Portable computing device keyboard

#This invention relates generally to portable computing devices and more particularly to a keyboard attached to a portable computing device.

#Portable computing and communications devices have quickly become virtually indispensable tools, not only for business purposes, but for personal use as well. Examples of such devices are pocket computers, cellular telephones, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). In order to make these devices convenient to carry, they are quite small, which can make for difficult text entry using a pen, stylus, touchpad, or keypad. Hence, users typically only use these text-entry features for note-taking and scheduling appointments and tasks, and they normally plug in a separate keyboard when wanting to compose e-mail or other text documents. But, a separate keyboard that must be plugged in to the device increases the size and weight that the user must carry and hampers the handy portability of the device. Thus, these problems hamper the usability and convenience of these portable computing and communications devices.

#In an embodiment, a computing device is provided with a keyboard that telescopes out of a case of the computing device. In another embodiment, a computing device is provided with a keyboard that rotates out from underneath the computing device. In another embodiment, a computing device is provided with a keyboard mounted on a cover of the computing device that rotates down from an indentation in the cover. In another embodiment, a computing device is provided with a folding keyboard having two portions.

#FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a computing device with a telescoping keyboard, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2A depicts a top perspective view of a computing device with a rotating keyboard, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2B depicts a bottom perspective view of a computing device with a rotating keyboard, according to an embodiment of the invention.

#In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

#In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention.

#FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a computing device 100 with a telescoping keyboard 105, according to an embodiment of the invention. The computing device 100 has a case 110 that includes a top portion 115 including a display screen 120. The computing device 100 may be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a portable telephone, a pocket computer, a laptop computer, or any other appropriate type of computing device. The screen 120 may be a touchscreen, touchpad, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), flat-panel display, or any other appropriate display screen capable of displaying information. In an embodiment, the screen 120 may accept input from a user via a finger or stylus, but in another embodiment, the screen 120 may not accept input.