Wireless communication device with detachable flip keyboard
US6385463B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2250/18
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A wireless communication device (101) is coupled to an external keyboard (126) through an input/output (I/O) connector (128) mounted on the housing of the wireless communication device (101). The external keyboard (126) includes individual keys for alphabetic characters and numeric characters to permit the easy entry of alphanumeric text for text messaging transmissions by the wireless communication device (101). The keyboard may include a keyboard body (138) with an aperture (144) size to receive and retain the wireless communication device. The I/O connector (128) on the wireless communication device (101) mates with a corresponding keyboard connector (129) located within the aperture (144) of the keyboard body (138). The keyboard (126) may be rotatably mounted to the keyboard housing to permit activation of the keyboard by the user and may be rotated into an open configuration to expose the keypad (122) of the wireless communication device (101) to allow activation of the wireless communication device (101) by the user. The keyboard (126) may also be used to functionally replace the keypad (122) on the wireless communication device (101) by selectively activating a portion of th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.