Foldable electronic device

• US 7,489,503 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Maatta, Esa
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US11/662,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 16/50, 162/39, 163/67, 340/691.6, 345/156, 345/168, 455/550.1, 455/576.3, 206/320, 400/472, 361679-687, 361724-727
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable electronic device comprising a casing (1) with a top cover (2) and a base cover (3), a display (5) and a keyboard (8) with a plurality of keycaps. To provide a foldable electronic device which is more comfortable to use and which does not require increased attentiveness and concentration when looking at the display, according to the present invention the display (5) comprises a first display portion (6) and a second display portion (7), the first display portion (6) being accommodatable within or adjacent to the top cover (2) and the second display portion (7) being accommodatable within or adjacent to the base cover (3) of the casing (1), wherein the first display portion (6) forms the upper part of the display (5) and the second display portion (7) forms the lower part of the display (5).

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device comprising

a casing with a top cover and a base cover being pivotably connected to each other by means of a hinge, such that the top cover can be pivoted relative to the base cover between an opened position and a closed position,

a display which is visible in the opened position of the casing and which is hidden inside the casing in the closed position of the casing, and the display having a first display portion and a second display portion, the first display portion being accommodatable within or adjacent to the top cover of the casing and the second display portion being accommodatable within or adjacent to the base cover of the casing,

wherein the first display portion forms the upper part of the display and the second display portion forms the lower part of the display,

a keyboard with a plurality of keycaps, wherein the keyboard is connected to the base cover and/or to the second display portion, and

wherein the keyboard is both slideable and pivotable relative to the base cover and/or the second display portion between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position the keyboard is at least partly surrounded by the base cover and/or the second display portion.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard is accommodatable within the base cover and/or the second display portion.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position of the keyboard the plurality of keycaps is at least partly covered by the base cover and/or the second display portion.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard is arranged pivotably relative to the base cover and/or the second display portion between an upper position and a lower position.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second display portions are connected to each other via a hinge, wherein the first display portion is further connected hingedly to the top cover, wherein the second display portion is further connected hingedly to the base cover, wherein in the opened position of the casing the first and second display portions are at least partly folded out of the respective cover and wherein in the closed position of the casing the first and second display portions are accommodated within or adjacent to the respective cover.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second display portions are fixedly mounted to the respective cover, wherein in the opened position of the casing and in the closed position of the casing the first and second display portions are accommodated within the respective cover.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the top cover and the base cover each have a length and a width, wherein the first display portion and/or the second display portion extend essentially over the whole length and/or whole width of the respective cover.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second display portions have the same size.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second display portions are also operatable as separate displays.

10. A mobile device comprising the electronic device according to claim 1.

11. A foldable electronic device comprising

a casing with a top cover and a base cover being pivotably connected to each other by means of a hinge, such that the top cover can be pivoted relative to the base cover between an opened position and a closed position,

a display which is visible in the opened position of the casing and which is hidden inside the casing in the closed position of the casing the display having—

a first display portion and a second display portion, the first display portion being accommodatable within or adjacent to the top cover of the casing and the second display portion being accommodatable within or adjacent to the base cover of the casing,

wherein the first display portion forms the upper part of the display and the second display portion forms the lower part of the display,

a keyboard with a plurality of keycaps, and

wherein the first and second display portions are connected to each other via a hinge, wherein the first display portion is further connected hingedly to the top cover, wherein the second display portion is further connected hingedly to the base cover, wherein in the opened position of the casing the first and second display portions are at least partly folded out of the respective cover and wherein in the closed position of the casing the first and second display portions are accommodated within or adjacent to the respective cover.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the keyboard is connected to the base cover and/or to the second display portion.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the keyboard is accommodatable within the base cover and/or the second display portion.

14. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the keyboard is arranged slideably relative to the base cover and/or the second display portion between a closed position and an opened position.

15. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the keyboard is an out pullable keyboard, wherein in the closed position the keyboard is at least partly surrounded by the base cover and/or the second display portion.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein in the closed position of the keyboard the plurality of keycaps is at least partly covered by the base cover and/or the second display portion.

17. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the connection is a pivotable connection, wherein the keyboard is arranged pivotably relative to the base cover and/or the second display portion between an upper position and a lower position.

18. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the top cover and the base cover each have a length and a width, wherein the first display portion and/or the second display portion extend essentially over the whole length and/or whole width of the respective cover.

19. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second display portions have the same size.

20. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein each of the first and second display portions are also operatable as separate displays.

21. A mobile device comprising the electronic device according to claim 11.