Folding electronic device

• US 6,757,157 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pihlaja, Pekka, Lammintaus, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/112,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 361/686, 364/705.01, 364/514, 364/708.1, 364/448, 364/709.01, 345/1, 345/5, 345/102, 345/104, 345/173, 345/145, 345/156-159, 345/161, 163/42, 163/66, 163/08, 163/09, 348/552, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 248/418
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• 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 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

A folding electronic device comprising a first part and a second part arranged to turn with respect to the first part. The first part comprises data input means and the second part comprises a display unit. The parts can be turned with respect to each other into a folded position and an open position. In the folded position, the data input means and the display unit are on different, outer sides of the device and at least some of the data input means are arranged to operate as a pointing device of the display.

Claims

1. A folding electronic device comprising a first part and a second part arranged to turn with respect to the first part, the parts being turnable with respect to each other into a folded position and an open position, the first part comprising at least data input means and the second part comprising at least a display unit, wherein in the folded position, the data input means and the display unit are on different, outer sides of the device and that at least some of the, data input means are arranged to operate as a display pointing device of said display unit, and wherein operating means of the device are provided on the side of the first part opposite from the data input means.

2. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data input means consist of a keyboard.

3. An electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the keyboard has a first operational mode and a second operational mode.

4. An electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein in the first operational mode, the keyboard is arranged to operate as a data input means and in the second operational mode, the keyboard or a part of it is arranged to operate as a pointing device of the display.

5. An electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operational mode of the keyboard is arranged to be determined on the basis of the angle between the parts of the device.

6. An electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operational mode of the keyboard is arranged to be selected by a user command.

7. An electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the operational mode of the keyboard is arranged to be selected by a switch for selecting the operational mode.

8. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biggest deflection angle between the parts is about 360°

.

9. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data input means consist of a qwerty keyboard.

10. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data input means consist of a mechanical keyboard.

11. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data input means consist of a touchpad provided with figures representing the keys of the keyboard.

12. An electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the touchpad in the second operational mode can be divided into sectors that can be defined as active and passive.

13. An electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sectors of the touchpad are arranged to be defined by user command.

14. An electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sectors of the touchpad are arranged to be defined by a switch for selecting sectors.

15. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data input means are provided with a piezoelectric response function.

16. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein substantially the entire data input means are arranged to operate as a pointing device of the display or as apart of it.

17. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of the data input means is arranged to operate as a pointing device of the display.

18. An electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pointing device of the display is a joystick provided at the data input means.

19. An electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pointing device of the display is a touchpad provided at the data input means.

20. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein operating means of the device are provided on the side of the first part that faces away from the data input means.

21. An electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the operating means comprises a numeric keypad.

22. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data input means are fitted into a recess in the first part.

23. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the pointing device of the display and those of the display unit are substantially similar.

24. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the device is in the open position, at least some of the operational means on the side of the first part that faces away from the data input means are arranged to operate as a pointing device of the display.

25. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device only comprises one display unit.

26. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some part of the keyboard is arranged to operate as a low-resolution pointer at least when the device is in the folded position.

28. A folding electronic device as claims in claim 1, wherein between the folded position and the open position there is a second open position.

27. A folding electronic device comprising a first part and a second part arranged to turn with respect to the first part, the parts being turnable with respect to each other into a folded position and an open position, the first part comprising at least data input means and the second part comprising at least a display unit, wherein in the folded position, the display unit fits into a recess in the first part on, a side opposite the data input means, the side having operating means, and that at least some of the data input means are arranged to operate as a display pointing device of said display unit.