Hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsJason T. Griffin, John A. Holmes, Mihal Lazaridis, Herb A. Little, Harry R. Major
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing. The angles at which keys on either side of the keyboard are placed is complimentary.
Claims48
A handheld device optimally configured for use with the thumbs of user, comprising:
- tilted at a positive angle relative to a common vertical reference through the device, and each oblong shaped key in the second set of oblong shaped keys is titled at a negative angle relative to the common vertical reference through the device;
- an auxiliary input device positioned in relative proximity to the keyboard;
- a display positioned adjacent to the keyboard;
- and
- software residing in the device for providing functionality to inputs received from the auxiliary input device and the keyboard.
A handheld device optimally configured for use with the thumbs of a user comprising:
- (a) a device housing;
- and
- (b) a keyboard residing on the housing, the keyboard having a first set of oblong shaped keys and a second set of oblong shaped keys, wherein each oblong shaped key in the first set of oblong shaped keys is tilted at a positive angle relative to a vertical reference and each oblong shaped key in the second set of oblong shaped keys is tilted at a negative angle relative to the vertical reference.
The handheld device 15, wherein the positive angle is about 40 degrees and the negative angle is about 40 degrees.
A keyboard for use with a handheld electronic device, comprising:
- a first set of oblong shaped keys and a set of oblong shaped keys, wherein each key in the first set of oblong shaped keys is tilted at a positive angle relative to a vertical reference and each oblong shaped key in the second set of oblong shaped keys is titled at a negative angle relative to the vertical reference.
A QWERTY keyboard for use with a handheld electronic device, comprising:
- a first set of oblong shaped keys and a second set of oblong shaped keys, wherein each key in the first set of keys is tilted at a positive angle relative to a vertical reference and each key in the second set of keys is tilted at a negative angle relative to the vertical reference,
- wherein the first and second set of keys form a QWERTY keyboard.
An electronic communication device, comprising:
- a transceiver for transmitting and receiving text messages;
- a keyboard for composing text messages to be transmitted by the transceiver, wherein the keyboard includes a first set of oblong shaped keys and a second set of oblong shaped keys, wherein each key in the first set of keys is tilted at a positive angle relative to a vertical reference and each key in the second set of keys is tilted at a negative angle relative to the vertical reference;
- and
- a display for displaying the received text messages.
A keyboard for use with a handheld electronic device, comprising:
- a first set of oblong shaped keys and a second set of oblong shaped keys, wherein the keys in the first set of keys are tilted at a first angle relative to a vertical reference and the keys in the second set of keys are tilted at a second angle relative to the vertical reference,
- wherein the first and second set of keys form a QWERTY keyboard.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.