Slidable and automatic rotatable apparatus

• US 20060046797A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Qisda Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Hsiao-Wu
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.400
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0227 Rotatable in one plane, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom

Abstract

A slidable and automatic rotatable apparatus disposed in a portable electronic device and providing the portable electronic device, which includes a first housing and a second housing, with a first status and a second status is provided. The apparatus includes a third housing, a protruding part disposed on the second housing and opposite to the first track, and a rotary module passing through the second track. The third housing, which is fixed on the first housing and movably connected with the second housing, includes a first track, a second track, and a first rib disposed on a first side of the second track. A first end of the rotary module is fixed on the second housing, while a second end is disposed between the first housing and the third housing. The rotary module has at least one protruding point positioned at the second end for contacting the first rib.

Claims

1. A slidable and automatic rotatable apparatus disposed in a portable electronic device and providing the portable electronic device with a first status and a second status, the portable electronic device having a first housing and a second housing, the apparatus comprising:

a third housing, fixed on the first housing and movably connected with the second housing, the third housing comprising;

a first track, having a first position, a second position and a third position, the second position being positioned between the first position and the third position;

a second track, having a fourth position and a fifth position; and

a first rib disposed on a first side of the second track, a protruding part disposed on the second housing and opposite to the first track; and

a rotary module passing through the second track, wherein a first end of the rotary module is fixed on the second housing, a second end of the rotary module is disposed between the first housing and the third housing, and the second end of the rotary module has at least a protruding point in contact with the first rib;

wherein when the portable electronic device is operated under the first status, the protruding part and the rotary module are respectively positioned at the first position and the fourth position;

wherein when the third housing slides against the second housing and causes the protruding part to slide to the second position from the first position along the first track, the rotary module also slides to the fifth position from the fourth position along the second track and releases an elasticity force when the rotary module reaches the fifth position, the elasticity force rotates the rotary module and enables the protruding point to push the first rib, so that the protruding part slides to the third position from the second position and that the third housing moves against the second housing, and the portable electronic device is switched to the second status;

wherein when the protruding part slides to the second position from the third position, the protruding part causes the rotary module to rotate at the fifth position so as to store the elasticity force in the rotary module.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotary module comprises:

a rotary hinge, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the rotary hinge is disposed on the first end of the rotary module, the second end of the rotary hinge is disposed on the second end of the rotary module, and when the rotary module rotates, the second end of the rotary hinge rotates against the first end of the rotary hinge; and

a movable pulley, which is disposed between the first end of the rotary hinge and the second end of the rotary hinge and is fixed on the second end of the rotary hinge, wherein the protruding point is disposed on the movable pulley.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third housing further comprises a second rib, which is disposed on a second side of the second track.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a slide booster, which is disposed on the second housing and positioned in the vicinity of the protruding part for reducing the friction generated when the protruding part slides.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first track and the second track are connected together.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises a plurality of number keys.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing further comprises at least an application key.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second housing comprises a plurality of letter keys.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the arrangement of the letter keys is practically the same with the arrangement of the qwerty keyboard.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

11. A portable electronic device switchable between a first status and a second status, the device comprising:

a first housing and a second housing, the second housing having a protruding part;

a third housing, fixed on the first housing, movably connected with the second housing, and having a first track and a second track, wherein the first track, which is disposed corresponding to the protruding part, has a first position, a second position and a third position with the second position being positioned between the first position and the third position, while the second track, has a fourth position and a fifth position; and

a rotary module, passing through the second track and being fixed on the second housing and the third housing respectively;

wherein when the electronic device is operated under the first status, the protruding part and the rotary module are respectively positioned at the first position and the fourth position, meanwhile, an elasticity force is stored in the rotary module, and the release of the elasticity force is restrained by the first track;

when the third housing slides against the second housing and causes the rotary module to slide to the fifth position from the fourth position along the second track, the protruding part also slides to the second position from the first position along the first track, and when the protruding part reaches the second position, the rotary module releases the elasticity force and causes the third housing to rotate against the second housing, so that the protruding part slides to the third position from the second position for the electronic device to be switched to the second status;

wherein when the protruding part slides to the second position from the third position, the protruding part causes the rotary module to rotate at the fifth position for the elasticity force to be stored in the rotary module.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the rotary module comprises a rotary hinge.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device further comprises a slide booster, which is disposed the second housing and positioned in the vicinity of the protruding part for reducing the friction generated when the protruding part slides.

14. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the first track and the second track are connected together.

15. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the first housing comprises a plurality of number keys.

16. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the first housing further comprises at least an application key.

17. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the second housing comprises a plurality of letter keys.

19. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

18. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the arrangement of the letter keys is practically the same with the arrangement of the qwerty keyboard.