Personal digital assistant with a multi-functional flip cover

• US 20020086702A1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Inventors: Yuan, Jie, Lai, Cheng-Shing
• Application Number:
  US09/749,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20020086702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• 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 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• 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

Abstract

A personal digital assistant (PDA) with a multi-functional flip cover, which integrates the mobile phone function onto the flip cover so that the flip cover becomes the dial panel of the mobile phone when it is closed. The user can make and receive phone calls and read messages displayed on the screen. When it is open, the user can enjoy the PDA functions. The invention thus makes the mobile phone function of the PDA much convenient in use.

Claims

1. A personal digital assistant (PDA) with a multi-functional flip cover, which comprises:

a host, which provides the functions of a PDA and a mobile phone and displays the operational interface of the mobile phone within a specific area of a screen; and

a flip cover with one side pivotally installed on the host comprising;

a set of buttons;

a transparent window provided at the corresponding position of the specific area so that the user can read the operational interface of the host screen; and

a circuit board electrically connecting to the host so that the user can us the mobile phone function.

2. The PDA of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sound holes and a receiver/transmitter installed inside the plurality of sound holes.

3. The PDA of claim 2, wherein the sound holes and the receiver/transmitter is installed on the flip cover.

4. The PDA of claim 2, wherein the sound holes and the receiver/transmitter is installed on the host.

5. The PDA of claim 1 further comprising an electronic switch installed on the host so that the electronic switch will be triggered when the flip cover is closed so that the specific area of the host screen shows the operational interface of the mobile phone and, on the other hand, the electronic switch will be triggered when the flip cover is opened so that the host screen changes to the operational interface of the PDA.

6. The PDA of claim 1, wherein the transparent window is made of acryl.

7. The PDA of claim 1, wherein the transparent window is made of glass.

8. The PDA of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

9. The PDA of claim 1 further comprising a fixture device so as to keep the flip cover in the closed status.

10. The PDA of claim 9, wherein the fixture device is a magnet installed on the flip cover and a magnetic metal chip that can fix the flip cover at the closed position.

11. The PDA of claim 9, wherein the fixture device comprises:

a hook installed on the flip cover; and

a hole provided on the host that can hold the hook to fix the flip cover closed.

13. The flip cover of claim 12, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

14. The flip cover of claim 12, wherein the transparent window is made of acryl.

15. The flip cover of claim 12, wherein the transparent window is made of glass.

16. The flip cover of claim 12 further comprising a magnet for keeping the flip cover closed.

12. A PDA with a multi-functional flip cover comprised of a host and a flip cover, wherein the flip cover comprises:

a shell;

a circuit board installed in the shell to provide the mobile phone function;

a receiver/transmitter installed in the shell and electrically connecting to the circuit board;

a plurality of sound holes provided on one side of the shell that is on the outer side of the receiver/transmitter;

a plurality of buttons provided on one side of the shell, which is on the same side of the plurality of sound holes, providing the mobile phone function; and

a transparent window installed on the shell so that the user can see the PDA screen through the transparent window.