Mode-switchable portable communication device and method therefor
First Claim
1. A portable communication device comprising:
- a first housing element;
a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element, the second housing element settable to substantially three positions;
a sensor coupled to the first housing element and the second housing element for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal; and
a controller for operating the portable communication device in one of a standby mode, a speakerphone mode, and a private-mode in response to the position signal, wherein the controller operates the portable communication device in the speakerphone mode when the position signal indicates that the second housing element is in a speakerphone position and the controller detects an activation signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable communication device (100) comprises a first housing element (202) and a second housing element (204), wherein the second housing element (204) is movingly connected to the first housing element (202) such that the second housing element (202) is settable to substantially three positions. A sensor (112) coupled to the first housing element (202) and the second housing element (204) produces a position signal to indicate the position of the second housing element (204) relative to the first housing element (202), and an activation element (230) produces an activation signal in response to a user input. A controller (106) operates the portable communication device (100) in one of a standby mode, a private-mode, and a speakerphone mode in response to the position signal and the activation signal.
93 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A portable communication device comprising:
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a first housing element; a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element, the second housing element settable to substantially three positions; a sensor coupled to the first housing element and the second housing element for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal; and a controller for operating the portable communication device in one of a standby mode, a speakerphone mode, and a private-mode in response to the position signal, wherein the controller operates the portable communication device in the speakerphone mode when the position signal indicates that the second housing element is in a speakerphone position and the controller detects an activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A portable communication device comprising:
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a first housing element; a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element, the second housing element settable to substantially three positions; a sensor coupled to the first housing element and the second housing element for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal; a controller for operating the portable communication device in one of a standby mode, a speakerphone mode, and a private-mode in response to the position signal an activation element disposed on one of the first housing element and the second housing element, the activation element producing an activation signal in response to a user input,, wherein the controller operates the portable communication device in the speakerphone mode when the position signal indicates that the second housing element is in a speakerphone position and the controller detects the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A portable communication device comprising:
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a first housing element; a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element, the second housing element settable to substantially three positions; a sensor coupled to the first housing element and the second housing element for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal; a controller for operating the portable communication device in one of a standby mode, a speakerphone mode, and a private-mode in response to the position signal; and an activation element disposed on one of the first housing element and the second housing element, the activation element producing an activation signal in response to a user input, wherein the controller operates the portable communication device in the speakerphone mode when the controller detects the activation signal; and an electromagnetic (EM) sensor positioned in the first housing element, the EM sensor producing an override signal in response to sensing an EM field of a predetermined strength, wherein the controller will operate the portable communication device in the speakerphone mode when the controller detects the override signal and the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A portable communication device comprising:
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a first housing element; a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element, the second housing element settable to substantially three positions; a sensor coupled to the first housing element and the second housing element for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal; and a controller for operating the portable communication device in one of a standby mode, a speakerphone mode, and a private-mode in response to the position signal, wherein the portable communication device operates in the standby mode when the second housing element is set to a substantially closed position relative to the first housing element, the portable communication device operates in the speakerphone mode when the second housing element is set to a substantially ninety-degree position relative to the first housing element, and the portable communication device operates in the private-mode when the second housing element is set to a private-mode position relative to the first housing element. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A portable communication device comprising:
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a first housing element; a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element the second housing element settable to substantially three positions; a sensor coupled to the first housing element and the second housing element for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal, wherein the sensor comprises a switch and circuitry coupled to the switch for producing the position signal and, wherein the circuitry further comprises; an AND gate having a first input port, a second input port, a third input port, and an output port, the first input port of the AND gate coupled to a first terminal of the switch, the second input port of the AND gate coupled through an inverter to a second terminal of the switch, and the third input port of the AND gate coupled to a third terminal of the switch; a first resistor that couples the first input port to a supply voltage; a second resistor that couples the second input port to the supply voltage; a third resistor that couples the third input port to the supply voltage; and wherein the position signal is produced at the output port of the AND gate; and a controller for operating the portable communication device in one of a standby mode, a speakerphone mode, and a private-mode in response to the position signal.
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- 20. A radiotelephone having a first housing element and a second housing element that is settable to substantially three positions relative to the first housing element, the radiotelephone operating in a normal mode when the second housing element is in a first position, the radiotelephone operating in a speakerphone mode when the second housing element is in a second position, and the radiotelephone operating in a standby mode when the second housing element is in a third position, wherein the radiotelephone operates in the speakerphone mode when the second housing element is in one of the first position and the second position and an EM field of a predetermined strength is sensed.
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25. A radiotelephone having a first housing element and a second housing element that is settable to substantially three positions relative to the first housing element, the radiotelephone operating in a normal mode when the second housing element is in a first position, the radiotelephone operating in a speakerphone mode when the second housing element is in a second position, and the radiotelephone operating in a standby mode when the second housing element is in a third position;
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further comprising an electromagnetic (EM) sensor positioned in one of the first housing element and the second housing element, wherein the radiotelephone operates in the speakerphone mode when the second housing element is in the first position and the EM sensor senses an EM field of a predetermined strength, and the radiotelephone operates in the speakerphone mode when the second housing element is in the second position and the EM sensor senses an EM field of a predetermined strength. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A radiotelephone comprising:
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a first housing element; a second housing element that is movably connected to the first housing element by a hinge, the second housing element settable to substantially three positions; a sensor coupled to the hinge for detecting a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element and producing a position signal; an activation element disposed on one of the first housing element and the second housing element, the activation element producing an activation signal in response to a user input; and a controller for operating the radiotelephone in a private-mode when the position signal indicates that the second housing element is in a substantially first position relative to the first housing element, operating the radiotelephone in a speakerphone mode when the position signal indicates that the second housing element is in a substantially second position relative to the first housing element and an activation signal is present, and operating the radiotelephone in a standby mode when the position signal indicates that the first housing element and the second housing element are in a substantially closed position. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for mode-switching in a radiotelephone comprising the steps of:
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setting a second housing element of the radiotelephone to a predetermined position relative to a first housing element of the radiotelephone; sensing a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element; producing a position signal; detecting an activation signal; and operating the radiotelephone in a speakerphone mode in response to the position signal and the activation signal.
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32. A method for mode-switching in a radiotelephone comprising the steps of:
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setting a second housing element of the radiotelephone to a predetermined position relative to a first housing element of the radiotelephone; sensing a position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element; producing a position signal; operating the radiotelephone in a speakerphone mode in response to the position signal; toggling an activation element; producing an activation signal; and wherein the operating of the radiotelephone in the speakerphone mode is in response to the position signal and the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for operating a radiotelephone comprising the steps of:
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setting a second housing element to one of three positions relative to a first housing element; sensing a position of the second housing element relative to a first housing element; producing a position signal in response to the position of the second housing element relative to the first housing element; checking for an activation signal; and operating the radiotelephone in a standby mode when the position signal indicates that the radiotelephone is in a closed configuration, operating the radiotelephone in a private-mode when the position signal indicates that the radiotelephone is in a private-mode configuration, and operating the radiotelephone in a speakerphone mode when the position signal indicates that the radiotelephone is in a speakerphone configuration and the activation signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification