Cellular telephone, personal digital assistant and pager unit

• US 20010027121A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martha Trout
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,542,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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 1/0216 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 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

The handheld personal electronic device has a first body having a display, a second body having a plurality of manual inputs, the second body capable of attachment to the first body, the personal electronic device having an open position wherein the display of the first body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed. And, the personal electronic device having a closed position wherein the display of the first body is protected by the second body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed.

Claims

1. A handheld personal electronic device comprising:

a first body having a display; and

a second body having a plurality of manual inputs, the second body capable of attachment to the first body, the personal electronic device having an open position wherein the display of the first body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed and the personal electronic device having a closed position wherein the display of the first body is protected by the second body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed.

2. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 1

wherein the first body is connected to the second body with a hinge.

3. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 2

wherein the hinge is slidable.

4. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 2

wherein the hinge is collapsible.

5. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 1

wherein the first body is pivotably mounted to the second body.

6. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 1

wherein the first body is slidably mounted to the second body.

7. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 1

wherein the first body is removably attached to the second body.

8. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 1

further comprising electronic actuation means for selecting between the open position and the closed position of the device.

9. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 1

further comprising:

an electrical interface in the first body;

a first transceiver operatively connected to the electrical interface; and

an earpiece, the earpiece having a second transceiver capable of communication with the first transceiver.

10. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 9

wherein the earpiece has a bone conduction sensor.

11. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 9

wherein the earpiece has an air conduction sensor.

12. A handheld personal electronic device comprising:

a first body having a display;

a second body having a plurality of buttons; and

a hinge connecting the first body and the second body, having a first position wherein the second body at least partially covers the first body to protect the display while the plurality of buttons and a second position wherein the display is accessible and the plurality of buttons are accessible.

13. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

wherein the hinge is selected from the set including a lateral hinge, a spring-loaded mechanism, a slide hinge, a collapsible hinge, a slide joint, a lateral joint, a flexible coil, and a ratcheting mechanism.

14. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

further comprising a release button, in operative connection with the hinge, the release button when activated causing the personal electronic device to move from the first position to the second position.

15. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 14

wherein the release button is located on the hinge.

16. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 14

further comprising a second hinge connecting the first body and the second body.

17. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

wherein the display is a touch screen.

18. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

wherein the plurality of buttons includes a 12-key telephone keypad.

19. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

wherein the first body is a personal digital assistant and the second body is a telephone transceiver.

20. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

further comprising a transceiver electrically connected to the first body.

21. The handheld personal electronic device of

claim 12

further comprising electronic actuation means for selecting between the open position and the closed position of the device.

22. A personal electronic device comprising:

a first PDA body having a display;

a second body having a plurality of buttons;

means for slideably hinging the PDA body to the second body.

23. The personal electronic device of

claim 22

wherein the display is a touch screen.

24. The personal electronic device of

claim 22

wherein the plurality of buttons includes a 12-key telephone keypad.

25. The personal electronic device of

claim 22

wherein the second body is a telephone transceiver.

26. The personal electronic device of

claim 22

further comprising electronic actuation means for selecting between the open position and the closed position of the device.