The present invention relates to an improved case for a portable electronic device and particularly though not exclusively for a portable electronic device comprising a touch screen display. The invention aims to provide a solution to the problem of entering text and data into a tablet or smartphone device that has only a virtual Όη-screen' keyboard or a compact physical keyboard. These types of keyboard can be uncomfortable to use and/or poorly responsive making them ill suited for typing long text documents.

Many of the physical keyboards available on the market that connect to a mobile electronic device require a flat surface to lay the keyboard on. This can be problematic where the electronic device is to be used on the move, for example on a construction site or on a hospital ward. There is a need for a means of entering text via a physical, comfortable keyboard without restricting the user's mobility.

FR2972543 describes a casing for a portable device. The casing has a number of keys which can be used as an input means for the portable device. The keys are arranged on a rear facing surface of the casing, i.e. face in a direction opposite the screen of the portable electronic device. This allows the device to be held more comfortably by the user, with thumbs on top and fingers underneath. The case is arranged to hold a device of a specific size. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a case for housing a portable electronic device having a display; the case comprising: means to allow the display to be viewed whilst the portable electronic device is housed within the case; an input device; and means to provide a data connection between the input device and the portable electronic device; characterised in that the case can be partially collapsed or expanded.

The invention thereby allows the size of the case to be adjusted dependent upon the size of the device that it is to house.

In a preferred embodiment the case has a wall with one or more hinges about which the wall can be folded in order that the case can collapse or expand. The wall may comprise two wall portions joined through a hinge; the two wall portions may be retainable in a folded arrangement through a magnetic means. Preferably the wall comprises a further two hinges which conjoin a third and forth portions of the wall to the first and second wall portions respectively. In this way, the effective length of the wall can be shortened by folding the wall portions together. In preferred embodiments, the wall comprises at least five hinges to allow a further two wall portions to be folded, thereby providing three configurations; expanded, partially expanded and collapsed.

Preferably the case comprises a first side arranged to at least partially enclose a first side of the electronic device when housed in the case, and a second side arranged to at least partially enclose a second, opposing, side of the electronic device when housed in the case. The first and second sides are linked together by a central wall which can be collapsed or expanded. It is preferred that the first and second sides are hinged to the central wall. Preferably the opposing sides of the electronic device are associated with opposing sides of the display.

It is preferred that the input device is releasably detachable from the case, e.g. through a zip fastener, but the input device may instead be integrated.

One form of preferred input device comprises a keyboard. The keyboard preferably has at least two sets of keys; a first set being located on a first side of the case, and a second set located on a second side of case; the first and second sides are linked together by the hinged wall.

It is favoured that the keys of the keyboard are arranged to face a direction substantially opposite that of the display of the device when housed for use within the case. Each set of keys may comprise at least three columns of keys, each column having at least five keys.

The keyboard may further comprise a number of function keys arranged on a forward facing side of the case. Examples include a space key and/or a function key arranged, when pressed, to cause the display to display an on-screen virtual keyboard and/or to cause the function of other keys to change, e.g. to cause a key to produce a capital letter rather than a lowercase letter or to display a number or other symbol rather than a letter. In a preferred embodiment each key set includes a space key which is arranged on the forward facing side of the case so that it can be operated conveniently by the thumb of either hand of the user whilst the cover is being held. The case may comprise one or more pockets. These could be arranged against an inner surface of a wall of the case.

It is generally expected, though not essential, that the case is formed at least in part from a pliable material so that is can be folded up to be conveniently stored. Material may included one or more of textile, leather, or leather like material. The wall may comprise a flexure bearing to provide at least one hinge.

The means to provide a data connection preferably comprises a short range wireless transmitter for communication to a wireless receiver in the portable electronic device. Such connection may make use of commonly used protocols used for short range communication such as Bluetooth (Trade Mark).

It is preferred that a separate wireless transmitter is associated with each of the two sets of keys. This removes the need to provide a physical connection between the separated sets of keys and thereby avoids the problem of a physical connection failing through fatigue from repeated expansion/collapsion of the case. Preferably the wireless transmitters communicate directly with the portable electronic device.

Preferably the wall lies adjacent to the back face of the portable electronic device, running substantially parallel with the screen of the portable device.

The case may be provided with a strap to allow the case to be supported, such as around the neck or over the shoulder and across the body of a user. This leaves the user's hands free to operate the keys, or indeed the touch screen without having to support the weight of the device.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a case for housing a portable electronic device having a display; the case comprising: means to allow the display to be viewed whilst the portable electronic device is housed within the case; an input device; and means to provide a data connection between the input device and the portable electronic device; characterised in that the input device is releasably detachable from the case.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1A and IB are perspective views of a person holding a case housing a tablet computer;

Figure 2 is a perspective rear view of the case shown in a fully expanded state and with a strap;

Figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the case shown in a fully expanded state housing a tablet computer in a landscape arrangement;

Figure 4 is a perspective front view of the case shown in a fully expanded state; Figure 5 is a perspective front view of the case shown in fully expanded state housing a tablet computer in a landscape orientation;

Figure 6 is a perspective rear view of the case shown in part expanded state;

Figure 7 is a perspective rear view of the case shown in part expanded state housing a tablet computer held in a portrait orientation;

Figure 8 is a perspective front view of the case shown in part expanded state;

Figure 9 is a perspective front view of the case shown in part expanded state housing a tablet computer in a portrait orientation;

Figure 10 is a perspective rear view of the case shown in a collapsed state; Figure 11 is a perspective front view of the case shown in a collapsed state

Figure 12 is a perspective front view of the case shown in a collapsed state holding a smart phone;

Figure 13 is a perspective front view of the case shown in a fully expanded state holding a tablet computer, and equipped with transparencies to aid use of the keyboard;

Figure 14 is a front view of a pocket formed in the inside wall of the case, the pocket holding a transparency shown in Fig 13;

Figure 15 is a plan view part cross-section of the rear wall of the case in a part collapsed state; Figure 16 is a schematic of the electronic components of the case;

Figure 17 is a perspective front view of an alternative embodiment of the case arranged to support a detachable keyboard; and

Figure 18 is a perspective rear view of the alternative embodiment of the case. Figs 1 A and IB illustrate a user operating a tablet computer C housed within a case 1 which is supported about the user's neck and shoulder by a strap 2. The case 1 comprises a keyboard 3 acting as a user input interface with tablet computer C.

The case 1 comprises a back wall 4; side walls 5A, 5B; front walls 6A, 6B; and lower walls 7A, 7B (seen in Fig 4). Each of the aforementioned walls may be formed in part or whole by textile, leather or leather like material.

Back wall 4 comprises a first wall portion 4A, and a second wall portion 4B connected to the first wall portion 4A by a foldable third wall portion 4C.

The first back wall portion 4A, side wall 5A, front wall 6A and lower wall 7A together form a first sleeve to accommodate a first side of the tablet 1. The second wall portion 4B, side wall 5B, front wall 6B and lower wall 7B form a second sleeve to accommodate a second, opposing side of the tablet 1. The first and second sleeves are joined by foldable third wall portion 4C.

An opening 8 is defined between front walls 6A, 6B in order that a touch screen S of the tablet computer C can be viewed and hand gestures made against it.

As can be seen in Figs 2 & 3, the keyboard 3 is formed as two groups of keys 3 A 3B. The first group 3 A is supported by wall 4A and the second group is supported on wall 4B. The keys of both groups 3 A, 3B are arranged on a rear side of wall 4, the keys facing an opposite direction to screen S. Key groups 3 A, 3B comprise the keys representing letters of the alphabet arranged in the order found in a common QWERTY keyboard, and split between groups 3A & 3B for respective left and right hands. The arrangement of keys can be seen in Figure 16.

Each group 3 A, 3B comprises three columns of keys which correspond to the three rows of letters typically found on a QWERTY keyboard and includes those function keys, e.g. tab, shift, caps lock, enter/return, that are normally also present on those three rows.

The keys within each row are slightly offset imitating the arrangement of keys within columns of a standard keyboard. With the above described arrangement, the user who places their hands around the casing 1 with thumbs on front surfaces and fingers resting on the rear side of the case 1 can operate the keyboard 3, and touch type, using the same movements as used to operate an ordinary keyboard.

A number of further keys 3C, 3D, 3E are provided on the front face of the case 1. Keys 3C, 3D function as the space bar. They are arranged at equivalent positions on either side of the casing 1. This position allows the space bar to be operated with either thumb as is conventional with a standard keyboard.

Key 3E is a function key that, when pressed, causes the screen S of the tablet C to display a keyboard interface. This allows the user to enter characters via the touch screen, such as the '@' symbol, which are not possible using the keys of the keyboard 3. This function is known in prior art devices and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art using their common general knowledge.

As illustrated in Figs 2, the third (central) wall portion 4C is formed of four segments 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G. As illustrated in Fig 15, the segments are formed from cardboard cores 40 supported and spaced apart, on a backing fabric 41. A second layer of fabric 42 extends across the other side of the core. The first and second layers of fabric are stitched at 43 between the cores 40 to define each segment. The areas of wall 4C between the cores 40 having the stitching are relatively flexible and define the hinges 41, 4J & 4K conjoining adjacent segments. In an alternative embodiment the first and/or second layers may be formed from multiple pieces of material sewn. As can be seen in Fig 8, the first and second back wall portions 4A, 4B are similarly formed and conjoined to respective segments 4D and 4G by hinges 4H & 4L.

Each segment 4D, 4E, 4F 4G also carry a magnet 44. The magnet is secured to, or integrated with the cores 40. The magnets 44 are arranged, as illustrated in Fig 15, such that when the segments are folded together, they sit in close proximity to one another so that a magnetic attraction provides a retaining force between associated segments.

In a fully extended arrangement, as shown in Figs 2 and 3, all four segments 4D, 4E, 4F, & 4G are opened out so as to lie end to end. This provides a large effective length to wall 4, so that the first and second sleeves are widely spaced apart. This allows the case 1 to hold a large sized tablet/ a tablet in a landscape orientation.

Figs 6 - 9 and 15 illustrate the case 1 in a part collapsed arrangement. Inner most segments 4E and 4F are folded inwardly about central hinge 4J such that inner faces of segments 4E and 4F face one another. Both segments 4E 4F extend laterally outwards, away from wall portions 4A, 4B, pivoted thereto about hinges 41 and 4K. In this part collapsed arrangement, the effective length of wall 4 is shortened making the case 1 more suitable for housing smaller tablets or a larger tablet in a portrait orientation as shown in Figs 7 & 9.

Figs 10-12 illustrate the case 1 in a fully collapsed state in which the four segments 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G extend laterally backwards and away from the remainder of wall 4, i.e. portions 4 A, 4B.

To provide this arrangement, segments 4E and 4F are folded about pivot 4J as described in the part collapsed arrangement. Additionally, segments 4D and 4G are pivoted relative to portions 4A and 4B about hinges 4H and 4L. In an alternative embodiment the wall portions 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G may be folded together in concertina fashion. For example segments 4D and 4E may be folded together about hinge 41 with inside faces of said walls facing, and segments 4F and 4G folded together about hinge 4K again with inside faces facing.

Figure 16, illustrates schematically the electrical components of the case 1 which enables the keyboard 3 to be used to interface with the tablet C. The case comprises four circuit boards 21, 22, 23 and 24. Boards 22 and 23 carry the circuits associated with the keyboard 3 and in particular the two groups of keys 3 A, 3B associated with wall portions 4 A and 4B. Board 24 carries the circuit associated with the function keys 3C and 3E. Board 21 carries the circuit for key 3D. Both boards 21, 24 also carry a control unit 25 which includes, inter alia, a microprocessor, a battery, and a Bluetooth transceiver to provide a wireless communication link to the portable electronic device C; all of which are available as common off the shelf components. In an alternative though less preferred embodiment, only board 21 has a control unit 25 and instead a connection is provided between boards 23 and 24 with board 22 by a flexible flat or ribbon cable 26 which passes alongside or through wall 4.

Space constrain may mean that the two groups of keys 3 A, 3B do not include dedicated numeral keys. To overcome this, the keyboard may include a function key, located preferably on the front side, though optionally on the back, that when pressed alters the function of some of the keys of either or both key sets 3A 3B to display numerals. This feature can also be used to input less commonly used characters.

As the keys of the keyboard 3 cannot be seen by the user when typing, it is advantageous that the user knows how to touch type. Where this isn't the case, assistance may be provided through means to indicate to the user the position of the keys. This may be via the provision of transparent elements 31, 32 which the user can place directly in front of the screen S, and carry indicia 34 corresponding to keys positioned directly behind said indicia. The elements 31, 32 in the present embodiment are provided by transparent sheets of plastic material, e.g. acetate. These sheets are secured, when in use, at either side of the case, by their edges by a resistance fit between front walls 6A, 6B and the tablet C. When not in use, they are housed in pockets 41, 42 arranged on the inside face of the back wall 4 as illustrated in Figs 4 & 14.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate a variation in which the circuit boards 21 - 24 are integrated onto separate panels 30, 31 which are releasably detachable from the case 1.

Boards 21, 22 are integrated with panel 30. Boards 23, 24 are integrated with panel 31. The panels 30, 31, when mounted to the case 1, are arranged to extend around the case 1 overlaying sides 4A, 5A, 6A, and 4B, 5B, 6B respectively. One edge of each panel 30, 31 is provided with one half of a zip fastener 32 arranged to fasten with a corresponding other half of the fastener associated with panels 4 A 4B. Each panel 30, 31 is also provided with a second fastener (not shown), such as stud fastener to secure the panel to the front sides 6 A, 6B.

The panels 30, 31 may be comprised from a material similar to that of the rest of the case 1 such as fabric, leather or leatherette.

This arrangement allows the keyboard to be detached from the case in the instance that it is not required or if it is wished to replace the keyboard such as with a different design of keyboard or with a different input device. Examples of different input devices include a distance measuring sensor (e.g. using a IR beam); temperature sensor or movement sensor.

In an alternative embodiment, a software application run by the portable electronic device could be used to display the indicia on the screen S of the tablet C.

In an alternative embodiment, the case 1 may be provided with a substantially transparent covering in order to protect the screen S whilst still allowing it to be viewed. However, were such a screen employed and conjoined to both the first and second sleeves it would be necessary to provide the screen with means to collapse and expand with wall 4

Although the use of magnetic means to retain the wall segments is preferred, certain embodiments may omit them. Alternatively, the magnets may be replaced using other fastening means. One alternative is to use zip fasteners. Corresponding halves of the fasteners are secured to edges of the wall segments running alongside hinges 4H,4I, 4K, 4Lso that when the segments are folded to lie face to face they can be fastened together with a zipper attached to one of the fastener halves. So hinges 4H and 4L could be zipped together, and hinges 41 and 4K could be zipped together. Although it is generally beneficial to have keys arranged analogous to a QWERTY keyboard arrangement, this is not essential, and may be changed at the preference of the user or where it is intended for use in regions that use different keyboard layouts.