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. 20, 2018
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2014
Hand Held Products, Inc., Fort Mill, SC (US);
Jason B. Schoon, North Liberty, IA (US);
Matthew W. Moeller, North Liberty, IA (US);
Ramon C. Redondo, Marion, IA (US);
Ryan McMahan, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Hand Held Products, Inc., Fort Mill, SC (US);
Abstract
A mobile computing device may be configured to run more than one operating system. Each operating system may require one or more specialized buttons to perform or enable various functions. The layout, shape, and function corresponding the buttons for each operating system may be unique. Adapting the buttons for a particular operating system may be accomplished by using soft buttons displayed as part of the graphical user interface. Here, however, valuable display area must be dedicated to the buttons. Another adaptation approach requires reconfiguring the hardware. Both approaches have drawbacks. In the invention disclosed, two sets of hardware buttons are incorporated in the same touch panel. Enabling a button is based on the choice of operating system. Enabled buttons are visible and operable while not enabled buttons or not visible and not operable. In this way, the hardware buttons in the mobile computing device may be reconfigured without using display area and without requiring hardware disassembly.