Handheld computer having moveable segments that are interactive with an integrated display

• US 20030038786A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lam, Lawrence, Nguyen, Huy P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,692,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/1675 Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A handheld computer is provided that includes a first module and at least a second module. The first module includes a processor and a display. The second module is slideably coupled to the first module so that it functions as a sliding cover that may effectively change the visible area of the underlying display. The handheld computer includes a sensing device coupled to the processor. The sensing device provides information to the processor regarding the relative position of the first module with respect to the second module. The information provided may be used to reconfigure the visual output of the display or to select a macro command presented on the display.

Claims

1. A handheld computer comprising:

a processor module comprising a processor and a display;

a sliding display cover moveably coupled to said processor module;

a sensing device coupled to said processor module and to said sliding display cover for providing a signal regarding the relative position of said processor module with respect to said sliding display cover; and

,

a device driver for performing an action in response to said signal.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein said action is a visual configuration of said display.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter, and wherein said action is the initiation of communication with another device using said wireless transmitter.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter, and wherein said action is the initiation of communication with an external device, using said wireless transmitter.

5. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein said sensing device is a non-contact sensor device.

6. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein said display is a touch panel display forming a part of said sensing device.

7. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein said sliding cover comprises an input device coupled to said processor module.

8. A method of selecting an option in an electronic device comprising a processor module and a sliding cover, said method comprising:

a) displaying information on a display screen of said processor module;

b) positioning an edge of said sliding cover adjacent to a portion of said information on said display screen by sliding said sliding cover relative to said display screen;

c) activating a selection device of said electronic device; and

d) invoking an action of said electronic device related to said portion of said information.

9. A method as described in claim 8 further comprising generating a position signal corresponding to a position of said sliding cover relative to said display screen.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said action is the execution of an application program.

11. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said action is the display of related additional information to said portion of said information.

12. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said selection device is a key.

13. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said sliding cover comprises a keyboard.

14. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said sliding cover further comprises a microphone.

15. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said sliding cover further comprises a speaker.

16. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a handheld computer comprising a display, causes the handheld computer to configure the visual output of the display, comprising instructions for:

sensing the relative position of said sliding cover and said processor module;

generating a visual output on said display.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for initiating an application by said processor module.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for initiating communication with an external device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for altering said visual output in response to said signal.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said instructions are for the rearrangement of a previously displayed visual object.

21. An integrated handheld computer and wireless telephone comprising:

a processor module comprising a processor, a display, and a speaker;

a keypad module comprising a keypad and a microphone, wherein said keypad module is slideably coupled to said processor module and operable to selectively cover a portion of said display.

22. The integrated handheld computer and wireless telephone of claim 21, wherein said keypad module is optically coupled to said processor module.

23. The integrated handheld computer and wireless telephone of claim 21, wherein said keypad module is coupled to said processor module by a flexible ribbon connector.

24. The integrated handheld computer and wireless telephone of claim 21, wherein said keypad module.