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US 2003/0117374 A1Published application
Portable electronic device with rear-facing touch typing keyboard
OwnerJohn Edwin McCloudinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (20) for data entry to an electronic device includes a housing (21) having a front facing surface (22) and a rear facing surface (24). A keyboard (62, 76, 130, 200) provides for a plurality of multifunction alphanumeric keys on the rear-facing surface (24) that are arranged for data entry using a standard two handed touch typing method while the apparatus is held in the hands (34, 36) of an operator. A display (72) may be included on the front facing surface (22).
Claims20
A keyboard for two hand operation by an operator, the keyboard comprising:
- a housing including a front-facing surface and a rear-facing surface;
- a plurality of keys located on the rear surface, the keys arranged into a first group and a second group, the first group and the second group of keys each including a plurality of multi-function keys, the plurality of multifunction keys adapted to provide a standard touch typing finger assignment for the fingers while the keyboard is held;
- and
- a data channel connected to the keys.
1 more element
A portable electronic apparatus comprising;
- a housing including a front-facing surface and a rear-facing surface;
- and
- at least two sets of multifunction keys located on the rear surface, each set including a plurality of multifunction keys, the multifunction keys adapted for touch typing using two hands while the apparatus is being held.
A keyboard apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing including a front facing surface and a rear facing surface;
- and
- a first group of multifunction keys;
- a second group of multifunction keys, the first and second groups of multifunction keys located on the rear facing surface, the first and second group of multifunction keys adapted for two handed touch typing according to a standard touch typing keyboard layout while the keyboard is held;
- means for securably retaining the portable electronic device within the housing;
- and
- means for data communication with the portable electronic device;
- and
- means for interfacing the keyboard apparatus and portable electronic device with at least one of a telecommunications system, a fiber optic system, a cellular communications system, a satellite communications system, a cable television system, a computer system, an Internet access system and an infra red communications system.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.