Portable computer with chord keyboard
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorAmnon Ribak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computing device, including a processor, a screen, and at least one chord keyboard. The screen is coupled to be driven by the processor to display data to a user of the device, and is arranged so as to be viewable by a user of the device while holding the device with both hands, one at either side of the screen. The at least one chord keyboard comprises keys, and is fixed to a side of the screen in such a position as to be gripped by the user while holding the device so as to view the screen, and is coupled to provide input to the processor responsive to pressure exerted on the keys by the user.
Claims38
A computing device, comprising:
- a processor;
- a screen, which is coupled to be driven by the processor to display data to a user of the device, and which is arranged so as to be viewable by a user of the device while holding the device with both hands, one at either side of the screen;
- and
- at least one chord keyboard comprising keys, which is fixed to a side of the screen in such a position as to be gripped by the user while holding the device so as to view the screen, and which is coupled to provide input to the processor responsive to pressure exerted on the keys by the user.
A device according to claim 10, wherein the pointing device is operable by a thumb of the user while gripping the one of the two keyboards.
A computing device, comprising:
- a processor;
- adjacent first and second screens, having respective inner and outer edges, wherein the screens are connected to one another at the inner edges thereof, wherein the first and second screens are coupled to be driven by the processor to display data to a user of the device and are arranged so as to be viewable by the user while holding the device with both hands, one at either side of the device at the outer edges of the first and second screens;
- and
- at least one chord keyboard comprising keys, fixed to at least one of the outer edges of the screens in such a position as to be gripped by the user while holding the device so as to view the first and second screens, and which keyboard is coupled to provide input to the processor responsive to pressure exerted on the keys by the user.
A method of inputting and displaying data on a computing device that includes a processor and a display screen coupled to be driven by the processor to display data to a user of the device, the method comprising:
- fixing at least one chord keyboard to a side of the screen so as to be gripped by the user while holding the computing device with both hands, one at either side of the screen, and viewing the screen;
- sensing pressure exerted by the user on the keys of the at least one chord keyboard so as to provide input to the processor;
- and
- displaying data on the screen, to the user of the device, responsive to the input to the processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.