A protective cover may include a first cover part configured to be opened to expose a front surface of the electronic device and to be closed to conceal the front surface of the electronic device; a second cover part rotatably coupled to the first cover part and detachably arranged on a rear surface of the electronic device; and an input device detachably provided in the first cover part.

An apparatus for communicating with a handheld device (e.g., a cellular telephone) is provided herein. A protective shroud is configured to enclose the handheld device and protect it against incidents that commonly cause damage to handheld devices. Integral to the protective shroud is at least one of an input component configured to receive user input and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the handheld device. In one example, where both the input component and the wireless transceiver are integral to the protective shroud, signals related to received user input (e.g., where the shroud serves as a keypad) may be transmitted to the handheld device even if the protective shroud is removed from the handheld device.

A portable device (e.g., a wireless device such as a cell phone) is provided with a flexible keyboard and a flexible display screen. Such flexible components may be stored in the housing of the portable device when not in use. The flexible display screen and flexible keyboard may be expanded from the housing when the flexible components are utilized by a user. Non-flexible display and input components may be provided on the exterior of the portable device such that the device may be used, in some form, while the flexible components are stored. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) may be utilized when the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) is stored in said first housing.

A plurality of key buttons are configured on a multi-touch sensitive surface, but their positions are initially configured to be undetermined. When one or two hands of a user touch the multi-touch sensitive surface, a plurality of touch points are detected and further sorted into a touch point sequence which is consistent with a natural order of fingers of the one or two hands. Based on the touch point sequence, the plurality of touch points are configured to be positions of the plurality of key buttons according to predefined corresponding relationships between the fingers and the plurality of key buttons. When detecting none of touch points on the multi-touch sensitive surface, i.e., all of the fingers leave the multi-touch sensitive surface, the positions of the plurality of key buttons are configured to be undetermined again.

A system and method for coupling a peripheral to a device such as a smart phone. In a most general embodiment, the invention includes a first circuit for converting data signals output by the peripheral to analog signals; a connector for coupling the circuit to an input port of the device; and a second circuit disposed within the device for converting analog signals to data signals. In the illustrative embodiment, the first circuit is a frequency shift key generator and the second circuit is a frequency shift key detector. A host controller is coupled to the peripheral and a microcontroller coupled to the host controller. A serial port is coupled between the microcontroller and the host controller. A communication controller is coupled between the serial port and the frequency shift key generator. In a more specific embodiment, the device further includes a frequency shift key to binary data converter and a scan code to character set mapper and an arrangement for receiving and processing signals wirelessly via an infrared receiver.

A stand for supporting a device such as a cellphone or tablet computer includes a body section for physically connecting to the device. The body section has one or more legs. The legs have at least two positions; a first position flush with the body section and a second position extended for supporting the device at an angle with respect to a surface on which the device and stand rest. A power input for connecting to a source of power is provided on the body. A device connector is electrically coupled to the power input and electrically connected to the device, thereby providing electrical power to the device. A docking port is formed in the body section. The docking port accepts and holds a peripheral device and has a docking port connector for providing power to the peripheral device.

A mobile terminal having an input device that performs inputting in a tactile manner is disclosed. A touch screen of a first region and touch buttons of a second region are implemented by a single touch sheet without having touch sensing units. Thus, manufacturing, assembling and handling can be facilitated.

A keyboard for a handheld device comprises a plurality of side-keys and a main keyboard. The side-keys are configured at one side(s) and/or back of the device and used for changing layout of the main keyboard and operated by one hand holding the device. The main keyboard is used for inputting characters/commands and operated by another hand. Some or all of the side-keys can also be re-used as mouse buttons together with a touch screen of the device being re-used as a touch pad for a mouse. Some or all of the side-keys are operated by means of releasing a finger holding a side-key first and then using the finger to press down or touch the side-key to hold it again. This method operating a side-key can also be used for other key/buttons such as mouse buttons of a touch mouse, a touch-pad mouse, etc. The main keyboard can further comprise a physical keyboard and a mapping keyboard configured on a touch screen of the device to realize much more keys by means of simultaneously pressing down and releasing two or more keys of the physical keyboard. A current layout of the physical keyboard is mapped to the mapping keyboard.

An apparatus described herein communicates with a handheld device. A protective shroud is configured to enclose the handheld device and to protect it against incidents that commonly cause damage to handheld devices. Integral to the protective shroud is at least one of an input component configured to receive user input or a wireless transceiver configured to transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the handheld device. In one example, where both the input component and the wireless transceiver are integral to the protective shroud, signals related to received user input (e.g., where the shroud serves as a keypad) may be transmitted to the handheld device, even if the protective shroud is removed from the handheld device.

An apparatus for communicating with a handheld device (e.g., a cellular telephone) is provided herein. A protective shroud is configured to enclose the handheld device and protect it against incidents that commonly cause damage to handheld devices. Integral to the protective shroud is at least one of an input component configured to receive user input and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the handheld device. In one example, where both the input component and the wireless transceiver are integral to the protective shroud, signals related to received user input (e.g., where the shroud serves as a keypad) may be transmitted to the handheld device even if the protective shroud is removed from the handheld device.