Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A PORTABLE DEVICE WITH VERSATILE KEYBOARDS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present Application for Patent is a continuation of Patent
Application No.
10/71,125 entitled "A Portable Device with Versatile Keyboard" filed November
19,
2003, pending, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly
incorporated
by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to portable electronic devices. More
specifically,
the invention relates to an electronic device with versatile keyboards that
expose
different key arrangements and display orientations depending on which
keyboard is
deployed.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, pagers, handheld
computers,
personal digital assistants ("PDA's") and hand-held gaming devices are
becoming
increasingly popular for both business and personal use. One advantage of
these
devices is their portability due to their small size, light weight, battery-
powered or
cordless operation and, in some cases, their wireless communications ability.
These
features allow these portable electronic devices to be utilized whenever and
wherever a
user desires.
[0004] Because of the increasing popularity of these devices, however, it is
not
uncommon for a single user to carry more than one of these devices at one
time. For
example, a user may have a mobile phone and a two-way pager strapped to their
belt,
while carrying a PDA in a pocket and a gaming device in their bag. As such,
having
separate devices perform each service or function creates a problem for a user
who
requires more than one or two services/functions offered by these portable
devices.
[0005] Designers have realized this problem of device proliferation, and have
tried to
combine a number of services or functionalities into a single device. In this
manner, a
user may only require a single device having a number of operational modes
that
correspond to a number of the desired services or functions. One drawback of
incorporating many operational modes into a single device, however, is that
each
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service or function typically has an established configuration, including the
overall
shape and the number and specific types of components. For example, a mobile
phone
generally includes a phone keypad consisting of 12 keys: 1 key each for the
numbers 0-
9, and a separate key for the "*" and "#" characters. Further, a mobile phone
is
generally oriented for use with its length extending in a vertical axis such
that its display
unit is positioned above the keypad and such that the alphanumeric or
graphical output
of the display can be read by a user in this orientation. In contrast, a two-
way pager
typically includes an alphanumeric keyboard, such as a QWERTY keyboard that
may
include twice as many keys as a phone keypad. Further, a two-way pager
typically has
a display with a width greater than a length as viewed during use. In
attempting to
combine services/functionalities, a designer needs surface area onto which
these
established orientations and sets of components may be mounted. This increased
demand for surface area competes with an overall goal of maintaining a device
having a
compact and portable size.
[0006] Thus, a portable electronic device having multiple layers of functional
components is desired that provides for multiple functionalities while having
a compact
and portable size.
SUMMARY
[0007] The disclosed embodiments provide for a versatile user interface for an
electronic device. In accordance with one aspect, the disclosed method
provides for
deploying one of a plurality of input means, detecting which one of the input
means is
deployed, and orienting information presented on the display based on the
deployed
input means.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect, the disclosed electronic device
includes a
first module layer movable in a first direction, a second module layer movably
connected relative to the first module layer, and a third module layer movably
connected relative to the second module layer and movable in a second
direction.
[0009] Additional aspects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are set
forth in
part in the description which follows, and in part are obvious from the
description, or
may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The aspects and
advantages
of the disclosed embodiments may also be realized and attained by the means of
the
instnunentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The disclosed embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction
with the
appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed
embodiments,
wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of an electronic device
having a
plurality of module layers in a first or neutral position which may correspond
to a first
operational mode;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 with
the upper
module layer moved in a first direction relative to the remaining module
layers, thereby
actuating a second operational mode;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 with
the lower
module layer moved in a second direction relative to the remaining module
layers,
thereby actuating a third operational mode;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic device, corresponding to
FIG. 2,
including one embodiment of the connection mechanism between the upper and
middle
module layers;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the electronic device, corresponding to
FIG. 3,
including one embodiment of the connection mechanism between the middle and
lower
module layers; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the connection
mechanism of
FIGS. 4 and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The disclosed embodiments include devices and methods for providing
versatile
keyboards for an electronic device. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate, in one embodiment,
an
electronic device 12, which has a number of movably interconnected module
layers 14,
16, 18 that provide electronic device 12 with a number of functional
capabilities. In one
embodiment, for example referring to FIG. 1, electronic device 12 may have a
first
operational mode, such as a gaming mode, when module layers 14, 16, 18 are
positioned in a first or neutral position where a first set of components 20
such as a
display unit 22 and directional keypads 24, 26 on the exterior of electronic
device 12
may be utilized. Referring to FIG. 2, electronic device 12 may have a second
operational mode, such as a phone or audio communications mode, when first
module
layer 14 is moved in a first direction 28 relative to second and third module
layers 16,
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18 to expose a first additional set of components 30, such as a phone keypad
31 and
microphone 32, on second module layer 16. Further, referring to FIG. 3,
electronic
device 12 may have a third operational mode, such as a pager, PDA, or text
communications mode, when third module layer 18 is moved in a second direction
34
relative to first and second module layers 14, 16 to expose a second
additional set of
functional components 36, such as a QWERTY keyboard 38, on third module layer
18.
[0018] Although shown as including three layers, electronic device 12 may
include any
plurality of module layers that each may include one or more sets of
functional
components associated with one or more operational modes. The one or more
operational modes enable device 12 to be utilized as one or more of a mobile,
satellite
or wireless phone or audio communications device, a gaming device, a personal
digital
assistant ("PDA"), a pager or text communications device, a global positioning
system
("GPS"), a remote control device for controlling another system, an audio
player and/or
recorder device such as an MP3 player or digital recorder, a static or dynamic
video
player and/or recorder device, a calculator device, etc. When utilized as a
mobile
phone, for example, device 12 may include hardware, software and/or firmware
for
sending and/or receiving communications-related signals using protocols such
as a code
division multiple access ("CDMA"), wide-band code division multiple access
("V~CDMA"), global system for mobile communications ("GSM"), advance mobile
phone service ("AMPS") and time division multiple access ("TDMA").
[0019] The one or more sets of components associated with each layer of device
12,
such as module layers 14, 16, 18, may include one or more of plurality of
types of
functional components. These sets of components include external components,
such as
input and output type of mechanisms, and also internal components such as
circuit
boards and circuit elements such as transistors, chips, firmware, memory,
software and
processing units configured for one or more operational modes of device 12.
For
example, as mentioned above, first set of components 20 (FIG. 1) may include
display
22, which includes any type of textual and/or graphical output unit such as a
liquid
crystal display, a light-emitting diode display, a touch screen, etc.
Directional keypads
24, 26 include toggle keys, navigation keys and other individual or multiple
function
keys associated with controlling movement of a graphic on display 22 or
associated
with creating an input signal to device 12.
[0020] First set of components 20 may also include other components such as:
an audio
speaker 66 (FIG. 1), such as a near-field and/or far-field speaker, for
outputting audio
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signals; one or more indicator lights 68, 70 (FIG. 1) for signaling a status
of the device
12; operational keys 72, 74 (FIG. 1) such as an on/off or hang-up key and a
call
accept/send key; volume keys 76 for increasing or decreasing a volume of a
speaker
such as near-field speaker 66; a push-to-talk button 78 (FIG. 2) for
transmitting a voice
signal in a walkie-talkie type phone mode; a record key 80 (FIG. 2) for
activation a
voice recorder functionality; a speaker/microphone input 82 (FIG. 2) for
receiving a
remote audio speaker and/or microphone connection mechanism; a camera
mechanism
for taking still or video pictures; a test port for connecting test or
monitoring equipment,
such as radio frequency ("RF") signaling equipment, to set-up, repair or test
device 12;
an infra red ("IR") transceiver for sending and/or receiving data via IR
waves; a battery
pack for providing a cordless power source to device 12; a power/data
connector for
establishing a hard-wired connection to a source of power to operate device 12
and/or
recharge the battery pack and to transmit and/or receive data; and an antenna
mechanism 94 (FIG. 1) for transmitting and/or receiving communications signals
associated with one or more of the modes of device 12.
[0021] Similarly, first and second set of additional components 30, 36 may
include
other functional components, such as any of the above-mentioned components,
associated with a desired operational mode. It should be noted that the
components
associated with device 12 may be arranged in any combination, and on any
layer, in
order to achieve a desired configuration for each operational mode of device
12.
[0022] In operation, for example, the various operational modes of device 12
are
controlled by the relative positioning of each layer of device 12. A method of
controlling relative movement between these layers includes movably
interconnecting
various module layers to allow relative movement that exposes various
functional
components associated with each layer. Further, in order to provide a discrete
actuation
of an individual operational mode, the device further includes a locking
mechanism that
prevents movement between predetermined layers during actuation of
predetermined
modes.
[0023] In one embodiment, for example, referring back to FIGs. 1-3, the first
operational mode of electronic device 12 may be activated by depressing one or
a
predetermined sequence of keys on the exterior of device 12. For example, the
first
operational mode may correspond to one or more of a gaming mode, a PDA mode, a
camera mode, a GPS mode, a calculator mode, a data transfer mode and/or a
phone
stand-by mode. First set of components 20 may be utilized in various
combinations to
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achieve the desired functionality of this mode. For instance, when operated as
a gaming
device in this first mode, device 12 may be held such that its width is its
longest
dimension, and directional keypads 24, 26 are utilized for controlling gaming
functions.
Additionally, associated with the actuation of this mode, device 12 may
present the text
and/or graphics output from display 22 in a predetermined orientation based on
the
selected operational mode. So, for example, the text/graphics in the gaming
mode may
be oriented 90 degrees relative to the text/graphics in a phone or PDA mode.
Further,
first set of components 20 may simultaneously be functioning in more than one
mode,
such as in a phone stand-by mode, where upon receiving a phone call an output
may be
generated, such as by one or more of display 22, indicator lights 68, 70 and
speaker 66.
A user may change device 12 into a phone mode by then sliding upper module
layer 14
in first direction 28 or by accepting the call by depressing call accept key
74. In the
PDA mode, a user may view data from display 22 and utilize any of the keys or
buttons
to produce inputs. Further, display 22 may be a touch screen display that
allows
additional inputs. In the camera mode, a user may operate the camera to take a
still
picture or a video, which may also allow the user to record any audio signals
received
by microphone 32 (FIG. 2) and associated with the picture or video. Further,
in the data
transfer mode, data may be received by or sent from device 12 through one or
more of
test port, IR transceiver, and power/data connector.
[0024] In one embodiment, a user activates a second operational mode, such as
the
phone mode (FIG. 2), by moving, e.g., sliding, upper module layer 14 in first
direction
28 (vertical or upward), and exposing phone keypad 31. During this actuation
step, the
locking system prevents additional relative movement between the remaining
layers that
is associated with actuation of additional operational modes. In the phone
mode,
hardware, software and/or firmware within device 12 recognizes the actuation
of this
mode and orients the output of display 22 such that it is aligned for use in
combination
with phone keypad 31, e.g., in portrait. Further, device 12 actuates
predetermined
internal circuitry associated with the functionality of this mode, such as
communications
hardware and software for sending and receiving wireless signals. A user may
communicate by talking into microphone 32 and by listening to speaker 66.
Further,
additional phone-related functions may be performed via keystrokes on phone
keypad
31 and send key 74, or by using directional keypad 24 or 26. This mode may be
turned
off, for example, by moving, e.g., sliding, upper module layer 14 back into
the neutral
position (FIG. 1) or by depressing the off key 72.
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[0025] A user activates the pager or two-way text communications mode,
refernng to
FIG. 3, by moving, e.g., sliding, lower module layer 18 in second direction 34
(horizontal or sideway) and thereby exposing QWERTY keyboard 38. During this
actuation step, the locking system prevents additional relative movement
between the
remaining layers that is associated with actuation of additional operational
modes. In
this mode, hardware, software and/or firmware within device 12 recognizes the
actuation of this mode and orient the output of display 22 such that it is
aligned for use
in combination with QWERTY keyboard 38, e.g., in landscape. Further, device 12
actuates predetermined internal circuitry associated with the functionality of
this mode,
such as communications hardware and software for sending and receiving
wireless
signals. A user may communicate, for example, by reading received text
messages
output by display 22 or by entering characters from keyboard 38 and sending to
another
device via send key 74. This mode may be turned off, for example, by moving,
e.g.,
sliding, lower module layer 18 back into the neutral position or by depressing
the off
key 72.
[0026] One way of sensing a keyboard movement is by using Hall Effect Sensors.
A
Hall Effect Sensor generates a voltage in relation to the movement of a
magnetic field in
close proximity to the sensor. The voltage is detected by the device and used
as a sign
of keyboard deployment. Benefits of using a Hall Effect Sensor are reliability
and no
mechanical elements to wear out over time.
[0027] Multiple applications may be running at the same time in device 12. The
orientation of the information presented on the display 22 generally may have
a primary
aspect ratio in relation to the direction of a keyboard deployment. There may
be a
secondary aspect ratio for each keyboard deployment direction. The aspect
ratio control
comprises user control and the various applications' control. The chart below
indicates
some of these relationships:
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[002] In the closed state (FIG. 1), the information presented on the display
22 may be
presented in landscape or portrait as prescribed by the user, an application
or both. In
the phone state (FIG. 2), the orientation of information on the display 22 may
be
primarily controlled by an application operable with the phone key arrangement
in
portrait with landscape as optional. In the QWERTY state (FIG. 3), the
orientation of
the information on the display 22 may be primarily controlled by an
application
operable with the QWERTY key arrangement and presented in landscape with
portrait
as optional. In one embodiment, to control the orientation of information on
the display
22; thus, achieving a versatile user interface, the user may select the
desired orientation
through a mechanical toggle switch located next to display 22.
[0029] Users may input information into the device in various ways. Users may
provide
input to device 12 through a touch sensitive display screen andlor voice
recognition
methods. Some of these various input means or user interfaces may be used to
change
orientation of the information on the display 22.
[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate connection or sliding mechanisms 50, 52, 54,
56, which
may form a portion of, or provide assistance to, the locking system. One or
more
connection mechanisms 50, 52, 54, 56 may be utilized to movably connect the
module
layers 14, 16, 18 such that the various relative movements are acluevable. For
example,
in one embodiment, connection mechanisms 50, 52 movably connect upper and
middle
module layers 14, 16 for relative movement in first direction 28, while
connection
mechanisms 54, 56 movably connect middle and lower module layers 16, 18 for
relative
movement in second direction 34. In this example, connection mechanisms 54, 56
may
aid the locking system by preventing relative movement between middle and
lower
module layers 16, 18 in first direction 28 during relative movement of upper
module
layer 14 in that direction.
[0031] Connection mechanisms 50, 52, 54, 56 may include various types of
magnetic
connectors and mechanical connectors. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 6
for
example, connection mechanisms 50 or 52 or 54 or 56 include a Garner body 58
movably connectable to a rail member 60 for movement along the length of the
rail
member. Carrier body 58 may be fixedly attached to one module layer 14, 16,
18, such
as by mechanical or chemical fastening, while rail member 60 may be fixedly
attached
in a similar manner to the adjacent module layer to provide for the desired
relative
movement between layers. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, rail members associated
with
connection mechanisms 50, 52 have a length extending parallel to first
direction 28,
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while rail members associated with connection mechanisms 54, 56 have a length
extending parallel to second direction 34. As such, each carrier body 58 is
movable in
opposite directions along the length of each rail. As such, in this
embodiment, the
respective rail members and carrier bodies associated with connection
mechanisms 50,
52, 54, 56 respectively provide the relative movement of upper and middle
module
layers 14, 16 to be substantially perpendicular to the relative movement of
middle and.
lower module layers 16, 18. Although in this embodiment, connection members
50, 52,
54, 56 are represented as bi-directional sliding connectors, it should be
noted that these
connection members may provide movement along more than one axis, in more than
one plane, and the movement may include linear and/or rotary sliding or
flipping
motion. Further, connection mechanisms 50, 52, 54, 56 may comprise metals,
plastics,
composites, and ceramics, and they may be formed integrally with each module
layer
14, 16, 18 or separately attached via mechanical or chemical methods.
[0032] Thus, the described embodiments provide devices and methods for
providing
versatile keyboards for an electronic device, allowing different keyboard
arrangements
and display orientations depending on which keyboard is deployed. While the
various
disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be clear
that the
subject matter of this document is not limited to these embodiments only.
Numerous
modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be
apparent to
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosed
embodiments as described in the claims.
