Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Outwardly decreasing height keys for a handheld electronic device keyboard
- Patent Title (中): 手持电子设备键盘的高度键向外减小
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Application No.: US11738981Application Date: 2007-04-23
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Publication No.: US09256295B2Publication Date: 2016-02-09
- Inventor: Roman P. Rak , Jason T. Griffin
- Applicant: Roman P. Rak , Jason T. Griffin
- Applicant Address: CA Waterloo, Ontario
- Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
- Current Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
- Current Assignee Address: CA Waterloo, Ontario
- Agency: Fleit Gibbons Gutman Bongini & Bianco P.L.
- Agent Jeffrey N. Giunta
- Main IPC: G06F3/02
- IPC: G06F3/02 ; G06F1/16 ; G06F3/0354 ; G06F3/0488 ; H01H13/14

Abstract:
A handheld wireless communication device includes features that make it easier to differentiate among various keys and to correctly select a desired key. It also includes features that make the device more comfortable to use. In particular, corner keys have decreasing height profiles to make above-adjacent keys easier to reach and distinguish. Additionally, lowermost, outermost portions of the corner keys may be somewhat truncated. Flanking keys in a navigation row slant toward and are flush with peripheral edges of a navigation tool assembly and have outer edges that are higher than inner edges of adjacent outer keys. The outer edges of the flanking keys may be hump-shaped or crowned. The longitudinally central portion of the device is narrower than the ends of the device, and the corners of the device are contoured to enhance comfort in a user's hand. Soft-touch materials are employed in hand-contacting portions of the device.
Public/Granted literature
- US20080074394A1 OUTWARDLY DECREASING HEIGHT KEYS FOR A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE KEYBOARD Public/Granted day:2008-03-27
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