Selecting flip phone operating mode using flip position
First Claim
1. A system for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising:
- a first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation;
a second portion, coupled to said first portion, having a set of electrical contacts, wherein different sets of contacts are made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and
a processor for determining which of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion are electrically connected to said set of electrical contacts from said second portion by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from one of said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes based on said measurement.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flip cover and hinge operate as a rotary switch to select the mode of operation of a communications device. Multiple contacts are located on the sides of the inner surface of the flip cover and a single contact is located on each side of the body of the communications device. Each contact located on the sides of the inner surface of the flip cover represents a different mode of operation for the communications device. As the flip cover rotates from a closure position to its final position as a stand, the mode of operation of the communications device changes as the contact from the body of the communications device connects with one of the contacts on the flip cover. Three modes of operation are presently implemented: the KEYPAD mode, the SMARTPHONE mode, and the SPEAKERPHONE mode.
84 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A system for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising:
-
a first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation;
a second portion, coupled to said first portion, having a set of electrical contacts, wherein different sets of contacts are made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and
a processor for determining which of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion are electrically connected to said set of electrical contacts from said second portion by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from one of said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes based on said measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
18. A method for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising the steps of:
-
supplying power from a second portion to a first portion, said first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said plurality of sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation, and said second portion being coupled to said first portion and having a set of contacts;
determining whether an electrical connection between one of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion and said set of contacts from said second portion has been made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and
enabling said device to operate in one of a plurality of modes based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portions, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of determining whether said electrical connection is based on one of a voltage measurement from said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion and a voltage measurement from said second portion, and converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification