Portable game and communication device

• US 7,492,606 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Young-Seok, Jang, Jung-Hee, Kim, Jong-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Hung S
• Application Number:
  US10/945,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 361/797, 361/752, 361/800, 361/790, 455/332, 345/169
• US Class Current: 361/797
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0206 Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0208 characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A portable game and digital communication device. The communication device comprises first and second side housings, which include a plurality of keys for video gaming controls. Additionally, the first and second side housings are rotatable about a central axis of the device, such the each of first and second side housings becomes a handle for the device.

Claims

1. A portable digital communication device comprising:

a first housing having a first top surface and a second top surface that is stepped from the first top surface, the first housing being extended in the longitudinal direction of the device;

a second housing having a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface that is stepped from the first bottom surface, the second housing being slidable in the longitudinal direction of the device while being opposite to the first housing;

a first side housing, which is rotatable about a first hinge axis and attached at a side surface of the first housing; and

a second side housing, which is rotatable about a second hinge axis and attached at a side surface of the second housing,

wherein the first and second side housings extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first and second housings, and wherein each of the first and second side housings is positioned as a handle when the first and second side housings are rotated from the first and second housings,

wherein the first side housing includes a key array disposed on the top surface thereof, the key array including keys, and

wherein the second side housing includes a key array disposed on the toy surface thereof the key array including keys.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first top surface of the first housing is adjacent to the first side housing.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first bottom surface of the second housing is adjacent to the second side housing.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second top surface of the first housing faces the second bottom surface of the second housing.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first housing is symmetrical to the second housing.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal direction of the first and second housings is parallel to a sliding direction of the second housing, and the sliding direction of the second housing is parallel to an axial direction of the first and second hinge axes.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a first key array disposed on the second top surface thereof, the first key array including a plurality of keys related to communication.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second housing includes a display unit disposed on the first top surface thereof.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first side housing includes a second key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the side surface thereof.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first side housing includes a third key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the bottom surface thereof.

11. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second side housing includes a second key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the side surface thereof.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second side housing includes a third key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the bottom surface thereof.

13. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second side housing is symmetrical to the first side housing.

14. A portable digital communication device comprising:

a housing extended in a longitudinal direction of the device;

a first side housing extended in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing, the first side housing being rotatable about a first hinge axis and attached at one side surface of the housing, wherein the first side housing is positioned as a handle at the side of the housing when the first side housing is rotated a prescribed angle; and

a second side housing extended in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second housing, the second side housing being rotatable about a second hinge axis and attached at the other side surface of the housing, wherein the second side housing is positioned as a handle at the side of the housing when the second side housing is rotated a prescribed angle,

wherein the first side housing includes a key array disposed on the top surface thereof, the key array including keys, and

wherein the second side housing includes a key array disposed on the top surface thereof the key array including keys.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first side housing includes a second key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the side surface thereof.

16. The device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the first side housing includes a third key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the bottom surface thereof.

17. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second side housing includes a second key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the side surface thereof.

18. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second side housing includes a third key array, which includes keys related to video gaming, disposed on the bottom surface thereof.