Wireless communication device and a method of manufacturing a wireless communication device

• US 6,415,138 B2
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sirola, Jukka, Jokinen, Tapani
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US09/195,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/91, 455/95, 455/73, 455/566, 455/575, 455/347, 455/423, 455/557, 455/154.2, 455/158.2, 455/158.4, 455/158.5, 379/93.19, 345/173, 345/174, 345/867
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• 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 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device (1) comprising a housing (2), a touch sensitive display (3) coupled to the housing (3), the display (3) comprising preferably a plurality of activation areas (3b-3d) for activating the functions of the wireless communication device (1) by pressing the activation areas (3b-3d), and a cover part (4) coupled to the housing (2) and arranged to move in relation to the touch sensitive display (3). The cover part (4) comprises at least one activation means (5), wherein in the closed position of the cover part (4), the activation means (5) is arranged to transmit the pressing of the activation means (5) to the activation area (3b-3d) located at the activation means (5) In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the activation means (5) is formed advantageously to correspond in size to the touch sensitive display (3), advantageously to a completely transparent and flexible foil-like activation means (5). Further, with the cover part (4) in the closed position, the activation means (5) is adapted at a selected distance from the touch sensitive display (3), and in relation to the touch sensitive display (3) preferably substantially parallel. The present invention also relates to a method in manufacturing a wireless communication device (1).

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a housing,

a touch sensitive display coupled to the housing, the display comprising a plurality of activation areas for activating the functions of the wireless communication device by pressing the activation areas, and

a cover part coupled to the housing and arranged to move in relation to the touch sensitive display, said cover part comprising at least one activation means, wherein in a closed position the activation means is adapted to mechanically transmit a pressing of the activation means to the activation areas, wherein the activation means is formed, advantageously to correspond in size to the touch sensitive display, advantageously to a completely transparent and flexible foil activation means, the flexible foil being adapted to mechanically transmit the pressing of the foil to the display;

wherein when the cover part is in the closed position, the activation means is arranged to transmit the pressing of the activation means to an activation area at the location of the activation means by means of a movement of a pressing point of the activation means directed towards the touch sensitive display and a contact formed between the activation means and the activation area.

2. A wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the cover part is in the closed position, the activation means is at a selected distance from the touch sensitive display, and substantially parallel in relation to the touch sensitive display.

3. A wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the cover part is in the closed position, the location of the activation means corresponds to a location of a plurality of activation areas.

4. A wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the cover part comprises a peripheral and substantially oblong frame, and wherein the activation means is arranged to close an aperture formed in the frame.

5. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device, said wireless communication device comprising:

a housing,

a touch sensitive display coupled to the housing, the display comprising a plurality of activation areas for activating the functions of the wireless communication device by pressing the activation areas, and

a cover part coupled to the housing and arranged to move in relation to the touch sensitive display, said cover part comprising at least one activation means, wherein in a closed position the activation means is adapted to mechanically transmit a pressing of the activation means to the activation areas, wherein the activation means is formed advantageously to correspond in size to the touch sensitive display, advantageously to a completely transparent and flexible foil activation means, the flexible foil being adapted to mechanically transmit the pressing of the foil to the display;

wherein with the cover part in the closed position, the activation means is adapted to transmit the pressing of the activation means to one of the activation areas at the location of the activation means by means of a movement of a pressing point directed towards the touch sensitive display of the activation means and a contact formed between the activation means and each of the activation areas.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein with the cover part in the closed position, the activation means is adapted to be positioned at a selected distance from the touch sensitive display, and in a substantially parallel relation to the touch sensitive display.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein with the cover part in the closed position, the location of the activation means corresponds to a location of a plurality of activation areas.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the cover part comprises a peripheral and substantially oblong frame, and wherein the activation means is arranged to close the aperture formed in the frame.

9. A wireless communication device comprising:

a touch sensitive display coupled to a housing for the device, the display including a plurality of activation areas adapted to be pressed in order to activate the functions of the wireless device, wherein each activation area is adapted to be located in a variable position and have a variable size depending on a function of the device selected by the user; and

a cover part coupled to the housing and arranged to move in relation to the touch sensitive display, the cover part including a transparent and semi-rigid media corresponding to a size of the touch sensitive display, the media adapted to be pressed and mechanically activate a corresponding activation area on touch sensitive display when the cover part is in a closed position, the media adapted to transmit a pressing of the media to the touch sensitive display.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the media comprises a flexible plastic film.