# US 11,310,358 B2 · Smart phone case combination keyboard for blind

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- Number: US 11,310,358 B2
- Document ID: US11310358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/269,549
- Filed: 2019-07-26
- Published: 2021-11-18
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-29
- Applicants: Tai Hong Choi
- Inventors: Tai Hong Choi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310358B2

## CPC

- H04M 1/185: {Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity}
- H04M 1/72481: for visually impaired users
- A45C 11/00: Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48)
- A45C 15/00: Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other {objects or} articles (A45C1/08, A45C3/14, {A45C11/321, A45C13/28} take precedence)
- G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]}
- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device}
- G06F 3/0219: {Special purpose keyboards}
- 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)}
- G06F 3/0231: {Cordless keyboards}
- H04M 1/0266: {for a display module assembly}
- H04M 1/236: {including keys on side or rear faces}
- H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
- H04M 1/72466: with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
- A45C 11/002: {for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones}
- G06F 2200/1633: Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
- H04M 1/724092: {Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities}
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart phone case combination keyboard for the blind that includes: a cover main body having a mounting space to which a smart phone is mounted so as to expose a display unit on an upper surface, a plurality of lower key holes formed toward downward on a lower surface, and a front key hole respectively formed on a left and right of a surface toward frontward; a keyboard cover embedded in the main body, having a plurality of keys respectively protruded through the lower key holes and operated by a thumb of a hand gripping the cover main body as a first front key and a second front key are protruded through each of the front key holes; a communication module performing communication between the smart phone and the keyboard; and a controller that controls to perform pairing with the smart phone through the communication module and to transmit a key input signal of the keyboard to the smart phone through the communication by the communication module. According to the present invention, the smart phone may be stably gripped and the stable typing enable due to the keyboard arrangement on the lower surface while protecting the smart phone from external impact, and it is possible to provide the call mode along with the keyboard arrangement to enable the convenient use of the blind and improve the speed and accuracy of the typing through the use of the thumb that is not normally used for the typing, the unwanted separation may be prevented by the comfortable and stable gripping.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A smart phone case combination keyboard for the blind, comprising:
a cover main body having a mounting space to which a smart phone is mounted so as to expose a display unit on an upper surface, a plurality of lower key holes formed toward downward on a lower surface, and a front key hole respectively formed on a left and right of a surface toward frontward;
a keyboard cover embedded in the main body, having a plurality of keys respectively protruded through the lower key holes and operated by a thumb of a hand gripping the cover main body as a first front key and a second front key are protruded through each of the front key holes;
a communication module performing communication between the smart phone and the keyboard;
a controller that controls to perform pairing with the smart phone through the communication module and to transmit a key input signal of the keyboard to the smart phone through the communication by the communication module; and
a mode switch of a slide switch type installed to expose and be protruded to the lower switch hole formed to face downward on the lower surface of the cover main body and provided to select a locking mode, an input mode, and a dial mode respectively,
wherein the controller controls to block a key input through the keyboard when the locked mode is selected by the mode switch, controls to allow a key input through the keyboard when the input mode is selected by the mode switch, and when a dial mode is selected by the mode switch, controls to convert some of the keys in the keyboard to phone keys required for phone use.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The smart phone case combination keyboard for the blind of claim 1, wherein
in the keyboard, the first front key and second front key are disposed at a right angle at the end of the surface where the keys are arranged in multiple.

### Claim 3

A smart phone case combination keyboard for the blind, comprising:
a cover main body having a mounting space to which a smart phone is mounted so as to expose a display unit on an upper surface, a plurality of lower key holes formed toward downward on a lower surface, and a front key hole respectively formed on a left and right of a surface toward frontward;
a keyboard cover embedded in the main body, having a plurality of keys respectively protruded through the lower key holes and operated by a thumb of a hand gripping the cover main body as a first front key and a second front key are protruded through each of the front key holes;
a communication module performing communication between the smart phone and the keyboard;
a controller that controls to perform pairing with the smart phone through the communication module and to transmit a key input signal of the keyboard to the smart phone through the communication by the communication module; and
a deformed grip unit respectively attached to both sides of the cover main body to be positioned between the cover main body and a gripping hand and made of a material of which a shape is changed by an external force
wherein
in the deformed grip unit,
a thickness-reduced part formed so as to gradually reduce the thickness at both ends is attached to surround both edges of the cover main body, and a protruded supporting part is formed to be protruded from the thickness-reduced part at positions close to the first front key and the second front key and inserted between a gripping thumb and an index finger.