Research in Motion Corporation

Blackberry Corporation

Norman Miner Ladouceur

Jason Tyler Griffin

Cortez M Corley

Todd Andrew Wood

Joseph Michael Hofer

Steven Henry Fyke

Roman Peter Rak

Marco Sixtus Ferrari

Frank Mathew Tyneski

Anders Fahrendorff

Di Tao

Ingve Holmung

Jodie Elizabeth Fletcher

Younghwan Kim

Robert James Lowles

Larry Edward Hawker

Benjamin William Boomhour

Mihal Lazaridis

Jerome Pasquero

David Ryan Walker

Timothy Herbert Kyowski

James Carl Infanti

Velimir Pletikosa

Jason T Griffin

Martin Philip Riddiford

Chao Chen

Brian Dennis Paschke

Kwok Ching Leung

Sergei Streltsov

Vijai Rajagopal

Daniel Jordan Kayser

Frank M Tyneski

Behzad Aghaei

Tracy Christina Sharp

Rachael Elizabeth Roberts

Yijai Rajagopal

Frank Tyneski

Griffin Jason Tyler

Steven Fyke

A portable electronic device comprising a display, an actuator actuatable to impart a force on the display, an input device moveable from a first position in which the input device is disengaged from the display to a second position in which the input device is engaged with the display, wherein when the input device is moved to the second position, the actuator is actuated to provide tactile feedback to the input device through the display.

Electronic device and method of providing tactile feedback

An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration.

Handheld electronic device that has a keypad which can be rendered ineffective, and associated method

A quantity that falls within a defined continuum defined by first and second end points of a gauge is communicated. Non-visual notifications indicate where on the continuum a current gauge value associated with a function of an electronic device resides relative to at least one end point of the first and second end points of the continuum. The non-visual notifications include a non-visual notification of the at least one end point of the continuum and a non-visual notification of the current gauge value.

Non-visual representation of a current gauge value of an electronic device on a continuum

An electronic device includes a base, a touch screen display, a pair of switches and operational components. The touch screen display is connected to the base, movable relative thereto and includes a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device. A pair of switches disposed between the base and the touch screen display and configured such that one of the switches is actuated in response to application of a force anywhere on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display and both of the switches are actuated in response to application of more than one force on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display. The operational components include a controller connected to the touch-sensitive input surface and a processor connected to the controller and the display.

Tactile touch screen for electronic device

A exemplary key assembly for a handheld device includes one or more L-shaped key structures each having a first member configured to receive an input keystroke and a second member substantially orthogonal to the first member; and a frame configured to receive the one or more L-shaped key structures, the frame having a wall aligned with the second member of the key structure, with the wall further comprising a switch for each of the one or more L-shaped key structures associated with an inner surface of the wall, wherein each switch is associated with an actuator associated with the second member of the corresponding key structure such that depression of a given key structure causes the actuator of the second member of the key structure to engage the switch of the wall.

Handheld device having retractable keypad assembly

A key activation system for use in an electronic device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys.

Key system for an electronic device

A portable electronic device includes a plurality of physical keys, a touch-sensitive input device configured to detect a touch, and a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, and the keys, and configured to, when no touch is detected on the touch-sensitive input device while a first key of the plurality of physical keys is selected, identify a first character associated with the first key, and when a touch is detected on the touch-sensitive input device while the first key is selected, identify a second character associated with the first key.

Electronic device and method of character selection

A handheld electronic device includes a housing, a flexible display associated with the housing, and an input portion linked to the flexible display. The input portion is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position. The flexible display has a first viewing area when the input portion is in the first position and a second viewing area when the input portion is in the second position. The second viewing area is smaller than the first viewing area.

Handheld electronic device having a flexible display

Disclosed is a device and a casing therefor. The device comprises a casing having a back side and a casing opening in the back side; a speaker mounted inside the casing and in communication with the casing opening; and a cover shaped to mate with and to cover the casing opening, the cover having a first nub and a second nub and a speaker opening providing an air channel for the speaker. In the device, the first and the second nubs are located about the speaker opening in a symmetrical pattern; and when the communication device is placed on a flat surface with the side of the casing facing the flat surface, the first and second nubs cause the back side of the casing to be canted from the flat surface to expose the speaker opening to ambient air.

Communication device and a casing therefor

A method includes determining a status associated with a function of a portable electronic device; and actuating a tactile status indicator to change a texture at a surface of the portable electronic device for a period of time to indicate the status.

Tactile indicator which changes the texture of a surface for a portable electronic device

A handheld device includes a housing and a keypad assembly configured within the housing. The keypad assembly includes one or more groups of keys configured for movable positioning between a first orientation in which a top surface of an individual key is exposed to a user, and a second orientation in which the top surface of the key pivotally retracts into the housing so as to expose an edge surface of the key.

Handheld device having pivotally retractable keypad assembly

A handheld communication device capable of transmitting and receiving at least voice and text communication. The device has a body assembly including a front face arranged to be directed toward an operator of the device when held in a text communicating orientation. A display screen and a text-input keyboard are included and are each exposed at the front face of the body assembly. The keyboard has a plurality of keys that include a set of alphabetic keys with which either QWERTY-, QWERTZ- AZERTY- or Dvorak-arranged alphabetic characters are associated. An integrated camera assembly is also included that is configured for taking photographs and the communication device enabled to wirelessly communicate photographs taken with the camera assembly to a remote receiver. The camera assembly includes a photo-initiating actuator having an actuated position and an unactuated position and at least one of a selective enablement device or a selective disablement device.

Disabling operation of a camera on a handheld mobile communication device based upon enabling or disabling devices

A handheld communication device having a reconfigurable keyfield and a display screen upon which characters are displayed. A plurality of actuable input keys makeup the keyfield, and each has at least one character associated therewith and an engageable top surface for actuation. A microprocessor is configured to receive data indicative of an actuated input key and to output data indicative of an associated character determined to correspond to the indicated input key. At least one of the plurality of actuable input keys is mounted to the handheld communication device by an adjustable interconnection configurable between at least first and second operating orientations. In the first operating orientation, the engageable top surface of the at least one input key faces a first direction and in the second operating orientation the engageable top surface of the at least one input key faces a second direction.

Reconfigurable keyfield on a communication device

The present disclosure provides a two-part jack socket for a portable electronic device and a portable electronic device having the same. In accordance with one example embodiment, the jack socket includes a first part having a contact surface; a second part having a contact surface and being moveable with respect to the first part between a first position and a second position, the contact surfaces of the first part and second part defining a cavity, the cavity having a retracted state when the second part is in the first position and an expanded state for receiving a jack plug when the second part is in the second position; and one or more contacts located in the contact surface of the first part or second part.

Two-part jack socket for a portable electronic device

Systems and methods are provided for inputting data to a mobile device using multi-character keys. A first input may be generated by pressing a multi-character key on the mobile device. In response to the first input, the mobile device may sequentially display a plurality of characters associated with the pressed multi-character key. When a desired character is displayed, a second input may be generated to select the currently displayed character as character data input.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, Canada

Norman Miner Ladouceur