Preventing inadvertent striking of keys and like buttons in handheld palm-type devices when such devices are not in handheld usage

摘要

A handheld palm-type device senses that it is being held in a human hand, but not any specific human hand. It can sense whether it is held in any human hand. A handheld palm-type device with keys for data entry and apparatus for preventing inadvertent striking of the keys when the palm-type device is not handheld that comprises the combination of an implementation on the device for sensing a bi-stable physical condition having an on state when the device is handheld and an off state when not handheld and apparatus responsive to the sensing means for locking the data entry keys when the off state is sensed. The device has a housing with a surface for engaging the palm of a user's hand so that the sensor means are at the surface that interfaces with the palm of the hand. The bi-stable electrical condition sensed may be temperature, electrical capacitance or resistance at the palm-device interface.