APPARATUS FOR MOBILE TERMINAL DISPLAY

• US 20050148375A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: DeLine, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US10/708,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.300
• 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 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• 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: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• 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

Abstract

A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system comprises a housing encloses electronic components operable to transmit and receive telecommunication signals. The housing includes means for providing user input to the mobile terminal. A display is movably mounted to the housing for movement from a first position, where the display at least partially conceals the user input means of the housing, and a second position where the user input means of the housing is exposed and accessible to the user. A flip cover is pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position. The flip cover is sized to substantially conceal the display and an inner surface of the housing when in the closed position.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a housing having an inner major surface and an opposed outer major surface and enclosing electronic components operable to transmit and receive telecommunication signals, the inner major surface of the housing including means for providing user input to the mobile terminal;

a display having an inner major surface and an opposed outer major surface and electrically connected to the electronic components in the housing, the display movably mounted to the housing for movement from a first position where the inner major surface of the display is opposite the inner major surface of the housing for at least partially concealing the user input means of the housing and a second position such that the user input means of the housing is exposed and accessible to the user; and

a flip cover having an inner major surface and an opposed outer major surface and electrically connected to the electronic components in the housing, the inner major surface of the flip cover including means for providing user input to the mobile terminal, the flip cover pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between a closed position where the inner major surface of the flip cover is opposite the outer major surface of the display when the display is in the first position and an open position, the flip cover being sized to substantially conceal the outer major surface of the display and the inner major surface of the housing when in the closed position.

2. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is mounted to the housing for pivoting movement on the same axis as the pivoting movement between the housing and flip cover, wherein in the second position of the display the outer major surface of the display is opposite the inner major surface of the flip cover for at least partially concealing the user input means of the flip cover.

3. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hinge connecting the housing, the flip cover, and the display, the hinge providing the axis of movement of the housing, the flip cover and the display.

4. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for rotating the display interposed between the display and the pivotal mounting, the rotating means allowing the display to rotate in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pivotal mounting for positioning one of the inner major surface or the outer major surface of the display against the inner major surface of the housing or the flip cover.

5. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a hinge connecting the housing, the flip cover, and the display, the hinge providing the axis of movement of the housing, the flip cover and the display, and wherein the display rotating means is a movable support attached to the hinge and to an edge of the display.

6. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rotational joint mounted between the housing and the display for allowing the display to rotate in a plane about an axis perpendicular longitudinal axis of the housing.

7. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 6, wherein the display is mounted to the housing at a position along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

8. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 6, wherein the display is mounted to the housing at a position spaced from the longitudinal axis of the housing.

9. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 6, wherein the rotational joint allows the display to rotate by at least about 90 degrees.

10. A mobile terminal for use in a wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user input means of the housing and the flip cover comprises a keypad apparatus disposed within the housing and the flip cover, the keypad apparatus also electrically connected to the electronic components in the housing so that tactile input can be received.