Portable terminal for GMPCS

• US 6,687,518 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jun-Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/503,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/347, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/333.01, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 379/447, 379/433.01
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• 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 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A portable terminal for providing global, mobile personal communication by satellite GMPCS. The portable terminal comprising a main housing; a sub-housing having an LCD on which a variety of information is displayed and a lens which is arranged next to the LCD for providing picture communication; a foldable keyboard for inputting data; data communication means equipped to the respective main housing and the foldable keyboard for enabling the wireless data transmission and reception between the main housing and the folder type keyboard; a hinge means for mechanically connecting the sub housing to the main housing; an antenna housing having a battery cell for supplying power and a satellite communication antenna; a guide means for slidingly mounting the antenna housing to the main housing; a first connection means for electrically connecting the main housing and the satellite communication antenna to each other; and second connection means for electrically connecting the main housing and the battery cell to each other.

Claims

1. A portable terminal for providing global, mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS), comprising:

a main housing having an upper part;

a sub-housing having an LCD for displaying a variety of information and a lens located next to the LCD for providing picture communication;

a hinge means rotatably coupled to said sub-housing and said main housing for allowing the opening and closing of said sub-housing with respect to said main housing;

for inputting data, a foldable keyboard comprising

a first keyboard housing;

a second keyboard housing; and

a single keyboard hinge means configured for rotatable connecting said first keyboard housing and said second keyboard housing to each other and configured so that the keyboard is rotatable unfoldable by rotating either or both of said first keyboard housing and said second keyboard housing;

a detachable means for attaching and detaching the keyboard to and from said upper part of the main housing, said detachable means comprising at least one circle-shaped projection element coupled to said main housing and at least one circle-shaped groove element corresponding to said projection element coupled to said keyboard to engage said keyboard onto said main housing;

a data communication means equipped to respective said main housing and said keyboard for interfacing wireless data communication between said main housing and said keyboard;

an antenna housing having a satellite communication antenna and a battery cell for supplying electrical power to said main housing;

a first connection means for electrically connecting said main housing and said satellite communication antenna to each other;

a second connection means for electrically connecting said main housing and said battery cell to each other; and

a guide means for slidably mounting said antenna housing onto said main housing.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein said projection element and said groove element are magnets.

3. The portable terminal of claim 1, said terminal further comprising a holding means for engaging said keyboard onto said main housing.

4. The portable terminal of claim 3, wherein said first holding means comprises at least one magnetic projection element coupled to said keyboard and at least one magnetic groove element corresponding to said magnetic projection element coupled to said main housing to engage said key board onto said main housing.

5. The portable terminal of claim 1, said terminal further comprising:

a holding means for engaging said keyboard onto said main housing.

6. The portable terminal of claim 5, wherein said holding means comprises at least one projection coupled to said main housing and at least one groove coupled to said keyboard to engage said keyboard onto said housing.

7. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the first connection means comprises:

a conductive charging element;

a conductive coil spring for electrically supporting one end of said conductive charging element;

a terminal housing having an opening disposed in said antenna housing for keeping the one end of said conductive charging element coupled to said conductive coil spring therein and for allowing the other end of said conductive charging element protruding from the surface of said antenna housing through said opening; and

a receptive element coupled to one end of said main housing for receiving said conductive charging element.

8. The portable terminal for GMPCS of claim 1, wherein said second connection means comprises:

a conductive charging element;

a conductive coil spring for electrically supporting one end of said conductive charging element;

a terminal housing having an opening disposed in said antenna housing for keeping the one end of said conductive charging element coupled to said conductive coil spring therein and for allowing the other end of said conductive charging element protruding from the surface of said antenna housing through said opening; and

a receptive element coupled to one end of said main housing for receiving said conductive charging element.

9. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein said data communication means operates in accordance with at least one of an infrared data association (IrDA) protocol and a BLUETOOTH protocol.

10. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein said main housing having a guiding holder member formed along the rear end of said main housing for limiting the opening and closing of said sub-housing with respect to said main housing at a predetermined angle.

11. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein said satellite communication antenna is rotatably coupled at one end to said antenna housing.

12. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises:

a projected element extending along the lateral side of said antenna housing, said projected element having a plurality of first guide protrusions extending from said projected element in a widthwise direction of said antenna housing; and

a plurality of second guide protrusions extending from the lateral side of said main housing in a widthwise direction forming a recess along the central lateral side of said main housing, wherein said plurality of first guide protrusions are slidably engaged with said plurality of said second guide protrusions allowing said projected element to be mounted in said recess.

13. The portable terminal of claim 1, said terminal further comprising a mobile phone having said data communication means for relaying an information signal between said main housing and said keyboard.

14. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein said mobile terminal comprises a display unit for displaying the information signal between said main housing and said keyboard.