Patent Publication Number: US-2005134568-A1

Title: Method and system for providing a rotated keyboard and angled display in a hand-held computing device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a method and system for providing a hand-held computing device.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Hand-held computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), certain cellular telephones, and blackberry devices, are of increasing interest to both manufacturers and consumers. Currently, most conventional hand-held computing devices have a conventional human interface that includes a conventional keyboard or keypad and a conventional display screen encapsulated in a case. When closed, the case protects the conventional keyboard, conventional display, and internal circuitry. Typically, the conventional case slides open, revealing the conventional keyboard and conventional display, which are fixed in place. Some conventional hand-held computing devices open by rotating the conventional display rotates with respect to the conventional keyboard. Once open, the conventional keyboard and conventional display can be used to enter and view data.  
      Although conventional hand-held computing devices function, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the conventional human interface may be difficult to use. In particular, the configuration and size of the conventional keyboard and display may make is relatively difficult for a user to enter information. Furthermore, the orientation of the conventional display may make it difficult to view the desired information.  
      Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for providing an improved human interface for a hand-held computing device. The present invention addresses such a need.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a method and system for providing a hand-held computing device. The hand-held computing device includes a display and a keyboard that is coupled with the display. The keyboard is rotatable through at least ninety degrees to be oriented in a portrait mode or a landscape mode.  
      According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides a hand-held computing device having a human interface that is more flexible and simpler to use.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1A  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is in a landscape orientation.  
       FIG. 1B  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is rotated to be in a first portrait orientation.  
       FIG. 1C  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is rotated to be in a second portrait orientation.  
       FIG. 1D  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when closed.  
       FIG. 2A  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is used in a portrait orientation.  
       FIG. 2B  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is used in a portrait orientation and the display is angled in a first desktop orientation.  
       FIG. 2C  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is used in a portrait orientation and the display is angled in a second desktop orientation.  
       FIG. 2D  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance with the present invention when used in a landscape orientation.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an improvement in hand-held computing devices. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
      The present invention provides a method and system for providing a hand-held computing device. The hand-held computing device includes a display and a keyboard that is coupled with the display. The keyboard is rotatable through at least ninety degrees to be oriented in a portrait mode or a landscape mode.  
      The present invention will be described in terms of a particular hand-held computing device having a keyboard and display. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that this method and system will operate effectively for other hand-held computing devices having other and/or additional components including other keyboards and/or displays.  
      To more particularly illustrate the method and system in accordance with the present invention, refer now to  FIG. 1A , depicting a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device  100  in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard is in a landscape orientation. The hand-held computing device  100  includes a keyboard  110  and a display  120 . The display  120  includes a display screen  122  that is preferably an LCD display. However, in an alternate embodiment, the display screen  122  could be another type of screen. The keyboard  1   10  includes keys  112 . In the embodiment shown, the keyboard  110  is a QWERTY keyboard. However, in another embodiment, another type of keyboard  110  could be used. For example, the keys  112  could be arranged in a different layout or could simply be numeric keys for a keypad. In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the hand-held computing device  100  are such that the width, w, is approximately two and three-quarters inches and the length, l, is approximately four and one-half inches. However, in an alternate embodiment, the hand-held computing device  100  could have other dimensions.  
       FIGS. 1B and 1C  are a diagram of the embodiment of a hand-held computing device  100  in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard  110  is rotated to be in a first portrait orientation and a second portrait orientation, respectively. Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 1B , and  1 C, the keyboard  110  can thus preferably be in a landscape orientation, as shown in  FIG. 1A , or one of two portrait orientations shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C . In an alternate embodiment, the keyboard  110  can take on only one of the two portrait orientations. In yet another alternate embodiment, the keyboard  110  could take on either of two landscape orientations (shown in  FIG. 1A  or another that is not shown wherein the keyboard is one hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the orientation shown in  FIG. 1A ) and at least one of the two portrait orientations (shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C ). In the first portrait orientation shown in  FIG. 1B , the keyboard  110  is oriented such that the letter keys are at the bottom of the keyboard  110 , distant from the display  120 . In the second portrait orientation shown in  FIG. 1C , the keyboard  110  is oriented such that the letter keys are at the top of the keyboard  110 , in proximity to the display  120 .  
      In operation in the portrait mode shown in  FIG. 1B  or  1 C, the information is depicted on the display screen  122  preferably appears right-side up to a user viewing the keyboard  110  right-side up. Stated differently, the information displayed on the display screen  122  is preferably provided in a portrait orientation while the keyboard  110  is in the portrait orientations depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 1C . In a preferred embodiment, the hand-held computing device  100  is also usable in a landscape mode, when the keyboard  110  is in the landscape orientation shown in  FIG. 1A . In such a mode, the information depicted on the display screen  122  is preferably in a landscape orientation when the keyboard  110  is in the landscape orientation. Thus, regardless of the orientation of the keyboard  110 , the information provided on the display screen  112  is easily understandable by a user.  
       FIG. 1D  is a diagram of one embodiment of the hand-held computing device  100  in accordance with the present invention when closed. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness, t, of the hand-held computing device  100  is approximately ¾ inch when the hand-held computing device  100  is closed. Thus, the hand-held computing device is enclosed in a protective cover  130  when closed. In a preferred embodiment, the display  120  and keyboard  110  are integrated into the protective cover  130 .  
      In a preferred embodiment, the display  120  is rotatable. Thus, to open the hand-held computing device  100 , moving from the orientation shown in  FIG. 1D  to that shown in  FIG. 1A , the display is rotated from closed to the desired orientation. To rotate the display  120 , a hinge  140  is thus also preferably provided. However, nothing prevents the use of another mechanism for opening the hand-held computing device  100  and/or for rotating the display  120 .  
      Thus, the hand-held computing device  100  can easily be used in multiple orientations, depending upon the preference of the user. Because the keyboard  110  can be rotated to be in the portrait orientation of  FIG. 1B  and/or  1 C, the keyboard can be made larger while allowing the display screen  122  to provide information to the user in the desired orientation. The human interface provided by the display  120  and keyboard  110  thus make it easier for a user to enter data into and read data from the hand-held computing device  100 .  
       FIG. 2A  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device in accordance  100 ′ with the present invention when open and the keyboard is used in a portrait orientation. The hand-held computing device  100 ′ is preferably analogous to the hand-held computing device  100 . Thus, like components are labeled similarly. Consequently, keyboard  110 ′ and the display  120 ′ correspond to the keyboard  110  and the display  120  depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1D . In addition, the hand-held computing device  100 ′ is opened by rotating the display  120 ′ with respect to the keyboard  110 . In the orientation shown in  FIG. 2A , the display  120 ′ has been rotated through approximately one hundred and eighty degrees. Thus, the keyboard  110 ′ and the display  120 ′ are substantially flat. In addition, the keyboard  110 ′ is in a portrait orientation. Thus, information is preferably provided on the display screen  122 ′ in a portrait orientation. In a preferred embodiment, when the display  120 ′ is rotated to a desired position, the display  120 ′ remains in that position until subject to an outside force, preferably from a user moving the display  120 ′ to a new position.  FIGS. 2B-2C  depict other positions for the display  120 ′ and the keyboard  110 ′.  
       FIG. 2B  is a diagram of one embodiment of the hand-held computing device  100 ′ in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard  110 ′ is used in a portrait orientation and the display  120 ′ is angled in a first desktop orientation. In the orientation depicted in  FIG. 2B , the display  120 ′ has been angled to be approximately ninety degrees from the keyboard  110 ′ while the keyboard  110 ′ is in a portrait orientation. Thus, the configuration of the human interface provided by the combination of the keyboard  110 ′ and the display  120 ′ is substantially that of a desktop computer. Thus, information is preferably depicted on the display screen  122 ′ in a portrait orientation. Because the display  120 ′ stays in substantially the orientation set by the user, data can be easily viewed by the user on the display screen.  
       FIG. 2C  is a diagram of one embodiment of the hand-held computing device  100 ′ in accordance with the present invention when open and the keyboard  110 ′ is used in a portrait orientation and the display  120 ′ is angled in a second desktop orientation. The display  120 ′ is angled between approximately ninety degrees and one hundred and eighty degrees from the keyboard  110 ′. Thus, information is preferably depicted on the display screen  122 ′ in a portrait orientation. Because the display  120 ′ stays in substantially the orientation set by the user, data can be easily viewed by the user on the display screen. A user might select this orientation when viewing the hand-held computing device  100 ′ from a higher up (a smaller angle with respect to vertical).  
       FIG. 2D  is a diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device  100 ′ in accordance with the present invention when used in a landscape orientation. Thus, the keyboard  110 ′ and the display  120 ′ are oriented at an angle of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees. In this respect, the hand-held computing device  100 ′ is in an orientation similar to that depicted in  FIG. 2A . However, the keyboard  110 ′ is in a landscape orientation. Consequently, when used in this landscape mode, information is preferably depicted on the display screen  122 ′ in a landscape orientation.  
      Thus, the hand-held computing device  100 ′ can be used in portrait mode ( FIGS. 2A-2C ) and landscape mode ( FIG. 2D ). In addition, the display screen  122 ′ can be viewed from a variety of angles-from substantially flat ( FIGS. 2A and 2D ), to other desired orientations that may be similar to what would be selected for a desktop ( FIGS. 2B and 2C ). Consequently, in addition to the advantages described above with respect to the hand-held computing device  100 , the hand-held computing device  100 ′ provides greater flexibility of use. In particular, the user can more easily see the data depicted on the display screen  122 ′ from a number of different positions. Thus, the human interface formed using the display  120 ′ and the keyboard  110 ′ is further improved.  
      A method and system has been disclosed for providing a hand-held computing device having an improved human interface. Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.