Folding portable cellular phone

• US 20020042252A1
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suganuma, Yuichiro, Kondou, Ko, Mori, Akitoshi, Nanmoku, Teruo, Toyoda, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A folding portable cellular phone includes a first box member and a second box member. The first box member includes: an upper case having a window for a display unit; an upper substrate on which electric parts are mounted; an upper hinge frame; and an upper cover on which these components are mounted. The second box member includes: a lower cover in which key holes are formed to provide a key console unit; a lower substrate including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) on which electric parts are mounted; a lower hinge frame; and a lower case on which these components are mounted.

Claims

1. A folding portable cellular phone comprising:

a first box member including a receiver; and

a second box member including a transmitter,

wherein said first box member and said second box member are rotated relative to each other at a hinge for folding said portable cellular phone, and

wherein parts other than those made of metal are employed as external parts for said first box member and said second box member, and

wherein chassis respectively made of a metal part and including an integrally formed hinge constitute skeletons of said first box member and said second box member.

2. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein said metal part is made of one of magnesium and an aluminum alloy.

3. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, said chassis supports a substrate on which electric parts are mounted.

4. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein said chassis functions as an electromagnetic absorption member and absorbs an unwanted electromagnetic wave.

5. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein said chassis is used as an antenna ground plate, and a hole formed in said antenna ground plate is used to mount an antenna on a substrate.

6. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein a unit connector is provided between portions of said hinges of said chassis in order to electrically connect said first box member and said second box member.

7. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 6, wherein said unit connector includes a flexible substrate and a coaxial cable.

8. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein hinge covers made of the same material as said external parts are provided with said first box member and said second box member in order to cover said hinges.

9. A folding portable cellular phone comprising:

a first box member including a receiver; and

a second box member including a transmitter,

wherein said first box member and said second box member are rotated relative to each other at a hinge for folding said portable cellular phone, and

wherein at least one hinge of said first box member and said second box member includes a reinforcing part that is stronger than external parts and that reinforces said external parts.

10. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 9,

wherein said external parts are at least one of an upper cover of said first box member and a lower cover of said second box member, and

wherein said reinforcing parts are an upper hinge frame and a lower hinge frame, respectively including a hinge portion provided for one of said first member and said second box member.

11. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 10, wherein said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame are inserted into said external parts.

12. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 10, wherein said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame are integrally formed with a chassis that supports a substrate.

13. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 12, wherein said chassis functions as an electromagnetic wave absorption member for absorbing an unwanted electromagnetic wave.

14. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 12, wherein a rib is formed on said chassis in order to prevent leakage of light at a portion in which said external parts engage.

15. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 12, wherein a rib is formed around said chassis to reinforce said external parts constituting said box members.

16. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 10, wherein one of said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame is fixed to said external part with one of a screw and a pawl.

17. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 10, wherein one of said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame is an independent part and is securely attached to a chassis that supports a substrate, and said chassis is fixed to said external part with one of a screw and a pawl.

18. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 10, wherein only one hinged portion is formed for said upper hinge frame and for said lower hinge frame.