Extensible Mobile Electronic Device

• US 20080311963A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Strawn, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,203,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• 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 provides an extensible mobile electronic device with a housing, having a first housing element comprising a first front surface and a first rear surface and a second housing element, comprising a second front surface and a second rear surface. Said first housing element, and said second housing element are extensibly supported to each other, such that said first and second housing elements can adopt a retracted position and an extended position with respect to each other. In said retracted position said first housing element and said second housing element are located substantially on top of each other, said first rear surface conformingly adjoining said second front surface. In said extended position said first housing element is displaced with respect to said second housing element and at least a section of said second front surface is adjoining said and flushing with said first front surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a housing;

a first housing element of said housing, including a first front surface and a first rear

a second housing element of said housing, including a second front surface and a second rear surface,

said first housing element and said second housing element being extensibly connected to each other, such that said first and second housing elements can adopt a retracted position and an extended position with respect to each other,

said retracted position of said first housing element and of said second housing element being located substantially on top of each other, said first rear surface conformingly adjoining said second front surface,

said extended position of said first housing element being displaced with respect to said second housing element and at least a section of said second front surface adjoining to and flush with said first front surface;

at least one recess on said first housing element for accommodating protrusions on said second housing element in said retracted position or at least one recess on said second housing element for accommodating protrusions on said first housing element in said retracted position; and

a camera module including a lens arranged at said first rear surface of said first housing element to enable said lens to be covered by said second housing element in said retracted position and to enable said lens to be uncovered in said extended position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, arranged on said first front surface, and

a user input interface element, arranged on said section of said second front surface coupled to said display and to a processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first rear and said second front surfaces have a stepped configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a third housing element component connected to said first or second housing element, having a third front surface and a third rear surface,

said extended position having said third housing element displaced with respect to said first or said second housing element and a section of said third front surface adjoining to and flush with said first front surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said extended position said first rear surface is partially conformingly adjoining said second front surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second housing elements is provided with sliding rails to provide said extensible connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one sliding block slideably engages said at least one sliding rail.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a pivot axis is arranged at said at least one sliding block.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one sliding rail is displaceable in a direction in an angular range of 30°

to 145°

to the main sliding direction of said sliding rails.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one sliding rail is curved.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is provided with at least one connecting rod articulated at said first and said second housing elements.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further being provided with a pawl for locking said housing in said retracted and/or in said extended position.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further being provided with a spring to convert said housing between said retracted position and said extended position.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cellular telephone module.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said extendible connection is provided by side plates.

19. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one sliding rail is displaceable in a direction in an angular range of between 45°

and 135°

to the main sliding direction of said sliding rails.

20. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one sliding rail is displaceable in a direction of substantially 90°

to the main sliding direction of said sliding rails.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

18. An apparatus, comprising

a first means for housing an electronic device;

a second means for housing said electronic device, extensibly connected to said first means, such that said first and second means can adopt a retracted position and an extended position with respect to each other;

said retracted position of said first means and of said second means being located substantially on top of each other, said first means conformingly adjoining said second means;

said extended position of said first means being displaced with respect to said second means and at least a section of said second means adjoining to and flush with said first means;

at least one recess on said first means for accommodating protrusions on said second means in said retracted position or at least one recess on said second means for accommodating protrusions on said first means in said retracted position; and

a camera module including a lens arranged at said first means to enable said lens to be covered by said second means in said retracted position and to enable said lens to be uncovered in said extended position.