Method and apparatus for coupling portable communication devices

• US 8,553,397 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid, Hede, William, Steuer, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US13/098,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 892 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/06 Hooks; Cradles

Abstract

A method and apparatus mechanically couple portable communication devices. The apparatus can include a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end, and a second shaft end. The apparatus can include a first portable communication device having a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing width. The apparatus can include a second portable communication device that can have a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with a first portable communication device communication signal interface and can have a second housing that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis. The first shaft length can be at least as long as the first housing width.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first

shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end at a first end along the first shaft longitudinal axis, and a second shaft end at a second end along the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft end opposite the first shaft end;

a first portable communication device including;

a first portable communication device communication signal interface; and

a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first housing width perpendicular to the first housing length, and a first housing height perpendicular to the first housing width and the first housing length, where the first housing width is greater than the first housing height; and

a second portable communication device including;

a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with the first portable communication device communication signal interface; and

a second housing coupled to the second shaft end, where the second housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis,

wherein the first shaft length is at least as long as the first housing width, and

wherein the first portable communication device is adapted to be used independent from the second portable communication device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing rotates with respect to the first shaft about an axis parallel with the first housing length.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second housing has a second housing length that is substantially equal to the first housing length.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second portable communication device housing has a second housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a second housing width perpendicular to the second housing length, and a second housing height perpendicular to the second housing width and the second housing length, where the second housing width is greater than the second housing height, and

wherein the first shaft length is at least as long as the second housing width.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first shaft includes:

a first shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the first shaft end, the first shaft leg substantially perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first shaft leg coupled to the first portable communication device; and

a second shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the second shaft end, the second shaft leg substantially perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft leg coupled to the second portable communication device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the first shaft leg includes a first shaft leg communication signal interface configured to exchange electrical communication signals with the first portable communication device communication signal interface,

wherein the second shaft leg includes a second shaft leg communication signal interface configured to exchange electrical communication signals with the second portable communication device communication signal interface, and

wherein where the first shaft leg communication signal interface is coupled to the second shaft leg communication interface to transmit electrical communication signals between the first shaft leg communication signal interface and the second shaft leg communication signal interface.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the first shaft leg has a first shaft leg longitudinal axis, and

wherein the first shaft leg communication signal interface comprises at least one encoder ring that only partially circles the first shaft leg longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the first shaft leg has a first shaft leg longitudinal axis, and

wherein the first shaft leg includes at least one flat surface perpendicular to a line perpendicular to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis, the at least one flat surface configured to temporarily set the first housing in one position as the first housing rotates about the first shaft leg longitudinal axis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the first housing includes a first aperture configured to receive the first shaft leg;

and

wherein the second housing includes a second aperture configured to receive the second shaft leg.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first shaft, the first shaft leg, and the second shaft leg comprise a U-shaped shaft connector.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft is manually compressible along the first shaft longitudinal axis.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing is detachably coupled to the first shaft end such that the first housing is intended to be separated from the first shaft end.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second shaft having a second shaft longitudinal axis parallel to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft coupled to the first housing and coupled to the second housing.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing is configured to infinitely rotate about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein first shaft, the first housing, and the second housing, when connected together, operate to provide at least two of:

a side-by-side display for the two housings,

an elevated display with respect to one housing,

a back-to-back setting with displays opposite from each other for each housing,

a front-to-front setting with displays facing each other for each housing,

more than two cascaded displays for more than two housings,

angled displays facing away from each other for each housing, and a front-to-front setting with displays facing each other for each housing with at least one display partially exposed.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first housing includes a first housing display,

wherein the second housing includes a second housing display, and

wherein first shaft, the first housing, and the second housing, when connected together via the first shaft, provide a front-to-front setting with the first housing display facing the second housing display with at least one portion of one of the displays covered and second portion of the one of the displays exposed.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first shaft is manually compressible and decompressible along the first shaft longitudinal axis to hide and expose the second portion of the one of the displays.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second portion of the one of the displays is configured to display a caller identifier when exposed.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first portable communication device communication signal interface is configured to communicate with the second portable communication device communication signal interface using optical communication signals through the first shaft.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first shaft end includes a plurality of contact rings, and

wherein the first housing includes an aperture detachably coupled to the first shaft end and the first portable communication device signal interface couples to the plurality of contact rings when the first housing is coupled to the first shaft end.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a first shaft having;

a first shaft longitudinal axis;

a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis;

a first shaft end at a first end along the first shaft longitudinal axis;

a first shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the first shaft end of the first shaft length, the first shaft leg having a first shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis;

a second shaft end at a second end of the first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft end opposite the first shaft end; and

a second shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the second shaft end, the second shaft leg having a second shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis;

a first portable communication device including;

a first portable communication device communication signal interface; and

a first housing detachably coupled to the first shaft leg where the first housing rotates about an axis parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first housing width perpendicular to the first housing length, and a first housing height perpendicular to the first housing width and the first housing length, where the first housing width is greater than the first housing height; and

a second portable communication device including;

a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with the first portable communication device communication signal interface; and

a second housing detachably coupled to the second shaft leg, where the second housing rotates about an axis parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis,

wherein the first shaft length is at least as long as the first housing width, and

wherein the first portable communication device is adapted to be used independent from the second portable communication device.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the first shaft leg includes a first shaft leg communication signal interface configured to exchange electrical communication signals with the first portable communication device communication signal interface,

wherein the second shaft leg includes a second shaft leg communication signal interface configured to exchange electrical communication signals with the second portable communication device communication signal interface, and

wherein where the first shaft leg communication signal interface is coupled to the second shaft leg communication interface to transmit electrical communication signals between the first shaft leg communication signal interface and the second shaft leg communication signal interface.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a first shaft having;

a first shaft longitudinal axis;

a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis;

a first shaft end at a first end along the first shaft longitudinal axis;

a first shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the first shaft end of the first shaft length, the first shaft leg having a first shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis;

a second shaft end at a second end of the first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft end opposite the first shaft end; and

a second shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the second shaft end, the second shaft leg having a second shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis;

a first portable communication device including;

a first portable communication device communication signal interface; and

a first housing detachably coupled to the first shaft leg such that the first housing is intended to be separated from the first shaft leg, where the first housing rotates about an axis concentric with the first shaft leg longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first housing width perpendicular to the first housing length, and a first housing height perpendicular to the first housing width and the first housing length, where the first housing width is greater than the first housing height;

a second portable communication device including;

a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with the first portable communication device communication signal interface; and

a second housing detachably coupled to the second shaft leg such that the second housing is intended to be separated from the first shaft leg, where the second housing rotates about an axis concentric with the second shaft leg longitudinal axis; and

a second shaft having a second shaft longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft coupled to the first housing and coupled to the second housing,

wherein the first shaft width is at least as long as the first housing length, and

wherein the first portable communication device is adapted to be used independent from the second portable communication device.