Input device configurations

• US 9,176,538 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Boulanger, Catherine N.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US13/759,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20140221098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 206/320, 361/679.09, 463/37, 463/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

Input device configurations are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a connection portion, protective case, and one or more controls. The connection portion is configured to provide a removable physical connection to a computing device. The protective case is coupled to the connection portion and configured to support rotational movement of the protective case in relation to the computing device when the connection portion is physically connected to the computing device. The one or more controls are disposed on the protective case such that at least one control is accessible to a user when the protective case is positioned behind the computing device and the computing device and the input device are grasped by one or more hands of a user.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a protective case configured to at least partially encompass a housing of a computing device such that a rear portion of the housing is substantially covered by the protective case while a display device of the computing device is viewable, the protective case physically coupled to the computing device via a flexible hinge; and

one or more controls disposed on and integrated with a surface of the protective case and configured to provide one or more inputs to the computing device, at least one said control;

positioned to be accessible by a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand when holding the protective case having the computing device disposed therein such that the rear portion of the housing is substantially covered by the protective case while the at least one said control is accessible by the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand; and

positioned on a side of the protective case that corresponds to the display device of the computing device.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the protective case is configured to be removably attached to the computing device.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the protective case is removably attached to the computing device using magnetism.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the protective case is movable between first and second positions in which the first position causes the protective case to substantially cover the display device of the computing device and a second position in which the protective case is positioned at a rear of the housing of the computing device.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the protective case is moveable via rotational movement in relation to the computing device that mimics a cover of a book along a first axis and restricts movement of the input device in relation to the computing device along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the protective case further comprises an input portion having a plurality of keys and one or more control portions that include the at least one said control.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein protective case is configured such that the plurality of keys are not accessible to a user when the at least one control is accessible to the user.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein another said control is disposed on a side of the input portion that is opposite to a side of the input portion that includes the plurality of keys.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the one or more control portions are rotatable in relation to the input portion.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one said control is a dedicated for use in playing a game that is displayable on the display device.

11. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one said control is included as part of a control portion that is configured to be positioned on the side of the protective case that corresponds to a display device of the computing device, the positioning causes the computing device to enter a game mode.

12. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more inputs to the computing device are communicated through the flexible hinge.

13. An input device comprising:

a connection portion comprising a flexible hinge configured to provide a removable physical connection to a computing device;

a protective case coupled to the connection portion and configured to support rotational movement of the protective case in relation to the computing device when the connection portion is physically connected to the computing device such that a rear portion of the computing device is substantially covered by the protective case while a display device of the computing device is viewable; and

one or more controls disposed on and integrated into the protective case such that at least one said control is accessible to a user as positioned on a side of the protective case that corresponds to the display device of the computing device when the protective case is positioned behind the computing device substantially covering the rear portion of the computing device and the computing device and the input device are grasped by one or more hands of a user.

14. An input device as described in claim 13, wherein the at least one said control is disposed on the protective case such that the at least one said control and the display device of the computing device are viewable by a user when grasped by the one or more hands of the user.

15. An input device as described in claim 13, wherein the connection portion is configured to support the removable physical connection to the computing device using magnetism.

16. An input device as described in claim 13, wherein the one or more controls are disposed on a control portion that is rotatable with respective a protection portion of the protective case, the protection portion being rotatable with respect to the connection portion.

17. An input device as described in claim 13, wherein the one or more controls provide communication to the computing device via the flexible hinge.

18. A method comprising:

rotating an input device to assume a first position in relation to a computing device, the input device removably connected to the computing device using magnetism, the first position causing a protection portion of the input device to substantially cover a display device of the computing device; and

rotating the input device to assume a second position in relation to the computing device, the second position causing;

the protection portion to be disposed at a rear of a housing of the computing device that is opposite to the display device;

exposure of at least one control that is configured to provide one or more inputs to the computing device as positioned on a side of the protective case that corresponds to the display device of the computing device; and

the rear of the housing to be substantially covered by the protection portion while still allowing both the display device of the computing device and the at least one control to be viewable.

19. A method as described in claim 18, wherein the second position causes both the display device and the at least one control to be viewable simultaneously when a user grasps the computing device and the input device.

20. A method as described in claim 18, wherein rotating the input device is performed through a flexible hinge.