Key and button arrangement for a portable, foldable electronic device comprising at least two use positions

• US 20020044425A1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindholm, Christian, Ijas, Jari, Pirskanen, Hannu
• Granted Patent: US 7,202,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• 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 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable, foldable electronic device comprising an opened and closed use position, and a handle arrangement for the same. It comprises at least a first housing part (6), a second housing part (9), a hinge mechanism (36) arranged for folding the housing parts (6, 9), an electronic display (8, 81, 82) fitted on at least one inner wall (62, 92) of the housing part, a handle-like third housing part (2) arranged for holding the device (1) in the different use positions and comprising a wall (23) to be placed transversely against the user'"'"'s palm, wherein the hinge mechanism (36) is arranged on the side of the opposite wall (29) and arranged for folding the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) also in relation to the third housing part (2), wherein each adjacent wall (21, 22) is provided with at least one key button (4, 5) within reach of the fingers, and wherein the first wall (23), said upper wall (24) or the angle therebetween (25) is provided with a navigation key (3) within reach of the forefinger, equipped also with a push-button function and arranged rotatable in at least two opposite directions.

Claims

1. Portable, foldable electronic device (1) comprising an opened and closed use position, comprising at least:

a first housing part (6) comprising at least an inner wall (62),

a second housing part (9) comprising at least an inner wall (92),

a hinge mechanism (36) arranged to fold the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) in the closed position in relation to each other for a first use position, wherein the inner walls (62, 92) are against each other, remaining between the housing parts (6, 9), and in the opened position for a second use position, wherein the inner walls (62, 92) are adjacent to each other,

characterized in that the device (1) also comprises at least;

an electronic display (8, 81, 82) fitted on at least one said inner wall (62, 92) and arranged for displaying information to the user in the opened position, when the device (1) is on the palm or on a base and the display (8, 81, 82) is directed at the user,

a third housing part (2) arranged for holding the device (1) in different use positions and comprising a first wall (23) placed transversely to the user'"'"'s palm and an opposite wall (29) on the opposite side of the third housing part (2), as well as two adjacent walls (21, 22) therebetween and an upper wall (24),

wherein the hinge mechanism (36) is fitted on the side of said opposite wall (29) and arranged for folding the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) also in relation to the third housing part (2),

wherein each said adjacent wall (21, 22) is provided with at least one key button (4, 5) within the reach of the fingers for controlling the electronic functions of the device (1) and

wherein said first wall (23), said upper wall (24) or the edge (25) therebetween is provided with a navigation key (3) within the reach of the forefinger, equipped also with a push-button function and arranged rotatable in at least two opposite directions.

2. A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) are arranged to move away from the third housing part (2) before opening in opposite directions, and that the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) placed against each other are arranged, upon closing, to be partly inserted in the third housing part (2) to reduce the outer dimensions of the device (1).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said upper wall (24) is provided with a key button (15) within the reach of the forefinger for opening the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) automatically by means of the hinge mechanism (36).

4. Device according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises electronic display means (11) arranged on at least one said adjacent wall (21, 22) and arranged for presenting information to the user in the closed position of the device (1).

5. A device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said electronic display (8) comprises a partial display (81) arranged on the inner wall of the first housing part (6) and a partial display (82) arranged on the inner wall (92) of the second housing part (9), which are arranged for presenting information in at least two orientations transverse to each other for a vertical and a horizontal position of the device (1).

6. The device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in its opened position, the third housing part (2) is on the opposite side of the device (1) in relation to the inner walls (62, 92), extending in a direction which is perpendicular to said inner walls.

7. Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in its opened position, the inner walls (62, 92) are parallel and placed adjacent to each other to form a uniform inner wall.

8. Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that one of the housing parts (2, 6, 9) is provided with electronic image sensor means for still and/or video images, wherein said buttons (4, 5) and the navigation key (3) are also arranged for their control.

9. A device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the electronic image sensor means comprise a turnable camera arm (18) extending from the third housing part (2) in between the first and the second housing parts (6, 9), provided with a space (34, 35) and a transparent housing (32, 33) for the camera arm (18) and for protecting it.

10. A device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the hinge mechanism (36) comprises a hinge system (39) arranged for folding the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) in relation to each other and the third housing part (2), an ejector mechanism (37) arranged to eject the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) wholly and the hinge system (39) partly from the third housing part (2), and an unfolding mechanism (38) arranged to assist in the opening of the first and the second housing parts (6, 9).

11. Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the navigation key (3) is a rotatable roll or a rocker key.

12. Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is a communication device comprising at least a CMT user interface which is available in the closed position of the device (1), and at least a PDA user interface which is available in the opened position of the device (1).

14. A handle arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that for reducing the outer dimensions of the device (1), it is arranged to store said hinge mechanism (26) in a movable manner and at least partly inside the third housing part (2), or it is arranged to insert said one housing part (6, 9) at least partly in the third housing part (2), wherein the coupling between said one housing part (6, 9) and the third housing part (2) allows at least said movement and, if necessary, also their folding in relation to each other before said movement.

13. A handle arrangement for a portable, foldable electronic device (1) comprising two or more positions and comprising at least two housing parts (6, 9) foldable in relation to each other and a hinge mechanism (36) arranged for connecting and folding the first and the second housing parts (1, 9) in relation to each other, characterized in that the handle arrangement comprises a handle-like third housing part (2) arranged for holding the device (1) in the different use positions and comprising at least:

a first wall (23) placed transversely against the user'"'"'s palm, and

an opposite wall (29) on the opposite side of the third housing part (2), as well as

two adjacent walls (21, 22) therebetween and an upper wall (24),

wherein said hinge mechanism (36) or one of said housing parts (6, 9) directly is arranged to be connected on the side of said opposite wall (29), wherein the hinge mechanism (36) and the third housing part (2) are placed, for example, on opposite sides of said one housing part (6, 9), and

wherein each said adjacent wall (21, 22) is provided with at least one key button (4, 5) within the reach of the fingers for controlling the electronic functions of the device (1) and

wherein said first wall (23), said upper wall (24) or the edge (25) therebetween is provided with a navigation key (3) within the reach of the forefinger, equipped also with a push-button function and arranged rotatable in at least two opposite directions.