Data phone with convertible keypad and method of using same
AssigneeKyocera Wireless Corp.
InventorsJohn J. Wendorff, Gad Shaanan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data phone includes a data phone housing and a convertible keypad carried by the housing. The convertible keypad is adapted to convert between a telephone keypad and a keyboard. The telephone keypad has a first number of input keys available for selection by a user to dial out a phone number and the keyboard has a second number of input keys available for selection by a user to enter data into the data phone. The second number of input keys of the keyboard is greater than the first number of input keys of the telephone keypad.
Claims17
A data phone, comprising:
- a data phone housing having a length along a length axis and a width along a width axis, the width axis substantially perpendicular to the length axis;
- a display carried by the data phone housing and positioned for viewing with respect to the length axis;
- a convertible keypad carried by the data phone housing and having a position below the display with respect to the length axis, the convertible keypad for converting between a telephone keypad and a keyboard while maintaining the position with respect to the length axis below the display, the telephone keypad having a first set of input keys available for selection by a user to dial out a phone number and the keyboard having a second set of input keys available for selection by the user to enter data into the data phone, the second set of input keys of the keyboard greater than the first set of input keys of the telephone keypad;
- and
- a centering mechanism for centering the keyboard with respect to the display along the width axis.
A method of converting a phone from a telephone mode to a second mode, the phone having a convertible keypad, a display, and a housing for holding the convertible keypad and the display, the convertible keypad positioned in a recessed area below the display with respect to a length axis, the convertible keypad having a first configuration of a telephone keypad for use with the telephone mode and a second configuration of a second input device for use with the second mode, the method comprising the steps of:
- expanding the convertible keypad below the display with respect to a width axis substantially perpendicular to the length axis and while maintaining the convertible keypad within the recessed area of the housing;
- and
- centering the convertible keypad with respect to the display along the width axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.