Wireless telephone with sliding keyboard

• US 6,128,475 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC, Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wicks, James E., Hasegawa, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US08/826,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/564, 455/566, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/563, 455/556, 455/FOR 103, 379/428, 379/433, 379/434, 379/368, D14/138, D14/140, D14/148, D14/137, D14/144, D14/100
• US Class Current: 455/575.4
• 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

Abstract

An extension provided on a wireless telephone unit allows the unit to be compact while still providing an enhanced display, a keyboard, and a data input device. The keyboard is disposed on the extension which is slidable between a retracted and an extended position. When in the retracted position, the extension covers the data input device and most of the display. A single line of text remains uncovered for use when the extension is retracted. In the extended position, the extension uncovers a large display and data input device for use by the user.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone unit comprising:

a face portion of said wireless telephone unit which comprises a speaker and a keypad, wherein said face portion lies substantially in a common plane;

a display device disposed on said face of said unit;

an extension on said face of said unit which is slidable between a first fully retracted position and a second fully extended position in a direction parallel to said plane of said face portion; and

a data input device;

wherein said keypad is disposed on said extension;

wherein said extension, when fully retracted into said retracted position, covers only a portion of said display; and

wherein said data input device is a joystick.

2. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an uncovered portion of said display extends beyond an outer edge of said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

3. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data input device is covered by said extension when said extension is in said first retracted position and is exposed when said extension is in said second extended position.

4. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension further comprises a window formed therein through which a portion of said display can be seen when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

5. A wireless telephone unit comprising:

a face portion of said wireless telephone unit which comprises a speaker and a keypad, wherein said face portion lies substantially in a common plane;

a display device disposed on said face of said unit;

an extension on said face of said unit which is slidable between a first fully retracted position and a second fully extended position in a direction parallel to said plane of said face portion; and

a data input device;

wherein said keypad is disposed on said extension;

wherein said extension, when fully retracted into said retracted position, covers only a portion of said display; and

wherein said data input device is a trackball.

6. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein an uncovered portion of said display extends beyond an outer edge of said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

7. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said data input device is covered by said extension when said extension is in said first retracted position and is exposed when said extension is in said second extended position.

8. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said extension further comprises a window formed therein through which a portion of said display can be seen when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

9. A method of making a wireless telephone unit comprising:

providing, a speaker and a keypad on a face of said telephone unit, said face being defined substantially within a common plane;

providing a display on said face of said unit;

mounting an extension on said face of said unit which is slidable between a first fully retracted position and a second fully extended position in a direction parallel to said plane of said face;

disposing said keypad on said extension;

covering only a portion of said display with said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position; and

providing a data input device on said unit;

wherein said data input device is a joystick.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said covering comprises covering all of said display, except a single line of text, with said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

11. A method of making a wireless telephone unit comprising:

providing, a speaker and a keypad on a face of said telephone unit, said face being defined substantially within a common plane;

providing a display on said face of said unit;

mounting an extension on said face of said unit which is slidable between a first fully retracted position and a second fully extended position in a direction parallel to said plane of said face;

disposing said keypad on said extension;

covering only a portion of said display with said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position; and

providing a data input device on said unit;

wherein said data input device is a trackball.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said covering comprises covering all of said display, except a single line of text, with said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

13. A wireless telephone unit comprising:

a display device disposed on a body of said unit;

an extension slidable relative to said body between a first retracted position and a second extended position;

a keyboard disposed on said extension; and

a data input device which is disposed on said body of said unit so as to be covered by said extension when said extension is in said first retracted position and exposed when said extension is in said second extended position;

wherein said data input device comprises either of a joystick or a trackball.

14. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said extension, when fully retracted into said retracted position, covers a portion of said display.

15. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein an uncovered portion of said display extends beyond an outer edge of said extension when said extension is in said fully retracted position.

16. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said data input device is a joystick.

17. A wireless telephone unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said data input device is a trackball.