BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front screen of a preferred embodiment of the invention being held by a user's hands so that the front is opposed to the user's face;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 as held by a user's hands from the rear side, illustrating the user's fingers on the data entry side, or reverse of the device;
FIG. 3 is a view of the front display panel of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating a mirrored phantom display of the control and input keys on the reverse side of the device to aid the user in properly actuating the desired controls;
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 3 illustrating the command and data entry structure;
FIGS. 5A-5F are diagrams illustrating the manner that a conventional QWERTY keyboard is bisected and manipulated to generate the BGTYHN keyboard of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of my invention illustrating the front display screen showing icons which represent the choices for functional use of the device;
FIG. 7 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 illustrating the data and command entry structure which comprises both a keyboard and an incremental type touchpad or “mouse” pad;
FIG. 8 illustrates the display screen when the “word processing” icon on the front display screen has been energized through appropriate manipulation of the data and command entry structure on the rear of the device;
FIG. 9 is a front view of the device of FIG. 6 illustrating the icons shown on the display screen when the “movies” icon on the initial display screen has been energized;
FIG. 10 is a front view of the device of FIG. 6 illustrating the display screen when the “Internet” icon on the front of the initial screen as shown in FIG. 6 has been energized;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the display screen of the device of FIG. 6 when the “phone” icon shown in the initial display screen is appropriately energized;
FIG. 12 is an illustration of the front display screen of the device of FIG. 6 showing a map that is called up when the “GPS” icon on the front display screen as shown in FIG. 6 is appropriately energized;
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which controls on the rear of a device of the present invention are mirrored on the front display panel to aid the user in properly actuating the controls;
FIGS. 14A and 14B are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view respectively of a camera formed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the front of a cell phone formed in accordance with the present invention being held in the user's hands so that the display faces the user;
FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16c are, respectively, views of a laptop personal computer incorporating the present invention in opened form, in a first closed form presenting a display screen on one side and a command and data entry structure on the opposite side, and a second closed form in which the screen and entry structure are secured in opposition on the interior of the device; and
FIGS. 17A and 17B are a front perspective view of a video camera formed in accordance with the present invention and a display on the screen of the video camera, visible to the user, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, generally indicated at 10, which preferably constitutes a combination cell phone and PDA, often termed a “smart phone”. The preferred embodiment of the device is adapted to be held between the user's hands 12, with the thumbs pressed against the sides of the unit 14 and the fingers arrayed along the bottom side 16. The device 10 is preferably rectangular. The major dimension, in the case of the preferred embodiment the height, but alternatively the width in alternative embodiments, is preferably less than eight inches and typically about four inches. The minor dimension, in the case of the preferred embodiment the width, may range from four inches to slightly less than two inches. The thickness between the two planar faces 14 and 16 will typically not exceed one and three-quarter inches, and may preferably be about one-half of an inch, or thinner as technology permits.
The housing of die unit 10 supports the associated electronics which in the case of a smart phone will include memory, which may include semiconductor memory and/or hard disc memory, various semiconductor structures which control the operating system, the display, and communications, and a transceiver for communicating with remote devices, which may constitute a typical cell phone transceiver, a Wi-Fi chip, Bluetooth, or the like. The structures are all conventional, and differ in design as the technology advances.
The front panel 14 of the device 10, which is typically held opposite the user's face, is occupied primarily or entirely by a display screen, preferably of the LCD variety. The display screen is normally substantially planar. The rear side 16 of the device 10 is also substantially planar and is normally disposed approximately parallel to the front display screen 14. It carries a finger-actuated command or data input structure which in the device 10 constitutes a keyboard 18. In other embodiments of the invention, the rear surface 16 of the device may comprise a touchpad, or include various key structures along with touchpad structures.
The keyboard 18 in the preferred embodiment is a full alphanumeric keyboard which will be disclosed in detail in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.
Since the rear 16 of the device 10 is not visible to the user when held in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to aid the user in the proper placement of her fingers at appropriate locations on the rear 16 in order to enter desired commands or data, the electronic circuitry within the device 10 generates a display 20 on the display screen 14 which mirrors the location of the appropriate command or data entry points on the rear of the device. This display 20 is generally of a lower intensity than the displays generated by the touching of command or data entry points on the rear of the device and the display may be extinguished when the user has become thoroughly familiar with the arrangement of the entry locations.
As will subsequently be described, low intensity images may be increased in intensity, or a new image like a fingerprint superimposed on top of the image, when the user brings a finger into contact with the particular command or data entry area on the rear of the device to indicate to the user the point being touched and allowing the entry to be confirmed by an additional tap on the location or increased pressure in the location. This may be achieved by arrangements of the type of disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,700,377; 5,311,175 or 6,215,417 or the like.
In the preferred embodiment of the device 10, alphanumeric entries made on the rear of the device appear in the area 22 above the phantom images 20.
The entire display screen may be used to display inputted information or text or graphics received by the telecommunications section of the device 10. For example, it could be used to surf the Internet, display web pages, or as a receiver for streaming video generated through the Internet or by TV broadcast. It can also be used to view the contents of the memory section of the device 10 including contact information, received emails, sent emails, etc. When the device 10 is in communication with appropriate sources it can also display maps, charts, and all other forms of graphic information. Because of the large size of the display screen 14 relative to the displays of other devices which must share the front face with command or data entry structures, the displays can be in large, relatively easily readable size, or can incorporate much more detail than comparable displays on cell phones and the like.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the rear of the device, illustrated in FIG. 4, incorporates an alphanumeric keyboard of a unique configuration, as well as other command keys and navigation aids and FIG. 3 illustrates the mirrored phantom images of the rear controls as displayed on the front panel of the device. The rear keyboard includes a set of keys 24 that are arranged in an unusual configuration, which is derived from the normal QWERTY configuration in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. The rear side also includes a navigation ring 26 which allows the user to control motions in the front panel in up, down, left or right directions and to select a particular choice by pressing the center bar. The bottom row of keys 28 includes various icons which may select various functions of the device. The front panel 30 of the device, illustrated in FIG. 3, incorporates mirror images of all of the controls on the rear side to assist the user moving fingers into position over the proper controls. Like the other embodiments, the controls are provided for extinguishing the phantom images and phantom images may be increased in intensity when the finger is brought into position with respect to them. The function and labeling of the keys in FIG. 3 can be limitlessly changed. The actual keys in FIG. 4 do not have to be labeled.
In alternative embodiments the keys 24 and navigation ring 26 might be displaced toward the bottom of the rear panel, so that the display screen on the forward side of the device does not contain any phantom images, in the manner of the display screen of FIG. 1, allowing text that is typed on the rear panel to be displayed on the top section, above the phantom images.
The keys 24 in the device of FIG. 3 are arranged in a configuration that differs from the conventional QWERTY keyboard that is familiar to typists. This unique arrangement allows the operator's fingers to touch type on the rear panel, when the device is held in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, in a manner similar to the way touch typing is normally done with a conventional QWERTY keyboard. The different configuration is required because the operator's hands 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, are rotated and inverted relative to their positions on a normal keyboard.
FIGS. 5A-F illustrate the manner in which a keyboard arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which will be termed a BGTYHN arrangement because of the configuration of the top line, is arrived at. FIG. 5A illustrates a conventional QWERTY keyboard. To arrive at the BGTYHN keyboard, the QWERTY keyboard is split along a vertical line into two sections. Although the exact division is not critical, I chose to divide it so that the letters TGB are on the left side of the division and the letters YHN are on the right side.
The next operation, illustrated in FIG. 5B, involves rotating each of the two sections derived in FIG. 5A by ninety degrees in opposite directions, about the two top row letters T and Y. The resulting keyboard is then flipped about a horizontal axis through one hundred eighty degrees, as illustrated in FIGS. 5C and 5D, to arrive at the BGTYHN configuration illustrated in FIG. 5E. The two sections are then squared up to the form illustrated in FIG. 5F which shows the phantom view of the front display screen of the device.
In moving the user's finger positions from the convention QWERTY keyboard to this unique BGTYHN keyboard, the hands undergo motions complementary to the divisions illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5E and the fingers thus lie on the rear keys in the same manner as they would like on a conventional QWERTY keyboard. For example, on a conventional QWERTY keyboard the forefingers of the two hands are arrayed over the letters T and Y. After rotation of the hands to the form illustrated in FIG. 2, the forefingers also lie over the letters T and Y. Thus a typist who can touch type on a conventional keyboard can quickly learn to use the keyboard of the present invention, aided in particular by the phantom images of the keys on the front screen of the device.
In alternative embodiments of the invention, the entire front display need not be occupied by the display screen 14 illustrated in FIG. 1, but a relatively few controls, such as an on-off switch or a dimming switch, might be included on an edge of the front panel so as not to interfere with use of the large part of the panel for display purposes. It could also have speakers and a microphone somewhere on these edges. The screen 14 will preferably occupy at least 75% of the front of the device.
The rear panel of devices formed in accordance with the invention, such as the section 16 of the device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, may comprise a touchpad or it may consist of a hybrid command and data entry structure comprising both keys and one or more touchpads or touch screens. These devices may be of the absolute type, wherein touching a point on the touch screen generates a control signal which activates or illuminates a corresponding point on the front display panel, possibly energizing a function designated by an icon displayed on the front display screen, or alternatively, an incremental type control wherein a motion of the user's finger or a stylus along the touchpad or screen moves a cursor or the like on the front display panel in a corresponding direction and distance. The latter type of touchpad is commonly employed as a mouse for a laptop computer. It might also use a mouse nib, as used in some earlier laptop keyboards.
By displaying suitable symbols or icons at particular areas on the front display screen, and by energizing them by signals generated by moving a cursor displayed on the front panel under control of finger motions on the touch panel, a wide variety of data and/or command entries may be achieved. Thus the front panel may include symbols of a keyboard and messages may be sent by successively contacting and energizing the icons through motions of the touchpad. Alternatively, various functions of the device, like those capabilities provided to a cell phone, may be energized by selection of icons through the touchpad-induced motions. As has been noted, various known techniques may be used to assure the proper position of a control signal generated by motions on the touchpad before the proper function is energized.
FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively illustrate the front and the rear sides of an alternative embodiment of a handheld electronic device formed in accordance with the present invention. The front of the device, generally 40, illustrated in FIG. 6, supports a display screen 42 which occupies almost the entire area of the front 40. Tile display screen shown in FIG. 6 constitutes the initial screen, generated when the device is first turned on by an appropriate on-off button, which may include part of the command structure on the rear of the device, illustrated in FIG. 7. The initial screen includes a select number of icons 44 which provide the user with choices for the basic function of the device. Ten icons are shown such as “text editor”, “movies”, “Internet”, “phone”, “GPS”, “games” and the like. These icons 44 are arrayed in two rows along the bottom of the screen; the top of the screen includes a message 46 to the user related to the functional choices.
The rear 48 of the device incorporates the command and data input structure. In this embodiment it comprises four rows of keys 50, arrayed along the bottom of the rear 48, and a touch screen 52 formed at one side of the top. The touch screen is preferably of the gesture or incremental type, in which motions of the fingers along the touch screen move an appropriate icon on the front display screen 42 under control of an appropriate microprocessor based operating system located within the device.
In a variation of the device of FIGS. 6 and 7, the touch screen 52 could be replaced by a roller type mouse or mouse nib, allowing control of a cursor displayed on the front of the screen.
In order to place the device into a selected operating mode represented by one of the icons 44, the user actuates the command and data structure on the rear of the device in an appropriate manner. In a preferred manner, when the initial screen with the icons 42 is displayed, one or more of the keys 50 on the rear of the device are associated with each icon. For example, the icon representing “word processing” may be associated with the top two keys in each of the first and second key rows in the upper light corner as illustrated in FIG. 7. When the operator's finger engages one of these keys, the “word processing” icon will be highlighted in an appropriate manner, such as illustrating a fingerprint image on the icon, or changing the illumination of the icon, etc. This indicates to the operator that the appropriate keys for energizing the icon are being touched. When the operator is satisfied that this is the desired choice, the keys are either touched a second time or are depressed more firmly, to energize the desired function of the device.
When the “word processing” icon is thus appropriately energized the display screen will change to the form illustrated in FIG. 8. This illustrates a normal QWERTY key configuration. By actuating the key in the last row and second over from the left of the key array as illustrated in FIG. 8, the keys may be switched to a numerical and symbol keypad. The third key over from the left in the bottom row could change the key configuration to a navigation and page up/page down type keys. Accordingly, the three screens will provide a full functional keyboard. In alternative embodiments all of the key functions could be provided in one keyboard. Again, the key functions can be implemented by touching and then tapping or pressing harder any one of the keys. When a key is touched it is highlighted in the manner of the M key on the display screen in FIG. 8. As the operator types using these keyboard sets, the text generated is displayed on the top portion of the display screen 42. It may then be stored, printed out, transmitted as an email or the like.
FIG. 9 illustrates the front display screen 42 when the “movies” icon has been appropriately actuated. It provides a user with a choice of movies which may be selected using the keys or a cursor controlled by the rear touch screen 52 which are then displayed to the user. The keys may be used to control the advancement of the movie in the normal manner.
FIG. 10 illustrates the front display screen 42 when the “Internet” icon has been chosen. The user may then actuate the keys to navigate the Internet and choose websites for display in the normal manner of any computer.
FIG. 11 illustrates the front display screen 42 when the “phone” icon has been appropriately actuated using the rear command and data entry structure. The display shows a typical cell phone, and the controls of the phone may then be actuated by signals from the rear command and data entry structure in the same manner as if the user actually held the phone. The same technique may be used to allow the device of FIGS. 6 and 7 to emulate any handheld electronic communication device, such as any TV remote control, automobile keyless entry device, or the like. The device of the present invention is thus a universal handheld electronic communicator.
FIG. 12 shows the display screen when the “GPS” icon has been actuated using the command and data entry structure on the rear of the device. A map 54 is displayed and the map area may be changed and particular locations may be zoomed, etc. through use of the command and data entry structure on the rear of the device.
In all of these devices, the interaction with the hand on the command and display structure will produce a reverse mirror image on the front display screen. As a simple example, in the word processing arrangement of FIG. 8 in order to actuate the B key in the upper left-hand corner of the display screen, it is necessary to actuate the key in the upper right-hand corner of the keyboard as viewed from the rear in FIG. 7. Similarly, a motion to the left on the touch screen 52 on the rear of the device will produce a corresponding motion of the cursor being controlled on the front display screen to the light.
FIG. 13 illustrates the manner in which a finger interacting with a rotational navigation control 60 on the rear of an embodiment 62 of the present invention will appear to a user viewing the front display screen as producing a clockwise motion 64. Essentially, motions in the up or down direction are the same on the rear control as on the front display, but motions to the left and right are reversed in the same manner as a mirror reverses an image to the observer.
FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate, respectively, the front in FIG. 14A and the rear in FIG. 14B of a camera formed in accordance with the present invention. The camera, generally indicated at 70, has a rear face (which faces the observer and is thus the equivalent of the front face of the other embodiments of the invention) fully occupied by a display screen 72. The front of the camera includes a lens structure 74, which may be a zoom lens, a navigation button 76 and appropriate control button 78 on the top of the device. The controls on the front are imaged in the display screen at 76.
FIG. 15 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in the form of a cell phone, generally indicated at 60, viewed from the front. The rear side of the device (not shown) constitutes a command and data entry structure which preferably constitutes a plurality of buttons which correspond to the display areas 62, a navigation ring which corresponds to the display area 64, all shown on a display screen 66. The device has a mouse pad at the top, in the back, that the user is using with his pointer finger. This type of operation is one handed. Other embodiments with the mouse pad at or near the top can similarly be used with one hand. The entire front constitutes a display screen which generates the images of the command structure on the opposite side. The large screen provides room for video conferencing, web surfing and the like.
FIGS. 16A-16C illustrate an embodiment of the invention having reversible hinges 80 joining a first module 82, which is rectangular in form and incorporates a display screen 84 on one face and a second rectangular module 86 having a data and command entry structure consisting of a keyboard 88 and mouse pad 90. In the position shown in FIG. 16A the display screen 88 is upwardly inclined from the keyboard 88 and the device may be used in the manner of a conventional notebook PC.
Alternatively, the sections 82 and 86 may be folded about the hinges 80 to the form shown in FIG. 16B, in which the device is formed in accordance with the other embodiments of the invention with the display screen 84 and the keyboard 88 disposed on opposite sides of the structure, parallel to one another and facing in opposite directions. In this form it may be used as a handheld device with the screen 84 held toward the user's face and the user's fingers arrayed on the keyboard 88.
Alternatively, the two modules 82 and 86 may be folded in the opposite direction about the hinges 80 so that the screen 84 abuts the keyboard 88, in a closed configuration, as shown in FIG. 16C.
FIGS. 17A and 17B respectively constitute a front perspective view of a video camera embodying the present invention generally indicated at 80, and an image on the display screen 82 of the video camera, which faces rearwardly toward the observer when incorporated in a swivel door 84. The swivel door has the various finger actuated control structures 86 on its forward side and the full display screen 82 on its rearward side. The operator can thus hold the video camera with the right hand, actuate the controls 86 with the left hand and fully operate the video camera.
Patent Application
20070268261
