Non-binding sliding display for a handheld electronic device

• US 20060109250A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.), OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Prichard, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom

Abstract

A handheld electronic device having a slidable display is provided. A display unit is slidably connected to a body unit at two (or more) sliding joints. A mechanical linkage constrains motion at all of the sliding joints to be substantially equal. In this manner, binding of the slidable display is avoided, since binding occurs as a result of unequal motion at sliding joints. In one embodiment, the linkage includes a gear-axle-gear assembly disposed in a recess in the body unit and constrained to rotate as a unit about the axis of the axle. The gears of this assembly are engaged with linear gear racks on the display unit.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a body unit having a keyboard;

a display unit comprising a display facing away from said keyboard, wherein said display unit is slidably coupled to said body unit at a first sliding joint and at a second sliding joint, wherein said display unit can be moved between a first position exposing said keyboard and a second position covering part or all of said keyboard; and

a mechanical linkage coupled to said first and second sliding joints, wherein said linkage constrains motion at said first and second sliding joints to be substantially equal.

2. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said first sliding joint comprises a hook attached to said body unit and engaged with a slot in said display unit.

3. The handheld electronic device of claim 2, wherein said slot is an external slot.

4. The handheld electronic device of claim 2, wherein said slot is an internal slot.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical linkage comprises:

a first linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said display unit;

a second linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said display unit;

a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack;

a second gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack; and

an axle connected to said first and second gears, wherein said axle and said first and second gears are capable of rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle, wherein said axle is disposed in a recess within said body unit such that motion of said axle other than said rotation is substantially inhibited.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical linkage comprises:

a first linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said body unit;

a second linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said body unit;

a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack;

a second gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack; and

an axle connected to said first and second gears, wherein said axle and said first and second gears are capable of rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle, wherein said axle is disposed in a recess within said display unit such that motion of said axle other than said rotation is substantially inhibited.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical linkage comprises:

a first linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said body unit;

a second linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said body unit;

a third linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said display unit;

a fourth linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said display unit;

a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack and with said third linear gear rack;

a second gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack and with said fourth linear gear rack; and

an axle connected to said first and second gears, wherein said axle and said first and second gears are capable of rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical linkage comprises:

a first rail at said first sliding joint and including a first linear gear rack facing said display unit and a second linear gear rack facing said body unit;

a second rail at said second sliding joint and including a third linear gear rack facing said display unit and a fourth linear gear rack facing said body unit;

a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack;

a second gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack;

a third gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said third linear gear rack;

a fourth gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said fourth linear gear rack;

a display axle connected to said first and third gears, wherein said display axle and said first and third gears are capable of a first rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle, wherein said display axle is disposed in a recess within said display unit such that motion of said display axle other than said first rotation is substantially inhibited; and

a body axle connected to said second and fourth gears, wherein said body axle and said second and fourth gears are capable of a second rotation as a unit about an axis of said body axle, wherein said body axle is disposed in a recess within said body unit such that motion of said body axle other than said second rotation is substantially inhibited.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 8, wherein said first sliding joint comprises a first body slidable joint between said first rail and said body unit and a first display slidable joint between said first rail and said display unit.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said display unit further comprises a pen-based input interface.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 1, wherein said handheld electronic device is usable when said display unit is in said second position.