Radio communication device having a moveable housing element and keypad disposed therein

• US 5,742,894 A
• Filed: 04/13/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jambhekar, Shiriang, Williams, Daniel L., Nagele, Albert Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Darnell R.
• Application Number:
  US08/421,273
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/89, 455/550, 455/556, 455/566, 455/575, 379/433, 379/428, 379/434
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/026 with programming switches
• 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 1/0245 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 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A radio communication device (103) operable in a radio communication system (100) providing a plurality of radio communication services including radiotelephone, facsimile and electronic mail services. The radio communication device (103) has a body housing element (107) and moveable housing element (109). When the moveable housing element (109) is in the closed position, the moveable housing element (109) covers a portion of a touch screen display (119). A keypad (125) is integrated into the moveable housing element (109) and operable when the moveable housing element (109) is in the closed position. When a user depresses a key of the keypad (125) a portion of the key provides pressure against the touch screen display (119). The provided pressure activates a portion of the touch screen display (119).

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a body housing element defining a front surface, a left side, a right side, a top end, and a bottom end, the front surface positioned in between the left and the right sides, the left and the right sides distanced to fit within a hand of a user;

a moveable housing element having a first surface and a second surface, said moveable housing element rotatably coupled to the bottom end of said body housing element and moveable between an open position and a closed position;

a speaker disposed in said body housing element and outwardly directed from the front surface of said body housing element, said speaker providing audio for telephone communication when said moveable housing element is in the closed position;

a touch screen display outwardly directed from the front surface of said body housing element and positioned below said speaker, said touch screen display partially covered when said moveable housing element is in the closed position and fully exposed when said moveable housing element is in the open position, said touch screen display providing a plurality of contact areas for activation;

a keypad including a plurality of telephone keys carried on said moveable housing element, each of the plurality of telephone keys having a first portion outwardly exposed on the first surface of said moveable housing element and viewable when said moveable housing element is in the closed position; and

an antenna carried on said body housing element and outwardly extending from the top end thereof.

2. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein at least one telephone key of said plurality of telephone keys has a second portion exposed on the second surface of said moveable housing element, the second portion of said at least one key touching, when actuated, a first portion of said touch screen display when said moveable housing element is in the closed position, thereby activating the first portion of said touch screen display.

3. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein said keypad is made of a single piece of plastic webbed material, said single piece of plastic webbed material being shaped to form said plurality of telephone keys, and wherein said keypad is integrated into said moveable housing element.

4. The portable communication device according to claim 3, wherein said moveable housing element includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to said plurality of telephone keys, said plurality of apertures exposing the first portion of said plurality of telephone keys on the first surface of said moveable housing element.

5. The portable communication device according to claim 3, wherein said keypad is coupled to the second surface of the moveable housing element using a coupler selected from the group consisting of mechanical, adhesive, and sonic weld.

15. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is sized to fit over more than half of the front surface of said body housing element.

16. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is sized to fit over about two-thirds of the front surface of said body housing element.

17. The portable communication device according to claim 15, wherein said moveable housing element is sized to cover more than half of said touch screen display.

18. The portable communication device according to claim 16, wherein said moveable housing element is sized to cover more than half of said touch screen display.

19. The portable communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a processor disposed in said body housing element, said processor coupled to said touch screen display, said processor to provide limited radio communication functions for said portable communication device in response to said moveable element being positioned in the closed position, said processor to provide advanced radio communication functions for said portable communication device in response to said moveable element being positioned in the open position, the limited radio communication functions including telephone communication functions associated with use of said plurality of telephone keys, the advanced radio communication functions including at least one of facsimile, electronic mail, and short-messaging service functions associated with use of said touch screen display.

6. A radio communication device having radio circuitry operative in a radio communication system, the radio communication device comprising:

a body housing element having at least a portion of said radio circuitry disposed therein;

a touch screen display for entering input data and displaying output data, said touch screen display disposed within said body housing element;

a moveable housing element having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing opposite the first surface, said moveable housing element coupled to said body housing element and moveable between at least an open position and a closed position, such that when said moveable housing element is in the closed position, a first portion of said touch screen display is outwardly exposed and a second portion of said touch screen display is covered by said movable housing element; and

a keypad having at least a first key carried on said moveable housing element, said at least first key having a first portion exposed on the first surface of said moveable housing element, said at least first key configured to extend for contact with said touch screen display upon actuation when said moveable housing element is in the closed position.

7. The radio communication device according to claim 6, wherein a second portion of said at least first key provides a pressure against said touch screen display in response to the first portion of said at least first key being depressed.

8. The radio communication device according to claim 7, wherein said touch screen display further comprises:

a display data area and a user data area, the user data area being positioned adjacent and parallel to the second portion of said at least first key when said moveable housing element is in the closed position.

9. The radio communication device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of keys contained in said keypad, each of said plurality of keys having a first portion and a second portion; and

a plurality of user data sub-areas in the user data area of said touch screen display, each of said plurality of user data sub-areas corresponding to one of said plurality of keys, such that when each first portion of said plurality of keys is depressed, a corresponding second portion makes physical contact with and thereby activates a corresponding user data sub-area.

10. The radio communication device according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least two display arrangements for arranging, in response to movement of said moveable housing element, the display data area and the user data area, the at least two display arrangements including a first arrangement where the user data area includes a plurality of user data sub-areas for touch activation when said moveable housing element is in the open position.

11. A radio communication device according to claim 8, wherein the input data includes input data relating to telephone functions including phone numbers when said moveable housing element is in the closed position, and wherein the input data includes input data relating to messaging functions including at least one of facsimile, electronic mail, and short-messaging service functions when said moveable housing element is in the open position.

12. The radio communication device according to claim 6, wherein said keypad is made of a single piece of plastic webbed material, said single piece of plastic webbed material being shaped to form said at least first key, and wherein said keypad is coupled to the second surface of said moveable housing element.

13. The radio communication device according to claim 12, wherein said moveable housing element includes at least a first aperture corresponding to said at least first key, said at least first aperture exposing the first portion of said at least first key on the first surface of said moveable housing element.

14. The radio communication device according to claim 13, wherein said keypad is coupled to the second surface of said moveable housing element using a coupler selected from a group consisting of mechanical, adhesive, and sonic weld.

20. A portable radiotelephone, comprising:

a first housing element, said first housing element defining a top end, a bottom end, a left side, a right side, and a viewing surface, the viewing surface positioned in between the left and the right sides, the left and the right sides distanced to fit within a hand of user;

a second housing element, said second housing element movably coupled to the bottom end of said first housing element and providing an open position and a closed position for said portable radiotelephone;

a speaker, said speaker disposed in said first housing element and outwardly directed from the viewing surface of said first housing element, said speaker providing audio for telephone communication when said portable radiotelephone is in the closed position;

a touch screen display, said touch screen display outwardly directed from the viewing surface of said first housing element and positioned below said speaker, said touch screen display having a display surface sized to fit over more than one-half of the viewing surface of said first housing element, said display surface being fully exposed when said portable radiotelephone is in the open position, said display surface being partially exposed and more than one-half covered when said portable radiotelephone is in the closed position, said touch screen display providing a plurality of contact areas for activation; and

a keypad including a plurality of telephone keys, said keypad carried on said second housing element, said plurality of telephone keys provided for initiating telephone communication.

21. The portable radiotelephone according to claim 20, wherein said display surface is sized to fit over about one-third of the viewing surface of said first housing element.

22. The portable radiotelephone according to claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of telephone keys includes a first portion outwardly exposed on said second housing element when said portable radiotelephone is in the closed position.

23. The portable radiotelephone according to claim 20, wherein said second housing portion defines a first surface and a second surface, said plurality of telephone keys includes a first key having a first portion exposed on said first surface and a second portion exposed on said second surface, and wherein said second portion is configured to make contact with said display surface upon depression of said first portion when said portable radiotelephone is in the closed position.

24. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing, including;

a first housing element;

a second housing element coupled to said first housing element, said first and said second housing elements providing an open position and a closed position for said portable electronic device;

a touch screen display, said touch screen display outwardly directed from said first housing element, said touch screen display having a display surface fully exposed when said portable electronic device is in the open position, said display surface only partially exposed when said portable electronic device is in the closed position;

a keypad including a plurality of telephone keys, said keypad carried on said second housing element and exposed when said portable electronic device is in the closed position;

electrical circuitry disposed in said housing, said electrical circuitry including;

radio circuitry;

a switch, said switch responsive to the open and closed positions of said portable electronic device; and

a processor, said processor coupled to said switch and to said touch screen display, said processor to provide advanced radio communication functions in response to said portable electronic device being positioned in the open position, said processor to control said touch screen display to display the advanced radio communication functions in response to said portable electronic device being positioned in the open position, the advanced radio communication functions including at least one of electronic mailing functions, facsimile functions, and short messaging functions, said processor to provide limited radio communication functions in response to said portable electronic device being positioned in the closed position, the limited radio communication functions including telephone functions associated with use of said plurality of telephone keys.

25. The portable communication device according to claim 24, wherein said second housing element defines a first surface and a second surface, wherein each key of said plurality of telephone keys includes a first portion exposed on the first surface and a second portion exposed on the second surface, and wherein said second portion is configured to extend for contact with said touch screen display upon depression of said first portion when said portable communication device is in the closed position.