Mobile communication device having extendable display

• US 20040229662A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Communication Cable Company (Optiv Security Inc.), Siemens Information
• Inventors: Chadha, Lovleen
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a display assembly that may be extended from the housing of the mobile communication device to provide a larger display surface for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device. The display assembly is movable between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is retracted within a cavity formed in the housing and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing. The display assembly includes a display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device. A window is provided in the housing for allowing the user to view at least part of the display when the display assembly is retracted within the cavity. Information displayed by the display is mapped to the display so that the information may be viewed through the window while the display assembly is retracted within the cavity.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a cavity formed therein;

a display assembly coupled to the housing so that the display assembly is movable between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is at least substantially retracted within the cavity and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing, the display assembly including a display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device; and

a window disposed in the housing for allowing the user to view at least part of the display when the display assembly is retracted within the cavity,

wherein the displayed information is mapped to the display so that the information is viewable through the window while the display assembly is retracted within the cavity.

2. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a front face and a side surface, the window being disposed in the front face and the cavity being formed in the side surface.

3. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display assembly pivots between the retracted position and the extended position about an axis substantially perpendicular to the front face.

4. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cavity comprises an opening and the axis is proximate to a corner of the display assembly adjacent to the opening.

5. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the axis is centered along an edge of the display assembly.

6. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the window comprises a second display, the second display being semi-transparent so that information displayed by the display is viewable there through.

7. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display assembly pivots about an axis substantially perpendicular to the front face between the retracted position and an intermediate position extended away from the housing, and slides between the intermediate position and the extended position along a plane substantially parallel to the front face.

8. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display assembly slides between the retracted position and the extended position along a plane substantially parallel with the front face.

9. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a latching mechanism for latching the display assembly in the retracted position.

10. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an extension mechanism for extending the display assembly from the retracted position.

11. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displayed information is mapped to an area of the display within the window while the display assembly is in the retracted position, and wherein the displayed information is mapped to the full display while the display assembly is in the extended position.

12. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a keypad disposed in the housing adjacent to the window.

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a front face and a side surface, the side surface having a cavity formed therein;

a display assembly coupled to the housing so that the display assembly pivots about an axis substantially perpendicular to the front face between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is retracted within the cavity and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing, the display assembly including a display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device; and

a window disposed in the front face for allowing the user to view at least part of the display when the display assembly is retracted within the cavity,

wherein the displayed information is mapped to the display so that the information is viewable through the window while the display assembly is retracted within the cavity.

14. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cavity comprises an opening and the axis is proximate to a corner of the display assembly adjacent to the opening.

15. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the axis is centered along an edge of the display assembly.

16. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the window comprises a second display, the second display being semi-transparent so that information displayed by the display is viewable there through.

17. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a latching mechanism for latching the display assembly in the retracted position.

18. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an extension mechanism for extending the display assembly from the retracted position.

19. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the displayed information is mapped to an area of the display within the window while the display assembly is in the retracted position, and wherein the displayed information is mapped to the full display while the display assembly is in the extended position.

20. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a keypad disposed in the front face adjacent to the window.

21. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a front face and a side surface, the side surface having a cavity formed therein;

a display assembly coupled to the housing, the display assembly including a first display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device; and

a second display disposed in the front face for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device,

wherein the display assembly pivots about an axis substantially perpendicular to the front face between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is retracted within the cavity and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing.

22. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cavity comprises an opening and the axis is proximate to a corner of the display assembly adjacent to the opening.

23. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the axis is centered along an edge of the display assembly.

24. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second display is semi-transparent so that information displayed by the first display is viewable there through.

25. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a latching mechanism for latching the display assembly in the retracted position.

26. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising an extension mechanism for extending the display assembly from the retracted position.

27. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the displayed information is mapped to an area of the display within the window while the display assembly is in the retracted position, and wherein the displayed information is mapped to the full display while the display assembly is in the extended position.

28. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a keypad disposed in the front face adjacent to the window.

29. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a front face and a side surface, the side surface having a cavity formed therein;

a display assembly coupled to the housing so that the display assembly slides laterally along a plane substantially parallel to the front face between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is retracted within the cavity and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing, the display assembly including a display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device; and

a window disposed in the front face for allowing the user to view at least part of the display when the display assembly is retracted within the cavity,

wherein the displayed information is mapped to the display so that the information is viewable through the window while the display assembly is retracted within the cavity.

30. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a latching mechanism for latching the display assembly in the retracted position.

31. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 29, further comprising an extension mechanism for extending the display assembly from the retracted position.

32. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the displayed information is mapped to an area of the display within the window while the display assembly is in the retracted position, and wherein the displayed information is mapped to the full display while the display assembly is in the extended position.

33. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a keypad disposed in the housing adjacent to the window.

34. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a housing having a front face and a side surface, the side surface having a cavity formed therein;

a display assembly coupled to the housing so that the display assembly is movable between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is retracted within the cavity and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing, the display assembly including a display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device; and

a window disposed in the front face for allowing the user to view at least part of the display when the display assembly is retracted within the cavity,

wherein the display assembly pivots about an axis substantially perpendicular to the front face between the retracted position and an intermediate position and slides between the intermediate position and the extended position along a plane substantially parallel to the front face.

35. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the cavity comprises an opening and the axis is proximate to a corner of the display assembly adjacent to the opening.

36. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the window comprises a second display, the second display being semi-transparent so that information displayed by the display is viewable there through.

37. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a latching mechanism for latching the display assembly in the retracted position.

38. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 34, further comprising an extension mechanism for extending the display assembly from the retracted position.

39. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the displayed information is mapped to an area of the display within the window while the display assembly is in the retracted position, and wherein the displayed information is mapped to the full display while the display assembly is in the extended position.

40. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a keypad disposed in the front face adjacent to the window.