Ramped-key keyboard for a handheld mobile communication device
View Patent ↗Wireless handheld mobile communication device and keyboard therefore having a keyfield including a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline (Vc) of the keyboard. Each depressible key has a top engagement surface with an upper inboard portion that is raised relative a lower outboard portion thereof. The top engagement surface of each depressible key is ramped from the lower outboard portion toward the upper inboard portion. Each top engagement surface is generally crest shaped, with the apex of the crest running generally diagonally across the respective key with a remaining surface falling away from the crest toward the upper outboard portion and the lower inboard portion of the key. The top engagement surface of each of the depressible keys terminates at an upper edge thereof in an elevated ridge down from which the balance of the respective top engagement surface slopes.
1. A keyboard for a wireless handheld mobile communication device, the keyboard comprising:
a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard; and
each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface having a single centrally-disposed diagonal ridge of which:
a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and
a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge;
wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a first side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a first angle and the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a second side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a second angle, which second angle is different from the first angle.
2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for at least one of the depressible keys has an upper portion that is directed towards the vertical centerline of the keyboard.
3. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge is directed towards the vertical centerline of the key board at other than a perpendicular angle.
4. The keyboard of claim 2 wherein at least a majority of all depressible keys that comprise the keyboard have the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge.
5. The keyboard of claim 4 wherein all of the depressible keys that comprise the keyboard have the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge.
6. A keyboard for a wireless handheld mobile communication device, the keyboard comprising:
a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard; and
each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface of which:
a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and
a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge;
wherein:
the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a first side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a first angle and the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for a plurality of the depressible keys on a second side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a second angle, which second angle is different from the first angle; and
at least one of:
the first portion comprises an upper inboard portion of the top engagement surface; and
the second portion comprises a lower outboard portion of the top engagement surface.
7. A keyboard for a wireless handheld mobile communication device, the keyboard comprising:
a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard, wherein the keyfield further comprises:
a right-hand keyfield composed of a plurality of the depressible keys that are located on a right-hand side of the vertical centerline of the device, wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for at least some of the right-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower right to upper left; and
a left-hand keyfield composed of a plurality of keys located on a left-hand side of the vertical centerline of the device, wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for at least some of the left-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower left to upper right; and
each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface having a single centrally-disposed diagonal ridge of which:
a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and
a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge.
8. The keyboard as recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for all of the right-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower right to upper left; and
the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge for all of the left-hand keyfield depressible keys is inclined from lower left to upper right.
9. A wireless handheld mobile communication device comprising:
a housing with a display located in a top portion thereof for displaying information; and
a keyboard located in a lower portion thereof below the display and wherein the keyboard comprises:
a keyfield comprising a plurality of depressible keys arranged in rows that are distributed about a vertical centerline of the keyboard;
wherein each of the depressible keys has a top engagement surface having a single centrally-disposed diagonal ridge of which:
a first portion slopes downwardly to an edge of the top engagement surface from a centrally-disposed diagonal ridge; and
a second portion slopes downwardly to another edge of the top engagement surface from the centrally-disposed diagonal ridge;
wherein the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for depressible keys on a first side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a first angle and the centrally-disposed diagonal ridges for depressible keys on a second side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are similarly aligned to one another at a second angle, which second angle is different from the first angle.
10. The wireless handheld mobile communication device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of depressible keys have letter indicia arranged in a QWERTY format associated therewith.