Rotational mechanism for a wireless communication device

• US 6,766,182 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oliver, Mark William, Janninck, Mark Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): PERSINO, RAYMOND B
• Application Number:
  US10/299,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 379/433.13, 379/433.04, D14/137, D14/138
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0227 Rotatable in one plane, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0229 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

This invention is a wireless communication device (100) including a first housing (220) with a housing support (250) and a second housing (120) positioned about the housing support, or a portion thereof, so that the second housing may rotate around the housing support. Also, the second housing (120) includes a circular portion (122) positioned about the housing support (250) and an extending portion (124) extending from the circular portion. When the device (100) is in a closed position (110), the circular and extending portions (122 & 124) of the second housing (120) are adjacent to the first housing (220). When the device (100) is in an opened position (210), the circular portion (122) is adjacent to the first housing (220) and the extending portion (124) is away from the first housing. In addition, the second housing (120) may have multiple position relative to the first housing (220) in which each position activates a particular function of the device (100).

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a first housing including a display; and

a second housing including a circular portion and a radially extending portion, the circular portion surrounding the display, the radially extending portion extending radially away from less than all of the circular portion, the second housing being capable of rotating around the display in a plane parallel to the display.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first housing includes a circular portion and a radially extending portion extending radially away from less than all of the circular portion of the first housing, the circular portion of the first housing including the display, and

the circular portion of the second housing is movably coupled to the circular portion of the first housing.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second housings includes an opening therethrough, and the display may be viewed through the openings of the first and second housings.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a locking piece configured to maintain the second housing adjacent to the first housing.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable cover being positioned about the display, wherein the interchangeable cover includes at least one of a selection button and an indicator light.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the second housing is capable of rotating 360 degrees around the display.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first housing includes a processor, a wireless transceiver and an audio input device, the wireless transceiver and the audio input device being coupled to the processor, and

the second housing includes an audio output device coupled to the processor.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor capable of determining a particular position of the second housing relative to the first housing.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing support coupled to the first housing, and

wherein the circular portion of the second housing is capable of rotating around the display between the first housing and the housing support.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second housings and the housing support is made of a rigid material to form a strong, inflexible coupling.

11. A wireless communication device comprising:

a first housing, the first housing including a circular portion with a display and a radially extending portion extending radially from the circular portion of the first housing; and

a second housing, the second housing having a circular portion and a radially extending portion extending radially away from the circular portion, the circular portion of the second housing movably coupled to the circular portion of the first housing and being capable of rotating around the display,

wherein the first and second housings have a closed position and an opened position, the circular and radially extending portions of the second housing being adjacent to the first housing for the closed position, and the circular portion of the second housing being adjacent to the first housing and the radially extending portion of the second housing being away from the first housing for the opened position.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second housings includes an opening therethrough, and the display may be viewed through the openings of the first and second housings.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein:

the first housing includes a processor, a wireless transceiver and an audio input device, the wireless transceiver and the audio input device being coupled to the processor, and

the second housing includes an audio output device coupled to the processor.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 11, further comprising a position sensor capable of determining a particular position of the second housing relative to the first housing.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 11, further comprising:

a housing support coupled to the first housing,

wherein the circular portion of the second housing is capable of rotating around the display between the first housing and the housing support.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 15, further comprising an interchangeable cover being positioned about the display, wherein the interchangeable cover includes at least one of a selection button and an indicator light.

17. A wireless communication device comprising:

a first housing, the first housing including a first circular portion with a display and a first radially extending portion extending radially away from the first circular portion; and

a second housing, the second housing being capable of rotating around the display in a plane parallel to the display, the second housing including a second circular portion positioned about the display and a second radially extending portion extending radially away from the second circular portion, the second circular portion being capable of rotating around the display,

wherein the second housing has a closed position, an opened position, and at least one additional position about the display, the at least one additional position being effective to activate a particular function of the device.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second housings includes an opening therethrough, and the display may be viewed through the openings of the first and second housings.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further comprising an interchangeable cover being positioned about the display, wherein the interchangeable cover includes at least one of a selection button and an indicator light.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein:

the first housing includes a processor, a wireless transceiver and an audio input device, the wireless transceiver and the audio input device being coupled to the processor, and

the second housing includes an audio output device coupled to the processor.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further comprising:

a position sensor, the position sensor being capable of determining a particular position of the second housing relative to the first housing and generating a response signal corresponding to the particular position, and

a processor coupled to the position sensor, the processor being effective to activate a particular function of the device in response to the response signal when the second housing is positioned at the at least one additional position.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further comprising:

a housing support coupled to the first housing,

wherein the second circular portion is capable of rotating around the display between the first housing and the housing support.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 22, further comprising a detent assembly configured to position the second housing at the closed position, the opened position and the at least one additional position about the display, the detent assembly being supported by the second housing and capable of contacting at least three slots provided on the housing support.