Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02686166 2011-09-15
HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE
WITH
EXTENDED DUAL-HINGED INTERCONNECTOR
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which
is subject to (copyright or mask work) protection. The (copyright or mask
work) owner
has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent
document or the
patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent
file or records,
but otherwise reserves all (copyright or mask work) rights whatsoever.
FIELD
[0003] This disclosure, in a broad sense, is directed towards a clam-shell
style
handheld electronic device with wireless communication capabilities and
towards the
networks within which the device operates. The present disclosure further
relates to a
clam-shell style handheld electronic electronic device with an extended dual-
hinged
interconnector for pivotally connecting a keyboard housing to a display
housing.
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=
=
2
BACKROITND
[0004] With the proliferation of wireless communication
systems, compatible
handheld electronic devices are becoming more prevalent, as well as advanced.
Whereas
in the past such handheld electronic devices were typically lirnited to either
voice =
transmission (cell phones) or text transmission (pagers and PDAs), today's
consumer
often demands a multifunctional device capable of performing both types. of
trans.missions, including even sending and receiving e-mail. Furthermore,
these higher-
= 10 performance devices can also be capable of sending and receiving other
types of data
including that which allows:the viewing and use of Internet websites. These
higher level
iimctionalities necessarily require greater user interaction with the devices
through
included user interfaces (Ills) -which may have originally been designed to
accommodate
making and receiving telephone calls and sending messages over a related Short
. Messaging Service (SMS). As might be expected, suppliers of such mobile
electronic
devices and the related service providers are anxious to .meet these customer
requirements, but the demands of these more advanced functionalities have in
many
circumstances rendered the traditional user interfaces unsatisfactory, a
situation that has
caused deSigners to have to improve the tfis through which users input
information and
control these sophisticated operations.
[0005] Keyboards. are used on many handheld devices,
including telephones and
mobile electronic devices. The size of keyboards has been reduced over the
years, as
newer, smaller devices have become popular. Cell phones, for example, are now
sized to
fit in one's pOcket or the palm of the hand. As.the size of the devices has
decreased, it
has become more important to utilize the entire - keyboard surface as
efficiently as
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possible. Thus, a need exists for a handheld electronic device which can be
operated
easily from a device perspective and a data entry perspective.
=
=
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Exemplary methods and arrangements conducted and configured
according
to the advantageous solutions presented herein are depicted in the
accompanying
drawings wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a clam-shell style handheld electronic device in
a closed
configuration in a resting orientation;
[0008] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a clam-shell style handheld
electronic device in
an open configuration;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram representing a clam-shell style
handheld
electronic device interacting in a communication network;
[0010] FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary QWERTY keyboard layout;
[0011] FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary QWERTZ keyboard layout;
[0012] FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary AZERTY keyboard layout;
[0013] FIG. 4D illustrates an exemplary Dvorak keyboard layout;
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a QWERTY keyboard layout paired with a
traditional ten-
key keyboard;
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates ten digits comprising the numerals 0-9
arranged in a
traditional, ITU Standard E.161 numeric telephone keypad layout, including the
* and /4
keys flanking the 0 key;
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a traditional or standard phone key arrangement
or layout
according to the ITU Standard E.161 including both numerals and letters;
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a clam-shell style handheld
electronic
device in a closed configuration;
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=
[0017] , FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a clam-shell style
handheld electronic
device in a closed configuration;
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a rear view of the clam-shell
style handheld electronic =
device of FIG. 8;
5 [0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a right side view of the clam-shell style
handheld
electronic device of FIG. 8;
=
[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates 'a left side view of the clam-
shell .style handheld
.= = = electronic device of FIG. .8;
[0021] FIG.' 12 illustrates a top plan view of the clam-
shell style handheld
=
electronic device of FIG. 8;
= [0022] FIG. 13 illustrates a bottoin plan View of
the clam-shell style handheld
eleetronic device of FIG. 8; = =
[0023] FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a. clam-shell
style handheld electronic
= device in an open configuration; and
= 15 [0024] FIG. 15 illustrates a right side view of the clam-
shell . style handheld
electronic device of FIG. 14 in a resting orientation_
=
=
=
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025) Example embodiments that incorporate one or more
aspects of the present
disclosure are described and illustrated in the drawings. These illustrated
examples are
not intended to be a limitation on the present disclosure. For example, one or
more
. aspects of the present disclosure can be utilized in other einbodiments and
even other .
= types of devices. Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for
convenience only and
. = is not to be taken as a limitation on the disclosed subject matter. Still
further, in the
= drawings, the same reference numerals are employed far designating the
same elements.
= 100261 = As the size of the devices has decreased it has also
become more importa-nt
to maintain the ease With which the user can utilize -the keybo.a.rd. Advances
in
technology have allowed for such reductions of scale that ergonomic
handleability can be
of benefit. Additionally, as the size of devices has decreased it has allowed
for use in
more arid more environments. A user can use a deviee as a telephone, a text
entry point =
and as a web browser, quickly alternating between various modes. Because of
these
multiple roles for such devices and their prevalence of use, a user can wish
to set a device
down and not have a display screen face or point straight up, but instead will
Wish to. for
the display screen to. substantiallY face the user.
= 20
= [00271 = Examples of such handheld devices 300 'include mobile
stations, cellular
telephones, wireless persorial digital. assistants (PDAs), two-way paging
devices, and
others. Various keyboards are used with such devices and can be termed a full
keyboard,
a reduced-format keyboard, or phone key pad. In embodiments of a handheld
device 300
having a fu.11 keyboard, the alphabetic characters are singly associated with
the plurality
of physical keys. Thus, in an English-language keyboard of this configuration,
there are
at least 26 keys in the plurality, with one letter per alphabetic key. =
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r00281 An example of A clam-shell style handheld electronic
device 300 resting =
= .603 on a fiat surface in a closed configuration is shown in FIG_ 1. = An
example ofthe
device 300 in an open configuration 601 within a user's hands is shown in FIG.
2A. An
= example of the device 300 in an open configuration 601 resting on a.
surface is shown in
FIG. 2B. It is 'to be understood that all figures in the present disclosure
are exemplary
"only., and those= persons skilled in the art will appreciate the additional
elements and
modifications necessary to make the device 300 work in particular network
environments.
[0029] . = The
handheld electronic device 300 can be configured to cooperate with a
wireless network as illustrated in FIG.. 3. It. is contemplated that
communication by the
= handheld electronic device 300 with the wireless network .319 can be any
type of ,
communication that both the wireless network 319 and handheld device 300 are
enabled . =
to transmit, receive and process. In general, these can be classified as voice
and data.
Voice communication is conununication in which signals for audible sounds are
.
transmitted by the handheld device 300 through the communication network 319.
Data is
= all Other types of conimunication that the handheld device 300 is
capable of perforrning "
within the constraints of the Wireless network 319 as depicted in FIG. 3.
=
=
= [06301 , The
handheld electronic device 300 in the .block diagram of FIG. 3 includes
= -a microprocessor 338 that controls the operation of the device 300_ A
communication
= subsystem al 1 performs all communication transmission and reception
with the wireless.- = -
network 319. The microprocessor 338 further connects with' an auxiliary
input/output
(I/O) subsystem 328, a serial port (preferably al Universal Serial Bus port)
330, a display
322, a keyboard 650, a speaker 334, a microphone 336, random access memory
(RAM)
. =
326, and flash memory 324. Other communication subsystems 340 and .other
device
= subsystems 342 are generally indicated as being functionally connected
with the
microprocessor 338 as "well. An example of a communication subsystem 340 is
that of a
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= =
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short range communication system such as BLUETOOTH communication module or a
Wi-Fi communication module (a communication module in compliance with IEEE
, 802.11b) and associated circuits and components Additionally, the
microprocessor 338
= is able to perform operating system functions . and can enable execution
of software
applications on the handheld electronic device 300. =
= 100311 In the exemplary configuration of FIG_ 3, the flash memory
324 is enabled
to provide a storage location for the operating system 357, device programs
358, and
=
data. The operating system 357 is generally configured to manage other
application =
programs 358 that are also stored in memory 324 and executable on the
proeessor 338.
= The operating system 357 honors requests for services made by application
programs 358 =
= through piedefined application program 358 interfaces. More specifically,
the operating
system = 357 typically determines the order in. which multiple applications
358 are
executed on the 'processor 338 and the execution time allotted for each
application 358,
manages the sharing of memory 324 among multiple applications 358,.handles
input and =
output to and from other device subsystems 342. In addition, users can
typically interact
=. directly with the operating system 357 through a user interface, which
can include the
keyboard 650 and display screen 322. While in an exemplary embodiment the
operating
system 357 is stored in flash memory 324, the operating system -357 in other
embodiments is stored in read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element
(not
= shown). As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the operating system
357, device
= -
application 358 or parts thereof can be loaded in RAM 326 or other
volatile memory. . .
[00321
, With further reference to FIG.. 3, the flash merriory 324 can contain
programs/applications 358 for execution on the handheld device 300 including
an address
= book 352, a personal information manager (PIM) 354, and the device state
350.
Furthermore, programs 358 and other information 356 including data can be
segregated =
upon storage in the flash memory 324 of the handheld device 300.
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[00331 When the ele.ctronic device 300 is enabled for two-way
communication
within the wireless communication network 319 as depicted in FIG. 3, it can
send and
= receive signals from a mobile communication service. Examples of
communication
5. systems enabled for two-way communication include, but are not limited
to, the General .
Packet Radio Service (OPRS) network, the Universal Mobile Telecommunication
Service
(UMTS) network, the Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) network, the
Code
Division. Multiple Access (CDMA) network, High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA)
networks, Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service Time Division Duplexing
(UMTS-TDD), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) networks, Worldwide Interoperability
for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and other networks that can be used for data and
. '
voice, or just data or voice_ For the systems listed above, the electronic
device 300 can
require a unique identifier to enable the electronic device = 300 to (transmit
and receive
signals from the communication network 319. Other systems can .not require
such
identifying information. GPRS, U1VITS, and EDGE use a Subscriber Identity
Module='
= (SIM) in order to allow communication with the communication network 319.
Likewise,
most CDMA systems use a Removable Identity Module (RUIM) in order to
communicate =
with the CDMA network. The- RUIM and SIM card can be used in multiple
different " .
electronic devices 300. The electronic device 300 can be able to operate some
features
without a srmaumm card, but it will not be able to. cornm.unicate with the
network 319.
= A SIM/RUIM interface 344 located within the electronic device 300 allows
for removal
or insertion of a SIM/RUIM card (not shown). The SIM/RUIM card features memory-
- = - -= -=
and holds key configurations 351, and other infomiation 353 such as
identification and
subscriber related information. With a properly enabled electronic device 300,
two-way
= 25 communication between the electronic device 300 and communication
network 319 is
possible.
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[00341
When equipped for twO-way communication, the handheld electronic
device 300 also features a communication subsystem 311 as indicated in FIG. =
3. The
communication subsystem 311 can modified so that it can support the
operational needs
.of the handheld device 300. As shown in FIG. 3, the subsystem 311 includes =
a
5
transmitter 314 and receiver 312 including the associated antenna or antennae
316, 318 as
described above, local oscillators (L0s) 313, and a processing module 320
which in the
=
= presently. described exemplary embodiment is a digital signal processor
(DSP) 320.
=
[0035] If the han.dheld electranic device 300 is enabled as described
above, or the
= 10 communication network 319 as shown in FIG. 3 dOes not require such
enablement, the
= two-way communication enabled handheld device 300 is able .to both
transmit and
receive information from the communication network 319.
The transfer of
communication can be to and froni the handheld device 300. In order to
communicate =
with the communication network 319, the handheld device 300 in the presently
described
exemplary embodiment is equipped with an integral or internal antenna 318 for
transmitting signals to the communication network 319. Likewise the handheld
electronic device 300 in the presently described exemplary embodiment can be
equipped =
with another antenna 316 for receiving communication from the cornmunication
network
319. These antennae 316, 318 in another exemplary embodiment can be combined
into a
single anteruia (not shown). As one skilled in the art would apprepiate, the
antenna or
antennae 316, 318 in another embodiment could be externally mounted on the
handheld
= - = device 300. - == . -
. .= .
=
[0036] Additionally, some applications, such as shown in FIG. 3, which
can
= 25 depend on data transfer data include email, address book entries and
calendars. For each =
such application, synchronization with home-based versions on the applications
can be
critical for either or both of their long term and short term utility. As an
example, emails
are often time sensitive, so substantially real time synchronization is highly
desirable.
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=
= 11. =
Address book entries, on the 'other hand, can be usually updated less
frequently without
inconvenience. Therefore, the utility of the handheld device 300 can be
enhanced when .
connectable within a communication system, and particularly when connectable
on a
wireless basis in a network 319 in which voice, text messaging, and other data
transfer
are accommodated. The auxiliary I/0 subsystem 328 of FIG. 3 can take .the form
of a
variety of different navigation tools. (multi-directional or single-
directional) such as a
navigation tool 327 with trackball = assembly 321 as illustrated in the
exemplary
embodiment shown in FIG. 2, or a tkunbwheel, a navigation.pa.d, a joystick, or
the like
= (not shown). As will be developed more fally.below, these navigation
tools are located
. on the front surface of the handheld device 300 when in an open
configuration 601 bat
can also be located on any exterior surface of the. handheld device 300. Other
auxiliary
I/0 subsystems can include external display devices and externally connected
keyboards
=- (not shown). While the above examples have been provided in relation to the
auxiliary
= I/0 subsystem 328, other subsystems capable of providing input or
receiving output from
= the handheld device 3.00 are considered within the scope of this disclosure.
[0037] The handheld electronic device 300 as described above
can be tine clam-
,
shell device 300 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2,. and 8-15. FIG. 1 shows the elm-
shell style
= handheld device =300 is in a closed configuration 600 in a resting
orientation 603 and
seyeral features of the depicted embodiment are present. For example, a
microphone hole
860 is visible on the keyboard housing 90. Visible on the back of the display
hOusing 95
are a display screen 854, a camera 851 and flash 852; ...Also - visible is one
of the
programmable buttons 105 on the keyboard housing 90 and volume control buttons
100
=
=
alongside. One can also see two of the hinge-end covers 90 which cover the
ends of one
or more spring assemblies 750 that run through the interconnector 80 and into
the display
housing 95 and keyboard housing 90, ,
=
=
=
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[0038] FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of the clam-shell style
handheld electrOnic
device 300 in an open configuration 601 being held in the hands of a user,
ready for
thumb activation of the keyboard 650. FIG. 2B shows an=embodiment of the
handheld
electronic device 300 in a resting configuration 603 on a fiat surface. In
FIG. 2B the
receiver 895 is above the display screen 322 on the display housing 95. Beside
the
receiver 895 is a light emitting diode 896, and 'beneath is a display screen
322 on the
interior side of the display screen housing 320. Beneath the -display screen
322 is a .
= navigational .tool 327, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a
trackball
assembly 321_ The trackball assembly 321 is' located on the interior of the
dual-hinged
= 10 interconnector 80. Note in FIG. 2B that the trackball assembly 321 can
be predominantly
= housed within the dual-hinged intetconnector 80 and that a portion of the
trackball
' assembly 321 is exposed at the interior surface 70 of said dual-
hinged interconnector 80 =
in the open configuration 601 of the device 300. Beneath this "navigation row"
70 is a
keyboard ,650. The keyboard 650 rests on the interior side of the keyboard
housing 640.
Those .skilled in the art will appreciate that the keyboard 650 could comprise
various
alphanumeric keys 630 having any of the layouts shown by FIGS. 4-7, or others.
FIG- =
28 shows volume. control keys 100, for controlling speaker volume; and a user
programmable button 105 are visible on the outer left side of the, keyboard
houSing 90.
Additionally, other keys can be placed along the side of the handheld device
300 to
function as escape keys, volume control keys 100, scrolling keys, power
switches, or user
programmable keys 105, 120, and can likewise be programmed accordingly. In The
open
=
. - configuration 601 shown, the angle. A1 between the display
housing 95 and the keyboard _
housing 90 is adjustable at the interior side of the dual-hinged
interconnector 80. = =
=
= [00391 While the alphanumeric input keys in FIGS. 2A and 2B
indicia, they could =
be arranged according to standard layouts as in FIG. 4 which shows the= four
possible
keyboard 650 configurations, the QWERTY 44a, the QWERTZ 44b, the AZERTY 44c
= and the DVORAK 44d, or as in FIG. 5 which illustrates a QWERTY keyboard
layout "
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paired with a traditional ten-key keypad. The keys 630 could also have layouts
like those ==
shown in FIGS. 6 and 1, the last of which is ITU compl,iarit. The
International .
= Telecommunications Union ("ITU") has established phone standards for the
arrangement
= of alphanumeric keys, entitled "Arrangement of Digits, Letters, and
Symbols on
Telephones and Other Devices That Can Be Used for Gaining Access to a
Telephone
Network." This standard is also known as ANSI TI.703-1995/1999 and ISO/IEC
9995-
.
8:1994. FIG. 6 illustrates a keypad comprising the numerals 0-9 arranged in a
traditional,
ITU Standar' d E.161 numeric telephone keypad layout, including the * and 14
keys
, flanking the 0 key. FIG. 7 illustrates a traditional or standard phone key
arrangement or
layout according to the ITU=Standard E.161. Again, the keyboard 650, as shown
in FIG.
2A and FIG. 2B for example, can be further provided with each of such layouts.
=
[0040] One of the important aspects of the handheld
electrdnic device 300 to which
this disclosure is directed is its size. While some users will grasp the
handheld device
300 in both hands when entering text as in FIG. 2A, it is also possible for
users to cradle
= the handheld device 300 in one hand in such a manner that inPut and
control over the
handheld device 300 can be effected using the thumb of the same hand in which
the
= handheld device 300 is held. However, it is appreciated that additional
control can be
effected by using both hands_ As a handheld device 300 that is easy to grasp
and
= 20 desirably pocketable, the size of the handheld device 300 must be kept
com,mensurately
- small. Of the device's dimensions, limiting its width is important for the=
purpose of
= = assuring
cradleability in a user's hand. . . . . . .
[0041] However, some users can find it difficult to operate
because of the reduced
size. The dual-hinged intercormector 80 gives an increase in 'surface area and
a
protruding surface to grasp as well. The extended nature of the dual-hinged .
interconnector 80 allows the clam-shell style handheld electronic device 300
to be held
= between the fingers of both hands. Thus, the interconnector can act as a
handle of sorts.
-
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= 14
Moreover, this configuration enhances stability and hence makes thumb
attivation of the
keys on keyboard housing 640. =
[0042] = Additionally, the small size of the handheld device
300 can be a drawback
in that there is limited exterior surface area for the inclusion of user input
and device
output features. This is especially true for the "prime real estate" on the
face of the
keyboard: housing .640 of the handheld device 300 in the open configuration
601_
Furthermore, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the display screen 322 is
located
above a keyboard 650 :that is utilized for data entry into the handheld device
300 by the
user, and above a navigation tool 327 which is located on the interior surface
of the dual-
hinged interconnector. If the screen 322 is provided below the keyboard 650, a
=problem =
occurs in that viewing the screen 322 is inhibited when the useris inputting
data using the
keyboard 650. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the display
screen 322= is
above the navigation row 70 and keyboard 650, thereby Solving the problem by
assuring
that the hands and fingers do riot block the view of the screen 322 during
data .entry
periods. This property is enhanced by the fact that the angle between the
interior surface
of the keyboard housing .640 and the interconnector 80, and the angle between
the
= interconnector 80 and the display face 320 can each. take separate
values, and thus more
positional options exist for the user.
= =
[0043) Another positional option for the user is to set the
device down 300
temporarily, as in FIG. 2B (and also FIG. 15). = If the user places the device
on. a fiat - = =
surface a user Can derive a benefit from being able to view the display screen
322 without
having to lift the device 300 by hand. As can be seen from FIG_ 2B, the dual-
hinged
interconnector 80 can act as a stand which props up the display housing 95.
Because they
are connected via hinges, the angle Ai between the display housing 95 and the
keyboard
= housing 90, the angle A2 between the back of the interconneotor 81 and
the display
= housing, and the angle A3 between the= interconnector 80 and the keyboard
housing 90 are
=
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all adjusvable. This adjustability, coupled With the stand action of the
interconnector, 80
Means that a user will be able to adjust the display screen 322 for
maintenance of visual
contact while the device 300 is in a resting orientation 303.
=
5 [0044] PIG. 8
shows the front of an embodiment of the clam-shell style handheld
electronic device 300 in a closed configuration. In a closed configuration 600
a display
screen 322 and a keyboard 650 can be wholly or partially covered.. The device
300 can
be equipped With an external mirror (not shown), a camera, 851, a flash 852
for use in
conjunction therewith as well as a light emitting diode 853. Those skilled in
the art will
10 appreciate that these items could have different positions and still
come within 'this
disclosure. In the embodiment shown FIG. 8 the dual-hinged interconnector 80
has a
length L3 which is greater than at least twenty percent of the length of the
display housing
LI. This allows for the interconnector 80 to act as both a stand and a handle
as set forth
= previously. =
= [0045] FIG. 9 shows the sear or back of an embodiment of the
device 300 in a
*closed configuration 600. A fast side 81 of the dual-hinged interconnector 80
is shown
in a mutually accommodating relationship with the keyboard housing 90. Two
charge
= contacts 807 are shown towards the lower portion of keyboard housing 90.
The keyboard
= 20 housing 90 can be seen to have a substantially .square profile
800. .A5 will...be appreciated= .
by those in the art, while a particular rectangular shape is shown for the
handheld
=
electronic device 300, others are possible while still falling.within-the
present disclosure. = = -
= In the embodiment shown, the dual-hinged interconnector 80 has a length
L3 greater than
at least twenty percent of a length Ll of the longer of the . display housing
95 and the
keyboard housings 90, and the lengthwise= longitudinal axes of each of the
display
housing 95 and the keyboard housings 90 and dual-hinged interconnector 80 are
shown
oriented substantially parallel, one to the others. However, those skilled in
the art will
=
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16
. appreciate that the dual-hinged interconnector 80 or the display
housing 95 or keyboard
housing 90 could be constructed in various proportions within this disclosure.
=[0046] A closed configuration 600 from the right side is also shown FIG.
10.
Although it is compact, the device 300 has multiple input and output
faculties, even *hen
inthe closed configuration 609. For example, a programmable key 120, a
universal serial
bus port 874 and a. headset jack 875 are shown op the exterior of the device
300 on the
" display housing. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
programmable keys of
the device 105, 120 can be programmed to have multiple functions, allowing the
keys to
activate a camera, act as an alternate mute button, a function cancel button,
among other
= things. In =at least one example as illustrated in FIG. 10, some portion
of the keyboard
650 can be igen between the keyboard housing 90 and display housing 95. In
another .
.possible embodiment the device 300 could be so configured so as to completely
conceal
the keyboard 650 when viewed from the same side as in FIG_ 10 while still
coming
15. within this disclosure. Also, the dual-hinged interconnector 80 can be
seen between and
= above the hinge-end covers 900 in the illustrated.example. In the
embodiment pictured in
= FIG. 10, the thickness of the interconnectcir TT is equal to the combined
thickness of the
display housing 95 and the keyboard housing 90. The connectors could be
located on the =
sides of the interconnector 80 closest to the housings 95, 90 and parallel to
the lengthwise
axis, or on the sides which are closest to the housings 95, 90 but
perpendicular to said
= axis. .
(0047] The other side view of the device 300 in a closed
configuration 600 is
shown in FIG. 11. Even though the embodiment- is streamlined and compact,
multiple
input and output options exist. For example, in the embodiment of FIG..11, the
volume =
buttons or keys 100 in the keyboard housing 90 are situated next to a user-
progtammable
key 105. The volume buttons or keys can be configured so as to adjust the
speaker (not
shown) volume when -the device 300 is used a telephone or to adjust the volume
of the
=
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17
audio output associated with other finictionalities.
FIG: 11 shows the dual-hinged
= = interconnector 80 between and above two hinge-end covers 900. As will
be described
further herein, still other input and output options can be provided on the
exterior of the
device 300. Again, as will be appreciated by those in the art; while a
particular shape is
shown, others are possible while still falling within the present disclosure,
for example
handheld electronic device 300 might be more or less oblong when closed 600,
the sides
= could be fashioned to be soMewhat arcuate, thus giving the device a near
oval shape.
[0041
The top of an embodiment of the device 300 _in a closed configuration 600
= 10 = is depicted in. FIG. 12.. A mute/suspend key 880 is shown on the
left side of the exterior
= of the .dual-hinged intercormector 80 and a speaker phone button 890 is
on the right.
Such locations are examples only, and other possibilities exist within the.
present
disclosure. Also, other keys or buttons can be located on the dual-hinged
interconnector
80 which can take various shapes. Within the dual,hinged interconnector
resides a spring
15* assembly (not shown) which runs through interconnector 80 to the hinge-
end covers 900.
[00491.
Both FIGS. 12 and 13= show an embodiment wherein the dual-hinged
= interconnector 80 is of a width Wy which is substantially equal to the
width of the display
housing Wxi and the width of the keyboard housing W. Other embodiments having
= 20 different widths are possible within this disclosure. For example, the
widths mentioned
could range between six and nine centimeters. = Making the handheld electronic
device
300 wider than nine inches would probably be undesirable due to a loss in
convenience of
storage--it would not fit in the average pocket or hand.
25 [0050] The
compact nature of the device 300, which is at least in part made =
possible by the dual-hinged intercoruiector 80, is shown in FIG. 13. The
thinness of the
= device 300 can be seen in FIG. 13 insofar as the thickness of the dual-
hinged
= interconnector TT in FIG. 12= is the same as the sum of the thickness of
the keyboard
= 11376i5v1
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18 =
housing T2 and the display housing T3; =these thicknesses being measured in a
direction
substantially perpendicular the lengthwise axis of the display housing Li and
the .
lengthwise axis of the keyboard housing Lya when the device 300 is in a
resting
orientation 603 while closed 600. It is contemplated that the desired value
for the total .
thickness TT of= the device will fall in a range of about one to two
centimeters (though
other values are of course possible within this disclosure).
=
=
=
[00511
FIG. 14 shows the device 300 in an open configuration 601. As set forth
above, maintenance of a visual line of sight with the display screen 322 can
be desirable
- 10 when the Met places the device 300 -on a flat surface such as a
desk or table. As
discussed previously, =a dual-hinged interconnector 80 containing a spring
assembly (not
= sho-wn) is disclosed which will bias the interior surface of the display
housing 320 at a
= suitable angle Al with the interior surface of the keyboard housing 640_
As shown in
= FIG. 14, the interior face of the keyboard housing '640 .includes a
keyboard 650 with a
.15 =
plurality of keys that can be of a physical nature such as actuable buttons,
or they can be
of a software nature, typically constituted by virtual representations of
physical keys on a
= display . screen 322 (referred to herein as "virtual keys"). In this
instance the physical
keyboard illustrated could be replaced with a second display configured for
touch
=
= engagement. It is also contemplated that the user input can be
provided as a combination
20 of the
two types of keys. Each key of the plurality of keys has .at least one
actuable action
which can be the input of a character, a command or a= fwaction.. In this
context,
- "characters" are contemplated to exemplarily include =
alphabetic letters, language = - - = -
. symbols, numbers, punctuation, insignias, icons, pictures, and even a
blank space. Input
commands and functions can include such things as delete, backspace, moving a
cursor
= 25
up, down, left or right, initiating an aritinnetic function or command,
initiating a
command or function specific to an application program or feature in use:
initiatin a
command or function programmed by the user and other such commands and
functions
that are well known to those persons .skilled in the art. Specific keys or
other types of
=
1137675v1
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- -
=
= =
.19
= input devices can be used to navigate through the various applications
and features
thereof. Further, depending on the program/application 358 or feature in use,
specific
keys can be enabled or disabled. =
=
[00521 In the case of physical keys Of the type shown in FIG. 14, all or a
portion of
the plurality of keys can have one.or more indicia representing character(s),
cornmand(s),
and/or functions(s) displayed at their top surface and/or on the face of the
area adjacent
the respective key_ In the instance where the indicia of a key's function is
provided.
= adjacent the key, the indicia can be printed on the device cover beside
the key, or in the
instance of keys located adjacent the display screen 322. Additionally,
indicia for the key
can be temporarily shown nearby the key on =the display screen 322. As will be
= appreciated by those in the art,, physical. and virtual keys can be
.combined in many
different ways. In one embodiment, physical and virtual keys could be cOmbined
such
that the plurality of enabled keys for a particular application or feature of
the handheld
= 15 electronic device 300 is shown on the display screen 322 in the same
configuration as the
' physical keys. Using this configuration, the user can 'select the
appropriate physical key
corresponding to what is shown on the display screen 322. Thus, the desired
character,
command or function is obtained by depressing the physical key corresponding
to the
character, command or function displayed at a corresponding position on the
display
screen 322, rather thanlouching the display screen 322.
- [0053] As made clear previously, the clam-shell style handheld
electronic device = == = --
309 is configured to send and receive voice communications such as mobile
telephone
call and the fimctionality of the device can be afforded to the operator
through designated
keys_ .For example, two call keys 660, 670 can be provided below the
navigation row 70
(so-called because it includes the -navigation tool 327) as shown in FIG_ 14
which can
facilitate telephone usage. One of the two call keys is a call initiation key
660, and the
other is a call termination key 670. The navigation row 70 also includes
another pair of
1137675v1
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=
. keys 606, 608 that are located immediately. adjacent to the
navigation tool 327, With one
flanking key on either side of the navigation tool 327. The flanking keys 606,
608 can,
for instance, constitute the menu keys 652, which include a menu call-up key.
606 and an
escape or back key 608. The menu call-up key 606 is used to bring up a menu on
the =
5 , display screen 322 and the escape key 608 is used to return to the
previous screen or =
previous menu selection. The functions .a the call keys and the menu keys can,
of
course, be provided by buttons that are located elsewhere on the handheld
device 300,
with different functions assigned to the flanking keys 606;608.
= 10 [0054] As shown in FIG. 14, both the keyboard housing 90 and
'display housing 95
.can have an acconunodation space 620 recessed into each housing that receives
at least a
pOrti-on of the trackball assembly 321 when the device 300 is in a closed
configuration
=. 600. , In this configuration, the dual-hinged interconftector provides a
mounting platform
for . the -trackball assembly 321 and the keyboard houSing 90 and display
housing
15 accommodate for a protruding trackball assembly 321 with the
acconunodation space 620
in the respective housing. In other embodiments, the accommodation space 620
might be
provided only.on the keyboard housing .90 or only on the display housing 95.
=
=
[0055]
FIG. 15 illustrates a right side view of a clam-shell style handheld
electronic .
20 device 300 in an open configuration 601. Twci hinge covers. 90.0 as
well as a head set
jack 875, universal serial bus port 874 and user programmable key 120 are
visible. Also
=
visible in the example of FIG. 15 is the top of a trackball assembly. -321:
The interior =
surface of the keyboard housing 640 can be seen to be oriented at an obtuse
angle A1 to
interior surface of the display housing 320. The dual-hinged interconnector
=80 can be
configured such that the obtuse angle measures approxithately 165 degrees.
Alternately,
the dual-hinged interconnector 80 could be set up for a 150 degree angle
between the
display 320 and the keyboard 650. The lengthwise longitudinal axis of the dual-
hinged
interoonnector 80 is shown oriented at an obtuse angle A2, A3 to the
lengthwise
=
1137875v1
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21
[0056] longitudinal axis of the display and keyboard housings 95, 90 in
the open
configuration of the device 600.
[0057] As described above, those skilled in the art will recognize that
other angle
configurations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.
