Device with interchangeable user-interfaces and method for doing same

• US 6,542,354 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Holtorf, James Lee, Gartrell, Andrew Julian, Finkbeiner, Tanja, Curtis, Alastair Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/590,512
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 364/708.1, 400/472, 400/479, 400/488-492, 400/682, 400/691-693, 395/168-169, 312/208.1, 312/208.4, 341/22
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers

Abstract

A compact device and method for communication and entertainment needs that include having interchangeable user-interfaces and combining various functions performed by different keypads and units into a single pad or unit. The device includes circuitry with transceiver capabilities, a chassis, a display, at least two Freestyle User-Interfaces (FUI) secured to the chassis that can rotate from an open position to a closed position, and a user-interface that provides the user with navigational control and image conversion. The method of interchanging at least two FUIs includes providing a chassis for securely holding the circuitry, rotatably securing the user-interfaces to the chassis, coupling the user-interfaces to the circuitry, and removably securing opposite ends of an elastic piece to each of the user-interfaces.

Claims

1. A hand-held user terminal comprising:

a chassis;

a display secured within the chassis;

at least two user-interfaces removably secured to one end of the chassis having keys to user to interface with the terminal, wherein the user-interfaces are free to rotate about a keystone structure;

an elastic piece with a first and second end, each end coupled to a respective user-interface, wherein rotation of the user-interfaces stretches the elastic piece.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the user-interfaces can rotate from a closed position to an open position to reveal a hidden surface and allow for enhanced gripping of the device and wherein the elastic piece is removably secured to the user-interface and wherein the elastic piece secures the user-interface in the open and the closed position.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the user-interfaces may rotate from a closed position to an open position to reveal a hidden surface and allow for enhanced gripping of the article and, wherein each end of the elastic piece is removably coupled to the user-interface and wherein the elastic piece secures the user-interface in the open and the closed position.

3. A method of interchanging at least two user-interfaces of a hand-held user terminal, the method comprising:

providing a chassis;

rotatably securing the user-interfaces to the chassis with a keystone; and

removably securing opposite ends of an elastic piece to each of the user-interfaces, wherein rotation of the user-interfaces stretches the elastic piece.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the elastic piece retains the user-interfaces in an open and closed position.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of removably securing comprises slidably engaging the elastic piece in a retain portion of each of the user-interfaces.

6. A device having a chassis for securely holding electronic circuitry, which includes transceiver and multimedia functions, the device comprising at least two user-interfaces defining a groove therein for providing input control, wherein the user-interfaces are rotatably and removably coupled to the chassis and include an elastic piece retained at opposite ends by the groove of each of the user-interfaces.

7. An article of manufacture to provide user input to an electrical device having a chassis and a display secured to said chassis, the article of manufacture comprising:

at least two user-interfaces removably secured to the chassis, wherein each of the at least two user interfaces is rotatable with respect to the chassis; and

an elastic piece with a first and second end, each end coupled to a respective user-interface, wherein rotation of the user-interfaces stretches the elastic piece.