Communication device with advanced characteristics

• US 20090102796A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A communicator device which allows improved functions. The communicator device may have real movable keys which are reconfigured when the device is used in different orientations. In a sideways orientation, the device has a rectangular aspect ratio which is wider than it is tall. And in that sideways orientation, the buttons are reconfigured to the orientation they would normally have. The communicator device may also be reoriented into the other position, in which case the assignment and the indication on the buttons is also correspondingly changed. The communicator device may have a projector to project videos, and the communicator device may be able to retrieve numbers and e-mails to be used for communications from a repository on the Internet or from a search engine on the Internet.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a communication part that has plural data entry parts, that collectively allow entering information that will form a communication, each data entry part including an actuatable control, and each data entry part being physically separated from other data entry parts and each data entry part being separately actuable from other data entry parts, and each data entry part having a display surface that shows a value associated with an actuation of that data entry part, said communication part including an orientation sensor that detects a first orientation of said communication part and a second orientation of said communication part, said second orientation being orthogonal to said first orientation, and a controller for said display surface, which displays a first value on a first data entry part in said first orientation, and displays a second value different than said first value on said first data entry part in said second orientation.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said data entry parts include buttons that can be pressed against a force of a spring, and where each button includes a display surface as a top portion thereof.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein a button represents a first value in said first orientation and represents a second value different than the first value in said second orientation, and said value is displayed in orthogonal orientations in said first and second orientations respectively.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the controller creates a display includes a controllable spatial light modulator.

5. A device as in claim 2, wherein each button also includes a part that creates a tactile operation when the button is depressed.

6. A device as in claim 1, further comprising controls for playing back stored video, wherein said controls are shown only in one of said orientations.

7. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a receiver in said communicator that detects a quality of overall reception, and that receives multiple different qualities of information, based on a quality of overall reception.

8. A method, comprising:

on a communicator device, providing a plurality of individually-configured and separate buttons that can each be individually pressed to actuate one of said separate buttons;

sensing an orientation of the communicator device;

responsive to sensing a first orientation of the communicator device, displaying a first indication on a first of said buttons, said first indication representing a first value of said first button in said first orientation;

allowing selection of said first button to use said first value for a first function associated with the communicator device;

responsive to sensing a second orientation of the communicator device different than said first orientation of the communicator device, displaying a second indication on the first button, said second indication representing a second value of said first button in said second orientation; and

allowing selection of said first button to use said second value to select a second function associated with the communicator device, wherein the second value represents a different value than the first value.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said selecting said buttons comprises actuating the buttons in a direction substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the communicator, and in a way that produces a tactile sensation from said actuating.

10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising a display, which in said first orientation forms a narrow screen display, and in said second orientation forms a widescreen display which has an aspect ratio that is at least 1½

times as wide as it is tall.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said screen displays additional controls in said first orientation as a narrow screen display, which additional controls are not displayed in said second orientation as a widescreen display.

12. A communicator device comprising:

a communication device having a housing that includes communication circuitry that allows communicating with a remote party, and allows receiving video transmissions over a network, said communication device having a display in said housing that allows displaying received video transmissions; and

a projector, also within said housing, that allows projecting said received video transmissions on a remote screen.

13. A device as in claim 12, further comprising a camera within said housing, said camera allowing determining an amount of ambient light, and said projector producing a brightness output that is based on said amount of ambient light.

14. A method of using a portable communicator device, comprising:

requesting information from an Internet storage unit, where said requesting comprises using a user interface on the portable communicator device based on said actuation, sending a request to the Internet storage unit, and receiving information from the Internet storage unit responsive to said request, the information including at least personal communication information for at least one desired contact; and

initiating a communication from the portable communicator device, to the desired contact, using said personal communication information.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said requesting information comprises requesting information from a stored list of contacts that is stored on said Internet storage unit.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein said requesting information comprises requesting information from a Internet based search engine based on searching parameters.

17. A method as in claim 14, wherein said requesting information comprises entering the information using a text input device.

18. A method as in claim 14, wherein said requesting information comprises speaking information, and sending information indicative of recognized spoken words.