Electronic device having optical data connection of movable housing parts

• US 7,778,503 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Schorpp, Marcus, Esa-Sakari, Maatta
• Primary Examiner(s): Kianni, K. Cyrus
• Application Number:
  US12/295,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20090110352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14, 385/18, 385/25
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic device comprising two or more housing parts which are movable in relation to each other with an optical arrangement enabling optical data communication between electronic components located in the housing parts. The device according to the invention comprises a first housing part comprising first electronic components, a second housing part comprising second electronic components, wherein said first housing part and said second housing part are movably connected and capable of taking at least a first and a second position in relation to each other, a first optoelectronic device connected with said first electronic components, a second optoelectronic device connected with said second electronic components, and a first light duct, and a second light duct, wherein said first light duct is arranged to provide a first light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said first position, and said second light duct is arranged to provide a second light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said second position.

Claims

1. Electronic device, comprising:

a first housing part comprising first electronic components;

a second housing part comprising second electronic components;

wherein said first housing part and said second housing part are slidably connected and capable of taking at least a first and a second position in relation to each other;

a first optoelectronic device connected with said first electronic components;

a second optoelectronic device connected with said second electronic components;

a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device;

a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device; and

a light deflection element arranged on said second housing part,

wherein

a first light duct is formed by said first light guiding element; and

a second light duct is formed by said first light guiding element, said light deflection element and said second light guiding element;

and wherein

said first light duct is configured to provide a first light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said first position; and

said second light duct is configured to provide a second light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said second position.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first optoelectronic device is an optical emitter and said second optoelectronic device is an optical receiver.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second optoelectronic devices are optical transceivers.