Configurable handheld electronic device
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsSteven Fyke, Jason Griffin, Norman Ladouceur
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved handheld electronic device can be configured in a variety of different ways by a user. The user can select, for instance, a keypad module from among a plurality of similar but different keypad modules, and/or can select a display module from among a plurality of similar but different display modules, with the selected keypad module and display module being mounted to a frame to form the handheld electronic device having a particular form factor and an overall configuration.
Claims12
A method of configuring a handheld electronic device comprising:
- mounting to a support of the handheld electronic device a first keypad module comprising a full keypad having a set of keys exposed to the surrounding atmosphere;
- electrically connecting together the first keypad module and a processor apparatus of the handheld electronic device;
- mounting to the support a display module structured to be removable from the support and replaceable with another display module having another configuration;
- electrically connecting together the display module and the processor apparatus;
- replacing the first keypad module with a second keypad module by:
- removing the first keypad module from the support and the processor apparatus,
- mounting to the support the second keypad module, the second keypad module comprising a reduced keypad having a set of keys and membrane that covers at least some of the keys, and
- electrically connecting together the second keypad module and the processor apparatus;
- responsive to said replacing, activating on the processor apparatus a disambiguation routine;
- and
- responsive to said activating, reconfiguring an input mechanism of the processor apparatus.
4-5. (canceled)
8-11. (canceled)
A handheld electronic device comprising:
- a structure;
- a processor apparatus having a disambiguation routine executable thereon;
- an interface apparatus comprising at least a first interface module, the at least first interface module comprising a first keypad module having a full keypad that comprises a set of keys exposed to the atmosphere;
- the at least first interface module being electrically connected with the processor apparatus and disposed on the structure, the at least first interface module being structured to be removed from the structure and the processor apparatus and to be replaced with another interface module comprising a second keypad module having a reduced keypad that comprises a set of keys and membrane that covers at least some of the keys, responsive to a replacement of the at least first interface module with the another interface module the processor apparatus being structured to execute the disambiguation routine to reconfigure an input mechanism of the processor apparatus.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.