Portable navigation device with instant on configuration on navigational display

• US 7,243,025 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Hanshew, Christopher J., Walters, Thomas H., Haigh, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/457,283
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 701/25, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/212, 701/213, 340/995.1, 345/905
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A multi-function, portable, electronic device includes a housing, a processor located within the housing and a memory in communication with the processor. The electronic device includes a display in communication with the processor and positioned on a surface of the housing. The electronic device includes an apparatus for performing a first function, and an apparatus for performing a second function. One of the functions includes a navigational component. The navigational component includes an antenna attached to the housing and movable between a stowed position and a signal acquisition position. A deployment indicator indicates the antenna is in the signal acquisition position. An operational component of the navigational component is activated in response to the deployment indicator indicating the antenna is in the signal acquisition position.

Claims

1. A hand-held device comprising:

a housing;

a processor located within the housing;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a display in communication with the processor and the memory;

a first component operable to perform one or more personal digital assistant (PDA) functions;

a second component operable to perform one or more navigation functions;

an antenna located in a subhousing which is pivotally attached to the housing and movable between a stowed position, wherein a rear of the subhousing is substantially flush with a rear of the housing, and a signal acquisition position; and

a Hall Effect switch associated with the housing to control switching between the first and the second component based on a position of the antenna.

2. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a detection mechanism for the Hall Effect switch, and wherein the subhousing includes a magnet which opposes the detection mechanism when the subhousing is in the stowed position.

3. The hand-held device of claim 2, wherein the Hall Effect switch provides a first signal when the subhousing is in a first position and wherein the Hall Effect switch provides a second signal when the subhousing is in one or more second positions.

4. A hand-held electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a processor located within the housing;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a display in communication with the processor and memory;

a first component operable to perform one or more personal digital assistant (PDA) functions;

a second component operable to perform one or more navigation functions;

a Hall Effect switch associated with the housing to control switching between the first and the second component; and

an antenna pivotally attached to the housing and operable to trigger the Hall Effect switch, wherein the antenna may be rotated to a first position in which the antenna is substantially flush with a rear side of the housing.

5. The hand-held electronic device of claim 4, wherein the pivotally attached antenna is operable to trigger a first state when the pivotally attached antenna is in the first position.

6. The hand-held electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first state is operable to launch a set of computer executable instructions relating to the one or more PDA functions.

7. The hand-held electronic device of claim 6, wherein the one or more PDA functions include;

a to-do list function;

a calendar function; and

an address book function.

8. The hand-held electronic device of claim 4, wherein the pivotally attached antenna is operable to trigger a second state when the pivotally attached antenna is in one or more second positions.

9. The hand-held electronic device of claim 8, wherein the second state is operable to launch a set of computer executable functions relating to the one or more navigation functions.

10. The hand-held electronic device of claim 9, wherein the one or more navigation functions include;

a routing function;

a location function; and

a tracking function.

11. A personal digital assistant (PDA), comprising:

a housing;

a processor located within the housing;

a memory located within the housing and in communication with the processor;

a display located within the housing and in communication with the processor and memory;

wherein the processor is operable to perform one or more PDA functions and one or more navigation functions;

an antenna permanently and pivotally attached to the housing operable to control switching between the PDA functions and the navigation functions.

12. The PDA of claim 11, further including a Hall Effect switch to detect a position of the antenna.

13. The PDA of claim 11, wherein positioning the antenna in a first position causes the navigation functions to be disabled and positioning the antenna in one or more second positions causes the navigation functions to be enabled.

14. The PDA of claim 11, wherein the antenna is operable to trigger a first state when in a first position, wherein the first state is operable to launch a set of computer executable instructions relating to the one or more PDA functions, and wherein the one or more PDA functions include;

a to-do list function;

a calendar function; and

an address book function.

15. The PDA of claim 11, wherein the antenna is operable to trigger a second state when in one or more second positions, wherein the second state is operable to launch a set of computer executable functions relating to the one or more navigation functions, and wherein the one or more navigation functions include;

a routing function;

a location function; and

a tracking function.