Electronic apparatus with multiple data input modes

• US 7,656,661 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Shaum
• Original Assignee: Donald Shaum
• Inventors: Shaum, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US11/831,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02, 361/679.55
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615

Abstract

An electronic apparatus that includes a display panel having opposite sides with a display screen provided on one side, a main body enclosure having opposite sides with a key-based input device provided on one side and a keyless user interface provided on an opposite side, and a hinge assembly which couples the display panel and main body member together. The hinge assembly is configured to allow the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot together about an angle of up to substantially 360° about a common or parallel pivot axes and which hinge assembly further allows the main body enclosure to twist or rotate with respect to the display panel about an axis that intersects or bisects the common or parallel pivot axes about which the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot. In further embodiments the hinge assembly is further configured to allow the display panel to twist or rotate with respect to the main body enclosure about an axis that intersects or bisects the common or parallel pivot axes about which the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display panel having opposite side edges and opposite sides with a display screen provided on one side;

a main body enclosure having opposite side edges and opposite sides with a key-based input provided on one side and a keyless user interface provided on an opposite side; and

a hinge assembly which allows the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot together about an angle of up to substantially 360°

about a common or parallel pivot axes and which hinge assembly further allows the main body enclosure to twist or rotate with respect to the display panel about an axis that extends through a center of the main body enclosure and is parallel to the opposite side edges of the main body closure and intersects or bisects the common or parallel pivot axes about which the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot.

2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly further allows the display panel to twist or rotate with respect to the main body enclosure about an axis that extends through a center of the display panel and is parallel to the opposite side edges of the display panel and intersects or bisects the common or parallel pivot axes about which the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot.

3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the keyless user interface comprises a digitizer.

4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a computer.

5. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant.

6. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a wireless phone.

7. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a camera.

8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a digitizer that overlays the display screen.

9. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the keyless user interface comprises a digitizer.

10. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a computer.

11. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant.

12. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a wireless phone.

13. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a camera.

14. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a digitizer that overlays the display screen.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly is further configured to allow the display panel to twist or rotate with respect to the main body enclosure about an axis that extends through a center of the display panel and is parallel to the opposite side edges of the display panel and intersects or bisects the common or parallel pivot axes about which the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot.

16. An electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the keyless user interface comprises a digitizer.

17. An electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises one of a computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone, a digital camera and a hand held video or computer gaining device.

18. In an electronic apparatus having a display panel having opposite side edges and opposite sides with a display screen provided on one side, a main body enclosure having opposite side edges and opposite sides with a key-based input provided on one side and a keyless user interface provided on an opposite side and a hinge assembly coupling the display panel and main body enclosure together, the improvement wherein the hinge assembly is configured to allow the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot together about an angle of up to substantially 360°

about a common or parallel pivot axes and to further allow the main body enclosure to twist or rotate with respect to the display panel about an axis that extends through a center of the main body enclosure and is parallel to the opposite side edges of the main body closure and intersects or bisects the common or parallel pivot axes about which the main body enclosure and the display panel to pivot.

19. An electronic apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the keyless user interface comprises a digitizer.

20. An electronic apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises one of a computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone, a digital camera and a hand held video or computer gaming device.