Compact devices with turn and slide concept

Priority and Cross-reference to Related Application

0001This application claims priority from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US41753906A" dnum-type="L"><text>U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/417,539, filed May 3, 2006</text></patcit>.

Field of the Invention

0002The present invention relates to compact devices, and more specifically to applying a turn and slide concept for opening and closing the device.

Background Art

0003Various devices (e.g., computers, mobile phones) comprise a processor, memory, circuitry, keyboard (typically with QWERTY), a display, etc. In portable computers, for example, the display is typically attached to the computer base by a hinge forming a single pivot axis, wherein the display can be folded down for carrying or up so that the user can select an appropriate viewing angle.

0004<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US200401605IIA1"><text>US 2004/01605 II A I</text></patcit> discloses a handheld personal communications device which includes a housing having at least a first body and a second body. A voice transceiver is disposed within the housing. User interface elements are positioned on one or more sides of each of the at least two bodies. The user interface elements can include one or more video cameras, displays, or plurality of buttons.

Disclosure of the Invention

0005The present invention is as set out in the independent claims.

0006According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a device, comprises: a first part comprising a first functional area; a second part comprising a second functional area located on an exposed surface of the second part; and a turning part, pivotally connected to the first part such that the turning part is configured to turn by rotating around a pivotal axis in an angle range, wherein the second part is in an initial position and configured to cover the first functional area when the turning part is in a first position and wherein the second part is configured to slide using an adjusting mechanism to a further position revealing the first functional area when the turning part is rotated by a predetermined angle in the angle range around the pivotal axis to a second position.

0007According further to the first aspect of the disclosure, the second functional area may be a display comprising a viewing surface and the first functional area may be a keyboard.

0008According further to the first aspect of the disclosure, the first functional area may be one of: a) a keyboard, b) a display comprising a viewing surface, and c) a touch screen.

0009Still further according to the first aspect of the disclosure, the second functional area may be one of: a) a keyboard, b) a display comprising a viewing surface, and c) a touch screen.

0010According further to the first aspect of the disclosure, the predetermined angle may be 180 degrees.

0011According still further to the first aspect of the disclosure, the turning part may comprise a camera which is configured to provide at least one of a) a video image when the turning part is in the second position and b) photo pictures when the turning part is in the first position.

0012According further still to the first aspect of the disclosure, the turning part may be configured to have a groove on a side adjacent to the second part and the second part may be configured to have a pin on a second part side adjacent to the turning part, such that when the turning part is rotated between the first position and the second position, the second part is moved between the initial position covering the first functional area and the further position which reveals the first functional area using the pin which is configured to move along the groove.

0013According yet further still to the first aspect of the disclosure, the adjusting mechanism may comprise: a hinge plate comprising at least two hinges, wherein the hinge plate is attached to the base with one of the at least two hinges and to the second part with another of the at least two hinges and the hinge plate is configured to facilitate the sliding of the second part to the further position.

0014Yet still further according to the first aspect of the disclosure, the second part, when in the initial position, may be substantially parallel to the first functional area of the first part, and the second part, when in the further position, may form a predetermined angle with the first functional area of the first part.

0015Still yet further according to the first aspect of the disclosure, the device may be an electronic device, a mechanical device, an eleetro-mechanical device, a gaming device, a wireless communication device, a mobile phone, a camera-phone mobile device, a non-portable device, a computer, a video phone or a portable device.

0016Still further still according to the first aspect of the disclosure, the first part may be a base and the second part may be a lid.

0017According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a method, comprises: rotating a turning part of a device from a first position to a second position by a predetermined angle around a pivotal axis for opening the device by sliding a second part from an initial position to a further position, the turning part being pivotally connected to a first part of the device, wherein the first part comprises a first functional area, the second part comprises a second functional area located on an exposed surface of the second part, and the turning part is configured to turn by rotating around the pivotal axis in a pre-selected angle range, and wherein the second part is configured to cover the first functional area in the initial position and further configured to reveal the first functional area in the second position.

0018According further to the second aspect of the disclosure, the method may further comprise: rotating the turning part of the device from the second position to the first position by the predetermined angle around the pivotal axis for moving the second part from the further position to the initial position and closing the device by the lid.

0019Further according to the second aspect of the disclosure, the second functional area may be a display comprising a viewing surface and the first functional area is a keyboard.

0020Still further according to the second aspect of the disclosure, the first functional area may be one of: a) a keyboard, b) a display comprising a viewing surface and c) a touch screen.

0021According further to the second aspect of the disclosure, the second functional area may be one of: a) a keyboard, b) a display comprising a viewing surface, and c) a touch screen.

0022According still further to the second aspect of the disclosure, the predetermined angle may be 180 degrees.

0023According further still to the second aspect of the disclosure, the turning part may comprise a camera which is configured to provide an image when the turning part is in the second position.

0024According yet further still to the second aspect of the disclosure, the turning part may be configured to have a groove on a side adjacent to the second part and the second part may be configured to have a pin on a second part side adjacent to the turning part, such that when the turning part is rotated between the first position and the second position, the second part is moved between the initial position covering the first functional area and the further position which reveals the first functional area using the pin which is configured to move along the groove.

0025Yet still further according to the second aspect of the disclosure, the adjusting mechanism may comprises; a hinge plate comprising at least two hinges, wherein the hinge plate may be attached to the first part with one of the at least two hinges and to the second part with another of the at least two hinges and the hinge plate may be configured to facilitate the sliding of the second part to the further position.

0026Still yet further according to the second aspect of the disclosure, the second part, when in the initial position, may be substantially parallel to the first functional area of the first part, and the second part, when in the further position, may form a predetermined angle with the first functional area of the first part.

0027Still further still according to the second aspect of the disclosure, the device may be an electronic device, a mechanical device, an electro-mechanical device, a gaming device, a wireless communication device, a mobile phone, a camera-phone mobile device, a non-portable device, a computer, a videophone, or a portable device.

0028Yet still further still according to the second aspect of the disclosure, the first or the second functional area may be a display and the method may further comprise: indicating a status of the turning part after the rotating on a screen of the display,

0029According to a third aspect of the disclosure, a computer program product comprises: a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon for execution by a computer processor with the computer program code, wherein the computer program code includes indicating a status of the turning part after the rotating on a screen of the display after performing the method of the first aspect of the invention, as being performed by the device.

0030According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure, a turning part module of a device, comprises: a grasping part, pivotally connected to a first part of the device such that the turning part module is configured to turn by rotating the grasping part by a user around a pivotal axis in an angle range, wherein the first part of the device comprises a first functional area; a second part of the device comprises a second functional area located on an exposed surface of the lid, and the second part is in an initial position and configured to cover the first functional area when the grasping part is in a first position and wherein the second part is configured to slide using an adjusting mechanism to a further position revealing the first functional area when the grasping part is rotated by a predetermined angle in the angle range around the pivotal axis to a second position; and a groove, adjacent to the second part and the second part is configured to have a pin on a second part side adjacent to the turning part, such that when the grasping part is rotated between the first position and the second position, the second part is moved between the initial position covering the first functions area and the further position which reveals the first functional area using the pin which is configured to move along the groove.

0031According further to the fourth aspect of the disclosure, the turning part may comprise a pivoting rod configured to provide a pivotal connection to the first part.

0032Further according to the fourth aspect of the disclosure, the grasping part may comprise a camera which may be configured to provide an image when the grasping part is in the second position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

0033For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figures 1a and 1b</figref> are perspective views of a device: a) in a folded (closed) position and b) in unfolded (open) position revealing (exposing) a keyboard, according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figures 2a through 2c</figref> are perspective views of a device: a) when a turning part starts to turn from a first position and the lid starts to slide thus revealing a keyboard, b) when the turning part is in a mid position, and c) when the turning part is in a further position and the keyboard is completely revealed, according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figures 3a through 3c</figref> are perspective views of: a) a device with a lid having a pin, b) a turning part having a groove; and c) an assembly of a turning part with a base of the device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> is a perspective view of a device with a base having a sliding groove and with a lid having a holding pin for sliding the lid and for preventing it from tilting up during the sliding, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 5</figref> is a perspective view of a device with an adjusting mechanism comprising a hinge plate and two hinges, according to an embodiment of the present invention.</li></ul>

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

0034A new apparatus and method are presented for applying a turn and slide concept for opening and closing a device. The device may be (but is not limited to): an electronic device, a mechanical device, an electro-mechanical device, a gaming device, a wireless communication device, a mobile phone, a camera-phone mobile device, a non-portable device, a computer, a portable device, a video phone, etc.

0035According to an embodiment of the present invention, a turning part of the device can be configured to turn by rotating around a pivotal axis in a pre-selected angle range, e.g., from a first position to a second position by a predetermined angle, wherein the turning part is being pivotally connected to a first part (e.g., a base) of the device, thus sliding a second part from an initial position to a further position using an adjusting mechanism and opening the device. Further, the first part may comprise a first functional area and the second part (e.g., a lid) may comprise a second functional area located on an exposed surface of the second part, wherein the second part is configured to cover the first functional area in the initial position and the second part is configured to reveal the first functional area in the second position. Moreover, the turning part can be turned back from the second position to the first position by the predetermined angle (by rotating back around the pivotal axis), thus closing the device by moving the second part from the further position to the initial position.

0036According to further embodiments of the present invention, the second or the first functional area may be a display (e.g., a touch screen) comprising a viewing surface or a keyboard (e.g., with a QWERTY layout). For example, the second functional area may be the display comprising the viewing surface and the first functional area may be the keyboard.

0037According to another embodiment, the predetermined angle may be 180 degrees which would be a natural movement for a human hand.

0038Furthermore, the turning part may have a groove on a side adjacent to said second part and the second part then may have a pin on its side adjacent to the turning part, such that when the turning part is rotated between the first position and the second position, the second part is configured to move between an initial position with the second part covering said first functional area and the further position with the second part revealing the first functional area using the pin moving along the groove, thus opening or closing the device. Moreover, the device can be "locked" in the open or closed position using methods well known in the art. In addition, the device can be configured to make a "click" (i.e., a sound) when it reaches the open or closed position (the "clicks" for the open and closed positions can have a different pitch). According to a further embodiment, where the first or the second functional area is a display, the status of rotating said turning part (which opens or closes the device) can be displayed on a screen of said display.

0039According to one embodiment of the present invention, the adjusting mechanism may comprise a hinge plate having at least two hinges, wherein the hinge plate is attached to the first part with one of the at least two hinges and further attached to the moving part with another of the at least two hinges and the hinge plate is configured to facilitate the sliding of said second part to the further position. Still further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the second part (e.g., having a display), when in the initial position, may be substantially parallel to the first functional area (e.g., the keyboard) of the first part and, when in the further position, the second part may form a predetermined angle with the first functional area of the base. Yet still further, the turning part may comprise various control/functional features including but not limited to a camera (e.g., mounted on a 45 degrees angle) which may be configured to provide an image during a video call (e.g., for applications of the device as a video phone) when the turning part is in the second position. Furthermore, the camera can provide a video when the electronic device is in

0040the open position and also can take photo pictures when the electronic device is in the closed position.

0041<figref idref="f0001">Figures 1a and 1b</figref> show examples among others of perspective views of a device <b>10</b>; a) in a folded (closed) position and b) in unfolded (open) position revealing or exposing a keyboard (e,g., with a QWERTY layout) <b>18</b>, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0042The device <b>10</b> can comprise a base <b>12</b> with a first functional area (e.g., the QWERTY keyboard) <b>18</b>, a lid <b>14</b> comprising a second functional area <b>15</b> (e.g., a viewing display) located on an exposed surface of the lid <b>14</b> and a turning part <b>16</b>, pivotally connected to the base <b>12</b> such that the turning part <b>16</b> is configured to turn by rotating around a pivotal axis in a pre-selected angle range, As shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1a</figref>, the device <b>10</b> is in the closed position, i.e., the turning part <b>16</b> is in the first position and the lid <b>14</b> is in the initial position covering the first functional area (keyboard) 18 (the keyboard <b>18</b> is only seen in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1b</figref>). As shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1b</figref>, the device <b>10</b> is in the open position, i.e., the turning part <b>16</b> is in the second position and the lid <b>14</b> is moved (or slided) to the further position revealing the first functional area (the keyboard) <b>18</b> using an adjusting mechanism. It is noted that the module <b>12</b> can generally be means for holding or a structural equivalence (or equivalent structure) thereof, Also, the module <b>14</b> can generally be means for sliding or a structural equivalence (or equivalent structure) thereof. Moreover, the module <b>16</b> can generally be means for turning or a structural equivalence (or equivalent structure) thereof.

0043<figref idref="f0002">Figures 2a through 2c</figref> show examples among others of perspective views of the device <b>10</b>: <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2a</figref> shows the moment when the turning part <b>16</b> starts to turn from a first position and the lid <b>14</b> starts to slide thus revealing a keyboard, <b>18</b>, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2b</figref> shows the moment when the turning part <b>16</b> is in a mid position while it is rotated from the first to the second position and revealing more of the keyboard <b>18</b>, and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2c</figref> shows the moment when the turning part <b>14</b> is in the further position and the keyboard <b>18</b> is completely revealed, according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is seen, that in the initial position, the lid <b>14</b> may be substantially parallel (as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2a</figref>) to the first functional area, i.e., to the keyboard <b>18</b> of the base <b>12</b>. However, in the further position, the lid <b>14</b> may form a predetermined angle (as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2c</figref>) with the first functional area, e.g., in order to provide a comfortable viewing angle for a user of the device in case the second functional area is a display.

0044<figref idref="f0003">Figures 3a through 3c</figref> show further examples among others of perspective views of the device <b>10</b> describing more implementation details, according to further embodiments of the present invention. <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3a</figref> shows the device <b>10</b> with the lid <b>18</b> having a pin <b>22</b>. <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3b</figref> shows the turning part (or a turning part module) <b>16</b> having a grasping part <b>16a</b>, a groove <b>20</b> and a pivoting rod <b>24</b> and <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3c</figref> illustrates an assembly of the turning part <b>16</b> with the base <b>12</b> of the device <b>10</b>, wherein the pivoting rod <b>24</b> is inserted into the hole <b>25</b> (shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2b</figref>) of the base <b>12</b>, according to other embodiments of the present invention.

0045When the turning part <b>16</b> is rotated (e.g., the user rotates the grasping part <b>16a</b>) between the first position and the second position as described above, the pin <b>22</b> is configured to move along the groove <b>20</b> thus facilitating the lid <b>14</b> to move between the initial position and the further position using the adjusting mechanism. <figref idref="f0004">Figures 4</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">5</figref> further describe the performance of the adjusting mechanism for moving the lid <b>14</b> between the initial and the further positions.

0046<figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> shows an example among others of a perspective view of the device <b>10</b> with a base <b>12</b> having a sliding groove <b>26</b> and with a lid <b>14</b> having a holding pin <b>27</b> to guide and prevent the lid <b>12</b> from tilting up during the sliding described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In other words, when the turning part <b>16</b> is rotated between the first position and the second, the pin <b>28</b> is configured to move along the groove <b>26</b> thus facilitating the lid <b>14</b> to move between the initial position and the further position and preventing it from tilting up.

0047<figref idref="f0005">Figure 5</figref> shows another example among others of a perspective view of the device <b>10</b> with an adjusting mechanism comprising a hinge plate <b>30</b> and at least two hinges <b>32</b> and <b>34</b>, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hinge plate <b>30</b> is attached to the base <b>12</b> with the hinge <b>34</b> and to the lid <b>14</b> with another hinge <b>32</b> which facilitates the smooth sliding of the lid <b>14</b> between the initial and further positions. The hinge plate <b>30</b> and hinges <b>32</b> and <b>34</b> provide the appropriate orientation of the lid <b>14</b> in the initial and the further positions as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figures 2a and 2c</figref>.

0048As explained above, the invention provides both a method and corresponding equipment consisting of various modules providing the functionality for performing the steps of the method. The modules may be implemented as hardware, or may be implemented as software or firmware for execution by a computer processor. In particular, in the case of firmware or software, the invention can be provided as a computer program product including a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code (i.e., the software or firmware) thereon for execution by the computer processor.

0049It is noted that various embodiments of the present invention recited herein can be used separately, combined or selectively combined for specific applications.

0050It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.