Integrated cellular phone, digital camera, and PDA, with swivel mechanism providing access to the interface elements of each function

• US 20040185921A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Tornaghi, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0225 Rotatable telephones, i.e. the body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0231 Including a rotatable keypad body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals

Abstract

A wireless telecommunications device, including a telephone interface, a keyboard and a digital camera lens, utilizes a single mechanical transformation in the form of a swivel mechanism to allow the user to switch from one mode to another for portability and easy accessibility. Preferably, when configured in a first position, the wireless telecommunications device operates in the first mode. When configured in a second position, the wireless telecommunications device operates in the second mode. When configured in a third position, the wireless telecommunications device operates in a third mode. The first mode is a telephone mode. The second mode is a keyboard mode. The third mode is a camera mode.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a. a first substantially planar panel including a first interface, the first panel having a first axis of rotation perpendicular to the first panel; and

b. a second substantially planar panel including a second interface, the second panel having a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the second panel and rotatably joined to the first panel such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis rotation are co-linear;

wherein in a first position the second interface is obscured by the first panel and in a second position the second interface is exposed.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first panel includes a display, such that when the device is configured in the first position, the first interface controls the display and when the device is configured in the second position the second interface controls the display.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first panel includes a display, such that when the device is configured in the first position, an entry made on the first interface is displayed on the display, and when the device is configured in the second position, an entry made on the second interface is displayed on the display.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first panel includes a display, such that when the device is configured in the first position, an entry made on the first interface is displayed on the display, and when the device is configured in the second position, entries made on the first interface and the second interface are displayed on the display.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device operates in a first mode when configured in the first position and operates in a second mode when configured in the second position.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first panel is operatively coupled to the second panel to allow an exchange of electronic data.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a portable handheld device.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first panel further comprises a front side and a back side, wherein the front side of the first panel includes the display and the first interface, and the back side of the first panel includes an engaging end.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the second panel further comprises a receiving end.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein when the device is configured in one of the first position and in the second position, the receiving end receives the engaging end.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first panel further comprises a front side and a back side, wherein the front side of the first panel includes the display and the first interface, and the back side of the first panel includes a receiving end.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the second panel further comprises an engaging end.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein when the device is configured in one of the first position and in the second position, the receiving end receives the engaging end.

14. A wireless telecommunications device comprising:

a. a first panel including a front side and a back side, wherein the front side further comprises a display and a telephone interface, the first panel having a first axis of rotation;

b. a second panel including a keyboard, the second panel having a second axis of rotation, the second panel rotatably coupled to the first panel such that in a first position the keyboard is obscured by the first panel, and in a second position the keyboard is exposed, wherein in the first position an entry made on the telephone interface is displayed on the display and in the second position an entry made on the keyboard is displayed on the display, and

c. a digital camera lens mounted to a surface of the back side of the first panel, such that in a first position the camera lens is obscured by the second panel, and in a third position the camera lens is exposed.

15. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein in the second position, entries made on both the keyboard and the telephone interface are displayed on the display.

16. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein in the third position, the keyboard is obscured.

17. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein the second panel rotates in a first direction from the first position toward the second position and the third position.

18. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein the keyboard is a qwerty keyboard.

19. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein when the device is configured in the second position, the second panel is rotated about 180 degrees from the first panel.

20. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein the second panel rotates in a first direction from the first position toward the second position and in a second direction from the first position toward the third position, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

21. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein the device operates in a first mode when configured in the first position, the device operates in a second mode when configured in the second position, and the device operates in a third mode when configured in the third position.

22. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 21, wherein the first mode is a telephone mode, the second mode is a keyboard mode, and the third mode is a camera mode.

23. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 22, wherein in the third position, a button in the telephone interface is configured to operate a digital camera operatively coupled to the camera lens.

24. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein in the third mode the display shows what the camera lens sees.

25. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein the front side of the first panel includes the display and the first interface, and the back side of the first panel includes an engaging end.

26. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 25, wherein the second panel further comprises a receiving end.

27. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 26, wherein when the device is in one of the first position, the second position, and the third position, the receiving end receives the engaging end.

28. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 14, wherein the front side of the first panel includes the display and the first interface, and the back side of the first panel includes a receiving end.

29. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 28, wherein the second panel further comprises an engaging end.

30. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 29, wherein when the device is in one of the first position, the second position, and the third position, the receiving end receives the engaging end.