Portable communication device

• US 6,542,606 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sormunen, Toni, Rytkönen, Jouko, Paajanen, Reijo, Lehtinen, Kari
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/552,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 379/433.05, 379/433.06, 379/433.07, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 379/433.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A portable communication device (1) comprising a first part (2); a second part (3); and coupling hinge (4) for pivotably coupling the first (2) and the second part (3). The device further comprises a connecting element (6) of the first part on a surface of the first part (2); a connecting element (13) of the second part on a surface of the second part (3); and said connecting elements (6, 13) are positioned to be against each other for enabling a mutual connection when the first part and the second part are in the closed position. Allows robustness and straightforward assembly at the manufacturing stage, and provides a structure that is lean, durable and easily accessible for maintenance.

Claims

1. A portable communication device comprising

a first part;

a second part;

coupling means for coupling the first and the second part and allowing a mutual movement about a hinged joint (AA) to at least an open position and a closed position;

a connecting element of the first part on a surface of the first part;

a connecting element of the second part on a surface of the second part; and

said connecting elements are positioned to be against each other for enabling a mutual connection when the first part and the second part are in the closed position;

wherein the device further comprises

at least one data entry key in the second part; and

the connection is arranged to deliver data entry key signals of the second part between the second part and the first part.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are electrical connectors and said connection for delivering signals is an electrical connection.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are optical connectors and said connection for delivering signals is an optical connection.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first part is a main body of the device and the second part is a lid closing on the main body when the first part and the second part are in a closed position.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the first part is the front surface of the main body and surface of the second part is the rear surface of the lid.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the first part is the side surface of the main body and surface of the second part is the corresponding side surface of the lid.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein the main body is provided with a recess in its lower surface, and the surface of the first part is the side of the recess of the main body.

8. A device according to claim 1, characterised in the device further comprises a detection element for detecting that the first part and the second part are in a closed position.

9. A device according to claim 8, characterised by control means for disconnecting the connection from the first connecting element to an electrical element in the first part as a response to the detection element not detecting the first and the second part being in a closed position.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterised by the control means being arranged to restore the disconnected connection to the first connecting element with a delay of predefined duration as a response to the detection element detecting the first and the second part being in a closed position.

11. A device according to claim 8, characterised by the detection element being an electrical switch.

12. A device according to claim 8, characterised by the detection element being an optical switch.

13. A device according to claim 1, characterised by the second part being pivotable to an open position wherein an opening angle (α

) between the first and the second part is over 180 degrees.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one data entry key in the second part comprises several keys forming a keypad.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the connection is arranged to deliver signals between the keypad of the second part and the first part.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mutual connection further comprises an electrical signal pathway when the first part and the second part are due in the closed position.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element of the first part and the connecting element of the second part are electrically connected together when the first part and the second part are in the closed position.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element of the first part and the connecting element of the second part create an electrical pathway across which data is transferred when the first part and the second part are in the closed position.

19. A method of delivering data entry key signals in a portable communication device comprising a first part, a second part comprising at least one data entry key, and a coupler for coupling the first and second part about a hinged joint (AA), the method comprising:

allowing a mutual movement of the first and the second part about the hinged joint to move the device between an open position and a closed position;

positioning a first connecting element on a surface of the first part;

positioning a second connecting element on a surface of the second part;

positioning the first and second connecting elements in relation to each other so that a signal pathway is established across the first and second connecting elements when the device is in the closed position; and

delivering data entry key signals from the at least one data entry key of the second part to the first part over the signal pathway when the device is in the closed position.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second connecting elements are electrically connected together to allow the data entry key signals to pass from the second part to the first part.