Portable electronic device with an adaptable user interface

• US 6,549,789 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kfoury, Tony N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/560,767
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/566, 455/557, 455/556, 455/569, 455/575, 455/550, 455/552, 379/430, D14/137, D14/138, D14/377
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• 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 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A handheld electronic device comprising, a housing (200) including a first housing portion (202) and a second housing portion (204). The first housing portion contains at least two user interfaces (208, 504), and the second user interface includes at least one user interface (212). The two housing portions are coupled by a swivel hinge (214) that allows the two housing portions to rotate about a first axis (302) such that the housing fold together, and a second axis (304) perpendicular to the first axis, allowing the housings to rotate relative to one another. Each user interface (208,504,212) can be configured as an input device, output device, or combination thereof. Having multiple user interfaces allows the electronic device to operate in a plurality of modes. The user can adapt the housing by rotating the either of the two housing portions to the position associated with the desired operation mode.

Claims

1. A handheld radiotelephone comprising:

a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said first housing portion having a first and second face, and said second housing portion having a third and fourth face;

a first user interface mounted within said first housing portion and accessible on said first face;

a second user interface mounted within said first housing portion and accessible on said second face;

a third user interface mounted within said second housing portion accessible on said third face; and

a swivel hinge for coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate about a first axis of said swivel hinge between a first closed position, where said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together until they are planarly adjacent enclosing said first and said third user interface therebetween, and a first open position where said first and said second housing portions are angularly displaced about said first axis from said first closed position to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees, and wherein said swivel hinge further couples said first housing portion and said second housing portion such that said first and said second housing portions rotate about a second axis of said swivel hinge perpendicular to said first axis between a first housing portion first rotation position and a first housing portion second rotation position, as defined relative to said second housing portion, and between a second housing portion first rotation position and a second housing portion second rotation position as defined relative to said first housing portion, and

wherein said first housing portion in said first housing portion second rotation position, and said second housing portion in said second housing portion first rotation position rotate about said first axis of said swivel hinge between a second closed position where said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together until they are planarly adjacent enclosing said second and said third user interface therebetween, and a second open position wherein said first and said second housing portions are angularly displaced from said second closed position about said first axis to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees.

2. The handheld radiotelephone of claim 1, wherein said first housing portion in said first housing portion first rotation position and said second housing portion in said second housing portion second rotation position, rotate about said first axis of said swivel hinge between a third closed position such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together until they are planarly adjacent enclosing only said first user interface therebetween.

3. The handheld radiotelephone of claim 1, wherein said first housing portion, in said first housing portion second rotation position and said second housing portion in said second housing portion second rotation position, rotate about said first axis of said swivel hinge between a fourth closed position such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together until they are planarly adjacent enclosing only said second user interface therebetween, and rotating to a fourth open position wherein said first and said second housing portions are angularly displaced from said fourth closed position about said first axis to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees.

4. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to said first user interface, said second user interface, and said third user interface, for generating and providing an operation mode signal thereto for control thereof in a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation mode.

5. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 4, wherein said first operation mode is an inactive mode, and wherein said second operation mode is an input user interface mode, and wherein said third operation mode is an output user interface mode.

6. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first position detector for generating a first position signal for indicating whether said housing is in said first housing first rotation position or said first housing second rotation position, and coupled to said controller for providing said first position signal thereto, and

a second position detector for generating a second position signal for indicating whether said housing is in said first, said second, said third, or said fourth closed position, and coupled to said controller for providing said second position signal thereto.

7. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 4, wherein said controller receives a user selectable operating mode selection signal generated by said first user interface, second user interface, or third user interface to define the operating mode of said first, said second, said third, or said fourth user interface.

8. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 3, further comprising a controller coupled to said first user interface, said second user interface, and said third user interface, for generating and providing an operation mode signal thereto for control thereof in a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation mode, and

wherein said third user interface operates in said second operating mode or said third operating mode or a combination thereof as defined by said operation mode signal, when said housing is in said third or said fourth closed position, and

wherein said first operation mode is an inactive mode, and wherein said second operation mode is an input user interface mode, and wherein said third operation mode is an output user interface mode.

9. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 8, wherein said second housing portion partially covers said first user interface in said first and said third closed position to define a first closed position accessible portion and a third closed accessible portion thereof and a first closed position inaccessible portion and a third closed position inaccessible portion thereof, and wherein said second housing portion partially covers said second user interface in said second and said fourth closed position to define a second closed position accessible portion and a fourth closed position accessible portion and a second closed position inaccessible portion and a fourth closed position inaccessible portion.

10. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 9, wherein said third closed position accessible portion operates in said second mode to affect the operation of said third user interface operating in said second or said third mode or combination thereof, and wherein said fourth closed position accessible portion operates in said second mode to affect the operation of said third user interface operating in said first, said second, or said third mode or combination thereof.

11. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 3, wherein a detachable user interface is attachably removable from its associated housing portion, and wherein said detachable user interface is one or more of said first user interface, said second user interface, and said third user interface.

12. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth user interface mounted within said second housing portion accessible on said fourth face.

13. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion;

a controller mounted within said housing;

a detachable user interface selectively attachable and detachable to said first housing portion;

a first interconnect means mounted on and coupled to said detachable user interface;

a second interconnect means mounted on said first housing portion and coupled to said controller, said second interconnect means for connecting to said first interconnection means when said detachable user interface is attached to said first housing portion; and

a swivel hinge for coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate about a first axis of said swivel hinge, and

wherein said swivel hinge further couples said first housing portion and said second housing portion such that said first and said second housing portions rotate about a second axis of said swivel hinge perpendicular to said first axis, and

wherein said swivel hinge allows said housing to configure to a first closed position, where said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together and planarly adjacent enclosing said detachable user interface therebetween, and a second closed position wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together and planarly adjacent and said detachable user interface is outwardly accessible.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 13, wherein said detachable user interface further comprises an input means or an output means or a combination thereof.

15. The handheld electronic device according to claim 13, wherein said detachable user interface further comprises a hearing impaired input means, a hearing impaired output means, or a combination thereof.

16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 13 wherein said detachable user interface further comprises a vision impaired input means, a vision impaired output means or a combination thereof.

17. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a housing, having a first housing portion and a second housing portion;

a first user interface mounted in said first housing portion;

a second user interface mounted in said second housing portion; and

a hinge for coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate about a first axis of said hinge between a first closed position, where said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together until they are planarly adjacent enclosing only said first user interface therebetween, and a first open position where said first and said second housing portions are angularly displaced about said first axis from said first closed position to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees,

wherein said second housing portion partially covers said first user interface in said first closed position to define a first closed position accessible portion thereof and a first closed position inaccessible portion thereof, and

wherein said swivel hinge further couples said first housing portion and said second housing portion such that said first and said second housing portions rotate about a second axis of said swivel hinge perpendicular to said first axis between a first housing portion first rotation position and a first housing portion second rotation position, as defined relative to said second housing portion, and between a second housing portion first rotation position and a second housing portion second rotation position as defined relative to said first housing portion, and

wherein said first accessible portion of said first user interface of said housing in said first closed position is in said input operation mode, output operation mode or combination thereof and said inaccessible portion is in an inactive mode and said second user interface is in said input operation mode, said output operation mode, or a combination thereof, and

wherein said first accessible portion of said first user interface of said housing in said first open position is in an input operation mode, output operation mode or combination thereof, and said inaccessible portion is in an input operation mode, output operation mode or combination thereof and said second user interface is in said input operation mode, said output operation mode, or a combination thereof.

18. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 17, further comprising a controller coupled to said first user interface and said second user interface for generating and providing an operation mode signal thereto for control thereof in an input operation mode, an output operation mode or a combination thereof, and

wherein said first closed position accessible portion is in said input operation mode, said output operation mode, or a combination thereof and said second user interface is in said input operation mode, said output operation mode or combination thereof.

19. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 17, wherein said first closed position accessible portion in said input operation mode affects the operation of said second user interface in said output operation mode, and

20. The handheld radiotelephone according to claim 17, wherein said first closed position accessible portion in said input user interface mode extends operation of said second user interface in said output operation mode, input operation mode or a combination thereof.

21. The handheld electronic device according to claim 19, wherein said first closed position accessible portion operating in said second operation mode further comprises navigation buttons.

22. A portable handheld wireless communication device comprising:

a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion; and

a swivel hinge coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion,

said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotateable about a first axis, and

said first housing and second housing rotateable about a second axis, and

said second axis is perpendicular to said first axis,

said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a first closed position wherein a first face of said first housing portion is planarly adjacent to a third face of said second housing portion and,

wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a second closed position wherein said first face of first housing portion is planarly adjacent to a fourth face of said second housing portion, and

wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a third closed position wherein a second face of said first housing portion is planarly adjacent to said third face of said second housing portion, and

wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a fourth closed position wherein said second face of said first housing portion is planarly adjacent to said fourth face of said second housing portion.

23. The portable handheld wireless communication device of claim 22, rotates to a first open position wherein said first face of said first housing portion is angularly displaced from said third face of said second housing portion and,

wherein said portable handheld wireless communication device rotates to a second open position wherein said first face of first housing portion is angularly displaced from said fourth face of said second housing portion, and

wherein said portable handheld wireless communication device rotates to a third open position wherein said second face of said first housing portion is angularly displaced from third face of said second housing portion, and

wherein said portable handheld wireless communication device rotates to a fourth open position wherein said second face of said first housing portion is angularly displaced from said fourth face of said second housing portion.

24. The portable handheld wireless communication device of claim 22,

wherein the first, second, third and fourth face comprise at least one user interface disposed upon at least one of said first, second third or fourth face.

25. The portable handheld wireless communication device of claim 22,

wherein said swivel hinge is a universal joint coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion, and

the universal joint comprises a first and a second perpendicular rotation axis.

26. The handheld wireless communication device of claim 25 wherein said universal joint couples a first end of said first housing to a second end of said second housing portion.

27. The handheld wireless communication device of claim 26 wherein said first housing portion has at least a first user interface disposed thereon, and

wherein said second housing portion has at least one user interface disposed thereon.