Portable communication device and method of sensing camera operation mode in the portable communication device

• US 7,330,742 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Yun, Kang, Sung-Ill, Bae, Jong-Gun
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US10/799,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/575.3, 455/575.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 361/814, 396/434, 396/429
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A portable communication device including a first housing and second housing, wherein the second housing is connected to the first housing so that it is rotatable around a first hinge axis while facing a top surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing. The device also includes a third housing connected to the second housing so that it is rotatable around the first hinge axis while facing the top surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing, and rotatable around a third hinge axis to allow rotational movement of a display. A battery pack, serving as a grip, is connected to the first housing so that it is rotatable around a third hinge axis while facing a bottom surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing. A sensing unit is provided to sense whether the battery pack is rotated.

Claims

1. A portable communication device comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing connected to the first housing so that the second housing is rotatable around a first hinge axis while facing a top surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing;

a third housing connected to the second housing so that the third housing is rotatable around the first hinge axis while facing the top surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing and is further rotatable around a second hinge axis;

a battery pack serving as a grip, the battery pack being connected to the first housing so that the battery pack is rotatable around a third hinge axis while facing a bottom surface of the first housing, to allow movement toward or away from the first housing; and

a sensing unit for sensing whether the battery pack is rotated.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises:

one or more keys and a microphone disposed near the first keys on the top surface of the first housing;

one or more second keys on a side surface of the first housing; and

a camera lens window and a lighting unit aligned with each other and disposed facing a front direction on a front surface of the first housing.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the third housing includes a planar top surface and a bottom surface, the third housing comprising a speaker and a display disposed near the speaker on the bottom surface thereof.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the battery pack is plate-shaped.

5. A portable communication device comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing connected to the first housing so that the second housing is rotatable around a first hinge axis while facing a top surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing;

a third housing connected to the second housing so that the third housing is rotatable around the first hinge axis while facing the top surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing and is further rotatable around a second hinge axis, the second hinge axis being perpendicular to the first hinge axis and rotatable with respect to the first hinge axis along with the rotation of the third housing;

a battery pack serving as a grip, the battery pack being connected to the first housing so that the battery pack is rotatable around a third hinge axis while facing a bottom surface of the first housing to allow movement toward or away from the first housing, the third hinge axis being perpendicular to the first and second hinge axes; and

a sensing unit for sensing whether the battery pack is rotated.

6. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the first housing comprises:

a first protruding hinge arm, one or more keys disposed near the first hinge arm, and a microphone disposed near the first keys on the top surface of the first housing;

one or more second keys disposed on a side surface of the first housing; and

a camera lens window disposed near the first hinge arm and the third hinge axis, and a lighting unit disposed near the camera lens window, the camera lens window and the lighting unit facing in a front direction on a front surface of the first housing.

7. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the second housing includes a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface, the second housing comprising a second hinge arm for defining the first hinge axis, a first slot formed in the vicinity of the second hinge arm, and a connecting arm integrated with the second hinge arm.

8. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the third housing includes a planar top surface and a bottom surface, the third housing comprising a speaker and a display disposed near the speaker on the bottom surface thereof.

9. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the battery pack comprises a second slot and is configured so that the battery pack is rotatable up to at or about 90°

to at or about 100°

around the third hinge axis, the rotation of the battery pack being restricted by a predetermined portion of the first housing.

10. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the sensing unit comprises:

a magnet attached at a predetermined position on the battery; and

a sensor for detecting a field of the magnet and outputting a sensing signal according to the magnetic field detection.