Fully extendable dual-segmented housing assembly for mobile computing device

• US 8,385,057 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Eric, Skillman, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US12/796,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20110299235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.08, 361/679.09, 361/679.3, 36167955-67959, 174/535, 455/325, 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.1, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0237 Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection

Abstract

A mobile computing device formed from at least two housing segments that can be moved between positions, including an open position that fully exposes a display surface or façade of each of the housing segments, and a closed position in which at least one of the facades or display surfaces is occluded or overlaid by the other housing segment, according to at least some embodiments.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a first segment;

a second segment; and

a coupling mechanism that enables the second segment to move relative to the first segment between a closed position, a partially open upright position, and a substantially open position, the coupling mechanism including;

a slider block having a bottom rail integrated with a housing of the first segment;

a support structure integrated with a housing of the second segment, the support structure being pivotally coupled to an arm; and

a sled that is moveably coupled to the bottom rail and the arm, the sled being moveably coupled to the bottom rail to translate linearly along the bottom rail to enable the second segment to move between the closed position, the partially open upright position, and the substantially open position;

wherein;

(i) when in the closed position, the second segment overlays the first segment, so that a display surface of only the second segment is accessible to a user;

(ii) when in the partially open upright position, the second segment is positioned at an angle relative to the first segment and partially overlays the first segment, so that the display surface of the second segment and only a portion of a display surface of the first segment is accessible to the user; and

(iii) when in the open position, the first segment and the second segment are positioned end-to-end, so that the display surface of each of the first segment and the second segment is completely exposed to the user;

wherein the second segment is moveably coupled to the first segment so that a path of motion of the second segment moving between each of the closed position, the partially open upright position, and the open position is substantially linear from a starting point at the closed position to a point where the second segment can be positioned at the angle relative to the first segment.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein display surface of the first segment and the display surface of the second segment are of a substantially same size or area.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more processors that are structured to generate display content for each of the first display surface and the second display surface;

one or more sensors that are positioned to detect an orientation of the mobile computing device;

wherein the one or more processors are configured to orient the display content based on the detected orientation of the mobile computing device by the one or more sensors.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are configured to orient the display content in one of a portrait or landscape orientation.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the display surface of each of the first and second segment is touch-sensitive.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a slider coupling mechanism that is structured to moveably couple the first segment and the second segment together in order to enable the second segment to slide between the closed position, the partially open upright position, and a substantially open position.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment have a same thickness.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment have a substantially same length, width and thickness.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment have a substantially same weight.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the sled to pivot between a first position that is upright relative to a base of the slider block, and a second position that is co-linear with the base of the slider block.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10 wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the support structure to enable the second segment to be held at an angle relative to the first segment.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more processors to (i) emulate a mechanical input mechanism virtually on one of the first or second display surfaces, and (ii) generate content that the user can interact with using the emulated mechanical input mechanism on the other of the first or second display surfaces.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the emulated mechanical input mechanism is a keyboard or a gaming control.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors to detect a position of the second segment being in the closed position, the partially open upright position, or the open position; and

one or more processors coupled to the one or more sensors to operate the mobile computing device in different modes based on the position of the second segment.