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

• US 9,160,823 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• 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 Miner, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US14/024,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 341 22- 34, 345168-184, 379368-370, 200 5 A- 5 EB
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 comprising a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus structured to provide input to the processor apparatus and comprising a keypad that comprises a total number of 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, the first member and the second member being movable with respect to each other, along an axis, between a first configuration of the body and a second configuration of the body, the total number of actuators being exposed in both the first configuration and the second configuration; and

a sensor apparatus mounted on the body, the sensor apparatus being operationally connected to the processor apparatus, the sensor apparatus to sense when the body is in the first configuration and when the body is in the second configuration,

in the first configuration, the sensor apparatus to indicate to the processor apparatus that the body is in the first configuration, the processor apparatus to ignore an input from any of the total number of actuators when any of the total number of actuators has an actuating force applied thereto,

in the second configuration the sensor apparatus to indicate to the processor apparatus that the body is in the second configuration, the processor apparatus to process an input from any of the total number of actuators when any of the total number of actuators has an actuating force applied thereto.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a first Hall effect sensor, a second Hall effect sensor, and a magnet, the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor being operationally connected to the processor apparatus.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 wherein, when the body is in the first configuration, the first Hall effect sensor and the magnet are aligned with respect to each other and the first Hall effect sensor provides an input signal to the processor apparatus to indicate that the body is in the first configuration.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 wherein, when the body is in the second configuration, the second Hall effect sensor and the magnet are aligned with respect to each other and the second Hall effect sensor provides an input signal to the processor apparatus to indicate that the body is in the second configuration.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 2 further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being fixed with respect to one of the first member and the second member, the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor being secured to the printed circuit board.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 5 wherein the magnet is fixed with respect to the other of the first member and the second member.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first configuration is a retracted configuration and the second configuration is a deployed configuration.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 1 further 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, the body in the second configuration being structured to permit removal of the object from the holder.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 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.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 wherein the holder is a push-push holder.

11. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a body having a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member being movable with respect to each other, along an axis, between a first configuration of the body and a second configuration of the body;

a processor apparatus located in the body, the processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus formed on the body and structured to provide input to the processor apparatus, the input apparatus having a keypad that comprises a total number of actuators, the total number of actuators being exposed in both the first configuration and the second configuration;

an output apparatus formed on the body and structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus; and

a sensor apparatus mounted on the body, the sensor apparatus being operationally connected to the processor apparatus, the sensor apparatus to sense when the body is in the first configuration and when the body is in the second configuration,

in the first configuration, the sensor apparatus to indicate to the processor apparatus that the body is in the first configuration, the processor apparatus to ignore an input from any of the total number of actuators when any of the total number of actuators has an actuating force applied thereto,

in the second configuration the sensor apparatus to indicate to the processor apparatus that the body is in the second configuration, the processor apparatus to process an input from any of the total number of actuators when any of the total number of actuators has an actuating force applied thereto.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the first member and the second member are movable to with respect to each other, along the axis, between the second configuration and a third configuration, the third configuration being an overtravel configuration wherein the first member and the second member are deployed further apart than in the second configuration, the handheld electronic device having a battery, the third configuration to allow access to the battery.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a first Hall effect sensor, a second Hall effect sensor, and a magnet, the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor being operationally connected to the processor apparatus.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 13 wherein, when the body is in the first configuration, the first Hall effect sensor and the magnet are aligned with respect to each other and the first Hall effect sensor provides an input signal to the processor apparatus to indicate that the body is in the first configuration.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 13 wherein, when the body is in the second configuration, the second Hall effect sensor and the magnet are aligned with respect to each other and the second Hall effect sensor provides an input signal to the processor apparatus to indicate that the body is in the second configuration.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 13 further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being fixed with respect to one of the first member and the second member, the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor being secured to the printed circuit board.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 16 wherein the magnet is fixed with respect to the other of the first member and the second member.