Method and system for providing input mechnisms on a handheld electronic device

• US 20050246652A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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: H01H 2009/0257 Multisided remote control, comprising control or display elements on at least two sides, e.g. front and back surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/002 actuable from both sides
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/048 assembled by removable part

Abstract

The present invention is related to a system and method for providing input mechanisms in a handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a casing having a first surface and an opposing second surface, where the first surface includes a display on which a user interface is displayed to a user of the device, a plurality of input keys on the second surface, a layout of the plurality of input keys displayed on the display, and means for allowing the user to enter commands into the device by pressing at least one of the plurality of input keys, whereby the layout allows the user to select an appropriate input key of the plurality of input keys associated with a particular command without viewing the input key. In a second aspect of the present invention, the handheld electronic device includes a casing having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface includes a display on which a user interface is displayed to a user of the device, a hinge mechanism between the first and second surfaces such that the second surface is allowed to rotate back and forth between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is when the second surface is opposing the first surface and facing away from the user, and the second position is when the second surface is substantially co-planar with the first surface and facing the user, at least one input mechanism on the second surface, and means for allowing the user to enter commands by activating the at least one input mechanism.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a casing having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface includes a display on which a user interface is displayed to a user of the device;

a plurality of input keys on the second surface;

a layout of the plurality of input keys displayed on the display; and

means for allowing the user to enter commands into the device by pressing at least one of the plurality of input keys,

wherein the layout allows the user to select an appropriate input key of the plurality of input keys associated with a particular command without viewing the input key.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the layout is displayed when the user presses a display layout key.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys on the second surface are responsive to a first pressure and a second pressure exerted by a finger of the user, wherein the first pressure is less than the second pressure and the layout is displayed when the user presses at least one of the plurality of input keys at the first pressure.

4. The handheld device of claim 3, wherein the layout highlights the at least one input key pressed at the first pressure.

5. The handheld device of claim 3, wherein the layout is removed from the display when the user presses at least one of the plurality of input keys at the second pressure.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of input keys on the second surface includes a pattern identifying the key such that the user identifies an input key by touching the pattern on the input key.

7. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising a hinge mechanism between the first and second surfaces such that the second surface is allowed to rotate back and forth between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is when the second surface is opposing the first surface and facing away from the user, and the second position is when the second surface is substantially co-planar with the first surface and facing the user.

8. The handheld device of claim 7 further comprising a sensor for detecting an orientation of the second surface relative to the first surface.

9. The handheld device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of input keys on the second surface include at least two direction related buttons for navigating the user interface, and the handheld device further includes an assigner coupled to the sensor for assigning a direction to each of the at least two direction related buttons based on the orientation of the second surface.

10. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein, depending on the orientation of the second surface, the assigner reassigns the direction for any of the at least two direction related buttons, such that the assigned direction of the at least two direction related buttons correlates to the user'"'"'s perspective, regardless of whether the second surface is facing toward or away from the user.

11. A method for providing a plurality of input keys on a handheld electronic device comprising:

a) providing a casing having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface includes a display on which a user interface is displayed to a user of the device;

b) locating the plurality of input keys on the second surface;

c) displaying a layout of the plurality of input keys on the display; and

d) allowing the user to enter commands into the device by pressing at least one of the plurality of input keys,

wherein the layout allows the user to select an appropriate input key of the plurality of input keys associated with a particular command without viewing the input key.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (c) includes displaying the layout when the user presses a display layout key.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of keys on the second surface are responsive to a first pressure and a second pressure exerted by a finger of the user, wherein the first pressure is less than the second pressure, and step (c) includes:

c1) allowing the user to press at least one of the plurality of input keys at the first pressure; and

c2) in response to the user pressing the at least one key at the first pressure, displaying the layout.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) includes:

c3) highlighting on the layout the at least one input key pressed at the first pressure.

15. The method of claim 13 further including:

e) removing the layout from the display when the user presses at least one of the plurality of input keys at the second pressure.

16. The method of claim 11 further including:

e) providing a pattern on each of the plurality of input keys, wherein the pattern identifies the key; and

f) allowing the user to identify an input key by touching the pattern on the input key.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

e) providing a hinge mechanism between the first and second surfaces; and

f) allowing the user to rotate the second surface back and forth between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is when the second surface is opposing the first surface and facing away from the user, and the second position is when the second surface is substantially co-planar with the first surface and facing the user.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

g) automatically detecting an orientation of the second surface relative to the first surface via a sensor in the handheld electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of input keys on the second surface include at least two direction related buttons for navigating the user interface, the method further including:

h) automatically assigning a direction to each of the at least two direction related buttons based on the orientation of the second surface.

20. The method of claim 19 further including:

i) automatically reassigning the direction for any of the at least two direction related buttons if the orientation of the second surface changes, such that the assigned direction of the at least two direction related buttons corresponds to the user'"'"'s perspective, regardless of whether the second surface is facing toward or away from the user.

21. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a casing having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface includes a display on which a user interface is displayed to a user of the device;

a hinge mechanism between the first and second surfaces such that the second surface is allowed to rotate back and forth between a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is when the second surface is opposing the first surface and facing away from the user, and the second position is when the second surface is substantially co-planar with the first surface and facing the user;

at least one input mechanism on the second surface; and

means for allowing the user to enter commands by activating the at least one input mechanism.

22. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein the casing includes:

a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface opposes the bottom surface, and the top and bottom surfaces are disposed perpendicular to and between the first surface and the second surface; and

a left side surface and a right side surface, wherein the left side surface opposes the right side surface, and the left side and right side surfaces are disposed perpendicular to and between the first surface and the second surface.

23. The handheld device of claim 22, wherein the hinge mechanism is disposed longitudinally on one of the top, bottom, left side or right side surfaces.

24. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein the at least one input mechanism includes a touchpad.

25. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein the at least one input mechanism includes a touchpad and a plurality of input keys.

26. The handheld device of claim 24, further comprising:

a sensor for detecting an orientation of the second surface relative to the first surface; and

an assigner coupled to the sensor for assigning a direction to the touchpad based on the orientation of the second surface,

wherein, depending on the orientation of the second surface, the assigner reassigns the direction for the touchpad, such that the assigned direction correlates to the user'"'"'s perspective, regardless of whether the second surface is facing toward or away from the user.

27. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein a layout of the at least one input mechanism is displayed on the display on the first surface when the second surface is in the first position.

28. The handheld device of claim 27, wherein the layout is displayed when the user presses a display layout key.

29. The handheld device of claim 27, wherein the at least one input mechanism on the second surface is responsive to a first pressure and a second pressure exerted by a finger of the user, wherein the first pressure is less than the second pressure, and the layout is displayed when the user presses the at least one input mechanism at the first pressure.