External keyboard for personal digital assistant

Details External keyboard for personal digital assistant External keyboard for personal digital assistant

2001-04-30

2003-02-04

Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S689000, C361S689000, C400S714000, C235S14500A

Reexamination Certificate

active

06515852

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to personal digital assistants and more particularly to an external keyboard capable of connecting to a personal digital assistant with improved characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, personal digital assistants (PDAs) are poplular due to portability, etc. Hence, memo, phone book, and other features provided by PDA are performed in a hand-written manner (i.e., a plurality of alphanumeric characters are inputted). Thus, a plurality of records of memo or telephone number may be stored in PDA for future access. However, such hand-written input is not sufficient for ever increasing features provided by newly available PDAs. Thus, an external keyboard is commercially available recently served as an additional input device for PDA. Typically, such keyboard includes a plurality of keys. Hence, user may edit memo or phone book by inputting through the keyboard connected to PDA.
A conventional externally connected keyboard
11
for PDA
2
is shown in
FIG. 1. A
cover
13
is hinged to one side of keyboard
11
. Hence, cover
13
may pivot about the hinge to open or close the keyboard
11
. A slot
16
is provided in the center on the hinged side of cover
13
. Hence, a connection port
15
projected above slot
16
may be received in slot
16
when the cover
13
is closed. Connection port
15
has one side connected to cover
13
. Thus, connection port
15
is open when cover
13
is open. Connection port
15
is connected to a connector of PDA
2
. Connection port
15
has a plurality of pins connected to electronics and keys of keyboard
11
through conductors. PDA
2
is electrically connected keyboard
11
when connector on one side of PDA
2
is connected to connection port
15
. As a result, user is able to input by keying the keyboard
11
.
A friction based support member (not shown) is provided between the hinge of cover
13
and keyboard
11
. The friction based support member is able to support an open cover
13
at one of a plurality of angular locations relative to the keyboard
11
. Thus, PDA
2
may be supported by cover
13
at the angle when connected to connection port
15
. A cavity
12
is provided in the bottom of keyboard
11
. A retractable support
17
is provided in the cavity
12
. In a use position, handle (i.e., first enlargement)
171
of support
17
is pulled from cavity
12
until the bottom end (i.e., second enlargement)
172
is stopped at the narrow opening of cavity
12
. Such additional support area at the bottom of keyboard
11
provided by the extended support
17
may reliably support PDA
2
for preventing PDA
2
and keyboard
11
from tipping over. However, such cavity
12
in the bottom of keyboard
11
for receiving the support
17
inevitably increases the thickness of keyboard
11
. This makes a compact keyboard impossible. Thus, improvement exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an external keyboard connected to a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising a keyboard section, a cover including a first portion and a hinged second portion, and a connection port in the center of the hinge between the keyboard section and the cover, the connection port being capable of connecting to a connector of the PDA. A support member is formed at the hinge between first and second portions of cover opposite to an elastic restrain formed at the hinge of the first and the second portions of cover. The restrain is curved and is urged against one side of the support member for fastening the support member at a first angle relative to the restrain in one position. Thus, first and second portions of cover are held at the same plane. In another position, second portion of cover is pivoted at a second angle relative to first portion thereof. One side of support member is pivoted to the same angle relative to restrain accordingly. Thus, support member is fastened at the second angle by the elasticity of restrain. As a result, second portion of cover is also held at the second angle. When PDA is connected to connection port and held in first portion of cover, keyboard and PDA are prevented from tipping over by the support of second portion of cover.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5548477 (1996-08-01), Kumar et al.
patent: 5708560 (1998-01-01), Kumar et al.
patent: 5712760 (1998-01-01), Coulon et al.
patent: 6108200 (2000-08-01), Fullerton
patent: 6154759 (2000-11-01), Chou

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