Portable terminal with foldable keyboard

• US 6,628,508 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mobicom Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Howard X., Kim, Youngmihn, Lieu, Winston Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/161,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 345/905, 345/168, 345/169, 400/489, 400/682, 455/556, 455/403, 455/557, 455/553, D14/396, D14/320
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• 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 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• 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: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• 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 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 : including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 : Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A portable terminal having personal computing capability and wireless telecommunications capability. The portable terminal includes a display that is integral with, or otherwise attached to, a display. A housing is rotatably-coupled to the base and/or display. The portable terminal can be closed, wherein the housing overlies the base, or open, wherein base and housing flank the display. The display is fully visible to a user whether the portable terminal is open or closed. When open, a keyboard having keys that are apportioned between the housing and the base is accessible.

Claims

1. A portable terminal comprising:

a base;

a display coupled to the base, wherein said display has a display screen; and

a housing that is rotatably coupled to at least one of either said display or said base;

wherein said housing is rotatable out-of-plane between a first position and a second position;

wherein in said first position, said housing overlies said base such that said portable terminal is closed;

wherein in said second position, said housing and said base flank said display such that said portable terminal is open; and

wherein said display screen is fully visible to a user when said portable terminal is open and when said portable terminal is closed.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1:

wherein said base has an inner surface;

wherein said housing has an inner surface;

wherein said inner surfaces oppose one another when said portable terminal is closed; and

wherein said portable terminal further comprises;

a first group of keys that are disposed on said inner surface of said base; and

a second group of keys that are disposed on said inner surface of said housing.

3. The portable terminal of claim 2 wherein said first group of keys and said second group of keys collectively comprise an alphabetic keyboard.

4. The portable terminal of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first group of keys and said second group of keys comprises a numeric keypad.

5. The portable terminal of claim 3 wherein said portable terminal comprises a wireless-telecommunications capability and a personal-computing capability.

6. The portable terminal of claim 3 further comprising a keyboard-open sensor and control circuitry, and wherein:

said keyboard open sensor generates a signal when said portable terminal is open; and

responsive to said signal, said control circuitry powers said keyboard.

7. The portable terminal of claim 2 wherein said first group of keys is offset relative to said second group of keys so that when said portable terminal is closed, said first group of keys does not abut said second group of keys.

8. The portable terminal of claim 5 wherein said wireless-telecommunications capability is accessible to a user of said portable terminal when said portable terminal is open and when said portable terminal is closed.

9. The portable terminal of claim 1 wherein said display is round.

10. The portable terminal of claim 1 further comprising a latching mechanism that engages said housing, and wherein said latching mechanism provides at least one of the following functions:

secures said housing against said base when said portable terminal is closed; and

prevents said housing from rotating toward said base when said portable terminal is open.

11. The portable terminal of claim 10 further comprising a spring-biasing arrangement, wherein said spring-biasing arrangement biases said housing away from said base.

12. The portable terminal of claim 10 further comprising a spring-biasing arrangement, wherein said spring-biasing arrangement biases said housing toward said base.