Claims
- 1. A keyboard device for an electronic device, comprising:
a keyboard housing extendable between a contracted position and an expanded position; and a plurality of key elements, a pitch between adjacent key elements proportional to the extension of the keyboard housing; wherein the keyboard housing is arranged to at least one of articulate and rotate relative to the electronic device between a storage position and a use position; and wherein the keyboard housing in the storage position does not substantially increase a form factor of the electronic device.
- 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard housing includes a hub configured to at least one of articulatably and rotatably connect the keyboard housing to the electronic device.
- 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the key elements are arranged behind the electronic device when the keyboard housing is arranged in the storage position.
- 4. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard housing is slidably and a rotatably connected to the electronic device.
- 5. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the key elements are electronically and logically connected to the electronic device.
- 6. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of key elements includes a QWERTY keyboard arrangement.
- 7. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of key elements includes a telephone keypad arrangement.
- 8. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of key elements includes a calculator keypad arrangement.
- 9. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard housing in the use position extends from a side of the electronic device.
- 10. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard housing in the use position extends from a bottom of the electronic device.
- 11. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the hub is arranged to be received in a slot of the electronic device.
- 12. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the key elements are arranged for single-finger data entry in the contracted position and for touch-typing data entry in the extended position.
- 13. The keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a web stretchable in accordance with the extension of the keyboard housing, the key elements arranged on the web.
- 14. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of key elements includes an alphanumeric keyboard layout.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/337,421, filed on Dec. 6, 2001, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60337421 |
Dec 2001 |
US |