Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-22
2003-09-30
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S727000, C400S088000, C345S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06628511
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of handheld digital devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to the placement of data entry keys with respect to the display within each of these devices.
2. Background Information
Advances in computer and telecommunication technology have led to the wide spread adoption and miniaturization of electronic organization and communication devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and wireless pagers. Although smaller versions of such devices allow increased portability, the reduction in size is typically accompanied by awkward keypad positioning thereby hindering one's ease of use and possibly causing discomfort to the user.
FIG. 1
illustrates an exemplary prior art PDA. As illustrated, prior art PDA
100
typically includes body-casing
116
with top end
118
A, bottom end
118
B, left side
119
A and right side
119
B, as well as keypad
102
, disposed near bottom end
118
B. Keypad
102
represents a set of small, fingertip-sized data entry keys configured in a standard “QWERTY” arrangement to facilitate a user in providing numeric and/or alphanumeric input into PDA
100
. Keypad
102
further includes function keys
120
-
121
, which are linked to pre-programmed functions such as character mode and/or operating mode switching activated by the press of the appropriate function keys
120
-
121
by a user.
PDA
100
further includes display screen
108
, which is disposed near top end
118
A above keypad
102
, and is used to echo numeric or alphanumeric inputs entered by a user, as well as to display various graphical and/or alphanumeric messages, menu options, control information, status information, and so forth. For example, display screen
108
is illustrated as displaying graphical icons
110
-
114
, and date and time information
104
.
Although the physical size of body casing
116
may vary, PDA
100
is typically palm-sized so as to fit within the palm of an average user's hand. During normal use, by virtue of its configuration with keypad
102
disposed near bottom end
118
B and display screen
108
disposed near top end
118
A above keypad
102
, a user will typically rest body casing
116
on one or both of their index fingers formed into an arch with at least one of the user's thumbs being utilized to pinch PDA
100
against the arched forefinger(s), thus leaving only one of the users thumb free to enter and/or manipulate data via keypad
102
. Accordingly, the user typically severely arches their thumbs into an inconvenient and uncomfortable position in order to operate PDA
100
, thereby exposing the user to possible discomfort. Furthermore, due to keypad
102
being disposed below display screen
108
, display screen
108
is rendered vulnerable to bright light sources such as the sun. In situations where display screen
108
represents a backlit display for example, such bright light shone on display screen
108
can severely interfere with the users viewing of information displayed within display screen
108
.
Therefore, a more user-friendly design, in particular, one that improves thumb manipulability of the keypad is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A palm-sized handheld device includes a body casing having a top end and a bottom end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the device also includes a display screen proximately disposed near the bottom end of the device, and a plurality of input keys proximately disposed near said top end of the device above the input display screen.
As a result of such a configuration, accessibility to the input keys by users' thumbs is improved while glare from a bright light source on the display screen may be decreased.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5287246 (1994-02-01), Sen
patent: 5995084 (1999-11-01), Chan et al.
patent: 6278442 (2001-08-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 6327482 (2001-12-01), Miyashita
patent: 6330149 (2001-12-01), Burrell
patent: 6373501 (2002-04-01), Fiero
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt P.C.
Xoucin, Inc.
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