Patent JPS5574641A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent FR2665366A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6611255B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6611255B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs
Assignee: Malikie Innovations Ltd
•
Filing: 2002-06-11
•
Granted: 2003-08-26
•
Expires: 2022-06-11
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason T. Griffin
- 👤 John A. Holmes
- 👤 Mihal Lazaridis
- 👤 Herb A. Little
- 👤 Harry R. Major
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/0216; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1626; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1662; G06F1/1664; G06F1/1671; G06F1/1684; G06F1/169; G06F3/0219; G06F3/023; G06F3/0233; G06F3/0236; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0362; G06F3/038; G06F3/0383; H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/23; H01; H01H; H01H2225/00; H01H2225/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a keyboard that is horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge and a right edge of a face of the hand-held messaging device and having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face, wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern; a display that is vertically positioned between the keyboard and a top edge of the face and horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left edge and the right edge of the face; an auxiliary input device; and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation of the hand-held messaging device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a keyboard that is horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge and a right edge of a face of the hand-held messaging device and having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face, wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern; a display that is vertically positioned between the keyboard and a top edge of the face and horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left edge and the right edge of the face; an auxiliary input device; and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation of the hand-held messaging device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave-down pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein each row of keys is arranged along an arc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keys of the keyboard is oblong.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 4 , wherein the oblong key is tilted at an angle from a vertical axis extending through a center of the key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys of the keyboard are oblong.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 6 , wherein a first portion of the oblong keys are tilted at a negative angle from vertical and a second portion of the oblong keys are tilted at a positive angle from vertical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keys of the keyboard is oval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 8 , wherein the oval key is tilted at an angle from a vertical axis extending through a center of the key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys each have a shape that is contoured for optimal typing with a user's thumbs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein each key of the keyboard is aligned along a vertical axis with a key from an adjacent row.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard includes three (3) rows of keys, wherein each of the three rows of keys includes a first set of keys that are arranged in a pattern having a positive slope from vertical and a second set of keys that are arranged in a pattern having a negative slope from vertical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard includes twenty-six (26) letter keys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 13 , wherein the twenty-six (26) letter keys are arranged in the format of a QWERTY-style keyboard.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 14 , further comprising: a row of functional keys that are horizontally positioned symmetrically or substantially symmetrically between a left edge and a right edge of the face of the hand-held messaging device and vertically positioned between the keyboard and a bottom edge of the hand-held messaging device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 15 , wherein the row of functional keys includes a space bar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 15 , wherein the row of functional keys includes an alt key, and wherein at least one letter key has an associated alternate character that may be input to the processor by simultaneously depressing the letter key and the alt key.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 15 , wherein the row of functional keys includes a shift key.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 15 , wherein the row of functional keys includes a menu key.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one additional functional key positioned above the keyboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is a backspace key.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is a home key.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is an escape key.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is a menu key.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is a delete key.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is a cursor-left key.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 20 , wherein the additional functional key is a cursor-right key.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary input device is a thumb-wheel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , further comprising: a wireless radio subsystem coupled to the processor that transmits and receives electronic messages from a wireless network; and a memory device coupled to the processor that stores electronic messages received from the wireless network.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 29 , further comprising: application software executing on the processor, wherein the application software includes an electronic messaging application that receives electronic messages that are wirelessly redirected to the hand-held messaging device from a redirection software application executing on a corporate server.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 30 , wherein the application software includes a calendar application.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 1 , further comprising: a rechargeable battery coupled to the processor that supplies power to the hand-held messaging device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
167 words
A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a device housing having a face, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces for connecting the face to the bottom surface; a display mounted within the face of the device housing and horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge of the face and a right edge of the face; a keyboard mounted within the face of the device housing in a position between the display and a bottom edge of the face, wherein the keyboard comprises a QWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face; wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern and is distributed symmetrically across the face of the housing, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and at least one specialized key; an auxiliary input device mounted within the housing; and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation of the hand-held messaging device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
167 words
A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a device housing having a face, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces for connecting the face to the bottom surface; a display mounted within the face of the device housing and horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge of the face and a right edge of the face; a keyboard mounted within the face of the device housing in a position between the display and a bottom edge of the face, wherein the keyboard comprises a QWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face; wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern and is distributed symmetrically across the face of the housing, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and at least one specialized key; an auxiliary input device mounted within the housing; and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation of the hand-held messaging device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave-down pattern.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein each row of keys is arranged along an arc.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the plurality of keys are oblong.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 36 , wherein the oblong shaped keys are tilted with respect to a vertical reference through the face of the device housing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 36 , wherein the oblong shaped keys are oval shaped.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the specialized key is a line feed key.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the specialized key is a backspace key.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the keyboard further comprises a row of functional keys.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 41 , wherein the row of functional keys includes at least a space bar key, an alt key, and a shift key.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 41 , wherein the row of functional keys includes at least a space bar key, a shift key, and a menu key.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the hand-held device is a two-way pager, a personal digital assistant or an electronic organizer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the auxiliary input device is mounted within one of the connecting surfaces.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the auxiliary input device is a thumbwheel.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , wherein the auxiliary input device includes a directional input component for navigating a plurality of menu items presented on the display and a selector switch for selecting a menu item from the plurality of menu items.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 33 , further comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving messages.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 48 , further comprising: a first antenna for receiving messages; and a second antenna for transmitting messages.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
38 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 49 , wherein the transceiver further comprises: a receiver, coupled to the first antenna, for demodulating the received messages; and a transmitter, coupled to the second antenna, for generating a modulated message.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hand-held messaging device of claim 50 , wherein the transceiver further comprises: a digital signal processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver for processing demodulated messages from the receiver, and for providing modulation information to the transmitter.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
128 words
A wireless e-mail device, comprising: a device housing having a face and a left and right side surface coupled to the face; a display mounted within the face; a transceiver for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the wireless e-mail device to the wireless network; a keyboard that is horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left side surface and the right side surface and having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the race, wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern; an auxiliary input device mounted within the device housing: and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation of the wireless e-mail device.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
128 words
A wireless e-mail device, comprising: a device housing having a face and a left and right side surface coupled to the face; a display mounted within the face; a transceiver for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the wireless e-mail device to the wireless network; a keyboard that is horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left side surface and the right side surface and having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the race, wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern; an auxiliary input device mounted within the device housing: and a processor coupled to the keyboard, the auxiliary input device and the display that controls the operation of the wireless e-mail device.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 52 , wherein the auxiliary input device is a thumbwheel.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
44 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 52 , wherein the auxiliary input device includes a directional input component for navigating a plurality of menu items presented on the display and a selector switch for selecting a menu item form the plurality of menu items.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 52 , further comprising an antenna coupled to the transceiver.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 52 , further comprising: a memory for storing an operating system and a plurality of application programs that are executed by the processor to control the operation of the wireless e-mail device.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
70 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 56 , wherein the operating system assigns a plurality of characters to at least one of the plurality of keys, and wherein the wireless e-mail device includes an auxiliary input device that is used to select one of the plurality of characters by holding down the at least one key and selecting the one of the plurality of characters using the auxiliary input device.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
64 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 56 , wherein the memory stores a database associating a plurality of first character phrases with a plurality of second character phrases, and wherein the operating system detects one of the plurality of first character phrases input by a user of the wireless e-mail device using the keyboard and substitutes the associated second character phase on the display.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 56 , wherein the memory is a flash memory.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 56 , further comprising a digital signal processor coupled between the processor and the transceiver.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 56 , wherein the plurality of application programs include a messaging application for generating e-mail messages and a calendar application.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 61 , wherein the plurality of application programs further include an address book application.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
23 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 52 , further comprising a serial port for coupling the wireless e-mail device to a host computer.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 52 , further comprising a power supply system including a rechargeable battery and an external charger input for receiving a source of electrical charge to recharge the rechargeable battery.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 64 , wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium battery.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 64 , wherein the power supply subsystem further includes a voltage regulator coupled to the rechargeable battery for generating a regulated supply voltage for powering the device.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wireless e-mail device of claim 64 , wherein the power supply subsystem further includes connections to a microprocessor for monitoring the operation of the power supply subsystem.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
130 words
A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a device housing having a face; a display mounted within the face; a keyboard mounted within the face of the device housing in a position between the display and a bottom edge of the face, wherein the keyboard comprises a QWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face, wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern and is distributed symmetrically across the face of the housings wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and at least one specialized key; an auxiliary input device mounted within the device housing; means for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the hand-held messaging device to the wireless network.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
130 words
A hand-held messaging device, comprising: a device housing having a face; a display mounted within the face; a keyboard mounted within the face of the device housing in a position between the display and a bottom edge of the face, wherein the keyboard comprises a QWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face, wherein each row of keys is arranged in a concave pattern and is distributed symmetrically across the face of the housings wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and at least one specialized key; an auxiliary input device mounted within the device housing; means for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the hand-held messaging device to the wireless network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USD278341S
Cited
USD293241S
Cited
USD313401S
Cited
US5184830A
Cited
USD313413S
Cited
USD312628S
Cited
US5410141A
Cited
US5217295A
Cited
US5367298A
Cited
US5606712A
Cited
US5436954A
Cited
US5457454A
Cited
US5426449A
Cited
US6103979A
Cited
US5500643A
Cited
USD357253S
Cited
US6094197A
Cited
US5963197A
Cited
USD359920S
Cited
US5611031A
Cited
US5893798A
Cited
US5825353A
Cited
US5915228A
Cited
US5818437A
Cited
EP0760291A2
Cited
US5920308A
Cited
US6243789B1
Cited
US5672108A
Cited
US6006351A
Cited
US6023779A
Cited
US5737394A
Cited
USD381021S
Cited
US6052070A
Cited
US5982520A
Cited
US6107997A
Cited
USD383756S
Cited
US5974238A
Cited
US6014429A
Cited
US5931873A
Cited
USD386497S
Cited
USD420351S
Cited
US6297795B1
Cited
US6049796A
Cited
USD390509S
Cited
USD403362S
Cited
US6148261A
Cited
USD397369S
Cited
USD397728S
Cited
USD399537S
Cited
US5995026A
Cited
USD402572S
Cited
WO1999037025A1
Cited
US6157323A
Cited
US6047047A
Cited
US6102594A
Cited
US6212412B1
Cited
WO2000030381A1
Cited
USD433017S
Cited
USD432511S
Cited
USD436591S1
Cited
USD460068S1
Cited
USD441733S1
Cited
USD451079S1
Cited
USD459327S1
Cited
USD454349S1
Cited
USD454849S1
Cited
USD458239S1
Cited
USD456794S1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-25 | 2007-02-24 | 2007-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-25 | 2011-02-24 | 2011-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-25 | 2015-02-24 | 2015-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |