Folding portable cellular phone

• US 6,914,982 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondo, Ko, Suganuma, Yuichiro, Mori, Akitoshi, Nanmoku, Teruo, Toyoda, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elahee, Md. S
• Application Number:
  US09/921,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.01, 379/433.13, 379/368, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/90.1, 361/818
• US Class Current: 379/433.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A folding portable cellular phone includes a first box member and a second box member. The first box member includes: an upper case having a window for a display unit; an upper substrate on which electric parts are mounted; an upper hinge frame; and an upper cover on which these components are mounted. The second box member includes: a lower cover in which key holes are formed to provide a key console unit; a lower substrate including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) on which electric parts are mounted; a lower hinge frame; and a lower case on which these components are mounted.

Claims

1. A folding portable cellular phone comprising:

a first box member including a receiver,

a second box member including a transmitter,

a hinge for folding said portable cellular phone, wherein said first box member and said second box member are rotated relative to each other at said hinge for folding said portable cellular phone, and

a chassis constituting an internal skeleton portion of said first box member and said second box member, said chassis being made of a metal part and including integrally formed hinge portions of said hinge.

wherein parts other than those made of metal are employed as external parts for said first box member and said second box member.

2. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein said metal part is made of one of magnesium and an aluminum alloy.

3. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, said chassis supports a substrate on which electric parts are mounted.

4. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein said chassis functions as an electromagnetic absorption member and absorbs an unwanted electromagnetic wave.

5. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein said chassis is used as an antenna ground plate, and a hole formed in said antenna ground plate is used to mount an antenna on a substrate.

6. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein a unit connector is provided between portions of said hinge portions of said chassis in order to electrically connect said first box member and said second box member.

7. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 6, wherein said unit connector includes a flexible substrate and a coaxial cable.

8. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein hinge covers made of the same material as said external parts are provided with said first box member and said second box member in order to cover said hinge portions.

9. A folding portable cellular phone comprising:

a first box member including a receiver,

a second box member including a transmitter,

a hinge for folding said portable cellular phone, wherein said first box member and said second box member are rotated relative to each other at said hinge for folding said portable cellular phone, and

at least one hinge part of said hinge includes a reinforcing part that is stronger than external parts of said first box member and second box member and said reinforcing part reinforces said external parts,

wherein said external parts are at least one of an upper cover of said first box member and a lower cover of said second box member, and

wherein said reinforcing part is an upper hinge frame and a lower hinge frame including at least one hinge portion provided for each of said first member and said second box member.

10. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 9, wherein said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame are inserted into said external parts.

11. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 9, wherein said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame are integrally formed with an internal chassis that supports a substrate.

12. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 11, wherein said chassis functions as an electromagnetic wave absorption member for absorbing an unwanted electromagnetic wave.

13. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 11, wherein a rib is formed on said chassis in order to prevent leakage of light at a portion in which said external parts engage.

14. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 11, wherein a rib is formed around said chassis to reinforce said external parts constituting said box members.

15. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 9, wherein one of said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame is fixed to said external part with one of a screw and a pawl.

16. The folding portable cellular phone according to claim 9, wherein one of said upper hinge frame and said lower hinge frame is an independent part and is securely attached to an internal chassis that supports a substrate, and said chassis is fixed to said external part with one of a screw and a pawl.