The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 15, 2016
Filed:
Aug. 24, 2012
Klaus-dieter Meierling, Bochum, DE;
Wolfgang Michael Theimer, Bochum, DE;
Günther Heinrich Burghardt, Bochum, DE;
Heinz Henning Taschke, Bochum, DE;
Frank Von Heimburg, Bochum, DE;
Klaus-Dieter Meierling, Bochum, DE;
Wolfgang Michael Theimer, Bochum, DE;
Günther Heinrich Burghardt, Bochum, DE;
Heinz Henning Taschke, Bochum, DE;
Frank Von Heimburg, Bochum, DE;
BlackBerry Limited, Waterloo, Ontario, CA;
Abstract
A physical keyboard having a plurality of individual keys temporarily overlays a touch-sensitive display. Each individual key selectively provides either of a first level of capacitive coupling and a second, different level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display. By one approach the key provides that first level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display when a user asserts the key (for example, by pressing upon the key) to thereby communicate to the touch-sensitive display a selection of that individual key. The key can provide that second level of capacitive coupling when a user touches, but does not assert, the individual key. So configured, this second level of capacitive coupling serves to communicate to the touch-sensitive display an input instruction other than a selection of that individual key.