Title: Portable communication device having an output unit positionable and rotatable with respect to an input unit
Abstract: A portable communication device, such as a personal digital assistant or wireless telephone, is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the portable communication device includes an input unit having a first coupling portion and an output unit having a second coupling portion. The first and second coupling portions are adapted such that the output unit is positionable with respect to the input unit. In addition, the output unit is rotatable about at least a first axis and a second axis.
Patent Number: 6,985,579 Issued on 01/10/2006 to Abood, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Abood; Souhail N. (San Diego, CA);
Wennemer; Dietmar F. (San Diego, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
Siemens Communications, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
966537 |
| Filed:
|
September 26, 2001 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
379/433.13; 379/433.04 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
H04M 1/00 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
379/43313,433.04
455/575.1,903,901
345/164
361/686
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5548477 | Aug., 1996 | Kumar et al.
| |
| 5644471 | Jul., 1997 | Schultz et al.
| |
| 5696496 | Dec., 1997 | Kumar.
| |
| 6658272 | Dec., 2003 | Lenchik et al.
| |
| 6665173 | Dec., 2003 | Brandenberg et al.
| |
| 2002/0102946 | Aug., 2002 | SanGiovanni.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 33 23 858 | Jan., 1985 | DE.
| |
Other References
"PaceBook Technology: Features".
"Vista: Organized Simplicity in a Compact Package,"royal.com.
Phil Askey, "Minolta Dimage EX 1500 Review,"(Jan. 1999).
"The Compaq SLT/286," networkgeek.com (1987).
|
Primary Examiner: Chiang; Jack
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable communication device, comprising:
an input unit adapted to receive information and including a first coupling portion; and
an output unit adapted to provide information, communicate at least with the
input device, and including a second coupling portion,
wherein the first and second coupling portions are selectively connectable and
when selectively connected to each other (i) provide a connection that selectively
positions the output unit at a plurality of positions with respect to the input
unit, and is rotatable about at least a first axis and a second axis, and (ii)
the output unit communicates with at least the input unit wirelessly.
2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the input unit is further
rotatable about a third axis.
3. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second
coupling portions comprise a single pivot point.
4. The portable communication device of claim 3, wherein the first and second
coupling portions comprise a ball joint.
5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output unit is closable
with respect to the input unit.
6. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output unit is conductively
coupled to the input unit.
7. The portable communication device of claim 6, wherein the output unit is conductively
coupled to the input unit via at least one spring contact.
8. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output unit is removable
from the input unit.
9. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the portable communication
device comprises at least one of: (i) a portable digital assistant, (ii) a wireless
telephone, (iii) a two-way pager.
10. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the input unit includes
at least one of: (i) a keyboard, (ii) a keypad, (iii) a digital camera lens, (iv)
a digital video camera lens, (v) a scanner, (vi) a thermometer, (vii) a microphone,
and (viii) a communication device.
11. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output unit includes
at least one of: (i) a display, (ii) a speaker, (iii) a printer, (iv) a tactile
device, and (v) a communication device.
12. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the input unit is further
adapted to provide at least some information.
13. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output unit is
further adapted to receive at least some information.
14. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein a user can activate
the input unit to determine information associated with the location of the output unit.
15. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein a user can activate
the output unit to determine information associated with the location of the input unit.
16. The portable communication device of claim 4, further comprising:
a charging device adapted to charge power devices in both the input unit and
the output unit.
17. The portable communication device of claim 4, further comprising:
a docking device adapted to exchange information between the portable communication
device and another computing device.
18. A portable digital assistant, comprising:
a keypad unit including a first power device and a first coupling portion;
a display unit including a second power device and a second coupling portion,
wherein the first and second coupling portions include a joint adapted such that
the display unit is: (i) positionable with respect to the keypad unit, and (ii)
rotatable about a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis, and further
wherein the display unit is selectively removable from the keypad unit, and the
keypad unit and the display unit communicate wirelessly when connected to each
other and when removed from each other; and
a charging device coupled to one of the keypad unit and the display unit and
adapted to charge the first and second power devices.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to portable communication devices. In particular,
the present invention relates to portable communication devices having an output
unit that is positionable and rotatable with respect to an input unit.
People frequently want to adjust the position of a portable communication
device, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or a wireless telephone. For
example, a user may want to adjust the position of a portable communication device
to facilitate an input of information into the device. In the case of a PDA, a
user may want to position the PDA so that he or she can easily use a keypad. As
another example, a user may want to position a wireless telephone so that he or
she can speak into a microphone or so that the wireless telephone is able to transmit
a signal to another device (e.g., a device associated with a cellular telephone
service provider). As still another example, a user may want to adjust the angle
of a digital camera lens associated with a PDA when taking a digital picture.
Similarly, a user may want to adjust the position of a portable communication
device to facilitate an output of information from the device. For example, a user
may want to adjust the position of a PDA or wireless telephone to improve the visibility
of a display screen (e.g., by reducing glare). As another example, a user may want
to adjust the position of a wireless telephone to better hear sound from a speaker.
Users may also want to adjust the position of a portable communication device
for other reasons. For example, a user may prefer to not position a wireless telephone's
antenna too close to his or her head (due to a fear of potential harmful effects
that may result from energy radiated by the antenna).
Note that a user may want to position a portable communication device one particular
way to facilitate an input of information and another way to facilitate an output
of information. For example, a user may want to place a PDA's keypad at one angle
and the PDA's display screen at another angle. Similarly, a user may want to point
a digital camera lens associated with a wireless telephone in one direction while
pointing the telephone's display screen in another direction. As still another
example, a user may want to separately position a wireless telephone's microphone
and speaker (e.g., in accordance with his or her physical characteristics).
Some portable communication devices have a "clamshell" design that lets a user
rotate, for example, a display screen only about a single axis with respect to
a keypad. Similarly, some wireless telephones open to let a user rotate a speaker
about a single axis with respect to a microphone. This approach, however, provides
a user with only a very limited ability to position parts of the portable communication
device (e.g., parts of the device typically can only rotate about a single axis).
Other designs let a user move and/or rotate a first part with respect to a
second part. For example, a PDA may be connected to a keyboard by a wire or cable,
or a headset may be connected to a wireless telephone by a wire or cable. In some
cases, the first and second parts communicate wirelessly (e.g., a laptop's keyboard
may wirelessly communicate with a display screen). In either case, although the
parts are independently movable, the portable communication device will not maintain
a position selected by the user. As a result, the user needs to maintain a desired
position in some other way (e.g., by balancing the keyboard on his or her lap),
which can be awkward and inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To alleviate problems inherent in the prior art, the present invention introduces
portable communication devices having an output unit that is positionable and rotatable
with respect to an input unit.
According to one embodiment, a portable communication device has an input
unit, adapted to receive information, including a first coupling portion. The portable
communication device also has an output unit, adapted to provide information, including
a second coupling portion. The first and second coupling portions are adapted such
that the output unit is: (i) positionable with respect to the input unit, and (ii)
rotatable about at least a first axis and a second axis.
According to another embodiment, a PDA has a keypad unit including a first
power device and a first coupling portion. The PDA also has a display unit including
a second power device and a second coupling portion. At least one of the first
and second coupling portions include a joint adapted such that the display unit
is: (i) positionable with respect to the keypad unit, and (ii) rotatable about
a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis. The display unit is also removable
from the keypad unit, and the keypad unit and the display unit communicate wirelessly
when removed from each other. The PDA also includes a charging device adapted to
charge the first and second power devices when coupled to one of the keypad unit
and the display unit.
According to another embodiment, a portable communication device has an
input unit, adapted to receive information, including a first coupling portion.
The portable communication device also has an output unit, adapted to provide information,
including a second coupling portion. The first and second coupling portions are
adapted such that the input unit is: (i) positionable with respect to the output
unit, and (ii) rotatable about at least a first axis and a second axis.
Still another embodiment is directed to an input unit for a portable communication
device. The input unit includes an input portion adapted to receive information
and a first coupling portion. The first coupling portion is adapted to work with
a second coupling portion associated with an output unit such that the output unit
is: (i) positionable with respect to the input unit, and (ii) rotatable about at
least a first axis and a second axis.
Yet another embodiment is directed to an output unit for a portable communication
device. The output unit includes an output portion adapted to provide information
and a first coupling portion. The first coupling portion is adapted to work with
a second coupling portion associated with an input unit such that the output unit
is: (i) positionable with respect to the input unit, and (ii) rotatable about at
least a first axis and a second axis.
One embodiment comprises: an input unit adapted to receive information; an output
unit adapted to provide information; and detachable coupling means for allowing
the output unit to be: (i) positionable with respect to the input unit, and (ii)
rotatable about at least a first axis and a second axis.
With these and other advantages and features of the invention that will become
hereinafter apparent, the invention may be more clearly understood by reference
to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims, and
the drawings attached herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a portable communication device according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates an output unit removed from an input unit in accordance with
some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a portable communication device placed in a docking device
in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a portable communication device in a closed position in accordance
with some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a portable communication device with a bendable portion according
to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a portable communication device with an arm portion according
to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to portable communication
devices. As used herein, the phrase "portable communication device" may refer to
any communication device that is typically moved around by a user. A portable communication
device may be, for example, a PDA (e.g., a PALM VII® PDA) or laptop computer,
a wireless or cordless telephone, or a two-way pager (e.g., a BLACKBERRY®
handheld wireless electronic mail device).
Moreover, embodiments of the present invention are directed to portable
communication devices with input and/or output units that are "positionable" by
a user. That is, the input or output unit will tend to remain in a position selected
by the user.
FIG. 1 illustrates a portable communication device
100 (e.g., a PDA)
according to some embodiments of the present invention. The portable communication
device
100 includes an input unit
200 adapted to receive information.
The input unit
200 may, for example, receive information via a keyboard
or keypad, a digital camera lens (e.g., adapted to capture moving or still images),
a scanner (e.g., adapted to record business cards or other documents), and/or a
microphone. The input unit
200 may also receive information, for example,
via a thermometer or a communication device, such as an Infrared Radiation (IR) receiver.
The portable communication device
100 also includes an output unit
300
adapted to provide information. The output unit
300 may, for example, provide
information via a display screen such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display
screen. The output unit
300 may also provide information, for example, via
a speaker, a printer, a tactile device (e.g., a vibrating device), and/or a communication
device (e.g., an IR transmitter).
Although it is adapted to receive information, the input unit
200
may also provide some information. For example, the input unit
200 may include
an Light Emitting Diode (LED) that indicates when power is being applied. As shown
in FIG. 1, the input unit
200 can also include an antenna
210 that
may be used to exchange information with other devices (including a telephone or
data network) and/or to exchange information between the input unit
200
and the output unit
300. Also note that, the output unit
300 can
similarly receive some information. For example, a user may adjust a display screen's
settings or indicate that he or she wants to capture a particular image via the
output unit
300.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the input unit
200 and the output unit
300
are attached via a coupling (e.g., a first coupling portion on the input unit
200
may attach to a second coupling portion on the output unit
300). The coupling
may comprise, for example, a single pivot point such as a ball-and-socket joint.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the coupling allows
the output unit
300 be positioned with respect to the input unit
200.
That is, a user may place the output unit
300 in a position with respect
to the input unit
200, and the output unit
300 will tend to remain
in that position. Note that the output unit
300 may move smoothly between
positions or may instead be positionable in discrete steps. Of course, the coupling
also allows the input unit
200 be positioned with respect to the output
unit
200.
The coupling also lets the output unit
300 (and/or the input unit
200)
be rotated about at least a first axis and a second axis. For example, the dashed
arrow in FIG. 1 represents the rotation of the output unit
300 about a first
axis (i.e., a "Z" axis directed out of the drawing). FIG. 2 illustrates the output
unit
300 rotating about a second axis (i.e., the "Y" axis). According to
some embodiments, the output unit
300 can also be rotated about a third
axis (ie., the "X" axis). Of course, the rotation about a particular axis can be
done with respect to an angle relative to that axis in some embodiments.
FIG. 3 illustrates a portable communication device
100 when the output
unit
300 is physically removed from the input unit
200 in accordance
with some specific embodiments of the present invention. For example, a user may
pull the output unit
300 away from the input unit
200 to detach a
connector, such as a plastic connector.
According to this embodiment, the input unit
200 and the output
unit
300 still communicate with each other when separated. For example,
the input unit
200 (e.g., via the antenna
210) and the output unit
300 (which would have some type of an antenna, either internal or external,
as well) may communicate via a wireless protocol such as an Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 network, an IR network, or an Internet
Protocol (IP) network such as the Internet, an intranet or an extranet. In some
embodiments, the input unit
200 and the output unit
300 communicate
via Bluetooth technology, which allows a wide range of computing and telecommunication
devices to be interconnected via wireless connections. Specifications and other
information regarding Bluetooth technology are available at the Bluetooth Web site:
www.bluetooth.com. In embodiments utilizing Bluetooth technology, communicating
devices may be equipped with a microchip transceiver that transmits and receives
information in a frequency band of about 2.45 GHz (with some variation of bandwidth
in different countries). Connections are typically maintained up to a maximum range,
such as ten meters.
As a result, the user may input information into the portable communication device
100 via keypad buttons
220, a digital camera lens
230, and
a microphone
240. The user may also receive information from the portable
communication device
100 via a display screen
310 and a speaker
320.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the display screen
310 can show an
image of an object, such as a stop sign, that is being recorded by the digital
camera lens
230.
According to one embodiment, the input unit
200 and the output unit
300 always communicate with each other wirelessly. In this case, no conductive
communication path between the input unit
200 and the output unit
300
is needed—even when the units are attached.
According to another embodiment, the input unit
200 and the output
unit
300 communicate with each other wirelessly when the units are separated,
and via a conductive communication path when the units are attached. For example,
the output unit
300 may have a socket
330 with electrical contact
areas (e.g., six spring contacts) on a coupling. The coupling could then be attached
to a coupling
250 on the input unit
200 to complete the conductive
communication path. Note that the output unit
300 coupling portion may also
include a positionable and rotatable portion
340 (e.g., a ball joint) between
the socket
330 and an output portion (e.g., the display screen
310).
In this way, the output portion can be rotated without moving the electrical contact
areas. Of course, the socket may be equipped on input unit
200 with a coupling
equipped on output unit
300 in other embodiments.
According to another embodiment (not shown in FIG. 3), the input unit
200
instead has a socket with electrical contact areas and a ball joint between the
socket and an input portion (e.g., the keypad buttons
220). Of course, alternatively
the output unit
300 may instead have a socket with electrical contact areas
and a ball joint between the socket and the body of output unit
300.
Because the output unit
300 can be removed from the input unit
200,
it is possible that a user may misplace one of the units. In this case, the user
may, according to one embodiment, activate a button on one unit to determine information
associated with the location of the other unit. For example, the output unit
300
may emit a sound when a button on the input unit
200 is activated.
FIG. 4 illustrates the portable communication device
100 placed in a
docking device
400 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
Note that FIG. 4 also illustrates how the output portion
300 can be rotated
about a third axis (i.e., in addition to the rotations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2) in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
The docking device
400 may be, for example, a charging device adapted
to charge power devices (batteries) in both the input unit
200 and the output
unit
300. In this case, power from the docking device
400 may be
supplied to the output unit
300 via the input unit
200. Of course,
power could instead be supplied to the input unit
200 via the output unit
300. According to still other embodiments, a docking device
400 may
instead attach to both the input unit
200 and the output unit
300—or
separate docking devices
400 may be provided for each of the units.
According to other embodiments, the docking device
400 is a communication
device adapted to exchange information between the portable communication device
100 and another device. For example, information may be exchanged between
the portable communication device
100 and a Personal Computer (PC) via the
docking device
400 and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.
FIG. 5 illustrates a portable communication device
100 in a closed position
in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. In addition to reducing
overall size of the portable communication device
100, closing the device
may protect the input unit
200 (e.g., by preventing keypad buttons from
being inadvertently activated) and/or the output unit
300 (e.g., by preventing
a delicate display screen from being scratched).
Additional Embodiments
The following illustrates various additional embodiments of the present invention.
These do not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments, and those skilled
in the art will understand that the present invention is applicable to many other
embodiments. Further, although the following embodiments are briefly described
for clarity, those skilled in the art will understand how to make any changes,
if necessary, to the above-described apparatus and methods to accommodate these
and other embodiments and applications.
In particular, the present invention can incorporate types of couplings other
than those described in detail above. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a portable
communication device
110 having a bendable portion
500 according
to another embodiment of the present invention. Similarly, FIG. 7 illustrates a
portable communication device
120 having an arm portion
600 in addition
to joints according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In either
case, the input unit
200 and output unit
300 may be positionable,
rotatable (e.g., about a first, a second, and/or a third axis), and/or detachable.
Moreover, although embodiments described herein illustrate portable communication
devices
100 with only a single input unit
200 and output unit
300,
the present invention can be used with respect to portable communication devices
100 having a plurality of input units
200 and/or a plurality of output
units
300.
The present invention has been described in terms of several embodiments solely
for the purpose of illustration. Persons skilled in the art will recognize from
this description that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described,
but may be practiced with modifications and alterations limited only by the spirit
and scope of the appended claims.
*
