Cellular telephone, personal digital assistant and pager unit

• US 6,542,721 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martha Trout
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/846,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/566, 455/90, 455/550, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

The handheld personal electronic device has a first body having a display, a second body having a plurality of manual inputs, the second body capable of attachment to the first body, the personal electronic device having an open position wherein the display of the first body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed. And, the personal electronic device having a closed position wherein the display of the first body is protected by the second body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed.

Claims

1. A handheld personal electronic device comprising:

a first body having a touch screen display; and

a second body having a plurality of manual inputs, the second body capable the first body, the personal electronic device having an open position wherein the touch screen display of the first body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed to face a user the personal electronic device having a closed position wherein the touch screen display of the first body is fully protected by the second body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed to face the user;

wherein the second body travels out and away from and over a top portion of the touch screen display; and

wherein the first body is adjacent the second body in the open position.

2. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first body is connected to the second body with a hinge.

3. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 2 wherein the hinge is slidable.

4. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 2 wherein the hinge is collapsible.

5. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first body is pivotably mounted to the second body.

6. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first body is slidably mounted to the second body.

7. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first body is removably attached to the second body.

8. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 1 further comprising electronic actuation means for selecting between the open position and the closed position of the device.

9. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical interface in the first body;

a first transceiver operatively connected to the electrical interface; and

an earpiece, the earpiece having a second transceiver capable of communication with the first transceiver.

10. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 9 wherein the earpiece has a bone conduction sensor.

11. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 9 wherein the earpiece has an air conduction sensor.

12. A handheld personal electronic device comprising:

a first body having a display, the display having a top portion;

a second body having a plurality of buttons; and

a hinge connecting the first body and the second body, having a first position wherein the second body at least partial covers the first body to protect the display while the plurality of buttons are accessible and exposed to face a user and a second position wherein the display is accessible and the plurality of buttons are accessibly exposed to face the user;

the hinge adapted for transitioning between the first position and the second position such that the second body travels out and away from and over the top portion of the display; and

wherein the first body is adjacent the second body in the second position.

13. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 wherein the hinge is selected from the set including a lateral hinge, a spring-loaded mechanism, a slide hinge, a collapsible hinge, a slide joint, a lateral joint, a flexible coil, and a ratcheting mechanism.

14. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 further comprising a release button, in operative connection with the hinge, the release button when activated causing the personal electronic device to move from the first position to the second position.

15. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 14 wherein the release button is located on the hinge.

16. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 14 further comprising a second hinge connecting the first body and the second body.

17. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 wherein the display is a touch screen.

18. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 wherein the plurality of buttons includes a 12-key telephone keypad.

19. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 wherein the first body is a personal digital assistant and the second body is a telephone transceiver.

20. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 further comprising a transceiver electrically connected to the first body.

21. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 12 further comprising electronic actuation means for selecting between the open position and the closed position of the device.

22. A hand held personal electronic device, comprising:

a first body having a display and a first plurality of buttons;

a second body having a second plurality of buttons; and

a hinge connecting the first body and the second body, having a first position wherein the second body at least partially covers the first body to protect the display and the first plurality of buttons and the second plurality of buttons are accessibly exposed to face the user and a second position wherein the display is fully accessible and the first plurality of buttons and the second plurality of buttons are accessible and face the user; and

wherein the second body travels out and away from and over the top most portion of the display; and

wherein the first body is adjacent the second body in the second position.

23. The hand held personal electronic device of claim 22 wherein the hinge connects the first body and the second body such that the second body passes upwardly over the first body in transitioning from the first position to the second position.

24. The handheld personal electronic device of claim 22 wherein the second body includes a second display and the second body frilly covers the first body in the first position.

25. The handheld electronic device of claim 24 wherein the second display is a transparent display.

27. The communication system of claim 22 further comprising a short range transceiver disposed within said first or second body.

28. The communication system of claim 22 further comprising an ear piece in wireless communication with said short range transceiver, the ear piece having at least one sensor and a speaker, the at least one sensor being adapted for placement within an external auditory canal of a user.

29. The communication system of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the first body is transparent such that at least a portion of the touch screen display is viewable in the closed position.

26. A handheld personal electronic device, comprising:

a first body having a display with a top and a bottom;

a second body having a plurality of buttons; and

a hinge connecting the first body and the second body, having a first position wherein the second body at least partially covers the first body to protect the display while the plurality of buttons face a user and a second position wherein the display and the plurality of buttons face the user;

the hinge adapted for transitioning between the first position and the second position such that the second body travels out and away from and over the top of the display; and

wherein the first body is adjacent the second body in the second position.

30. A handheld communications device, comprising:

a first body;

a second body operatively connected to the first body;

a cellular phone portion having a cellular transceiver, the cellular phone portion having a key pad attached to the first body;

a personal digital assistant portion having a touch screen display attached to the second body;

the first body and the second body having a first position wherein the display is partially protected by the first body and the key pad is accessible;

the first body and the second body having a second position wherein the display is fully accessible; and

a close range transceiver disposed in at least one of the first body and the second body for sending and receiving voice communications;

wherein the first body travels out and away from and over a top portion of the display and wherein the first body is adjacent the second body in the second position.

31. The device of claim 30 further comprising a plurality of buttons positioned on the second body.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein the plurality of buttons are accessible in both the first position and the second position.

33. The communication system of claim 30 wherein the first body is operatively connected to the second body with at least one hinge.

34. A voice communication system, comprising:

a first body, at least a portion of the first body being transparent;

a second body operatively connected to the first body;

a cellular phone portion, the cellular phone portion having a key pad attached to the first body;

a personal digital assistant portion having a touch screen display attached to the second body;

the first body and the second body having a first position wherein the display is at least partially protected by the first body and the key pad is accessible;

the first body and the second body having a second position wherein the display is fully accessible;

a short range transceiver disposed in at least one of the first body and the second body for sending and receiving voice communications;

an ear piece for operative communication with the handheld device, the ear piece having at least one sensor for sensing voice sound information;

a speaker; and

a second short range transceiver disposed within the ear piece and operatively connected to at least one sensor and the speaker.

35. The device of claim 34 further comprising a plurality of buttons positioned on the second body.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the plurality of buttons are accessible in both the first position and the second position.

37. The device of claim 34 wherein the ear piece is adapted to fit a user such that any portion of the ear piece extending into the external auditory canal of the user does not block the canal.

38. The device of claim 34 wherein the at least one sensor includes a bone conduction sensor.

39. The device of claim 34 wherein the at least one sensor includes both an air conduction sensor and a bond conduction sensor.

40. The device of claim 34 wherein the ear piece includes a processor operatively connected to the short range transceiver.

41. A hand held communications device, comprising:

a first body, at least a portion of the first body being transparent;

a second body operatively connected to the first body along a top edge of the first body and the second body;

a cellular phone portion, the cellular phone disposed within at least one of said first body and second body;

a personal digital assistant portion having a touch screen display attached to the second body;

the first and second body having a first position wherein the display is fully protected by the first body;

the first and second body having a second position wherein the display is fully accessible and facing a user;

a plurality of buttons positioned on the second body that are accessible in both the first position and the second position;

wherein the first body travels out and away from and over a top portion of the display and wherein the first body is adjacent the second body in the second position.

42. The device of claim 41 further comprising a short range transceiver disposed in at least one of the first body and the second body for sending and receiving voice communications.

43. A voice communication system, comprising:

a first body, at least a portion of the first body being transparent;

a second body operatively connected to the first body along a top edge of the first body and the second body;

a cellular phone portion, the cellular phone disposed within at least one of said first body and second body;

a personal digital assistant portion having a touch screen display attached to the second body;

the first and second body having a first position wherein the display is fully protected by the first body;

the first and second body having a second position wherein the display is fully accessible;

a plurality of buttons positioned on the second body that are accessible in both the first position and the second position;

a short range transceiver disposed in at least one of the first body and the second body for sending and receiving voice communications;

an ear piece for operative communication with the handheld device, the ear piece having at least one sensor for sensing voice sound information;

a speaker; and

a short range transceiver operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the speaker.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein the ear piece is adapted to fit a user such that any portion of the ear piece extending into the external auditory canal of the user does not block the canal.

45. The device of claim 43 wherein the at least one sensor includes a bone conduction sensor.

46. The device of claim 43 wherein the at least one sensor includes both an air conduction sensor and a bone conduction sensor.

47. The device of claim 43 wherein the ear piece includes a processor operatively connected to the short range transceiver.

48. A handheld communication device comprising:

a first body, at least a portion of the first body being transparent;

a second body operatively connected to the first body proximate the top edge of the first body and the second body;

at least one of the first body and the second body housing electronics for performing PDA functions and for performing wireless voice communication functions;

a touch screen display having a top and attached to the second body;

the first and second body having a first position wherein the display is fully protected by the first body;

the first and second body having a second position wherein the display is accessible;

a plurality of buttons associated with the second body that are accessible in both the first position and the second position;

the first body being operatively connected to the second body such that the first body travels out and away from and over the top of the display in transitioning from the first position to the second position.

49. The handheld communication of claim 48 wherein the plurality of buttons includes at least five buttons.

50. The handheld communication device of claim 48 further comprising a short range transceiver housed within at least one of the first body and the second body for short range communications with an earpiece.