Telephone with fold out keyboard

• US 20020072395A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Miramontes, Ivan
• Application Number:
  US09/969,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072395A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/0231 Including a rotatable keypad body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• 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 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An electronic device that has a lower portion that unfolds to reveal a full “qwerty” keyboard. When the keyboard (lower portion) is folded closed, a number pad is visible and the device looks similar to a traditional portable or cellular telephone. The device can be used as a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone or as the handset of a traditional wire line telephone. The fold-out key board of the electronic device is used for easy entry of text data while a communication channel is active and for storing information on the device when communication channels are closed. The device includes two way messaging and Internet browsing capabilities. The full keyboard provides efficient text messaging which can be supplemented by word guessing software. Optionally, word processing applications can be used with the device giving the device many properties of a lap top computer. The full keyboard allows users to take full advantage of mobile applications such as Short Message Service (SMS) and other standardized mobile protocols such as SIM Application Toolkit and the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). A graphical user interface is displayed on a screen that is fully visible when the keyboard is open and closed. The word guessing software can be used while the device is in either the open or closed position.

Claims

1. An electrical device for telephonic and data communications wherein the device is hand held and provides a user with text messaging and voice communications, the device comprising:

a display screen for displaying text and graphical information, such as icons, pictures and video, to the user;

at least one speaker for transmitting audio information, such as voice, to the user;

navigational buttons that control basic functions of the device, such as on/off, initiation and termination of a telephone call, and selection and activation of icons or other data displayed on the display screen;

a number pad that allows the user to input numeric and text data wherein the number pad is a primary input device of telephone number data;

at least one microphone for receiving audio data, such as voice, from the user;

software that provides a graphical user interface for the device and controls operation of hardware provided in the device;

a communication control unit that is part of the hardware provided in the device, the communication control unit providing transmission and reception of voice and text data from and to the device; and

,

a fold out section comprising approximately half of a portion of the device underneath the number pad wherein, the fold out section unfolds in a direction perpendicular to a length of the device and further wherein the section unfolds to reveal a full qwerty keyboard contained underneath the number pad, the keyboard being usable with applications on the device and providing the user with easy entry of text data both when a communication channel is open and when no communication channel is open, and

wherein the entire display screen is visible to the user both when the keyboard is in an open position and in a closed position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a cellular telephone and the communication control unit includes an antenna that facilitates communication with a cellular base station.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable telephone and the communication control unit includes an antenna that facilitates communication with a portable telephone base that is connected, via a telephone line, to a public switched telephone network.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is capable of using Short Message Service (SMS) and supports the features of SMS.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the software includes;

an Internet browser that facilitates receiving and inputting data via the Internet; and

,

musical software that provides for download and playback of music.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a first microphone is provided on the number pad and a second microphone is provided on the qwerty keyboard.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein wireless data transmission applications that are compatible with SIM Application Toolkit and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) are included in the software.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein predictive text software is provided in the software and may be used when the device is in the open and closed positions.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a built-in camera for capturing and transmitting pictures and video.

10. A method of providing telephonic and messaging communications capabilities to a user via a hand held electrical device, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying text and graphical information, such as icons, pictures and video, on a display screen of the device;

amplifying audio information, such as voice, through at least one speaker on the device;

providing navigational buttons on the device that control basic functions of the device, such as on/off, initiation and termination of a telephone call, and selection and activation of icons or other data displayed on the display screen;

providing a number pad on the device that allows the user to input numeric and text data wherein the number pad is a primary input device of telephone number data;

receiving audio data, such as voice from the user, in at least one microphone on the device;

loading software that provides a graphical user interface for the device and controls operation of hardware of the device;

controlling transmission and reception of voice and text data from and to the device with a communication control unit of the device; and

, providing a fold out section comprising approximately half of a portion of the device underneath the number pad wherein, the fold out section unfolds in a direction perpendicular to a length of the device and further wherein the section unfolds to reveal a full qwerty keyboard contained underneath the number pad, the keyboard being usable with applications on the device and providing the user with easy entry of text data both when a communication channel is open and when no communication channel is open, and wherein the entire display screen is visible to the user both when the keyboard is in an open position and in a closed position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is a cellular telephone and the communication control unit includes an antenna that facilitates communication with a cellular base station.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is a portable telephone and the communication control unit includes an antenna that facilitates communication with a portable telephone base that is connected, via a telephone line, to a public switched telephone network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the device is capable of using Short Message Service (SMS) and supports the features of SMS.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the software includes:

an Internet browser that is capable of receiving and inputting data via the Internet; and

, a musical interface program for downloading and playing music.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein a first microphone is provided on the number pad and a second microphone is provided on the qwerty keyboard.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein wireless data transmission applications that are compatible with SIM Application Toolkit and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) are included in the software.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein predictive text software is provided in the software and may be used when the device is in the open and closed positions.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing a camera for capturing pictures and video that can be transmitted from the device.