Reconfigurable mobile device with keyboard cover and display areas of content and applications

• US 8,989,825 B1
• Filed: 07/15/2014
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Rao, Raman K., Rao, Sanjay K., Rao, Sunil K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US14/332,285
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/552.1, 455/128, 455/344, 361/679.55, 345/168
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A multifunction cover with touch screen display, icons, and a keyboard is described. A multifunction touch screen enabled mobile device may be configured to be connected to the separate cover, which may be attached to the device and detached from the device. The mobile device may be enabled with a cellular voice and data communication, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and Internet Protocol connectivity. The mobile device may be enabled to play videos, capture photos, and stream multimedia content.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a first touch screen display;

a processor positioned within the housing and in communication with the first touch screen display;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a camera in communication with the processor;

at least one wireless transmit or receive communication component in communication with the processor; and

a cover which is attachable to the device, wherein the cover comprises a second touch-enabled display wherein the display on the cover is rotatable relative to the housing and is connected to a side of the device,

wherein the first display and second display are configured to display different multimedia content, text, graphics, or combinations thereof simultaneously, and wherein a first application is configured for display in the first display and a second application is configured for display in the second display,

wherein at least one of the displays is separated into a plurality of display areas,

wherein the plurality of display areas are enabled to display multimedia content, text, graphics, or combinations thereof, and

wherein the plurality of display areas are merged into a larger display area responsive to user selection.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmit or receive communication component is configured to communicate via one or more of cellular, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth communication or combinations thereof.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a physical or a virtual keyboard on the second touch enabled display.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to accept biometric data, wherein said biometric data comprises an acquisition finger print data.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first touch screen display is configured to display a plurality of touch enabled icons.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the device and wherein the second display is positionable on an opposite side of the first touch screen display.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first display is configured to display multimedia content, text, or graphics and wherein the second display is configured to be opaque or not display content.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second display is configured to display multimedia content, text, or graphics and wherein the first display is configured to be opaque or not display content.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second display are configured to display the same content simultaneously.

10. A portable electronic device or mobile device, comprising:

a first touch screen display, wherein the first touch screen display is configured to display multimedia content, text, graphics, or combinations thereof;

a housing having a processor positioned within the housing and in communication with the first touch screen display;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a camera in communication with the processor;

a cover which is attached to the device and a second touch-enabled display which is opposite to the first touch screen display, such that the first and second touch screen display are attachable to and removable from the cover, and wherein the cover comprises a keyboard;

an antenna located on the device, and

at least one wireless transmit and/or receive communication component in communication with the processor for cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth communication, or combinations thereof,

wherein each display is separated into a plurality of display areas,

wherein the plurality of display areas display different content or applications, and

wherein at least two separate display areas are merged by software into one larger display area by user selection and the reverse thereof by user selection.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is configured to display multimedia content including TV, movies, streaming video or combinations thereof and to acquire a finger print of a user.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the cover displays a keyboard.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the housing and is positionable on a side of the device.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the first display is configured to display a plurality of touch enabled icons.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the device such that the cover is positionable on an opposite side of the touch screen display.

16. A method of using a portable electronic device, comprising:

providing a portable electronic device comprising a housing having a first touch screen display, a processor positioned within the housing and in communication with the first touch screen display, a memory in communication with the processor, and a camera in communication with the processor;

providing a cover which is attachable to the portable electronic device such that the cover is positionable relative to the device to protect the first touch screen display, and the cover comprises a second touch-enabled display, and

wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the portable electronic device such that the cover is positionable on a side of the first touch screen display,

wherein the first touch screen display is separated into a plurality of display areas, and

wherein the plurality of display areas display the same or different content, applications, icons or combinations thereof, and

wherein the plurality display areas are merged into a larger display area responsive to user selection.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cover displays a keyboard.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the housing and is positionable on a front side of the device such that the second touch-enabled display is viewable and the first touch screen is not viewable.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to acquire a finger print of a user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first display and second display are configured to show different multimedia content, text, or graphics simultaneously, and wherein a first application is configured for display in the first display and a second application is configured for display in the second display.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the first display is configured to display multimedia content, text, or graphics and wherein the second display is configured to be opaque or not display content.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the second display is configured to display multimedia content, text, or graphics and wherein the first display is configured to be opaque or not display content.

23. A portable electronic device or mobile device, comprising:

a first touch screen display comprising a housing having a processor positioned within the housing and in communication with the touch screen display, a keyboard, a memory in communication with the processor, a camera in communication with the processor, and an antenna located on the device,

wherein the device further has at least one wireless communication unit, the device including support for WiFi, and wherein the first touch screen display is configured to display photos, text, multimedia content, or combinations thereof; and

,

a cover which is attachable to the device and detachable from the device, wherein the cover comprises a touch-enabled surface, and wherein the cover is rotatable relative to the device such that the cover is positionable on a first side of the device and on a second side of the device or swivel around an axis,

wherein the first touch screen display is separated into a plurality of display areas,

wherein the plurality of display areas display the same or different content or applications or combinations thereof; and

wherein the plurality display areas are merged into a larger display area responsive to user selection.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the touch-enabled surface comprises a second touch enabled screen or touch sensitive display.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the device is configured to display multimedia content including TV, movies, streaming video or combinations thereof.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the touch enabled surface on the cover comprises a keyboard.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein an area of the display is configured with a plurality of touch enabled icons for actuating an intended action or function by a touch or stylus input.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is configured for wireless communication using Bluetooth or a cellular or both Bluetooth and cellular.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is configured to receive multimedia content from an Internet based streaming multimedia service and to display the multimedia content on the display;

and wherein responsive to a user control, one or more of the icons are configured to disappear to further enhance the actual viewable display area.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the first touch screen is a high resolution display.