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RIM patent calls for a tablet with concealable keyboard
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38 Comments

RIM patent calls for a tablet with concealable keyboard

By Bla1ze on 6 Sep 2012 12:17 am
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Another week and another round of patents has been fired off. Unlike the last one we saw from RIM, this one is a little bit less ambiguous though it's certainly not an entirely brand new idea either. Kevin wrote about his Compaq TC1000 in a previous From the Editor's desk and this newly revealed concealable keyboard patent looks pretty similar. As the patent describes:

An electronic device having a concealed keyboard includes a first housing, a second housing rotatably coupled to the first housing, and a concealment cover coupled to a rear of the first housing. The first housing has a coupling edge and two sides that are substantially perpendicular to the coupling edge of the first housing. The second housing has a coupling edge and two sides that are substantially perpendicular to the coupling edge of the second housing.

A receiving portion is formed on a rear surface of the first housing and is configured to receive the second housing. When the second housing is in the receiving portion, each respective side of the first housing and the second housing are co-terminal with one another. The concealment cover is exteriorly positioned with respect to the second housing when the second housing is in the receiving portion.

Essentially, what it breaks down to is that RIM wants to offer a system like that of the BlackBerry Mini Keyboard accessory for the BlackBerry PlayBook but instead of it being an attachment, it will be built directly into the tablet and hidden away when not in use.

Remember those images of the purported 10-Inch BlackBerry PlayBook? Makes you wonder if RIM went back to the drawing board with it considering this was initially filed before the BlackBerry PlayBook was even released. Then again, it could just a random patent to add to the many other random patents RIM files each year. Feel free to speculate in the comments.

Source: USPTO; via: N4BB

Topics: Patent News & Rumors

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38 comments

ekafara

I'd buy it.

GTiLeo

sure why not, i'm sure it would be a bit fatter and wit hthe extra space be able to house a larger battery, personally i liek the idea of having a keyboard on my playbook leaving more space on the screen for long messages or documents

uuglyindaface

Concealable keyboard. Sounds like a stinkin' laptop to me. Being a BlackBerry though, I know I'd go for it. However, when is RIM going to put out actual laptops n desktops??? I'd love to see that day!

ciscobear

RIM please do one thing and one thing properly at a time. Remembers something called BBM Music *sigh

kill_9

Agreed. RIM seems to enjoy urinating in the wind and spraying itself with the backwash. They have yet to deliver on the current hardware products. There is a cadre within Research In Motion who act as though they are in the ivory towers of academia. RIM should patent their business strategy that led them from industry pioneer to dangerously irrelevant.

joski

What in the fuck are you two yammering about?!

How about we all relax, gear down the "pontificating fucktard" role and stick with our dayjobs? We can leave these things up to the people who ACTUALLY run the goddamn company, as opposed to you speculating shit-talkers who just like to hear yourselves say "clever" things.

neteng1000

No kidding. They dominated for years. They obviously know how to do some things right!

Yandar

This was filed in feb 2011 so its likely just an idea for a different PlayBook idea thats just been cleared. dont get you knickers in a twist or your panties in a wad over this.

coolaide

If Rim doesnt Patent the ideas an all projects they come up with then someone will swoop in an steal it. Why would they only work on one thing at a time. Thats the dumbest crap Ive ever heard. Look at the new windows 8 Tablet and look at this patent and tell me this is not a win for rim.

Blackberry_boffin

What exactly is wrong with BBM Music? That you do not use it?

gregerator

ASUS Eee Pad Slider: http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Slider_SL101/

haricharan

wow thats too many Eees in the post.

Mezomish

Eee Pad Slider was announced in July 2011: http://www.androidauthority.com/asus-eee-pad-slider-officially-announced...
The patent was filed in February 2011.

BruvvaPete

My mind is so twisted that I actually understand that gibberish. Now ask me to explain in layman's terms... Hang on a second. Trolls?

Vic_Franklyn

It doesn't take a twisted mind to understand fundamental
schematics Pete, just an intellect.
______________________
Tablets are incredible

G-bone

Not sure that was the Bruvvas' point...

stackberry369

I posted this in news and rumours

Bobert_123

Cool, but would it be removable?

joski

I'm pretty sure this is only at the "2nd month of the relationship" phase. It may or may not happen. It's like being 2 months in and bringing up having children. This patent may or may not swallow your children some drunken night.

texazzpete

Asus Eee Pad Slider already had this ages ago.

pmccartney

The mechanics are completely different.

Mezomish

"Ages ago" means "for a slightly more than a year" (since July 2011)? :D

http://www.androidauthority.com/asus-eee-pad-slider-officially-announced...

The patent was filed in February 2011 - almost half a year prior to that.

birdman_38

How does this differ from the flip-around concealed keyboard which makes up the cover of Microsoft's Surface?

Mezomish

No difference indeed: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx

MS Surface looks EXACTLY like the device in the patent. But there is one little thing that matters A LOT: this patent was filed at February 25, 2011 - more than a year before the Surface was even announced! So Microsoft's primary bet to come back to (or enter?) tablet market VIOLATES RIM's PATENT!

So now RIM has a joker in a sleeve that can be used against MS to get some goody-goodies from them. Say, Skype for BB10? ;)

What a great move from RIM!

stephen_az

Wow, I would have never guessed that an internally concealed keyboard is identical to a magnetically attached, detachable, optional, combination keyboard and cover. I also missed the part about it being interchangeable, and that there are touch and mechanical key versions. Sorry but, to put it mildly, this is wishful thinking. BTW, I think you will find if you want it look it up that hardware technology being introduced in the Surface tablets is already patented and software elements are also either patented or cross-licensed with a patent holder.

slagman5

I don't know, that image looks a lot like the Microsoft Surface that's coming out in October... http://www.surface.com

boldvivek

RIM should develope desktop & laptop OS.

Mezomish

Did you know you can attach your PlayBook to a monitor via HDMI cable and use a Bluetooth mouse and a keyboard with it? The cursor will appear and you'll be able to use it as if it was a desktop.

k-dogg

You can also use the BlackBerry Bridge app with the Remote function as well!!! Its rocks I use it all the time

Rootbrian

Now that would be damn cool. But bluetooth keyboards and mice, and bb bridge remote control, are sweet!