Radio communication device with movable housing element control

• US 5,715,524 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Daniel L., Jambhekar, Shrirang N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US08/384,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 455/351, 455/348, 455/349, 455/550, 455/552, 455/566, 455/556, 455/557, 379/433, 379/434, 379/428, 379/58, 379/59, D14/138, D14/240
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• 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 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A radio communication device (103) provides several radio communication services including radiotelephone service, electronic mail service, faxing service etc. . . . The radio communication device has a main body housing element (107) and a movable housing element (109), radio circuitry (113), a touch screen display (119), and a switch (127). In a closed position, the radio communication device (103) has a first set of limited radiotelephone functions such as phone number input and sending and receiving phone calls. In an opened position, the radio communication device (103) has a different set of user functions which include radiotelephone functions, advanced radiotelephone functions, and messaging functions. The switch (127) provides a signal responsive to the movable housing element (109) moving to the open position. Thus, switching the radio communication device (103) between a first set of user functions and the second set of user functions.

Claims

1. A radio communication device having radio circuitry disposed therein and a plurality of user functions, the radio communication device comprising:

a body housing element having at least a portion of the radio circuitry disposed therein;

a movable housing element having a first side and a second side, the movable housing element coupled to the body housing element and movable between at least a first position and a second position;

a touch screen display disposed within the body housing element, the touch screen display exposed on a first side of the body housing element such that when the movable housing element is in the second position, the movable housing element covers at least a first portion of the touch screen display, the touch screen display including a plurality of display arrangements, the plurality of display arrangments including a first display arrangement orienting at least a portion of the touch screen display in a landscape mode and a second display arrangement orienting at least a portion of the touch screen display in a portrait mode;

a keypad disposed in the movable housing element, the keypad including at least a first key, the first key having a first portion exposed on the first side of the movable housing element and a second portion exposed on the second side of the movable housing element, the first portion of the first key being outwardly exposed and the second portion of the first key being positioned adjacent to the touch screen display when the movable housing element is in the second position, the second portion of the first key capable of making contact with the touch screen display when the first portion of the first key is depressed, the contact causing the touch screen display to generate a predetermined signal for operating the radio communication device; and

a switch responsive to the movable housing element, the switch for switching between a first set of functions and a second set of functions, the first set of functions operable when the movable housing element is in the first position and the second set of functions operable when the movable housing element is in the second position, the first set of functions including messaging functions using the touch screen display and the second set of functions including functions for initiating telephone calls using the keypad, the first set of functions corresponding to the first display arrangement and the second set of functions corresponding to the second display arrangement.

2. A radio communication device having radio circuitry disposed therein and a plurality of user functions, the radio communication device comprising:

a body housing element having at least a portion of the radio circuitry disposed therein;

a movable housing element having a first side and a second side, the movable housing element coupled to the body housing element and movable between at least a first position and a second position;

a touch screen display disposed within the body housing element and including a plurality of data sub-areas, the touch screen display exposed on a first side of the body housing element such that when the movable housing element is in the second position, the movable housing element covers at least a first portion of the touch screen display;

a keypad disposed in the movable housing element, the keypad having a plurality of keys including a first key, the plurality of keys corresponding to the plurality of data sub-areas of the touch screen display, the first key having a first portion exposed on the first side of the movable housing element and a second portion exposed on the second side of the movable housing element, the first portion of the first key being outwardly exposed and the second portion of the first key being positioned adjacent to the touch screen display when the movable housing element is in the second position, the second portion of the first key capable of making contact with the touch screen display when the first portion of the first key is depressed, the contact causing the touch screen display to generate a predetermined signal for operating the radio communication device; and

a switch responsive to the movable housing element, the switch for switching between a first set of functions and a second set of functions, the first set of functions operable when the movable housing element is in the first position and the second set of functions operable when the movable housing element is in the second position, the first set of functions including advanced communication functions using the touch screen display and the second set of functions including functions for initiating telephone calls using the keypad.

3. The radio communication device of claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of display arrangements for arranging multiple configurations of the touch screen display, a first configuration including a user data area having the plurality of data sub-areas for touch activation when the movable housing element is in the first position.

4. A radio communication device having radio circuitry disposed therein, the radio communication device having a body and a movable element, the movable element being coupled to the body and movable between an open position and a closed position a portion of the radio circuitry is disposed within said second housing, the radio communication device comprising:

a processor for providing;

a first set of functions for operating the radio communication device as a radiotelephone, the first set of functions including functions for initiating and receiving telephone calls, the first set of functions available when the movable element is in the closed position;

a second set of functions for operating the radio communication device as a messaging system, the second set of functions including functions for sending and receiving text information, the second set of functions available when the movable element is in the open position;

a display disposed in the body, the display having at least a first portion for displaying information in one of a portrait mode and a landscape mode; and

a switch responsive to the positioning of the movable element, the switch providing a signal for selecting between the first and the second set of functions of the processor and between the portrait and landscape mode of the display.

5. A radio communication device having radio circuitry disposed therein, the radio communication device comprising:

a body housing element, the body housing element having at least a portion of the radio circuitry disposed therein;

a movable housing element, the movable housing element coupled to the body housing element and movable between at least an open position and a closed position; and

a display, the display displaying information in a portrait mode when the movable housing element is in the closed position, the display displaying information in a landscape mode when the movable housing element is in the open position.

6. The radio communication device according to claim 5 wherein the movable housing element covers at least a portion of the display when the movable housing element is in the closed position.

7. The radio communication device according to claim 6 wherein the display comprises a touch screen display.