Detection of flip closure state of a flip phone

• US 6,434,404 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Richard, Vij, Gajinder, Claxton, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/565,684
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/90, 455/575, 455/66, 455/74, 455/550, 379/433.01, 379/433.06
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• 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 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A detection circuit that detects the open and close state of a flip cover of a communications device. The detection circuit includes a resistive network and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). When the flip cover is in the closed position, the circuit detects a unique resistive value through a set of contacts. This voltage level is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal via the ADC for input into a microprocessor. When the flip cover is in the open position, the contacts are broken, thus, disabling the detection of the unique resistive value. The resulting voltage level is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal via the ADC for input into a microprocessor. Software, programmed within the microprocessor, enables the communications device to operate in the appropriate mode according to the detection of the open/close state of the flip cover.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the open/close state of an electronic device, comprising:

a first portion having a first set of electrical contacts and a resistive circuit coupled between said first set of electrical contacts;

a second portion, movably coupled to said first portion, having a second set of electrical contacts, wherein an electrical connection between said first and second sets of contacts can be made or broken based on the open/close state of said first portion; and

a processor for determining whether said electrical connection between said first and second sets of contacts is made or broken by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from said resistive circuit in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a first and second mode based on the said measurement.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal to be read by said processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said resistive circuit is a single resistor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first portion further comprises a keypad.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said resistive circuit is the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second portion further comprises a switching circuit for controlling said first portion by turning power on and off.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said processor controls said switching circuit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said second set of contacts are spring loaded pogo pins.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said system operates in a first mode if said first portion is in a closed state and said system operates in a second mode if said first portion is in an open state.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said system operates in a first mode if said first portion is in an open state and said system operates in a second mode if said first portion is in a closed state.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is a flip cover and said second portion is a personal digital assistant.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said flip cover includes a keypad.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said keypad is a resistive ladder circuit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said system operates in KEYPAD mode when said first portion is in a closed state.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said system operates in SMARTPHONE mode when said first portion is in an open state.

16. A method for detecting the open/close state of a device, comprising the steps of:

supplying power to a first portion of the device from a second portion of the device, said first portion having a first set of contacts and a resistive circuit coupled between said first set of electrical contacts and said second portion being rotatably coupled to said first portion and having a second set of contacts;

determining whether an electrical connection between said first and second sets of contact has been made or broken based on the open/close state of said first portion; and

enabling said device to operate in one of a first and second mode based on the open/close state of said first portion,

wherein said determining step comprises the steps of determining whether said electrical connection is based on one of a voltage measurement from said resistive circuit in said first portion and a voltage measurement from said second portion and converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said resistive circuit is a single resistor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said first portion further comprises a keypad.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said resistive circuit is the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said second set of contacts are spring loaded pogo pins.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said device operates in a first mode if said first portion is in a closed state and said device operates in a second mode if said first portion is in an open state.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said device operates in a first mode is said first portion is in an open state and said device operates in a second mode if said first portion is in a closed state.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said first portion is a flip cover and said second portion is a personal digital assistant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said flip cover includes a keypad.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said keypad is a resistive ladder circuit.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said device operates in KEYPAD mode when said first portion is in a closed state.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said device operates in SMARTPHONE mode when said first portion is in an open state.