Folded type portable radio communication apparatus with functionality

• US 6,389,267 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Imai, Fumihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/122,640
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/550, 455/566, 455/569, 379/433, 379/428, 379/426, 379/429, 379/431, 379/420, 379/FOR.103, D14/142, D14/148
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• 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 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A folded type portable radio communication apparatus has a first housing having a first speech receiving section on an inner surface thereof and a second housing having a first speech transmitting section on an inner surface thereof. A hinge section rotatably connects the first housing and the second housing such that the first housing and the second housing are folded to oppose the inner surface of the first housing to the inner surface of the second housing. A second speech receiving section and a second speech transmitting section are provided on an outer surface of one of the first and second housings to allow communication in a folded state.

Claims

1. A portable radio communication apparatus comprising:

a first housing having a first speaker and a display on an inner surface thereof;

a second housing having a first microphone and a first keypad on an inner surface thereof;

a hinge rotatably connecting said first housing and said second housing so that said inner surfaces of said first and second housings oppose each other when said first and second housings are folded together and so that said display and said first keypad are exposed and available for use when said first and second housings are unfolded,

said first speaker and said first microphone being arranged and adapted for operation only when said first and second housings are unfolded,

said first speaker and said first microphone being spaced apart when said first and second housings are unfolded so that said first speaker fits next to a user'"'"'s ear and said first microphone fits next to a user'"'"'s mouth during operation of said first speaker and said first microphone; and

a second speaker and a second microphone on an outer surface of one of said first and second housings and a second keypad on an outer surface of the other one of said first and second housings for operating said second speaker and said second microphone.

2. The portable radio communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second keypad includes an off-hook select switch and does not include alphanumeric keys.

3. The portable radio communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery cell package on said outer surface of said one of said first and second housings.

4. The portable radio communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second speaker and said second microphone are on an outer surface of said battery cell package.

5. The portable radio communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said other one of said first and second housings further comprises a display and wherein said second keypad includes an off-hook select switch and plural keys.