Communication device with rotating housing

• US 20050137001A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Gary, Petersen, Soren
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.400
• 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 1/0227 Rotatable in one plane, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• 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 present invention encompasses an electronic device that comprising two housings connected via a hinge. The two housing are capable of rotating about one and another. The two housing may be rotated to place the electronic device in an open or closed position. Electronic device further comprises at least two scroll dials, allowing the user to operate various functions in either the closed position or the open position. A display is provided that automatically adjust orientation to allow the user to view the information provided on the display in either open or closed position. The electronic device also provides for adjusting the audio functionalities based on the position of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device operable in a wireless communication system having an open position and closed position, the electronic device comprising:

a first housing, said first housing having a first scroll dial, a display, a first audio source and a second audio source;

said display for displaying information to the user and said display comprising a plurality of orientations for displaying information;

a second housing, said second housing having a second scroll dial, a keypad;

a hinge for connecting said first housing to the second housing, said hinge allowing the first housing to rotate to place the electronic device in an open position;

said hinge further having a cam feature and a locking feature.; and

a processor for determining position of the electronic device and said processor for controlling functionalities of the electronic device, said first audio source and second audio source based the position of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said first housing further comprising a first answer key, a first end key and a plurality of first info keys;

said second housing further comprising a second answer key, a end key and a plurality of second info keys;

said first audio source comprises a first microphone and first speaker; and

said second audio source comprises a second microphone and second speaker.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein

said processor for deactivating said first answer key, said first end key, said plurality of first info keys, said first microphone and said second speaker if determined that the electronic device is in a open position;

and

said processor for activating said second answer key, said second end key, said plurality of second info keys, said second microphone and said first speaker if determined that the electronic device is in a open position.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein

said processor for deactivating said second answer key, said second end key, said plurality of second info keys, said second microphone and said first speaker if determined that the electronic device is in a closed position;

and

said processor for activating said first answer key, said first end key, said plurality of first info keys, said first microphone and said second speaker if determined that the electronic device is in a closed position.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said first housing further comprising a first camera;

and

said processor for deactivating first camera if determined that the electronic device is in a closed position.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second housing further comprising a second camera.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein display having a first orientation wherein the first orientation is provided when the electronic device is in a closed position.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein display having a second orientation wherein the second orientation is provided when the electronic device is in an open position.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a switch connected to said processor wherein said processor rotating said orientation of said display upon actuation of said switch.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said switch comprises a magnetic switch and said magnetic switch is actuated upon said first housing rotating more than 90 degrees about said second housing.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display comprises a first orientation and a second orientation for displaying information to the user, wherein the information is displayed for said first orientation is 180 degrees opposite of the said second orientation.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first housing is on top of said second housing such that when the electronic device is in a closed position, said first housing covers said keypad of said second housing and said display displays information using said first orientation.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first housing is on top of said second housing such that when the electronic device is in a open position, said first housing exposes said keypad of said second housing and said display displays information using said second orientation.

14. An electronic device operable in a wireless communication system having an open position and closed position, the electronic device comprising:

a first housing, said first housing comprising a first scroll dial, a display, a first audio source and a second audio source;

said display for displaying information to the user and said display having a plurality of orientations;

a second housing, said second housing having a second scroll dial, a keypad;

a hinge for connecting said first housing to the second housing, said hinge allowing the first housing to rotate 180 degree in either direction about said second housing to place the electronic device in an open position;

a processor for determining position of the electronic device and said processor for controlling functionalities of the electronic device upon determining the position of the electronic device;

said processor adjusting the functionalities of said first audio source and second audio source based the position of the electronic device; and

a switch connected to said processor and said processor rotating said orientation of said display upon actuation of said switch.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said switch comprises a magnetic switch and said magnetic switch is actuated upon said first housing rotating more than 90 degrees about said second housing.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein

said first housing further comprising a first camera;

and

said processor for deactivating first camera if determined that the electronic device is in a closed position.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second housing further comprising a second camera.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein display having a first orientation wherein the first orientation is provided when the electronic device is in a closed position.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein display having a second orientation wherein the second orientation is provided when the electronic device is in an open position.

20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a switch connected to said processor wherein said processor rotating said orientation of said display upon actuation of said switch.

21. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said display comprises a first orientation and a second orientation for displaying information to the user, wherein the information is displayed for said first orientation is 180 degrees opposite of the said second orientation.

22. The electronic device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said first housing is on top of said second housing such that when the electronic device is in a closed position, said first housing covers said keypad of said second housing and said display displays information using said first orientation.

23. The electronic device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said first housing is on top of said second housing such that when the electronic device is in a open position, said first housing exposes said keypad of said second housing and said display displays information using said second orientation.

24. A method of controlling functionalities of an electronic device having a first housing and a second housing wherein said first housing rotatable about the second housing, the method comprising acts of:

determining is a switch that provides an indication of rotation of the first housing about the second housing was actuated;

switching the orientation of image displayed on a display if determined that a switch is actuated;

determining if the electronic device is a closed position;

adjusting functionalities of at least one audio source if determined that the electronic device is said closed position; and

disabling functionality of a first scroll dial if determined that the electronic device is an open position.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprises an act of determining if the electronic device is said open position and adjusting the functionalities of at least one audio source if determined that the electronic device is said open position.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, the method further comprises an act of adjusting functionalities of a first audio source if determined that the electronic device is said closed position.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, the method further comprises an act of adjusting functionalities of a second audio source if determined that the electronic device is said closed position.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of adjusting functionalities comprises a step of disabling a speaker of a second audio source and enabling a microphone of said second audio source.

29. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of adjusting functionalities comprises a step of disabling a microphone of a first audio source and enabling a speaker of said first audio source.