Rotatable and Double Sided Keyboard for a Foldable Mobile Communication Device
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Europäisches Patentamt & (19) European Patent Office Office européen des brevets (11) EP 1 617 630 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 18.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/03 H04M 1/02 (2006.01) H04M 1/23 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 04016764.5 (22) Date of filing: 15.07.2004 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR • Fyke, Steven H. HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4T3,CA (CA) Designated Extension States: • Griffin, Jason T. AL HR LT LV MK Waterloo, Ontario N2T 2J5, CA (CA) (71) Applicant: Research In Motion Limited (74) Representative: Jones Day Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3W8 (CA) Rechtsanwälte,Attorneys-at-Law, Patentanwälte Prinzregentenstrasse 11 80538 München (DE) (54) Rotatable and double sided keyboard for a foldable mobile communication device (57) An input device for mobile device (400) compris- device and a second position of the input device around ing a telephone keypad (414) arranged on one side of a rotation axis. With the addition of a flip axis to the con- the input device for providing an input signal correspond- nector, the telephone keypad is operable and the key- ing to telephone characters (426), a keyboard arranged board sits on main body of the mobile device when the on the opposite side of the input device for providing an input device is in the first position, and the keyboard is input signal corresponding to text characters (430), and operable and the input device sits on the main body of a connector (410)for attaching thekeyboard to the mobile the mobile device when the keyboard is in the second device for rotating between a first position of the input position. EP 1 617 630 A1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 1 617 630 A1 2 Description vice for providing an input signal corresponding to at least one telephone character, a keyboard arranged on the FIELD OF THE APPLICATION opposite side of the input device for providing an input signal corresponding to at least one text character. The [0001] The present application relates generally to mo- 5 telephone keypad is operable when the input device is bile communication devices. More particularly, the in the first position, and the keyboard is operable when present application relates to an input device for such the input device is in the second position. mobile devices. [0009] In a second aspect, the present application pro- vides a mobile device comprising of an input device hav- BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION 10 ing a telephone keypad arranged on one side of the input device attached to the mobile device for providing an [0002] Mobile devices that include a combined text-en- input signal corresponding to at least one telephone char- try keyboard and a telephone keypad are known. Exam- acter, a keyboard arranged on the opposite side of the ples of such mobile devices include cellular telephones, input device for providing an input signal corresponding wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), two-way15 to at least one text character, and a microprocessor, op- messaging devices and others. Some mobile devices eratively connected to the input device for determining provide the capabilities to combine a cellular telephone, the position of the input device and enabling the tele- a two-way messaging device and a PDA. A few mobile phone keypad operable when in the first position and the devices involve keyboard arrangements and combina- keyboard operable when in the second position, and re- tion of a text entry keyboard (e.g. QWERTY-style key- 20 ceiving the input signal from the input device, and for board) with a telephone keypad provided on the same controlling the operation of the mobile device, and an mobile device. Ergonomic comfort and how to conduct application module, executable by the microprocessor, fast and accurate text entry for e-mail, messaging, notes for providing a plurality of operational features and initi- and other applications, as well as ease of use for tele- ating such features upon certain inputs from the input phone, are main concerns. 25 device. [0003] Figs. 1a and 1b illustrate a known mobile device [0010] In preferred embodiments, the input device po- 100 featuring an input device 114 capable of providing a sitions are provided such that the proper balance and keyboard 130 and keypad 126. Fig. 1a shows device 114 ergonomics is achieved. in a closed telephone position whereat keypad 126 is manipulable. Hinge 110 segments the input device 114 30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS to enable the keypad 126 to flip out to the left and reveal the keyboard 130. Fig. 1b illustrates the mobile device [0011] Embodiments of the present application will 100 with the keypad 126 flipped out so that input device now be described, by way of example only, with reference 114 is in an open text entry position whereat keyboard to the attached figures, wherein: 130 is manipulable. The keyboard 130 is split into two 35 portions by the hinge 110, whereby the first portion is Fig. 1a illustrates a known mobile device with a flip integral to the mobile device 100 and the second portion out input device shown in a telephone keypad posi- is provided on the part that flips out. tion; [0004] Fig. 2 shows a known mobile device 200 fea- Fig. 1b illustrates a known mobile device with a flip turing a flip out keyboard 214. The keyboard 214 is at- 40 out input device shown in a text entry position; tached to the main body of the mobile device 200 with Fig. 2 illustrates a known mobile device with a flip hinge 210. out keyboard; [0005] It may be awkward to do text entry with either Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a mobile communication of the keyboards shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Furthermore, device to which the present application may be ap- the keyboard shown in Fig. 2 may not be an acceptable 45 plied; solution as a telephone. Fig. 4a is an oblique view of a mobile device with a flip out and rotatable input device shown in a tele- SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION phone keypad position according to an embodiment of the present application; [0006] It is an object of the present application to ob- 50 Fig. 4b is an oblique view of the mobile device with viate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of existing the flip out and rotatable input device in a flip out input devices used with mobile devices. position according to an embodiment of the present [0007] It is a further object to provide flexibility in the application; manipulation of keyboards and keypads used with mobile Fig. 4c is an oblique view of the mobile device with devices. 55 the flip out and rotatable input device in a rotation [0008] In a first aspect, the present application pro- position according to an embodiment of the present vides an input device for a mobile device comprising a application; telephone keypad arranged on one side of the input de- Fig. 4d is an oblique view of the mobile device with 2 3 EP 1 617 630 A1 4 the flip out and rotatable input device shown in a text mitter 314, and associated components such as one or entry keyboard position according to an embodiment more, preferably embedded or internal, antenna ele- of the present application; ments 316 and 318, local oscillators 313, and a process- Fig. 5a is an oblique view of a touch-screen mobile ing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 320. device with a flip out and rotatable input device5 As will be apparent to those skilled in the field of com- shown in a telephone keypad position according to munications, the particular design of the communication a further embodiment of the present application; subsystem 311 will be dependent upon the communica- Fig. 5b is an oblique view of the touch-screen mobile tion network in which the device is intended to operate. device with the flip out and rotatable input device in For example, a device 300 destined for a North American a flip out position according to a further embodiment 10 market may include a communication subsystem 311 de- of the present application; signed to operate within the Mobitex™ mobile commu- Fig. 5c is an oblique view of the touch-screen mobile nication system, DataTAC™ mobile communication sys- device with the flip out and rotatable input device in tem, or 1X CDMA based data networks, whereas a device a rotation position according to a further embodiment 300 intended for use in Europe may incorporate a Gen- of the present application; 15 eral Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication sub- Fig. 5d is an oblique view of the touch-screen mobile system 311. device with the flip out and rotatable input device [0014] Network access requirements will also vary de- shown in a text entry keyboard position according to pending upon the type of network 319. For example, in a further embodiment of the present application; the Mobitex and DataTAC networks, mobile devices such Fig. 6 is an outline of an exemplary 2-axis hinge used 20 as device 300 are registered on the network using a with the flip out and rotatable input devices for mobile unique personal identification number or PIN associated devices according to the present application; with each device. In GPRS networks however, network Fig. 7 is an exemplary QWERTY keyboard layout access is associated with a subscriber or user of a device used with the mobile device according to present 300.