Microsoft Awarded With Patent For Sliding Mobile Device

[*LTD*]

http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-awarded-with-patent-for-sliding-mobile-device-wait-what/

http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1...le-device/page__pid__594230108#entry594230108

Microsoft Awarded With Patent For Sliding Mobile Device.

Microsoft was awarded with a patent on sliding mechanism in mobile device. Yes, It was awarded to Microsoft yesterday. My doubt is that, nobody ever (all mobile device OEM’s) tried to patent this design till now? Microsoft applied for this patent just last year. I seriously don’t know why it was awarded and what’s unique in Microsoft’s design to get it patented. Here is the patent details,

Patent Number:20110195752

Patent details in full:

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph...5752.PGNR.&OS=DN/20110195752RS=DN/20110195752

Moveable Housing of a Mobile Communications Device :

Abstract

Mobile communications devices having moveable housings are described. In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a first housing that includes a display device; and a second housing that includes a keyboard. At least one of the first or second housings are moveable between a first configuration in which the first housing substantially covers the second housing so the keyboard is covered and the display device is viewable and a second configuration in which the keyboard is exposed and positioned such that an outer plane of the keyboard is positioned in a substantially similar plane to that of an outer surface of the display device.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The abstract is basically what you think: a first housing that includes a display device; and a second housing that includes a keyboard.

iOS users: we're ok. No sliders.

As for others . . . this could get interesting.

 

[FrozenTomato]

Oh wow. things are not looking good for Android manufacturers.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Sliders have been around for ages. How do patents like this get approved?


Lethal

 

[yg17]

If Microsoft ever tried to take someone to court over this, the patent would probably be thrown out in a second. All you'd have to do is show a mobile phone from before this patent was filed. Or show The Matrix - IIRC that movie was the first time I saw a slider phone.

 

[rhett7660]

I am curious as to when they will start enforcing this and if it does go to court what will happen with it.

 

[TheSideshow]

Sounds like something Apple would normally do.

Doesnt sound enforceable based on the summary I read, but I didnt look deep into the patent to see if anything is more specific about the mechanism.

Edit: I think what it is describing is the screen plane and the keyboard plane essentially lining up (instead of most phones staying in their own plane as of now)

 

[Rodimus Prime]

It is only the abstract. I know the WP7 OS will not even load the drivers if the keyboard on a slider is closed. Pain in the rear if you are using the IDE because it not documented very well that you have to hit the pg up key to "slide out" the keyboard so the drivers will load. It does save a little battery and what not.

 

[*LTD*]

The claims:

1. A mobile communications device comprising: a first housing that includes a display device; and a second housing that includes a keyboard, at least one of the first or second housings are moveable between: a first configuration in which the first housing substantially covers the second housing so the keyboard is covered and the display device is viewable; and a second configuration in which the keyboard is exposed and positioned such that an outer plane of the keyboard is positioned in a substantially similar plane to that of an outer surface of the display device.

2. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the outer plane of the keyboard is not positioned along the plane to that of the outer surface of the display device in the first configuration.

3. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the first housing is moveable: to be positioned along the plane in the second configuration; and is not positioned along the plane in the first configuration.

4. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the second housing is moveable: to be positioned along the plane in the second configuration; and is not positioned along the plane in the first configuration.

5. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein movement of at least one of the first housing or the second housing includes sliding.

6. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein movement of at least one of the first housing or the second housing includes pivoting.

7. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein a bottom of the first housing is positioned opposite a top of the second housing in the second configuration.

8. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the display device is viewable in both the first and second configurations.

9. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of keys of the keyboard is arranged accordingly to a QWERTY configuration.

10. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising a third housing, the first and third housings at least partially surrounding the second housing in the first configuration.

11. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, further comprising one or more modules that are configured to provide telephonic functionality.

12. A mobile communications device as described in claim 11, wherein the telephonic functionality is configured to be accessed by a user when in the first configuration and when in the second configuration.

13. A method comprising: moving at least one of a first housing or a second housing of a mobile communications device to assume a first configuration in which: a display device of the first housing is viewable; and a keyboard of the second housing is covered; and moving at least one of the first housing or the second housing of the mobile communications device to assume a second configuration in which: the keyboard is exposed and positioned such that an outer plane of the keyboard is positioned in a substantially similar plane to that of an outer surface of the display device; and the display device is viewable.

14. A method of claim 13, wherein the second configuration is assumed by raising the second housing in relation to the first housing.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein the second configuration is assumed by movement that includes sliding the first housing.

16. A method of claim 13, wherein the second configuration is assumed by lowering the first housing in relation to the second housing.

17. A mobile communications device comprising: a first housing that includes a display device; and a second housing that includes a keyboard, the first and second housings are moveable between: a first configuration in which the first housing substantially covers the second housing so the keyboard is covered; and a second configuration in which the keyboard is exposed by sliding the first housing, which causes the second housing to be raised such that an outer plane of the keyboard is positioned in a substantially similar plane to that of an outer surface of the display device.

18. A mobile communications device as described in claim 17, further comprising a linkage system that causes the second housing to be raised in response to the sliding of the first housing.

19. A mobile communications device as described in claim 17, wherein a bottom of the first housing is positioned opposite a top of the second housing in the second configuration.

20. A mobile communications device as described in claim 17, wherein the outer plane of the keyboard is not positioned along the plane to that of the outer surface of the display device in the first configuration.

 

[SevenInchScrew]

This sounds like nothing more than a byproduct of MS's purchase of Danger Inc a few years ago....

 

[kdarling]

What it is:

It's not a patent on the common slider types that are in use today.

It's a new idea for a slider where, once you move the display out of the way, the keyboard pops up to be LEVEL with the display. (Or in one claim variation, the display drops down to the keyboard level.)

You know how usually the top row of the keyboard is hard to use, because the bottom of the display is right there, interfering with your fingertips? This solves that problem.

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.3.4; en-gb; Nexus S Build/GRJ22) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

It's not a patent on the common slider types that are in use today.

It's a new idea for a slider where, once you move the display out of the way, the keyboard pops up to be LEVEL with the display. (Or in one claim variation, the display drops down to the keyboard level.)

You know how usually the top row of the keyboard is hard to use, because the bottom of the display is right there, interfering with your fingertips? This solves that problem.

So it's a design patent to make the screen flush with the keypad when opened? Nice and clever little design quirk by Microsoft.

Good to see people doom mongering without reading or comprehending what it actually is. Seems that is the done thing at MacRumors lately.

 

[Heilage]

I think that tweak is interesting. I wonder what the underlying mechanisms consist of behind the keyboard.

 

[kdarling]

I think that tweak is interesting. I wonder what the underlying mechanisms consist of behind the keyboard.

Here, I colored in one simple mechanism that the patent showed:



They also showed others with hidden devices.

 

[Heilage]

I think there is a possible weakness in that design, how will you avoid the keyboard flexing when you use it, but gently slide down when you retract the display?

 

[chrono1081]

Sliders have been around for ages. How do patents like this get approved?


Lethal

This.

I know companies try and patent some frivilous things but stuff that has already been out shouldn't be allowed to be patented.

If that was the case I should go patent a "stick like device that emits ink when that ink is put to paper or other surfaces"

 

[KingCrimson]

Irrelevant patent. 99% of smartphone users do not want a slide-out keyboard.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Irrelevant patent. 99% of smartphone users do not want a slide-out keyboard.

Number that want slide out is a lot hire than that. You have to look no father than BB torch or Droid on Verizon to see both those sell fairly well. The problem is there are very few high end smart phones that you can get a slide out keyboard on.
I wish there was a good high end phone that I could get a slide out on from AT&T. Hell I miss my old BB keyboard.

 

[roadbloc]

Irrelevant patent. 99% of smartphone users do not want a slide-out keyboard.

Well I certainly wouldn't say no to a slide out keyboard on my iPhone. That said, it isn't a must have.

 

[AppleScruff1]

If Microsoft ever tried to take someone to court over this, the patent would probably be thrown out in a second. All you'd have to do is show a mobile phone from before this patent was filed. Or show The Matrix - IIRC that movie was the first time I saw a slider phone.

Why? Apple sues because someone makes a rectangular tablet or a phone with a button.

This.

I know companies try and patent some frivilous things but stuff that has already been out shouldn't be allowed to be patented.

If that was the case I should go patent a "stick like device that emits ink when that ink is put to paper or other surfaces"

Funny you don't feel that way where Apple is concerned. Why is that?

 

[LethalWolfe]

Irrelevant patent. 99% of smartphone users do not want a slide-out keyboard.

54% of Android users prefer a physical keyboard.

Data is from last year and only Android users were polled but I can't imagine that opinions have changed so dramatically in such a short time frame that it still can't be used as an indicator of what people want.


Lethal

 

[Rodimus Prime]

54% of Android users prefer a physical keyboard.

Data is from last year and only Android users were polled but I can't imagine that opinions have changed so dramatically in such a short time frame that it still can't be used as an indicator of what people want.


Lethal

That is even hire than I thought. I figured it was at around 25%. I know I would loveto have a physical keyboard slider just none of the manufactures are really willing to do that and instead sticking the the slab design.