Patents by Inventor Mark Babella

Mark Babella has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8989822
    Abstract: A mobile computing device is provided that includes a housing, a display screen, and a keypad. The housing includes a front face having a portion that has a contour. The contour may be is inwardly directed and be defined by at least a first gradient direction. The display screen is provided with the front face, apart from the portion that has the contour. The keypad includes a plurality of keycaps that extend outward from the front face. The keypad may be provided only on an occupied region of the portion of the front face that has the contour. A maximum angle formed by the occupied region of the front face relative to a horizontal reference that is coplanar with the display screen is greater than 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Lee, Troy Hulick, Mark Babella
  • Patent number: 8255013
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an audio receiver design for a mobile computing device are described. The mobile computing device may comprise an audio receiver structured and arranged to port to the rear of the mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the mobile computing device may be implemented as a dual-mode Global System for Mobile Communications/Universal Mobile Telephone System (GSM/UMTS) quad-band device. The mobile computing device also may comprise a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna for providing positioning determination capabilities and location-based services. In various implementations, the audio receiver may be ported to an in-vehicle system, such as an onboard entertainment system, navigation system, and/or communications system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Babella, Stephen Senatore, Weiping Dou, Avi Kopelman, William Noellert
  • Patent number: 8046032
    Abstract: A computing device includes a housing, a front housing segment, a keypad assembly and a rigid panel. The front housing segment includes a void. The keypad assembly includes a substrate and a key structure layer. The key structured layer includes a plurality of key structures. The keypad assembly is configured to extend the key structure layer at least partially through the void so as to enable user access to the individual key structures of the key structure layer. A rigid panel is structured to secure to the front housing segment so as to combine with the key structure layer. The panel includes an arrangement of cross-members that define openings, where each opening is dimensioned to fit around at least one key structure of the key structure layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark Babella
  • Patent number: 7876272
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to antenna designs that may improve the performance of a mobile computing device. Some embodiments are directed to a mobile computing device assembly comprising accessory incorporating a supplemental antenna designed to be adjacent to at least one internal antenna of a mobile computing device when the accessory is attached to the mobile computing device. The supplemental antenna and the internal antenna may cooperatively form an antenna system for the mobile computing device resulting in improved performance. In various implementations, the use of the supplemental antenna in conjunction with the internal antenna may enhance antenna performance and/or increase antenna efficiency. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Weiping Dou, Avi Kopelman, Yomi Matsuoka, Mark Babella
  • Patent number: 7829803
    Abstract: A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Babella
  • Publication number: 20100026589
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to antenna designs that may improve the performance of a mobile computing device. Some embodiments are directed to a mobile computing device assembly comprising accessory incorporating a supplemental antenna designed to be adjacent to at least one internal antenna of a mobile computing device when the accessory is attached to the mobile computing device. The supplemental antenna and the internal antenna may cooperatively form an antenna system for the mobile computing device resulting in improved performance. In various implementations, the use of the supplemental antenna in conjunction with the internal antenna may enhance antenna performance and/or increase antenna efficiency. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Weiping Dou, Avi Kopelman, Yomi Matsuoka, Mark Babella
  • Publication number: 20090180246
    Abstract: A computing device includes a housing a front housing segment, a keypad assembly and a rigid panel. The front housing segment includes a void. The keypad assembly includes a substrate and a key structure layer. The key structured layer includes a plurality of key structures. The keypad assembly is configured to extend the key structure layer at least partially through the void so as to enable user access to the individual key structures of the key structure layer. A rigid panel is structured to secure to the front housing segment so as to combine with the key structure layer. The panel includes an arrangement of cross-members that define openings, where each opening is dimensioned to fit around at least one key structure of the key structure layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Mark Babella
  • Publication number: 20090173614
    Abstract: A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Mark Babella
  • Publication number: 20090141436
    Abstract: A trim element is provided for a housing assembly of a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Matsuoka, Mark Babella
  • Patent number: 7525053
    Abstract: A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Babella
  • Patent number: 7425947
    Abstract: A handheld computer assembly for integrating an input device with a handheld computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a handheld computer comprising: an integrated display screen; and an expansion slot. In addition, an input device for coupling to the handheld computer via connection with the expansion slot is communicatively coupled with the handheld computer. The input device comprises a first portion comprising keys and a second portion comprising cursor navigation implements and wherein the first portion and the second portion are disposed on opposite ends of the input device. The input device utilizes the expansion slot to provide the communicatively coupled connection with the handheld computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: PalmSource, Inc.
    Inventors: Grace Tseng, Zita Netzel, Mike Ryner, Dipti Vaghela, Mark Babella, Bill Webb
  • Publication number: 20080060928
    Abstract: A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Mark Babella
  • Publication number: 20080064451
    Abstract: A mobile computing device is provided that includes a housing, a display screen, and a keypad. The housing includes a front face having a portion that has a contour. The contour may be is inwardly directed and be defined by at least a first gradient direction. The display screen is provided with the front face, apart from the portion that has the contour. The keypad includes a plurality of keycaps that extend outward from the front face. The keypad may be provided only on an occupied region of the portion of the front face that has the contour. A maximum angle formed by the occupied region of the front face relative to a horizontal reference that is coplanar with the display screen is greater than 20 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen Lee, Troy Hulick, Mark Babella
  • Patent number: 7259339
    Abstract: A key structure assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The key structure assembly includes a keycap having at least a first segment and a second segment. A first actuation member extends inward into the housing from the first segment of the keycap, and a second actuation member extends inward from the second segment of the key cap. A substrate including a plurality of electrical connects, including a first electrical contact aligned underneath the first actuation member, and a second electrical contact aligned underneath the second actuation member. The keycap is moveable inward to direct either the first actuation member into contact with the first electrical contact, or the second actuation member into contact with the second electrical contact. One or more sections of material are positioned above the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Babella