Portable electronic device with keyboard

Abstract

A keyboard for a handheld electronic device having a row of alphanumeric keys, each alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric characters. A plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated counter-clockwise and a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated clockwise.

1 . A handheld electronic device comprising:
 a display;   a keyboard, said keyboard comprising a row of a plurality of alphanumeric keys, each alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric characters; and   wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated counter-clockwise and the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated clockwise.   
   
   
       2 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the alphanumeric keys have three alphabetic characters associated therewith. 
   
   
       3 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the alphanumeric keys have only two alphabetic characters associated therewith. 
   
   
       4 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the alphanumeric keys has one number and one alphabetic character associated therewith. 
   
   
       5 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a keystroke interpreter operating on a microprocessor of said device. 
   
   
       6 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said keyboard has a width approximately equal to a width of said display. 
   
   
       7 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary input. 
   
   
       8 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric characters comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout. 
   
   
       9 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys is provided by an electronic touch display. 
   
   
       10 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said keyboard further comprises an elongate SPACE key positioned below said plurality of alphanumeric keys. 
   
   
       11 . A keyboard comprising:
 a row of a plurality of alphanumeric keys, each alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric characters; and   wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated counter-clockwise and the plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard are rotated clockwise.   
   
   
       12 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein a majority of the alphanumeric keys have three alphabetic characters associated therewith. 
   
   
       13 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the alphanumeric keys have only two alphabetic characters associated therewith. 
   
   
       14 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the alphanumeric keys has one number and one alphabetic character associated therewith. 
   
   
       15 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , further comprising a keystroke interpreter operating on a microprocessor of said device. 
   
   
       16 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , further comprising an auxiliary input. 
   
   
       17 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of associated alphanumeric characters comprise alphabetic characters arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout. 
   
   
       18 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys is provided by an electronic touch display. 
   
   
       19 . The keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein said keyboard further comprises an elongate SPACE key positioned below said plurality of alphanumeric keys.