Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     Portable computers, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and data organizers, are typically smaller than a notebook or laptop computer. These smaller computing devices store personal information and provide an interface for communications. They typically include means for data input and display, data processing, and telecommunications. 
     PDAs, for example, generally have a rectangular body with a touch sensitive screen or display. In contrast to many portable computers, a PDA does not contain a traditional, large “QWERTY” keyboard. Instead, PDAs are often equipped with a stylus and control buttons on the front surface. The stylus can be used to interact with the touch sensitive display to enter and access data. Some PDAs can simulate an alphabetical or numerical keypad on the display. By touching the display at a designated image, a user can enter corresponding numbers, letters, and other data or commands. PDAs, and other portable computers, can also use handwriting recognition software. When a user writes characters or numbers on the display, the PDA can recognize the character or number and translate the writing into representative data for storage or manipulation in the computing device. 
     Simulated keypads or handwriting recognition techniques may not be desirable for entering and accessing data into some small portable computers. Instead, users may prefer to enter data with a keyboard. Many PDAs, however, do not include a keyboard because a traditional keyboard is too large. Carrying a large keyboard with a small PDA would be inconvenient and impracticable. Further, a large traditional keyboard would limit the portability of the small computing device. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a personal digital assistant comprises a body having a display; and a keyboard attached to the body, the keyboard being divided into two separate sections and being foldable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the keyboard provides a cover for the body in the closed position and functions as an alphanumeric keyboard to input data in the open position. 
     In another embodiment, a method comprises covering at least a portion of a body of a personal digital assistant (PDA) with an attached keyboard while the keyboard is in a closed position; moving the keyboard from the closed position to an open position; and typing on the keyboard to input data into the PDA. 
     Other embodiments and variations of these embodiments are shown and taught in the accompanying drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a portable computing device with a keyboard in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 1  with the keyboard in an open position. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 1  with the keyboard in an extended open position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portable computing device with a keyboard in a closed position. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view taken along the lines  9 — 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the portable computing device of  FIG. 8  with the keyboard in an extended open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1–7  show a portable computing device  10  in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. For convenience of illustration, a personal digital assistant (PDA) is illustrated in and discussed in connection with the following figures. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention, though, are not limited to PDAs or any particular type of portable computing device. By way of example, embodiments in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, portable computers, handheld computing devices, calculators, organizers, PDAs, and other portable electronic devices and systems. 
     In a closed position, the PDA  10  generally has a top  12 , back  14 , two sides  16  and  18 , and two ends  20  and  22 . The PDA can function as a computer and can house and comprise a central processing unit (CPU), memory, infrared ports, card slots, batteries, USB ports or other input/output (I/O) ports, power and network connectors, and numerous buttons and switches, just to name a few examples. Many of these features are generally shown at  30  ( FIG. 6 , with the internal components shown in phantom). The PDA  10  also includes a display or screen  32 , such as a touch sensitive or pressure sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD). An electrical connector  36  is positioned along end  22  and is adapted to electrically couple and communicate with a cradle or stand. 
     The PDA  10  also comprises a foldable keyboard  40  that is mechanically and electrically coupled to a body  42  of the PDA. The keyboard  40  is divided into two halves  44 A and  44 B. Each half has a substantially planar surface with a plurality of touch sensitive or pressure sensitive keys  50 . These keys can be positioned on the halves  44 A and  44 B to emulate the keys on a traditional “QWERTY” keyboard that is divided. The halves  44 A and  44 B can be similarly shaped and size and substantially coplanar when in an open position (such as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
     The keyboard is moveable or foldable to a plurality of different positions about the body portion of the computing device.  FIGS. 1–5 , for example, show the keyboard  40  in a closed position. In this position, the halves  44 A and  44 B are vertically stacked on top of each other. As shown, half  44 B lays or abuts against display  32  and is sandwiched between body  42  and half  44 A. In this closed position, the halves  44 A and  44 B have a shape that corresponds to the shape of body  42 . As such, the keyboard does not add to the overall length or width of the PDA. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the keyboard adds slightly to the height or thickness of the PDA by an amount equal to the thickness of the halves  44 A and  44 B. 
     The keyboard  40  is also moveable to various open positions. From the closed position (shown in  FIGS. 1–4 ), the half  44 A is rotated counterclockwise (as shown by arrow  60  in  FIG. 6 ), and half  44 B is rotated clockwise (as shown by arrow  62  in  FIG. 6 ). Each half is now adjacent body  42  and in an open position. Half  44 A can then be rotated 90° (as shown by arrow  52  in  FIG. 7 ), and half  44 B can then be rotated 90° (as shown by arrow  54  in  FIG. 7 ). Each half is now positioned below body  42  and in a fully extended open position. The keyboard  40  can be closed in a reverse manner. Thus, the keyboard  40  can move back and forth from the closed position ( FIGS. 1–5 ) to the open position ( FIG. 6 ) to the fully extended open position ( FIG. 7 ). 
       FIG. 7  shows the keyboard  40  in a fully extended position with the halves positioned side-by-side. In this position, the keyboard can function as a traditional “QWERTY” alphanumeric keypad or a traditional numeric keypad. Of course, the keyboard  40  is smaller in size than a traditionally sized keyboard. The actual size of keyboard will vary depending on the size of the body of the computing device. Preferably, the keyboard is not larger than the length and width of the computing device. For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the halves  44 A and  44 B have a size that is equal to the length and width of the body of the PDA. For illustration only and not to limit embodiments in accordance with the invention, the halves  44 A and  44 B can have a length of about 4.5 inches and a width of about 3 inches. This length and width approximate or equal a typical length and width of a PDA. Of course, the length and width of the halves could be larger or smaller to accommodate differently sized PDAs. 
     In one embodiment, the keyboard  40  comprises a flexible membrane keyboard having touch sensitive or pressure sensitive key areas on a planar surface. The keyboard could comprise opposed flexible plastic or polymeric membranes that house pressure sensitive switches identifiable with particular letters, numbers, symbols, and functions for inputting data into the computing device. 
     The keyboard  40  does not have to comprise a flexible membrane configuration or have any particular embodiment. The keyboard, for example, could have a hard plastic outer shell. Pressure or touch sensitive key areas could be disposed along an inner side of this shell. Preferably, the keys or key areas are configured as touch or pressure sensitive so a user can use fingers to type onto the keyboard and enter information into the computing device. 
     The keyboard is multi-functional. As noted, the keyboard functions to enter data into the computing device and can perform functions of a traditional keyboard. The keyboard also serves as a cover for the body of the computing device. As shown in  FIGS. 1–5  for the closed position, half  44 B covers and protects display  32 . Further, half  44 A covers and protects the body  42  of the PDA. The keyboard, thus, can additionally function as a protective cover, lid, or housing for the computing device. 
     The keyboard  40  can connect to the computing device in a plurality of different ways and still be within the scope and spirit of the invention. By way of example and not to limit the invention,  FIGS. 1–7  show one example connection between the keyboard  40  and body  42  of PDA  10 . Each half  44 A and  44 B comprises a flexible membrane  60  that connects to a support member  62 . The support member  62  has an elongated body with one end  70  that pivotally connects to the body  42  and a second end  72  that removably connects to the body. 
     Ends  70  can be connected to the body in a variety of different ways that provide a rotational or moveable connection. For example, a hinge or pivotal connection can be used to enable the keyboard halves  44 A and  44 B to rotate from the open position ( FIG. 6 ) to the fully extended open position ( FIG. 7 ). 
     Ends  72  can be attached to the body in a variety of different ways that provide a removable connection.  FIG. 5 , for example, shows a latching mechanism  80 . Here, a U-shaped latch  82  has two ends  84  that engage ends  72  of the support member  62 . When the latch is moved in the direction of arrow  90 , ends  84  disengage from ends  72  and enable the support members  62  to be rotated or moved about the ends  70 . 
     The keyboard is both electrically and mechanically attached to the body of the computing device. Looking to  FIG. 7 , for example, electrical coupling can pass from each half  44 A and  44 B, through the flexible membrane  60 , through the ends  70 , and into the body  42  of PDA  10  to communicate with the processor. 
     Preferably, the keyboard is attached to the body of the computing device such that the keyboard can move between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the keyboard can function to input data into the computing device when a user taps or types on key areas. In the closed position, the keyboard performs another function, such as a cover, lid, stand, or housing, to name a few examples. The mechanisms by which the keyboard mechanically attaches or electrically couples to the computing device can vary considerably and still be within the scope and spirit of the invention.  FIGS. 8–10  show one such alternate example. 
       FIGS. 8–10  show a computing device  100  configured in a landscape orientation. Although landscape orientation is shown, embodiments shown in  FIGS. 8–10  (and embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1–7  and other embodiments) may equally be used with portrait orientation or other orientations. The computing device  100  can be similarly configured to the computing device  10  shown and described in connection with  FIGS. 1–7 . As one difference, the keyboard  110  comprises two halves  112 A and  112 B that rotationally connect at two corners  120  of body  122 . Corners  120  can include, for example, a hinge or pivotal connection so the halves  112 A and  112 B can rotate along arrows  130 A and  130 B, respectively, between the closed position ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) and the open position ( FIG. 10 ). Further, a notch or recess  140  is provided on half  112 A to accommodate the hinge connection at corner  120  for half  112 B. In this alternate embodiment, the computing device does not include several features shown in  FIGS. 1–7 , such as the flexible membrane, the support member, or the latching mechanism. 
     While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate, upon reading this disclosure, numerous modifications and variations. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations and fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: g