Mobile device systems and methods

• US 10,628,037 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Griffin Innovation, Co.
• Original Assignee: Griffin Innovation, Co.
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H
• Application Number:
  US15/519,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20170235484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 715762-765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Provided is a mobile device including a first body portion containing operational components of the mobile device, a second body portion coupled to the first body portion on a rear surface, containing auxiliary operational components of the mobile device, and a coupling hinge coupling the first body portion to the second body portion and for providing movement of the second body portion from a first position to a second position. The first body portion has a display surface and the rear surface opposite the display surface. The rear surface has a cavity. In the first position, the second body portion is recessed within the cavity of the first body portion. In the second position, the second body portion is positioned on the rear surface of the first body portion and the cavity is at least partially open to form a grip area.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a first body portion containing operational components of the mobile device, wherein the first body portion has a display surface and a rear surface opposite the display surface, wherein the rear surface has a cavity;

a second body portion coupled to the first body portion on the rear surface, containing auxiliary operational components of the mobile device; and

a coupling hinge coupling the first body portion to the second body portion and for providing movement of the second body portion from a first position to a second position;

wherein, in the first position, the second body portion is recessed within the cavity of the first body portion;

wherein, in the second position, the second body portion is positioned on the rear surface of the first body portion and the cavity is at least partially open to form a grip area on the rear surface of the first body portion, and

wherein the second body portion has a second thickness and the cavity has a cavity depth, and the grip area has a grip area depth when the second body portion is in the second position that is equal to at least the second thickness combined with the cavity depth.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein when the mobile device is in the second position, a keyboard on the display of the mobile device is in a one handed configuration.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, in the first position, the mobile device has a first thickness and, in the second position, the mobile device is thicker than the first thickness in the grip area and thinner than the first thickness in the area of the cavity.

4. The mobile device of claim 3 wherein the grip area has a thickness of at least the first thickness and the second thickness.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the coupling hinge is a double hinge mechanism for providing rotational coupling of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the coupling hinge is a four bar linkage for providing translational coupling of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the coupling hinge is a simple hinge for providing rotational coupling of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, in the first position, the second body portion extends to an edge of the mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first body portion includes a relief to allow a user'"'"'s fingers to engage the second body portion.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary operational components include a battery.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the second body portion is removable from the first body portion such that the battery can be removed from the second body portion.

12. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a retention system for holding the position of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the retention system includes a single magnet or multiple magnets on the second body portion and a complimentary magnet or ferromagnetic components of the first body portion.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the retention system includes a spring and cam system in the coupling hinge for providing a force to maintain the position of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the retention system holds the second body portion in the first and second positions.