Mobile computer with foldable keyboard
A digital processing device including a keyboard assembly and a display assembly coupled to the keyboard assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard assembly has a collapsed form and an opened form and the display assembly has a display width of at least 800 pixels. The keyboard assembly unfolds to form a full-size keyboard (e.g., in conformance with an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) standard) that allows a user to comfortably, quickly, and accurately “touch-type” in a manner that the user may be accustomed to.
1 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard; and
a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said display assembly has a display width of at least 320 pixels and a display length of at least 240 pixels.
2 . The digital processing device of claim 1 , wherein said display assembly has a display width of 800 pixels.
3 . The digital processing device of claim 1 , wherein said display assembly has a display length of 400 pixels.
4 . The digital processing device of claim 1 , wherein said display assembly has a fixed, full-width display.
5 . The digital processing device of claim 1 , wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.
6 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard; and
a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said display assembly has a display screen with at least 80 columns of text.
7 . The digital processing device of claim 6 , wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.
8 . The digital processing device of claim 6 , wherein said keyboard assembly is stackable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.
9 . The digital processing device of claim 6 , wherein said keyboard assembly is a two-section keyboard.
10 . The digital processing device of claim 6 , wherein said keyboard assembly is a three-section keyboard.
11 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard; and
a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said keyboard assembly, when in said open form, is substantially centered relative to said display assembly.
12 . The digital processing device of claim 11 , wherein said keyboard assembly is slideable.
13 . The digital processing device of claim 12 , wherein said keyboard assembly slides relative to said display assembly to center said keyboard assembly when in said open form.
14 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form;
a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly; and
a cursor control disposed on said keyboard assembly, wherein said cursor control is exposed in both said collapsed form and said open form.
15 . The digital processing device of claim 14 , wherein said cursor control comprises a pressure sensitive pointing stick.
16 . The digital processing device of claim 14 , wherein said cursor control is operational in both said open form and said collapsed form and wherein are openings in a portion of said keyboard assembly allows said cursor control to be exposed when said keyboard assembly is in said collapsed form.
17 . The digital processing device of claim 14 , wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said collapsed form to said open form.
18 . The digital processing device of claim 14 , wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a first keyboard section and a second keyboard section.
19 . The digital processing device of claim 18 , wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a linkage to center substantially, when in said open form, said keyboard assembly relative to said display assembly.
20 . The digital processing device of claim 19 , wherein said linkage operates to slide said first keyboard section in response to a rotation of said second keyboard section.
21 . The digital processing device of claim 14 , further comprising a hinge assembly that rotatably couples said keyboard assembly to said display assembly.
22 . The digital processing device of claim 15 , wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a first keyboard section, a second keyboard section, and a linkage that couples said first keyboard section to said second keyboard section.
23 . The digital processing device of claim 22 , wherein said pointing stick is disposed near said linkage.
24 . The digital processing device of claim 23 , wherein said pointing stick positioned near a same side of said first and second keyboard sections when in said collapsed form, and positioned between said first and second keyboard sections when in said open form.
25 . The digital processing device of claim 23 , wherein a key array is disposed on a top side and a bottom side of said second keyboard section, and wherein a full-size keyboard is formed by said first keyboard section and said top side of said second keyboard sections in said open form.
26 . The digital processing device of claim 25 , wherein a thumb-style keyboard is formed by said bottom side of said second keyboard section in said collapsed form.
27 . The digital processing device of claim 26 , wherein said cursor control is operational in both open and collapsed forms.
28 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said collapsed form exposing a thumb-style keyboard layout and said open form exposing a full-size keyboard layout;
a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly; and
a cursor control disposed on said keyboard assembly, wherein said cursor control is exposed in both said collapsed form and said open form.
29 . The digital processing device of claim 28 , wherein said full-size keyboard layout has a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 92414:1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard.
30 . The digital processing device of claim 28 , wherein said keyboard assembly comprises a first keyboard section and a second keyboard section.
31 . The digital processing device of claim 30 , wherein said second keyboard section has a plurality of keys on a top side and a bottom side.
32 . The digital processing device of claim 31 , wherein said plurality of keys on said bottom side comprise thumb-style keys.
33 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said keyboard assembly having at least two keyboard sections and a pivot that couples said at least two keyboard sections, wherein a key top is positioned at a height less than a height of said pivot when said key top is pressed down.
34 . The digital processing device of claim 33 , wherein said key top is positioned at a height greater than said height of said pivot when said key top is not pressed down.
35 . The digital processing device of claim 33 , wherein said pivot allows said at least two keyboard sections to fold from said open form to said collapsed form.
36 . The digital processing device of claim 33 , wherein said open form of said keyboard assembly is a full size keyboard with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard.
37 . A digital processing device, comprising:
a keyboard assembly having a collapsed form relative to an open form, said open form exposing a plurality of keys to form a full-size keyboard; and
a display assembly coupled with said keyboard assembly, wherein said display assembly has a display width of at least 320 pixels and a display length of at least 240 pixels.
38 . The digital processing device of claim 37 , wherein said display assembly has a fixed, full-width display.
39 . The digital processing device of claim 37 , wherein said keyboard assembly is foldable to change from said open form to said collapsed form.
40 . The digital processing device of claim 37 , wherein said open form exposing a plurality of keys being substantially in compliance with key sizes conforming to an ISO 9241-4:1998(E) 6.2.1/6.2.2 standard.
41 . The digital processing device of claim 38 , wherein said display assembly has a display width of 800 pixels.
42 . The digital processing device of claim 41 , wherein said display assembly has a display length of 400 pixels.
43 . The digital processing device of claim 37 , wherein said plurality of keys have a vertical and horizontal center to center spacing between 14 mm to 22 mm.