Magnetically securing two screens of a handheld communication device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld computing device, comprising:
- first and second screens comprising first and second display panels and first and second housings for the first and second display panels, respectively, to receive input from and provide graphical output to a user;
a processor coupled to the first and second screens;
a computer readable medium coupled to the processor;
a hinge connected to the first and second screens, wherein the hinge moves between a closed position in which first and second surfaces of the first and second screens, respectively, are substantially in contact with each other and a fully open position in which an angle between the first and second surfaces of the first and second screens is greater than 180°
, wherein, when the first and second screens are in the fully open position, the planes of the first and second surfaces of the first and second screens are substantially transverse to each other and able to rotate in only one direction towards the closed position, and wherein, when in the fully open position, an angle δ
defined between the first and second surfaces of each of the first and second screens and a horizontal plane is no more than about 10°
; and
at least one permanent magnet to maintain the first and second screens in the closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld communication device includes first and second screens, a hinge to rotate the first and second screens between open and closed positions, and a permanent magnet to maintain the first and second screens in the closed position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A handheld computing device, comprising:
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first and second screens comprising first and second display panels and first and second housings for the first and second display panels, respectively, to receive input from and provide graphical output to a user; a processor coupled to the first and second screens; a computer readable medium coupled to the processor; a hinge connected to the first and second screens, wherein the hinge moves between a closed position in which first and second surfaces of the first and second screens, respectively, are substantially in contact with each other and a fully open position in which an angle between the first and second surfaces of the first and second screens is greater than 180°
, wherein, when the first and second screens are in the fully open position, the planes of the first and second surfaces of the first and second screens are substantially transverse to each other and able to rotate in only one direction towards the closed position, and wherein, when in the fully open position, an angle δ
defined between the first and second surfaces of each of the first and second screens and a horizontal plane is no more than about 10°
; andat least one permanent magnet to maintain the first and second screens in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A handheld computing device, comprising:
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first and second screens comprising first and second display panels, respectively, to receive input from and provide graphical output to a user, each of the first and second screens comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a side surface extending between a periphery of the front and rear surfaces; a processor coupled to the first and second screens; a computer readable medium coupled to the processor; a hinge connected to the first and second screens, wherein the hinge moves between a closed position in which the rear surfaces of the first and second screens are substantially in contact with each other and a fully open position in which the front surfaces of the first and second screens are transverse to each other and able to rotate in only one direction towards the closed position, and permits the first screen to rotate about a first axis and the second screen to rotate about a second axis, wherein the first and second pivot axes are different from one another and substantially parallel, and wherein, when the first and second screens are in the fully open position, an angle δ
defined between the rear surfaces of the first and second screens and a horizontal plane is no more than 10°
; andat least one permanent magnet to resist a user moving the hinge from the closed position to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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providing a handheld computing device comprising first and second screens, the first and second screens comprising first and second display panels to receive input from and provide graphical output to a user, a plurality of electronic components comprising a processor and computer readable medium, the plurality of electronic components generating an electromagnetic field during operation, first and second housings, respectively, for the first and second display panels, and a hinge connected to the first and second screens, wherein the hinge moves between a closed position in which rear surfaces of the first and second screens are substantially in contact with each other and a fully open position in which an angle between the first and second screens is greater than 180° and
able to rotate in only one direction towards the closed position, wherein, when the first and second screens are in the fully open position, the planes of the front surfaces of the first and second screens are substantially transverse to each other, and wherein, when in the fully open position, an angle δ
defined between the rear surface of each of the first and second screens and a horizontal plane is no more than about 10°
;placing, by a user, the hinge in the closed position, wherein, during said placement in the closed position, at least one permanent magnet adjacent to the first screen assists a user moving the hinge from the open position to the closed position; and placing, by the user, the hinge in the fully open position, wherein, during said placement in the fully open position, the at least one permanent magnet adjacent to the first screen resists the user moving the hinge from the closed position to the fully open position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification