Portable communication device with a movable element and a sensor for detecting the position thereof

• US 6,314,183 B1
• Filed: 02/08/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Larsson, Mats Ove, Pehrsson, Claes Göran
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Putt, Nora J
• Application Number:
  US09/246,444
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 248/309.1, D14/140, 335/2, 335/91, 702/78, 323/19
• US Class Current: 379/433.06
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A portable communication device has an apparatus housing with a movable element attached thereto and a sensor for detecting a position of the movable element in relation to the apparatus housing. The communication device also has an electrodynamic device having a magnet. The sensor is arranged to detect the magnetic field originating from the magnet in the electrodynamic device and to provide an output which is relative to the apparatus housing. A device is provided, in the movable element, for conducting the magnetic field from the electrodynamic device to the sensor.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising an apparatus housing with a movable element attached thereto, a sensor for detecting a position of the movable element in relation to the apparatus housing, and electrodynamic means comprising a magnet, the sensor being arranged to detect the magnetic field originating from the magnet in the electrodynamic means and to provide an output, which is related to the position of the movable element relative to the apparatus housing, the movable element comprising means for conducting the magnetic field from the electrodynamic means to the sensor, wherein said means for conducting the magnetic field is a metal plate arranged in or in parallel with a plane in which the movable element is oriented.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a hall element.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a reed switch.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a speaker.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a buzzer.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a vibrator.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the movable element is a flip mounted to the apparatus housing by a hinge mechanism.

2. A portable communication device, comprising an apparatus housing with a movable element attached thereto, a sensor for detecting a position of the movable element in relation to the apparatus housing, and electrodynamic means comprising a magnet, the sensor being arranged to detect the magnetic field originating from the magnet in the electrodynamic means and to provide an output, which is related to the position of the movable element relative to the apparatus housing, the movable element comprising means for conducting the magnetic field from the electrodynamic means to the sensor, wherein the electrodynamic means and the sensor are located in or on the apparatus housing.

26. A device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a hall element.

27. A device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a reed switch.

28. A device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor.

29. A device according to claim 2, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a speaker.

30. A device according to claim 2, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a buzzer.

31. A device according to claim 2, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a vibrator.

32. A device according to claim 2, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the movable element is a flip mounted to the apparatus housing by a hinge mechanism.

11. A portable communication device, comprising:

an apparatus housing;

a movable element attached to the housing;

electrodynamic means positioned in the apparatus housing and comprising a magnet;

a sensor positioned in the apparatus housing; and

means, positioned in the movable element, for conducting a magnetic field from the magnet of the electrodynamic means to the sensor,

wherein the sensor is arranged to detect said magnetic field and provide an output which is related to the position of the movable element relative to the apparatus housing.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said means for conducting the magnetic field is a metal plate arranged in or in parallel with a plane in which the movable element is oriented.

13. A device according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a hall element.

14. A device according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a reed switch.

15. A device according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor.

16. A device according to claim 11, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a speaker.

17. A device according to claim 11, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a buzzer.

18. A device according to claim 11, wherein the electrodynamic means comprises a vibrator.

19. A device according to claim 11, wherein the device includes a mobile telephone.

20. A device according to claim 11, wherein the movable element includes a flip mounted to the apparatus housing by a hinge mechanism.

21. A portable communication device, comprising:

housing;

an electrodynamic means disposed within the housing and including a magnet that generates a magnetic field;

a magnetic sensor disposed within the housing and physically displaced from the magnet, so that the magnetic sensor generates a first output signal in response to the magnetic field generated by the magnet;

a flip cover including an element for conducting a magnetic field from the magnet to the sensor and moveable between a first position in which the magnetic sensor generates the first output signal, and a second position in which the element conducts a portion of the magnetic field to the sensor so that the sensor generates a second output signal, different than the first output signal.

22. A portable communication device according to claim 21, wherein:

the magnetic sensor is displaced from the speaker by a distance sufficient to cause the first output to be a low signal.

23. A portable communication device according to claim 21, wherein:

the second signal is greater than the first signal.

24. A portable communication device according to claim 21, wherein:

the flip cover is pivotally connected to the housing of the portable communication device by a hinge.

25. A portable communication device according to claim 24, wherein:

the first position corresponds to the flip cover being open, and the second position corresponds to the flip cover being closed.