Abstract: The invention relates to casings for portable communication devices. The casing is reusable with engines having different processing capabilities.

Abstract: A casing for a portable communication device having an operating face comprising a fragile input region providing recesses for operation of respective user input elements and a protection arrangement protruding beyond the fragile input region having an external profile that provides a plurality of contact points defining a contact plane such that when placed face downwards on a generally planar surface, the fragile region is spaced therefrom and impulses received on contact between the generally planar surface and the operating face are substantially dissipated away from the fragile region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casing for a portable communication device. The casing has an opening face carrying user input elements and a display, and rails are located against movement relative to a spacing element to strengthen the casing against flexing.

Abstract: A mobile telephone (1) comprising keys (5 to 10, rows 11 to 14) hinged from the end opposite to a display (2) so as to allow positioning of the keys partly over the display (2) to place soft keys (5,7) next to respective legends (3,4) shown on the display (2).

Abstract: A hand held mobile telephone (1) is disclosed comprising a front face (3) having a plurality of openings therein, and a plurality of keys (7–13) each having an upper surface bounded by side walls. Each key (7–13) protrudes from one of the plurality of openings to provide its upper surface for tactile actuation by a user. The telephone further comprises an underlying switching element and means for coupling the tactile actuation of the upper surface by a user to the switching element. One of said plurality of keys has a vertex, in the boundary of its upper surface, indicative of the location for tactile actuation.

Abstract: A two part cellular radio telephone in which a separable part is charged from a cellular transceiver portion.

Abstract: A hand held mobile telephone (1) is disclosed comprising a front face (3) having a longitudinal extension greater than a lateral extension and having a plurality of openings therein, and a multiplicity of keys (7–13) each having an upper surface bounded by side walls. Each key (7–13) protrudes from one of the plurality of openings to provide its upper surface for tactile actuation by a user and a plurality of said multiplicity of keys are arranged along a common first axis, in the longitudinal direction. Further, at least one of said plurality of keys has a vertex, in the boundary of its upper surface, aligned on said first axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to portable communication devices and in particular to the casings of such devices. The casing has an operating face providing a key arrangement for operating face provides recesses in the input region for operation of the keys.

Abstract: A portable communication device is disclosed comprising a front face (3) having a plurality of openings therein, and an array (6) of keys. Each key has a switch actuator, a switching element, and coupling means. The switch actuator has an upper surface bounded by side walls, and the switch actuator of each key of the array (6) protrudes from one of the plurality of openings to provide its upper surface for tactile actuation by a user and is physically discrete from the others. The coupling means couples the tactile actuation of the upper surface by a user to the switching element.

Abstract: A mobile device operable with keys 14 having characters 16 engraved onto the surface of the keys. To provide back illumination, visual traces of the characters are provided by a plurality of holes 18 made to the keys to provide spot light outlets adapted to collectively define the traces. The holes can be drilled and the key caps can be made of steel or other metals. The grooves 16 can be closed by a translucent material such as resin to block the ingress of dirt into the holes 18.

Abstract: A mobile telephone (1) comprising keys (5 to 10, rows 11 to 14) hinged from the end opposite to a display (2) so as to allow positioning of the keys partly over the display (2) to place soft keys (5,7) next to respective legends (3,4) shown on the display (2).