RIM patents slide out QWERTY device

HYBRID PORTRAIT-LANDSCAPE HANDHELD DEVICE WITH TRACKBALL NAVIGATION AND QWERTY HIDE-AWAY KEYBOARD

Abstract
A device is disclosed for use in two different orientations. In one orientation, the keyboard is exposed to the user. This orientation is named the landscape orientation because the device will be positioned such that its width is larger than its height. The user would opt for the landscape orientation for tasks that require the keyboard, such as inputting data, drafting emails, sending emails, and other functions typically associated with a standard computer. The other orientation is named the portrait orientation because the device will be positioned such that its height is larger than its width. In addition, the keyboard is not used in this orientation and therefore hidden away. The user would opt for the portrait orientation for tasks such as making and receiving telephone calls and for reading documents and emails. The device detects the orientation positioned by the user and modifies the elements shown on the display screen so that they are presented in the correct orientation to the user.


Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------FIELD

[0001]This disclosure relates to the versatile nature of a handheld electronic device having a trackball navigation tool and a hide-away QWERTY keyboard. Specifically, when the device is being used for purposes that require use of a QWERTY keyboard or in which the user would prefer viewing the device from a landscape perspective, the device should be oriented such that the trackball is stationed at a lateral side of a front display screen of the device. When the device is being used for purposes that do not require use of a QWERTY keyboard or in which the user would prefer viewing the device in a portrait perspective, the keyboard can be hidden away and the device should be oriented such that the trackball is stationed at the bottom of the device for operator manipulation that does not obstruct the view of the display screen.

BACKGROUND

[0002]With the advent of more feature-rich wireless communications systems, compatible handheld communication devices are becoming more prevalent, as well as advanced in functionality. In a broader sense, these devices are referred to as handheld electronic devices, which include devices without communication functions. While in the past such handheld communication devices typically accommodated either voice (cell phones) or text transmission (pagers and PDAs), today's consumer often demands a combination device capable of performing both types of transmissions, including sending and receiving e-mail. The suppliers of such mobile communication devices and underlying service providers are anxious to meet these demands, but the combination of voice and textual messaging, as well as other functionalities such as those found in PDAs have caused designers to have to improve the means by which information is input into the devices by the user, as well as provide better facilitation for the user to navigate within the menus and icon presentations necessary for efficient user interface with these more complicated devices.

[0003]Portable handheld communication devices of the types intimated above typically have integrated keyboards that are often exposed on an exterior surface of the device. By the nature of this configuration, the exposed keyboards can be easily unintentionally actuated by "bumps" into the device.

[0004]For many reasons, screen icons are often utilized in such handheld communication devices as a way to allow users to make feature and/or function selections. Among other reasons, users are accustomed to such icon representations for function selection. A prime example is the personal computer "desktop" presented by Microsoft's Windows.RTM. operating system. Because of the penetration of such programs into the user markets, most electronics users are familiar with what is essentially the convention of icon-based functionality selections. Even with many icons presented on a personal computer's "desktop", however, user navigation and selection among the different icons is easily accomplished utilizing a conventional mouse and employing the point-and-click methodology. The absence of such a mouse from these handheld wireless communication devices, however, has necessitated that mouse substitutes be developed for navigational purposes. Mouse-type functionalities are needed for navigating and selecting screen icons, for navigating and selecting menu choices in "drop down" type menus, and also for just moving a "pointer" type cursor across the display screen.

[0005]Therefore, a need exists for a handheld electronic device to offer more functions to the user and still maintain its compact size. Specifically, such a device would permit use of a standard QWERTY keyboard as well as a trackball for navigation purposes. The user would be able to prevent inadvertent key-depression and reduce the overall size of the device for convenience without affecting the size of the display screen. In addition, this device would make more efficient use of the screen by not limiting the display to one static perspective, rather the user would have the choice to view the display screen from two different perspectives


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]Exemplary methods and arrangements conducted and configured according to the advantageous solutions presented herein are depicted in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1A is a front plan view of the handheld electronic device in a closed configuration and portrait orientation;

[0008]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the handheld electronic device in a closed configuration and portrait orientation;

[0009]FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the handheld electronic device in an open configuration and landscape orientation;

[0010]FIG. 1D is a front plan view of the handheld electronic device in an open configuration and landscape orientation;

[0011]FIG. 1E is a front plan view of another embodiment of the handheld electronic device in an open configuration and landscape orientation;

[0012]FIG. 2A is a left-side view of the handheld electronic device in a landscape orientation and closed configuration;

[0013]FIG. 2B is a left-side view of the handheld electronic device in a landscape orientation and open configuration;

[0014]FIG. 3A is a right-side view of the handheld electronic device in a landscape orientation and closed configuration;

[0015]FIG. 3B is a right-side view of the handheld electronic device in a landscape orientation and open configuration;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a left-side view of the handheld electronic device in a portrait orientation and closed configuration;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a right-side view of the handheld electronic device in a portrait orientation and closed configuration;

[0018]FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of the top member of an exemplary wireless handheld electronic device incorporating a trackball assembly;

[0019]FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the bottom member of an exemplary wireless handheld electronic device;

[0020]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary QWERTY keyboard layout;

[0021]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary QWERTZ keyboard layout;

[0022]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary AZERTY keyboard layout;

[0023]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary Dvorak keyboard layout;

[0024]FIG. 11 illustrates a QWERTY keyboard layout paired with a traditional ten-key keyboard;

[0025]FIG. 12 illustrates ten digits comprising the numerals 0-9 arranged as on a telephone keypad, including the * and # astride the zero;

[0026]FIG. 13 illustrates a numeric phone key arrangement according to the ITU Standard E.161 including both numerals and letters;

[0027]FIG. 14 is a detail view of a full QWERTY keyboard;

[0028]FIG. 15 is a front view of an exemplary handheld electronic device including a reduced QWERTY keyboard;

[0029]FIG. 16 is a detail view of a reduced QWERTY keyboard; and

[0030]FIG. 17 is a block diagram representing a wireless handheld communication device interacting in a communication network.