuration the receiving section being fully exposed.