Self configuring multiple element portable electronic device

• US 7,257,430 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2002
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Tong Jin, Lenchik, Vitaly, Hill, Casey, Jennings, John, Baker, Kevin, Kilp, David, Prince, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US10/144,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,921 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345167-169, 178 1801- 1807, 455/550.1, 455 901- 903, 455/414.1, 455/552.1, 455/566, 455/575.8, 455/433.01, 455/455.06, 455/433.07, 455/368, 455/556.1, 4555751-5756, 455/556.2, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.07, 379/433.11, 379/433.12
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0222 Foldable in two directions, i.e. using a two degree of freedom hinge
• 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 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A self configuring multiple element portable electronic device (100) and method is provided. The device comprises at least a first electronic element (104) and a second electronic element (106) and a joint (112) connecting the first electronic element and the second electronic element, with the joint allowing movement in more than one plane of the first electronic element in relation to the second electronic element, wherein the self configuring multiple element portable electronic device is capable of self configuring an operational mode based on a relative position of the first electronic element with respect to the second electronic element. The method comprises the steps of detecting a relative position of the first electronic element relative to the second electronic element, and selecting an operational mode of the device based on the relative position. A keyboard having a plurality of keys has a first at least some of the keys active in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation a different set of keys, which are at least some of the first at least some of the keys are active.

Claims

1. A self configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device, comprising:

a housing having a first element and a second element;

a keyboard, having a plurality of keys, said keyboard disposed on said first element;

a display disposed on the second element;

a sensor disposed in said housing and detecting a relative position of said first element relative to said second element; and

a keyboard controller disposed in said housing, said keyboard controller coupled to said sensor; and

wherein a first set of keys, of said plurality of keys of said keyboard correspond to a first operation mode in response to said first element being in a first position relative to said second element, and

wherein the first set of keys, of said plurality of keys of said keyboard correspond to a second operation mode in response to said first element being in a second position relative to said second element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device self configures to one of the first operation mode or the second operation mode based on a position of said first element relative to said second element.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein a second set of keys of said plurality of keys of said keyboard are activated by said keyboard controller in response to said first element being in a second position relative to said second element.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said first set of keys is a subset of said second set of keys.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first set of keys has a different shape than said second set of keys.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said first set of keys, of said plurality of keys, has a first set of indicia associated therewith, and

wherein said first set of indicia correspond to a first operation mode of said at least two operational modes.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein said second set of keys has a second set of indicia associated therewith, and

wherein said second set of indicia correspond to a second operation mode of said at least two operational modes.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said first set of indicia are oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle relative to said second set of indicia, such that said second set of indicia can be read when said device is configured in said first position and said second position.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said first set of keys are active when said device is configured in a first mode as a portrait display mode such that said second element is configured as the portrait display position;

and

wherein said second set of keys are active when said device is configured in a second operation mode as a landscape display mode such that said second electronic element is configured as a landscape display position.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said first set of keys comprise a first shape.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said first shape is a circle or square.

12. The device of claim 3, wherein said second set of keys comprises a second shape.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said second shape is an oval, rectangle or pill.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein said indicia are disposed on said keys.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the indicia are disposed adjacent to said keys.

16. The device of claim 6, wherein said indicia are disposed on said keys.

17. The device of claim 6, wherein the indicia are disposed adjacent to said keys.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said second element includes a display device capable of being configured as a landscape display device and a portrait display device.

19. A handheld communications device, comprising:

a housing;

a panel movably coupled to the housing, the panel movable between at least first and second positions;

a plurality of input keys disposed on one of the housing or the panel,

at least some of the plurality of input keys perform a first function when the panel is in the first position,

the same at least some of the plurality of input keys perform a second function, different than the first function, when the panel is in the first position; and

a first set of indicia associated with the same at least some of the plurality of input keys, oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle relative to a second set of indicia associated with the plurality of keys, such that said second set of indicia can be read when said device is configured in said first position and said second position.

20. The device of claim 19, the plurality of input keys comprise a qwerty keypad when the panel is in the first position, the same at least some of the plurality of input keys are a numeric keys when the panel is in the second position.

21. The device of claim 19, at least some of the plurality of input keys comprise a qwerty keypad when the panel is in the first position, some of the plurality of input keys comprising the qwerty keypad having a numeral associated therewith, the plurality of input keys having a numeral associated are numeric input keys when the panel is in the second position.

22. The device of claim 21, the plurality of input keys comprising the qwerty keypad each having an alphabetic character associated therewith, the numerals inclined at said angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the alphabetic characters.

23. A-method for self configuring an operational mode in a self configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device, said self configuring multiple element portable electronic device having a first electronic element that may be moved in relation to a second electronic element, and a keyboard having a plurality of keys therein, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a relative position of said first electronic element relative to said second electronic element; and

selecting an operational mode of said keyboard based on said relative position;

activating the first set of keys of the keyboard when the device is configured in a first operational mode as a portrait display mode wherein a first set of indicia associated with the first set of keys are oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle relative to a second set of indicia,

and wherein said second element is configured as a portrait display position; and

activating a second set of keys of the keyboard when said device is configured in a second operation mode as a landscape display mode such that said second element, is configured as a landscape display position wherein the second set of indicia are associated with the second set of keys.

24. The method of claim 23, activating a first set of keys in response to said operating mode being a portrait entry mode.

25. The method of claim 23, activating a second set of keys in response to said operating mode being a landscape entry mode.