Integrated cellular phone, digital camera, and PDA, with swivel mechanism providing access to the interface elements of each function

• US 7,043,284 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Tornaghi, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, SHEILA B
• Application Number:
  US10/772,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.4, D14/138, D14/140, D14/240, D14/248
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0225 Rotatable telephones, i.e. the body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0231 Including a rotatable keypad body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• 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 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals

Abstract

A wireless telecommunications device, including a telephone interface, a keyboard and a digital camera lens, utilizes a single mechanical transformation in the form of a swivel mechanism to allow the user to switch from one mode to another for portability and easy accessibility. Preferably, when configured in a first position, the wireless telecommunications device operates in the first mode. When configured in a second position, the wireless telecommunications device operates in the second mode. When configured in a third position, the wireless telecommunications device operates in a third mode. The first mode is a telephone mode. The second mode is a keyboard mode. The third mode is a camera mode.

Claims

1. A multimode electronic communication device comprising:

a. a first substantially planar panel including a telephone interface and a display on a first face of the first panel, the first panel having a single axis of rotation perpendicular to the first panel;

b. a second substantially planar panel including a keyboard interface on a first face of the second panel, the first face of the second panel rotatably and operatively coupled to the second face of the first panel for rotation about the axis such that the first panel is configured to rotate in only one plane relative to the second panel such that in a first rotational orientation the keyboard interface is obscured by the first panel, and, in a second rotational orientation the keyboard interface is exposed; and

c. means for sensing a rotational orientation between the first panel and the second panel such that in the first rotational orientation the device operates as a telephone and input entered on the telephone interface are shown on the display, and, in the second rotational orientation the device operates as a messaging device and input entered on the keyboard interface are shown on the display.

2. A multimode electronic device comprising:

a. a first substantially planar panel including a first interface and a display on a first face of the first panel and a camera lens on a second face of the first panel, the first panel having a single axis of rotation perpendicular to the first panel;

b. a second substantially planar panel including a second interface on a first face of the second panel, the first face of the second panel rotatably and operatively coupled to the second face of the first panel for rotation about the axis such that the first panel is configured to rotate in only one plane relative to the second panel such that in a first rotational orientation the second interface is obscured by the first panel and the camera lens is obscured by the second panel, in a second rotational orientation the camera lens is exposed and the second interface is substantially obscured and in a third rotational orientation the second interface is exposed; and

c. means for sensing a rotational orientation between the first panel and the second panel such that in the first rotational orientation, input entered in response to the first interface are shown on the display, in the second rotational orientation an image in the field of view of the camera lens is visible on the display and in the third rotational orientation input entered in response to the second interface are shown on the display.

3. A multimode wireless communication device comprising:

a. a first substantially planar panel including a telephone interface and a display on a first face of the first panel and a camera lens on a second face of the first panel, the first panel having a single axis of rotation perpendicular to the first panel;

b. a second substantially planar panel including a keyboard interface on a first face of the second panel, the first face of the second panel rotatably and operatively coupled to the second face of the first panel for rotation about the axis such that the first panel is configured to rotate in only one plane relative to the second panel such that in a first rotational orientation the keyboard interface is obscured by the first panel and the camera lens is obscured by the second panel, in a second rotational orientation the camera lens is exposed and the keyboard interface is substantially obscured and in a third rotational orientation the keyboard interface is exposed; and

c. means for sensing a rotational orientation between the first panel and the second panel such that in the first rotational orientation, input entered in response to the telephone interface are shown on the display, in the second rotational orientation an image in the field of view of the camera lens is visible on the display and in the third rotational orientation input entered in response to the keyboard interface are shown on the display.

4. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 3, wherein when the device is configured in the second rotational orientation, the second panel is rotated about 180 degrees relative to the first rotational orientation.

5. The wireless telecommunications device according to claim 3, wherein the second panel rotates in a first direction from the first rotational orientation toward the second rotational orientation and in a second direction from the first position toward the third rotational orientation, wherein the second direction is opposite to he first direction.