This is HUGE news, and you are reading it here first.
Just a few minutes ago, a newly posted BlackBerry patent application was posted on the Patent Office website for a type of BlackBerry you've never seen before.
This device will be symetrically shaped, with an outwardly protruding corner designed for better ergonomic fit with a headset.
First, let us read through the Abstract. Then, I'll show you a couple of more pictures, and annotate each with specific explanations from the patent app.
U.S. Patent application 20060246954, "Asymmetric handheld electronic device," calls for:
"An improved handheld electronic device includes a case having an asymmetry provided by an outwardly protruding corner," explains the Abstract. The handheld electronic device includes an earphone disposed at the outwardly protruding corner. The positioning of the earphone allows a user to rapidly locate the with respect to the user's ear."
"Additionally, by positioning the earphone at a protruding corner of the handheld electronic device, the protruding corner can be positioned at an inner location of the user's outer ear, which is more comfortable to the user than positioning the handheld electronic device atop the outer ear," the abstract continues. "The earphone is offset from a main axis of the handheld electronic device in a direction generally toward the side of the handheld electronic device on which the outwardly protruding corner is disposed.
"In a second embodiment, the Abstract adds, "a display of the handheld electronic device is offset from a main axis thereof in a second direction away from the offset earphone.
Ready to see some pix? Well, then I am ready to show them to you.
"Handheld electronic devices having a built in earphone typically have the earphone disposed generally centrally on the handheld electronic device along an upper edge of a front surface thereof," RIM says in the Patent app. "While such a central positioning of the earphone provides to the handheld electronic device a symmetric appearance, such positioning of the earphone can have limitations.
"Depending upon the size of the device, the earphone can be difficult to position directly over the ear since the position of the earphone may not be readily apparent to a user when the handheld electronic device is disposed at the side of a person's head," RIM adds. " Additionally, positioning the device such that a front surface thereof, such as at which the earphone would be disposed, is placed against the entire outer ear can become uncomfortable for the user. It thus would be desirable to provide an improved handheld electronic device that overcomes these and other limitations."
OK, now that we have that established, let us look at some drawings, K?
I am going to show you two "embodiments" (i.e. patent legalese for "examples" of what RIM is articulating here:
Here is embodiment 1:
And then Embodiment 2:
I know from experience that at least a few of you will want to know the tech deets. RIM explains this in detail.
So let us go thru this deets. I'll make it easier for you to read by bold-facing the sections I think are most important:
An improved handheld electronic device 4 is accordance with the invention is indicated generally in FIG. 1. The handheld electronic device 4 includes a case 6 upon which are disposed are an input apparatus 8, an output apparatus 12, a processor apparatus 16, and a wireless communication apparatus 18. In other embodiments, the handheld electronic device 4 may be configured to not include the processor apparatus 16 and/or the wireless communication apparatus 18 without departing from the concept of the invention. As will be set forth in greater detail below, the case 6 is configured to include an asymmetry which makes the handheld electronic device 4 more comfortable and easier to use.
The input apparatus 8 includes a keypad 20 having a plurality of keys 24 that are arranged on the case 16 in a number of rows 28 and columns 32. Numerous arrangements of the keys 24 are possible, and the layout depicted herein is purely exemplary.
[0019] The output apparatus 12 includes an audio transducer 36 that, in the present exemplary embodiment, operates in the fashion of an earphone. The audio transducer 36 itself is, in the present exemplary embodiment, disposed within an interior of the case 6 and is indicated by a grille formed in the case 6 at the location of the audio transducer 36. The output apparatus 12 additionally includes a display 36 disposed on the case 6. The output apparatus 12 can include other output devices such as lights and the like without departing from the concept of the invention.
The processor apparatus 16 in the depicted exemplary embodiment includes a processor and a memory. The processor may be, for example and without limitation, a microprocessor (.mu.P) or other processor. The memory may be any of a wide variety of storage devices such as, for example and without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and/or other storage devices. The memory may have one or more applications and/or routines stored therein that are executable on the processor.
The wireless communication apparatus 18 can provide, for example, GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and/or other wireless communication capability without limitation. An exemplary use of the wireless communication apparatus 18 may be in the context of a telephone application on the handheld electronic device 4, although numerous other types of communication contexts are possible without departing from the concept of the invention.
The case 6 includes a front surface 40 on which the keys 24 are disposed and generally at which the display 38 is disposed. The case 6 also includes a main axis 44 extending generally centrally and longitudinally along the case 6. In the exemplary embodiment depicted herein, the main axis 44 is disposed substantially centrally along a central column 46 of the keys 24 from among the plurality of columns 32. It is noted that the dot-dash line used to indicate the central column 46 is spaced slightly from the main axis 44 for purposes of clarity. In the present exemplary embodiment, the axis 44 also extends across the display 38. It is noted that in other embodiments of the invention, such as might include an even quantity of columns of keys, for example, might have a main axis that is disposed substantially between a pair of adjacent columns of keys.
In accordance with the invention, the case 6 includes an outwardly protruding corner 48 that is disposed at a first side 52 of the case 6 and that provides to case 6 an asymmetry. That is, the case 6 generally is symmetric about the main axis 44 except for the upper regions of the case 6, i.e., from the perspective of FIG. 1, wherein the outwardly protruding corner 48 is a protrusion of the case 6 in a direction generally parallel with the main axis 44. The case 6 also includes a second corner 84 adjacent the outwardly protruding corner 48 and disposed at a second side 58 of the case 6. It can be seen that the outwardly protruding corner 48 and the second corner 84 are asymmetric with respect to the main axis 44. The first side 52 is disposed in a first direction 56 from the main axis 44, and the second side 58 is disposed in a second direction 60 from the main axis 44.
OK, HERE IS THE MONEY GRAF:
The audio transducer 36 is disposed substantially at the outwardly protruding corner 48. Such positioning of the audio transducer 36 facilitates use of the handheld electronic device 4 by a user and additionally makes such use relatively more comfortable when compared with other devices having earphones generally centrally disposed at an upper edge of a symmetric case. That is, the outwardly protruding corner 48 can be received in an inner region of the user's outer ear. This allows a user to rapidly locate the audio transducer 36 on the ear at a location where the user will be able to hear output from the audio transducer 36. Additionally, such positioning avoids the case 6 being disposed entirely on an outer region of the outer ear, thus making such use relatively more comfortable.
There are additional details relative to axis and apex, but what I have just included should give you an understanding of the first embodiment of such a device.
As for the second embodiment, it is pretty much the same, but with subtle differences as to angle.
"A second embodiment of handheld electronic device 104 is depicted generally in FIG. 2.," RIM explains. The handheld electronic device 104 is similar to the handheld electronic device 4 in that it includes the same asymmetric case as the handheld electronic device 4. The audio transducer 136 is similarly offset in a first direction 156 from the main axis 144.
"However, the display 138 of the handheld electronic device 104 is offset in a second direction 160 from the main axis 144, it being noted that the main axis 144 still overlies a portion of the offset display 138," RIM adds.
"As such, the audio transducer 136 and the display 138 are, in the present depicted exemplary embodiment, each offset in opposite directions from the main axis 144," the explanation continues. "Such opposite offsetting can provide to the handheld electronic device 104 an aspect of symmetry which may at least partially counteract perception of the asymmetric configuration of its case 106."
Well, readers, would such a BlackBerry interest you?
