Hand-held elctronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hand-held electronic device, comprising:
- a device housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces for connecting the top surface to the bottom surface;
an LCD display mounted within the top surface;
a keyboard mounted within the top surface in a position beneath the LCD display; and
a thumbwheel input device mounted within the device housing in a position above the keyboard and to the side of the LCD display.
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Abstract
A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing. The angles at which keys on either side of the keyboard are placed is complimentary.
26 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A hand-held electronic device, comprising:
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a device housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces for connecting the top surface to the bottom surface;
an LCD display mounted within the top surface;
a keyboard mounted within the top surface in a position beneath the LCD display; and
a thumbwheel input device mounted within the device housing in a position above the keyboard and to the side of the LCD display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A keyboard configured in a device housing having a top surface, the top surface being bisected into a left half and a right half by a vertical reference through the device housing, the keyboard comprising:
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a plurality of letter keys, wherein the plurality of letter keys are grouped into a first set of letter keys and a second set of letter keys, wherein the first set of letter keys are positioned on the left half of the top surface and the second set of letter keys are positioned on the right half of the top surface, such that approximately half of the plurality of letter keys are positioned to the left of the vertical reference and approximately half of the plurality of letter keys are positioned to the right of the vertical reference; and
a plurality of specialized keys. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32)
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31. The keyboard of
claim 31 , wherein the first row of letter keys and the second row of letter keys are positioned on the device housing along respective first and second arcs.
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33. A keyboard configured in a device housing having a top surface and a left and right side surface coupled to the top surface, the keyboard comprising:
a plurality of keys configured as a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the QWERTY keyboard is symmetrically positioned on the top surface of the device housing such that it is equidistantly displaced from the left and right side surfaces.
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34. A hand-held e-mail device, comprising:
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a device housing having a top surface and a left and ride side surface coupled to the top surface;
an LCD display mounted within the top surface;
a transceiver for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the hand-held e-mail device to the wireless network; and
a keyboard mounted within the top surface for generating e-mail messages, the keyboard comprising a plurality of keys configured as a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the QWERTY keyboard is symmetrically positioned on the top surface of the device housing such that it is equidistantly displaced from the left and right side surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification