Handheld computer having moveable segments that are interactive with an integrated display

• US 7,692,667 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lam, Lawrence, Nguyen, Huy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini; Javid A
• Application Number:
  US10/006,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,049 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/184, 345/158, 345/156, 345/901, 345/967, 345/961, 345/905, 345/903, 345/619, 345/660, 345/698, 345/162, 455/91, 455/95, 455/575.4, 455/556.1, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1675 Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A handheld computer is provided that includes a first module and at least a second module. The first module includes a processor and a display. The second module is slideably coupled to the first module so that it functions as a sliding cover that may effectively change the visible area of the underlying display. The handheld computer includes a sensing device coupled to the processor. The sensing device provides information to the processor regarding the relative position of the first module with respect to the second module. The information provided may be used to reconfigure the visual output of the display or to select a macro command presented on the display.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a display;

a sliding component moveably coupled to said processor, wherein said sliding component is operable to slide relative to said display, and wherein said sliding component is further operable to accept at least one button input from a user; and

a sensing device coupled to said processor and to said sliding component for detecting a relative position of said sliding component with respect to said display;

wherein said processor is operable to perform an operation that is associated with rendered information that is identified by said relative position of said sliding component with respect to said display, and wherein said operation is responsive to said button input being pressed.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said operation is a visual configuration of data rendered on said display.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter, and wherein said operation is an initiation of communication with another device using said wireless transmitter.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter, and wherein said operation is an initiation of communication with an external device, using said wireless transmitter.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said sensing device is a non-contact sensor device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said display is a touch panel display forming a part of said sensing device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said rendered information that is identified by said relative position of said sliding component with respect to said display is selected responsive to signal is initiated from said sliding component by a user pressing on an input key residing on said sliding component.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one button input comprises a mechanical element.

9. A method of selecting an option in an electronic device comprising a processor and a sliding component, said method comprising:

a) displaying a plurality of elements on a display screen of said processor;

b) detecting a position of said sliding component adjacent to a first element of said plurality of elements said display screen, wherein said sliding component relative to said display screen is operable to identify said first element for selection;

c) detecting a user selecting said first element, wherein said selection is made by using at least one button input residing on said sliding component when said sliding component is adjacent to said first element; and

d) invoking an operation of said electronic device related to said first element.

10. The method as described in claim 9 further comprising generating a position signal corresponding to a position of said sliding component relative to said display screen.

11. The method as described in claim 9 wherein aid operation is an execution of an application program.

12. The method as described in claim 9 wherein said operation is a display of related additional information to said first element.

13. The method as described in claim 9 wherein said selection is via a key.

14. The method as described in claim 9 wherein said sliding cover comprises a keyboard.

15. The method as described in claim 9 wherein said sliding cover further comprises a microphone.

16. The method as described in claim 9 wherein said sliding cover further comprises a speaker.

17. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions stored thereon for causing an electronic device to execute a method for configuring a visual output of a display, said method comprising:

displaying a plurality of objects on said display;

sensing a relative position, of a sliding component with respect to said display, and wherein said relative position is a partially closed position, and wherein said sliding component is operable to change the size of a dimension of said electronic device by sliding relative to said display; and

in response to said sensing said relative position, generating said visual output on said display, wherein said visual output comprises said plurality of visual objects that are arranged and repositioned to be viewable in response to said relative position.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for initiating an application by a processor.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for initiating communication with an external device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for altering said visual output in response to a signal.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said instructions are for a rearrangement of a previously displayed visual object.

22. An electronic device comprising:

a display operable to render a plurality of graphical elements;

a sliding component operable to move with respect to said display to detect a viewable portion and a non-viewable portion of said display, wherein a position of said sliding component is operable to control rendering of said plurality of graphical elements within said viewable portion of said display, and wherein said position of said sliding component is further operable to identify a first graphical element from said plurality of graphical elements when said sliding component is adjacent to said first graphical element, and wherein said first graphical element is selected responsive to a selection by a user via an input key on said sliding component; and

a processor operable to reposition said plurality of graphical elements responsive to said position of said sliding component with respect to said display, and wherein said processor is further operable to perform an operation associated with said first graphical element in response to said selection.

23. The electronic device as described in claim 22 further comprising:

a sensor for detecting said position of said sliding component with respect to said display.

24. The electronic device as described in claim 22, wherein said first graphical element is a command to be performed by said processor.

25. The electronic device as described in claim 22, wherein said sliding component is operable to accept a user input to effect said selection.

26. The electronic device as described in claim 22 wherein said plurality of graphical elements are repositioned by said processor to increase viewability of said plurality of graphical objects within said viewable portion of said display.