Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080211697 | Handheld Electronic Device and Keypad Providing Enhanced Usability and Reduced Size, and Associated Method - An improved handheld electronic device, keypad, and method in accordance with the invention meet these and other needs. An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keypad provides enhanced usability and reduced size by organizing its keys in pairs, with a pair of keys being disposed on a support. Each key of a pair of keys is individually actuatable. An actuation of a key causes a primary conductor associated with the key set to electrically to connect a pair of contacts and to cause a secondary conductor associated with the key to electrically connect another pair of contacts. The primary conductor is a dome that is collapsible to electrically connect the pair of contacts and to provide a particular tactile feedback to the user. The secondary conductor is a conductor other than a collapsible dome. An actuation of any key or of any pair of keys thus provides to the user a consistent tactile feedback from a collapse of a single dome. An improved method in accordance with the invention is also disclosed. | 09-04-2008 |
20080284622 | KEYBOARD FOR HAND-HELD DEVICES - A hand-held electronic device has a keyboard with a plurality of keys, each key having a substantially flat contact surface extending to the sides of each key. One of the sides of the key is beveled. | 11-20-2008 |
20080318617 | APPEARANCE ADAPTABLE KEYPAD FOR A HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode is described. The handheld communication device has a body with a front face at which a user input is located. The user input includes an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode, and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode. The telephone keypad includes a plurality of alphanumeric input keys. The telephone keypad is arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode. The text entry keypad includes a plurality of alphabetic input keys. The text entry keypad is arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode. | 12-25-2008 |
20090023478 | NAVIGATIONAL TOOL WITH DRAG-BASED TACTILE FEEDBACK ON A HANDHELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A wireless handheld communication device features a rotational navigation tool assembly such as a trackball or a thumbwheel. The rotational navigation tool assembly provides a user with tactile feedback corresponding to motion of a selection or position indicator on the device display. The tactile feedback is electromagnetically induced and may, for example, be considered an electromagnetic detent. | 01-22-2009 |
20090033521 | KEY DESIGNS FOR COMPACT KEYPAD OF HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A keypad for a mobile device having a housing comprises a plurality of keys coupled to the housing. Each of the keys has means for making the selection of smaller key sizes easier for a user. The keys may incorporate a flexible or resilient upper part, or be configured to transform to a larger surface area upon the application of pressure. The keys may be configured to rotate away from a selected key. The keys adjacent a selected key may be configured to lock mechanically or electrically. The keys may have multiple parts that are movable relative to one another. The upper part of the key may include a fluid, with a selection rod positioned inside the upper part to enter the fluid. | 02-05-2009 |
20090058809 | REDUCED KEY ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A keyboard for a mobile communication device includes a first set of alphanumeric keys that is arranged in a two column by three row array. In a first example, the key arrangement includes vowels and consonants in the two by three array, with function keys positioned in a row that is different from the first set of keys. In another example, the key arrangement includes consonants in the first set of keys and vowels in a second set of keys, with the first set of keys including a two by three array of keys and the second set of keys being positioned in a row other than the rows of the two by three array of keys. The keys may be toggle keys. The characters may be input via multi-tapping the keys, word completion, and/or other known text entry techniques. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058814 | Handheld Electronic Device and Associated Method Providing Advanced Text Editing Function in a Text Disambiguation Environment - An improved handheld electronic device and associated method provide an advanced editing feature and an improved learning feature that are provided in a disambiguation environment. The advanced editing feature advantageously enables a new word that has been incorrectly disambiguated by a disambiguation routine to be readily by the user without requiring the incorrectly disambiguated word to be deleted and retyped. Rather, the advanced editing feature enables the incorrectly disambiguated characters to be replaced with opposite characters on the same keys, and such changes can be accomplished merely through the use of inputs to a track ball. The newly edited word can then be learned by a learning database. The improved learning function advantageously favors words that are learned using the advanced editing feature over words that have been learned in other fashions. | 03-05-2009 |
20090066651 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION NAVIGATION ENHANCEMENT ON A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device with a body which houses a microprocessor-run software application is disclosed. The software application program requires operator navigation therein during use. Furthermore, the application program is programmed to receive a directional navigation instruction from the operator utilizing a navigation tool. The instruction indicates a direction and degree of navigation with the application program. The application program is further programmed to receive a complimentary instruction from the operator that adapts the instructed degree of navigation to be affected in the application program by the received directional navigation instruction. | 03-12-2009 |
20090128370 | ANGULAR KEYBOARD FOR A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Wireless handheld mobile communication device including a housing with a display above a keyboard exposed for user actuation. A length of the device is greater than the width. Each key of a right-hand keyfield has a longitudinal axis oriented at a left-to-right inclined angle while each key of a left-hand keyfield has a longitudinal axis oriented at a right-to-left inclined angle from the vertical centerline. A left boundary of the keyboard is located adjacent the left lateral side edge of the device and the right boundary of the keyboard is located adjacent the right lateral side edge of the device so that the keyboard spans a substantial entirety of the width of the device. When the device is cradled in a right hand of the user, the longitudinal axis of each key of said plurality of keys located on the right is oriented to be parallel with a widthwise axis of the user's right thumb. When said device is cradled in a left hand of the user, the longitudinal axis of the keys located on the left-hand side of said vertical centerline is oriented to be substantially with a length wise axis of the user's left thumb. At least one key in the right-hand keyfield and one key in the left-hand keyfield is isosceles trapezoidal shaped. | 05-21-2009 |
20090135029 | Handheld Electronic Device That Has A Keypad Which Can Be Rendered Ineffective, And Associated Method - An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration. | 05-28-2009 |
20090137291 | MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A mobile communication device includes a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, a display associated with the front wall, and a keyboard associated with the front wall. Each of the side walls includes a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the length of the side walls. In addition, a reduced key keyboard has arcuate rows, with a top row that includes a send, end, and web browser key. The top row of the keyboard is also arcuate. | 05-28-2009 |
20090153371 | Handheld Electronic Device With Rotatable Keyboard - An improved handheld electronic device comprises a keypad having a first keypad portion and a second keypad portion. The second keypad portion is movable with respect to the first keypad portion between a first position and a second position such that the second keypad portion moves between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration, respectively. The second keypad portion is movable along a path of movement between the first and second positions, with the path of movement including an arcuate path within a plane that is parallel and/or coplanar with a plane in which the first keypad portion is disposed. The second keypad portion in the second position is disposed adjacent the first keypad portion at opposite sides thereof to form a single keyboard. | 06-18-2009 |
20090167695 | EMBEDDED NAVIGATION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD ON HANDHELD DEVICE - A handheld electronic communication device includes a plurality of text entry keys arranged in a keyfield. A navigation home region includes a navigation home key, and a navigation travel region bounds the navigation home region. The navigation travel region overlies text entry keys within the keyfield. A user navigates by actuating the navigation home key and then moving his finger across keys lying within the navigation travel region and otherwise generally used to effect text entry into the device. The navigation home key is preferably configured for dual levels of actuation, as may be the text entry keys. | 07-02-2009 |
20090186660 | HINGING INTERCONNECTOR FOR A CLAMSHELL HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A clamshell handheld wireless communication device having a hinging interconnector between the two housings, one in which the display screen is located and the other upon which the keyboard is located. The hinging interconnector is positioned between the two housings and navigation tool is located on the hinging interconnector. | 07-23-2009 |
20090186663 | ROTARILY CONFIGURABLE HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Handheld electronic communication device rotarily transitionable between compact and expanded configurations. The device includes an elongate display panel positioned adjacent and in parallel orientation with an elongate keyboard panel in the compact configuration. The display panel and keyboard panel are coupled together by a rotary connection that interconnects with the keyboard panel in an upper quadrant area of a front face thereof at a distance from a vertical centerline of the keyboard panel. The interconnection enables relative rotation between the panels and maintains the panels parallel to one another through out rotational transition between the compact and expanded configurations. The elongate display panel includes a display screen having a greater length than width and a lengthwise oriented centerline, the lengthwise oriented centerline being horizontally oriented when the device is configured in the expanded configuration. | 07-23-2009 |
20090186670 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH EXTENDED DUAL-HINGED INTERCONNECTOR - A clam-shell style handheld electronic device having a dual-hinged interconnector between a display housing and a keyboard housing. The dual-hinged interconnector can be configured to act as a handle when the device is being held during text entry and to act as a stand when the open device is placed on a substantially flat surface. | 07-23-2009 |
20090195499 | OPTICALLY BASED INPUT MECHANISM FOR A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE - Handheld electronic communication device is presented and includes a body with a display screen and an optically based user input device. The optically based user input device is a light-transmissive tubular member. The light-transmissive tubular member has an exposed surface and an image sensor. The handheld electronic communication device further includes a microprocessor which is connected between the image sensor and the display screen. The microprocessor is capable of executing a microprocessor-run program, which receives input data representative of cursor guidance instructions from the image sensor and processes the data for output on the display screen. | 08-06-2009 |
20090219176 | RECONFIGURABLE KEYFIELD ON A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A handheld communication device having a reconfigurable keyfield and a display screen upon which characters are displayed. A plurality of actuable input keys makeup the keyfield, and each has at least one character associated therewith and an engageable top surface for actuation. A microprocessor is configured to receive data indicative of an actuated input key and to output data indicative of an associated character determined to correspond to the indicated input key. At least one of the plurality of actuable input keys is mounted to the handheld communication device by an adjustable interconnection configurable between at least first and second operating orientations. In the first operating orientation, the engageable top surface of the at least one input key faces a first direction and in the second operating orientation the engageable top surface of the at least one input key faces a second direction. | 09-03-2009 |
20090267904 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE INPUT SURFACE AND METHOD OF DETERMINING USER-SELECTED INPUT - A method of determining input at a touch-sensitive input surface of a portable electronic device includes detecting a touch event at the touch-sensitive input surface, sampling touch attributes during the touch event, determining an actual touch location and determining at least one shift in touch location based on the touch attributes sampled during the touch event, and determining an input based on the actual touch location and the direction of shift of the touch location. | 10-29-2009 |
20100023317 | METHOD FOR GENERATING TEXT IN A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCORPORATING THE SAME - Incoming e-mails, instant messages, SMS, and MMS, are scanned for new language objects such as words, abbreviations, text shortcuts and, in appropriate languages, ideograms, that are placed in a list for use by a text input process of a handheld electronic device to facilitate the generation of text. | 01-28-2010 |
20100062810 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A wireless device having a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the device, the device including an upper casing including an interior surface having a primary display and an exterior surface having a secondary display, the primary display being active when the device is in an open configuration and the secondary display being active when the device is in a closed configuration, a lower casing including a keypad, a hinge assembly connecting the upper casing to the lower casing and enabling the device to alternate between the open and closed configurations, and a switch assembly including a switch provided in the upper casing and an actuator provided in the lower casing in alignment with the switch, the switch and actuator configured for engaging each other to perform an action when the upper and lower casings are pressed together. | 03-11-2010 |
20100066706 | METHOD OF MOUNTING THUMBWHEEL SWITCH ON PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCORPORATING THE SAME - A thumbwheel switch for a handheld electronic device is mechanically and electrically mounted on the substrate of a printed circuit board using SMT with the thumbwheel seated in a cutout in the substrate and with the top surface of the thumbwheel about flush with the top surface of the substrate so that the thumbwheel is ergonomically positioned on the side of the handheld electronic device at the level of the display. | 03-18-2010 |
20100087228 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface including an area defined by a boundary, detecting a touch event at a touch location within the area defined by the boundary on the touch screen display, determining if the touch location has moved to a new location outside of the area defined by the boundary; and performing an action in response to detecting the touch event at the touch location within the area defined by the boundary and determining that the touch location has moved from the area defined by the boundary to the new location outside of the area defined by the boundary. | 04-08-2010 |
20100119922 | EXPANDABLE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes. | 05-13-2010 |
20100134417 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis providing input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and other aspects of the device. The roller ball input can be configured to additionally be translatable to provide an input, and additionally and/or alternatively the roller ball input can provide a tactile or other feedback to a user. | 06-03-2010 |
20100141484 | OPTIMIZED KEYBOARD FOR HANDHELD THUMB-TYPING AND TOUCH-TYPING - A keyboard optimized for handheld thumb-typing and conventional desktop touch-typing includes a reduced key keyboard having a plurality of keys each having at least an alphabetic character, a numeral, or a command indicia. The keyboard has a width greater than about 100 millimeters and less than about 160 millimeters, and each key has a width that is approximately 10 millimeters to 16 millimeters. The alphabetic keys are arranged such that when a user cradles the device in his/her hands he/she can actuate a first subset of the keys on the left of a vertical center line with his/her left thumb and can actuate a second subset of the keys on the right side of the vertical centerline with his/her right thumb. The keys are also positioned such that when the user places the device on a desktop surface, the user can type on the keyboard by conventional finger touch-typing. | 06-10-2010 |
20100141584 | STROKE BASED INPUT SYSTEM FOR CHARACTER INPUT - An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, preferably a trackball, an output apparatus, namely a display, and a processor apparatus. The processor apparatus is structured to execute a number of routines including a stroke-based input user interface routine. The stroke-based input user interface routine is structured to present a user interface on the display. The user interface includes an active portion, a filter portion and an output portion. | 06-10-2010 |
20100160010 | HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH MOVEABLE DISPLAY/COVER MEMBER - Handheld mobile communication devices according to the disclosure have a closed position, in which the display member of the device covers at least a portion of the keys of on the keypad member of the device, and an open position, in which the keys are accessible and the device is operated. When the display member is in the open position, it forms an ergonomically desirable angle (e.g., on the order of about 155°) relative to the keypad member. However, unlike clamshell-type cellular phones, the display member does not simply flip open about a conventional pivot joint. Rather, it moves from the closed position, where it is parallel and adjacent to the keypad member, to the open, angled position through a sliding/sweeping motion; through an eccentric, “up-and-over” rotational motion; or through a combination sliding/“up-and-over” motion. | 06-24-2010 |
20100180235 | METHOD AND HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING AND SELECTING DIACRITICS - A handheld electronic device includes a keypad having a plurality of keys and a selection member; a display component; and a processor cooperating with the keypad and the display component to provide a display at the display component. The display includes a first representation of a plurality of the keys, and at least one of: (a) a second representation of an activated one of the input members, (b) a third representation including a plurality of diacritics disposed about an activated one of the input members, and (c) a fourth representation including a plurality of diacritics disposed about an activated one of the input members, and a direction of selection between the activated one of the input members and one of the diacritics. The processor cooperates with the selection member to adjust the direction of selection, and select one of the diacritics for display by the display component. | 07-15-2010 |
20100219973 | ADAPTIVE PEDESTRIAN BILLBOARD SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - An adaptive pedestrian billboard system may include a display for passing pedestrian traffic, and a memory for storing a plurality of notifications having different visual feature detail levels. The system may further include a controller configured to cooperate with the display and the memory for determining a density of the passing pedestrian traffic, select notifications from the memory based upon the density of the passing pedestrian traffic so that notifications for higher density passing pedestrian traffic have lower visual feature detail levels and so that notifications for lower density passing pedestrian traffic have higher visual feature detail levels, and display the selected notifications on the display. | 09-02-2010 |
20100222032 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING NOTIFICATION EFFECTIVENESS RANKING FOR A NOTIFICATION DISPLAY AND RELATED METHODS - A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device including an input device and a processor cooperating therewith and configured to receive input data corresponding to a notification display. The system may further include a notification server configured to determine when the at least one mobile wireless communications device enters within a threshold exposure distance of the notification display, and increase a notification effectiveness ranking for the notification display based upon a determination that the mobile wireless communications device entered within the threshold exposure distance, and based upon the processor receiving the input data corresponding to the notification display. | 09-02-2010 |
20100222033 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE DEVICE NOTIFICATION BASED UPON PERSONAL INTEREST INFORMATION AND CALENDAR EVENTS - A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device for storing personal interest information for respective contacts and for storing calendar event data. The system may further include a notification server communicating with the at least one mobile wireless communications device via a wireless communications network and configured to access the personal interest information and calendar event data from the at least one mobile wireless communications device, and send notifications to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the personal interest information and the calendar event data. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223112 | ADAPTIVE ROADSIDE BILLBOARD SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - An adaptive roadside billboard system which may include a roadside display for passing vehicle traffic, and a memory for storing a plurality of notifications having different visual feature detail levels. Furthermore, a controller may be configured to cooperate with the roadside display and the memory to determine a rate of the passing vehicle traffic, select notifications from the memory based upon the rate of passing vehicle traffic so that notifications for faster passing vehicle traffic have lower visual feature detail levels and so that notifications for slower passing vehicle traffic have higher visual feature detail levels, and display the selected notifications on the roadside display. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223133 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PREDICTED SEARCH QUERY TERMS BASED UPON GROUPS OF RELATED ADVERTISING TERMS - A communications system may include an advertising server for providing at least one group of related advertising terms, and a mobile wireless communications device comprising a display, a user input device, and a processor coupled to the display and the user input device. The processor may be configured to display a user search interface on the display, receive entry of search query characters, and match the entered search query characters to identify at least one predicted search query term. Moreover, if the at least one predicted search query term is among the at least one group of related advertising terms, then the processor may cause the display to display at least one other of the group that would otherwise not match the entered search query character data. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223135 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE DEVICE ADVERTISEMENTS BASED UPON ACTIVITY HISTORY AND RELATED METHODS - A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device and an advertising server cooperating with the at least one mobile wireless communications device via a wireless communications network. The advertising server may be for generating an activity history for the at least one wireless communications device including geographical positions at corresponding times of day, and selectively sending advertisements to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the activity history and a given time of day. | 09-02-2010 |
20100315344 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO FACILITATE NAVIGATION AND THE ENTRY OF INFORMATION, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A method of facilitating the input of information in a handheld electronic device having a plurality of input elements such as, without limitation, keys. The method includes receiving a signal indicating that a particular one of the input elements is being touched in a first manner, providing a feedback signal, such as a sound or graphic, that identifies the particular input element after the signal is received, and performing a function associated with the particular input element when it is being touched in a second manner. Also, a handheld electronic device that includes an input apparatus having a plurality of input elements, a processor, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory stores one or more routines executable by the processor for implementing the method described above. | 12-16-2010 |
20110003620 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF INPUT LANGUAGE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a request to initiate the composition of a new message, receiving a selection of a particular contact that is the intended recipient of the message, and determining whether the particular contact has a stored preferred input language. If a preferred input language is stored, the method includes determining whether the preferred input language is different than the current input language (which may be a pre-established default input language). If the preferred input language is different, the method further includes switching the current input language to the preferred input language. Also provided is an improved handheld electronic device having one or more routines adapted to implement the method. Also provided is a method of indicating a preferred language in association with a call received by or placed to the device. | 01-06-2011 |
20110070825 | COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES - A device, method, and system are disclosed for establishing wireless communications between communications devices comprising respective magnets and magnetic sensors each located on first and second communications device and aligned such that a magnet on the first communications device is aligned with a magnetic sensor on the second communications device and a magnet on the second communications device is aligned with a magnetic sensor on the first communications device. In response, a Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit contained in each of the first and second communications devices is activated and data exchanged between the first and second communications devices using a NFC communications protocol. | 03-24-2011 |
20110070826 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM USING MAGNETIC SENSOR AND ACTIVATED NFC CIRCUIT FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES - A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and a circuit board carried by the housing. Radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor are carried by the housing and operative with each other. A Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit is connected to the processor for communicating using an NFC communications protocol. A magnetic sensor is supported by the housing and connected to the processor for sensing a magnetic field and generating a signal to the processor and in response, the processor activating the NFC circuit for transmitting or receiving data using the NFC communications protocol. | 03-24-2011 |
20110070827 | COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INITIATING COMMUNICATIONS AT A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A communications device and method initiates communications at a communications device and includes magnetically coupling the communications device to a Near Field Communications (NFC) tag. In response to the magnetic coupling with the NFC tag, an NFC circuit contained in the communications device is activated for subsequent communications using the NFC communications protocol. | 03-24-2011 |
20110070828 | SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED NFC TAG USING PLURALITY OF NFC TAGS ASSOCIATED WITH LOCATION OR DEVICES TO COMMUNICATE WITH COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A Near Field Communications (NFC) tag includes a housing and a magnet carried by the housing and configured to be magnetically sensed by a magnetic sensor carried by a communications device to activate an NFC circuit within the communications device to communicate using an NFC communications protocol. A data store stores data regarding a function of the communications device to be magnetically coupled by the magnet. The data store is configured to be read by the communications device using an NFC communications protocol after the NFC circuit had been activated. | 03-24-2011 |
20110070829 | ACCELEROMETER TAP DETECTION TO INITIATE NFC COMMUNICATION - A communications device, method and system include a processor and a Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit connected to the processor and configured to communicate using an NFC communications protocol. An accelerometer is connected to the processor and configured to generate a signal to the processor upon a tapping engagement with an NFC enabled device. In response, the processor activates the NFC circuit to transmit or receive data with the NFC enabled device using the NFC communications protocol. | 03-24-2011 |
20110070837 | COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE USING ELECTROMAGNET AND ACTIVATED COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUIT - A communications device includes a processor and Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry that includes a communications module. An electromagnet is connected to the communications module and the processor. The electromagnet is configured to couple magnetically to a second communications device having a magnetic sensor and to transmit from the electromagnet to the magnetic sensor electromagnet pulses containing data regarding a wireless communications protocol. The processor and communications module are configured to establish a wireless communications connection with the second communications device. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077050 | INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH DETACHABLE INFORMATION MODULE - A unitary handheld portable module includes a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data. A base module is configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and includes a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information. The portable and base modules are configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable module is removably mounted on the base module and covers the base module's display, and the modules communicate with each other for the portable module's display to display information relating to operation of the base module. | 03-31-2011 |
20110084908 | DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INFORMING USERS OF FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTERS ASSOCIATED WITH TELEPHONE KEYS - System and method for informing a user of functions or characters associated with keys on a mobile communications device includes a keyboard operable to input dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) codes and a display screen operable to display information. The display screen is also operable to display a virtual representation of at least a portion of the keyboard. The virtual representation includes help information on one or more virtually represented keys of the keyboard. This help information informs a user of an associated telephone function or character of one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display. | 04-14-2011 |
20110092256 | HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A display is mounted in a display housing for displaying information to a user. An input is mounted in an input housing for inputting data. The input housing is permanently attached to the display housing and movable relative to the display housing between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the input and the display face in the same direction to allow simultaneous input of the data and viewing of the information. In the closed position, the input is behind the display and facing away from the display and operable for inputting the data. | 04-21-2011 |
20110129724 | EXPANDABLE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes. | 06-02-2011 |
20110212688 | NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE OPERATIONS BASED UPON TIMING AND SEQUENCE OF NFC SENSOR COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plurality of spaced-apart NFC sensors and at least one mobile wireless communications device. The at least one mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, an NFC circuit carried by the portable housing and configured to establish NFC communications with the NFC sensors when moved in close proximity therewith, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the NFC circuit. The controller may be configured to perform different mobile device operations based upon a timing and sequence in which the NFC sensors are communicated with. | 09-01-2011 |
20110214158 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE DEVICE AUTHENTICATION BYPASS BASED UPON USER-WEARABLE SECURITY DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS - A wireless communications system may include a user-wearable device including a clasp having open and closed positions, a first wireless security circuit (WSC), and a first controller coupled to the clasp and the first WSC. The system may further include a mobile wireless communications device including a portable housing, an input device(s), a second WSC carried by the portable housing and configured to communicate with the first WSC when in close proximity therewith, and a second controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the second WSC and the input device(s). The second controller may be configured to enable mobile wireless communications device(s) function based upon a manual entry of an authentication code via the input device(s), and bypass the manual entry and enable the mobile wireless communications device function(s) based upon a communication from the user-wearable device and a position of the clasp. | 09-01-2011 |
20110234500 | Keyboard for Hand-Held Devices - A hand-held electronic device has a keyboard with a plurality of keys, each key having a substantially flat contact surface extending to the sides of each key. One of the sides of the key is beveled. | 09-29-2011 |
20110237195 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE DETACHABLE COMMUNICATION MODULES - A wireless communication device has a docking cavity, a short-range transceiver, and a long-range transceiver for long-range wireless communication with a wireless network. A wireless communication module includes a speaker and a microphone, and a short-range transceiver for short-range wireless communication with the device's short-range transceiver. The module is configured to operate in first and second modes. In the first mode, the module is separated from the communication device. In the second mode, the module is mounted in the cavity. In both modes, communication between a user and the network is conducted through the module's microphone and speaker, both short-range transceivers and the long-range transceiver. | 09-29-2011 |
20120013535 | Keyboard for Hand-Held Devices - A hand-held electronic device has a keyboard with a plurality of keys, each key having a substantially flat contact surface extending to the sides of each key. One of the sides of the key is beveled. | 01-19-2012 |
20120088481 | INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH DETACHABLE INFORMATION MODULE - A unitary handheld portable module includes a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data. A base module is configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and includes a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information. The portable and base modules are configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable module is removably mounted on the base module and covers the base module's display, and the modules communicate with each other for the portable module's display to display information relating to operation of the base module. | 04-12-2012 |
20120105352 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROVIDING CONFIRMATION OF INPUT, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A letter confirmation system is provided on a handheld electronic device. The letter confirmation provides highlighting of various letters that have been input to the handheld electronic device during a string of member input actuations. The letter confirmation system can additionally provide predictive linguistic elements that would be appropriate next inputs. Various types of highlights can be provided in various combinations to provide various indications to a user. | 05-03-2012 |
20120148894 | EXPANDABLE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having a battery compartment and a removeable cover therefor, the battery compartment and cover are configured to accommodate batteries of at least two different sizes. | 06-14-2012 |
20120172019 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MOBILE DEVICE NOTIFICATION BASED UPON PERSONAL INTEREST INFORMATION AND CALENDAR EVENTS - A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device for storing personal interest information for respective contacts and for storing calendar event data. The system may further include a notification server communicating with the at least one mobile wireless communications device via a wireless communications network and configured to access the personal interest information and calendar event data from the at least one mobile wireless communications device, and send notifications to the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon the personal interest information and the calendar event data. | 07-05-2012 |
20120190409 | Ramped-Key Keyboard for a Handheld Mobile Communication Device - Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each depressible key has a top engagement surface with an upper inboard portion that is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each depressible key is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with a remaining surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes. | 07-26-2012 |
20120225699 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE DETACHABLE COMMUNICATION MODULES - A wireless communication device has a docking cavity, a short-range transceiver, and a long-range transceiver for long-range wireless communication with a wireless network. A wireless communication module includes a speaker and a microphone, and a short-range transceiver for short-range wireless communication with the device's short-range transceiver. The module is configured to operate in first and second modes. In the first mode, the module is separated from the communication device. In the second mode, the module is mounted in the cavity. In both modes, communication between a user and the network is conducted through the module's microphone and speaker, both short-range transceivers and the long-range transceiver. | 09-06-2012 |
20120225702 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT HAS A KEYPAD WHICH CAN BE RENDERED INEFFECTIVE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration. | 09-06-2012 |
20120280914 | HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH MOVEABLE DISPLAY/COVER MEMBER - Handheld mobile communication devices according to the disclosure have a closed position, in which the display member of the device covers at least a portion of the keys of on the keypad member of the device, and an open position, in which the keys are accessible and the device is operated. When the display member is in the open position, it forms an ergonomically desirable angle (e.g., on the order of about 155°) relative to the keypad member. However, unlike clamshell-type cellular phones, the display member does not simply flip open about a conventional pivot joint. Rather, it moves from the closed position, where it is parallel and adjacent to the keypad member, to the open, angled position through a sliding/sweeping motion; through an eccentric, “up-and-over” rotational motion; or through a combination sliding/“up-and-over” motion. | 11-08-2012 |
20120297340 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO FACILITATE NAVIGATION AND THE ENTRY OF INFORMATION, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A method of facilitating the input of information in a handheld electronic device having a plurality of input elements such as, without limitation, keys. The method includes receiving a signal indicating that a particular one of the input elements is being touched in a first manner, providing a feedback signal, such as a sound or graphic, that identifies the particular input element after the signal is received, and performing a function associated with the particular input element when it is being touched in a second manner. Also, a handheld electronic device that includes an input apparatus having a plurality of input elements, a processor, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory stores one or more routines executable by the processor for implementing the method described above. | 11-22-2012 |
20130021250 | METHOD AND HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING AND SELECTING DIACRITICS - A handheld electronic device includes a keypad having up plurality of keys and a selection member; a display component; and a processor cooperating with the keypad and the display component to provide a display at the display component. The display includes a first representation of a plurality of the keys, and at least one of: (a) a second representation of an activated one of the input members (b) a third representation including a plurality of diacritics disposed about an activated one of the input members, and (c) a fourth representation including a plurality of diacritics disposed about an activated one of the input members, and a direction of selection between the activated one of the input members and one of the diacritics. The processor cooperates with the selection member to adjust the direction of selection, and select one of the diacritics for display by the display component. | 01-24-2013 |
20140181713 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING NAVIGATIONAL AND OTHER COMMANDS ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A wireless handheld communication device having a housing containing a display screen located above a physical keyboard. The keyboard includes a plurality of physical keys and corresponding indicia. Some of the keys are associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to a QWERTY array of letters A-Z and some are associated with numeric characters 0-9 corresponding to a telephone keypad arrangement. At least some of the keys associated with numeric characters are overlaid on the physical keys associated with alphabetic characters. A microprocessor is included that runs the device in at least a telephony mode, an email mode and at least one additional mode. The microprocessor displays a key-function map on the display screen indicative of enabled functions associated with particular physical keys of the keyboard which are different from any function signified by the indicia associated with the respective particular physical key. | 06-26-2014 |