Keypad housing configuration for a mobile computing device

• US 8,200,298 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Yoshimichi
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/128,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.4, 455/575.3, 361/680, 361/684, 361/686
• US Class Current: 455/575.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A mobile computing device includes a housing, a keypad assembly, and a housing lip. The keypad assembly provides a plurality of keys on a façade of the housing. The keypad and the plurality of keys are dimensioned to be operable with one or both of a user'"'"'s thumbs. A housing lip that protrudes from the façade of the housing so as to at least partially circumvent the plurality of keys.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a housing;

a keypad assembly that provides a plurality of keys on a faç

ade of the housing, wherein the keypad assembly and the plurality of keys are dimensioned to be operable with one or both of a user'"'"'s thumbs; and

a housing lip that protrudes from the faç

ade of the housing so as to at least partially circumvent the plurality of keys;

wherein the housing lip is spaced from at least a portion of a bottom side of the plurality of keys to enable a region of the faç

ade to receive a part of the user'"'"'s thumb.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the housing lip includes an inward surface that is oriented towards the plurality of keys, and wherein the inward surface is acutely oriented to face the plurality of keys.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the housing lip is spaced from the bottom side and at least a portion of each lateral side of the plurality of keys.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys provide a QWERTY type keyboard.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a single-body housing, wherein the plurality of keys are provided on a portion of the single-body housing.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a two-body housing and a display surface, the two-body housing comprising a first housing segment that is slideably coupled to a second housing segment to linearly move between an extended position and a contracted position, and wherein the plurality of keys are provided on the first housing segment, and wherein the display surface is provided on the second housing segment.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a two-body housing and a display surface, the two-body housing comprising a first housing segment that is pivotally coupled to a second housing segment to pivot between an extended position and a contracted position, and wherein the plurality of keys are provided on the first housing segment, and wherein the display surface is provided on the second housing segment.

8. A mobile computing device comprising:

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys occupying a footprint on the front faç

ade that includes a top border and a bottom border, wherein the keypad and the plurality of keys are dimensioned to be operable with one or both of a user'"'"'s thumbs;

a housing segment that includes a faç

ade on which the keypad is provided; and

a housing lip that (i) protrudes from the faç

ade on which the keypad is provided, and (ii) extends adjacent to at least the bottom border of the footprint, the housing lip providing an inward surface that is contoured and oriented, at least in part, to face the plurality of keys.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the inward surface of at least a portion of the housing lip is acutely oriented to face the keypad area.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the faç

ade on which the keypad is provided is contoured about one or two directions.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the faç

ade on which the keypad is provided has a concave contour.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the housing lip is spaced from at least a portion of the bottom area to enable a region of the front faç

ade to receive a part of the user'"'"'s thumb.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the housing lip extends around the bottom side of the keypad and around at least a portion of each lateral side of the keypad area.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of keys provide a QWERTY type keyboard.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of keys that form the keyboard also provide a number pad.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 8, further comprising a single-body housing, wherein the keypad area and the faç

ade are provided on a portion of the single-body housing.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 8, further comprising a two-body housing and a display surface, the two-body housing comprising a first housing segment that is slideably coupled to a second housing segment to linearly move between an extended position and a contracted position, and wherein the keypad area and faç

ade are provided on the first housing segment, and wherein the display surface is provided on the second housing segment.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 8, further comprising a two-body housing and a display surface, the two-body housing comprising a first housing segment that is pivotably coupled to a second housing segment to pivot between an extended position and a contracted position, and wherein the keypad area and faç

ade are provided on the first housing segment, and wherein the display surface is provided on the second housing segment.

19. A housing segment for a mobile computing device, the housing segment comprising:

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys, the plurality of keys occupying a footprint on a front faç

ade that includes a top border and a bottom border, wherein the keypad and the plurality of keys are dimensioned to be operable with one or both of a user'"'"'s thumbs;

a faç

ade of the housing segment on which the keypad is provided; and

a housing lip that (i) protrudes from the faç

ade of the housing segment, and (ii) extends adjacent to at least the bottom border of the footprint, the housing lip providing an inward surface that is contoured and oriented at least in part to face the plurality of keys.