Patent Application
20120146914
The present disclosure relates to a portable electronic device.
Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gained widespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, for example, telephonic, electronic messaging and other personal information manager (PIM) application functions. Portable electronic communication devices include several types of devices including mobile stations such as simple cellular phones and smart phones.
Portable electronic devices such as smart phones are generally intended for handheld use and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable for portability. Touch-sensitive devices constructed of a display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) with a touch sensitive overlay are useful on such portable electronic devices as such portable electronic devices are small and are therefore limited in space available for user input and output devices. Further, the screen content on the touch-sensitive devices can be modified depending on the functions and operations being performed.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
The following describes a portable electronic device that includes a housing having a front, an end wall, and a sidewall, and a display at a front of the housing. A first input device is moveable from a storage position within the housing to a use position in which the first input device extends from an end wall of the housing. A first push-push mechanism is coupled to the housing and the first input device for moving the first input device between the storage position and the use position. A second input device is moveable from a storage position within the housing to a use position in which the second input device extends from a sidewall of the housing. A second push-push mechanism is coupled to the housing and the first input device for moving the second input device between the storage position and the use position.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. The embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. The description is not to be considered as limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.
Referring to
The processor 102 interacts with other devices, such as a decoder 106, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 108, memory 110, a display 112 with an optional touch-sensitive overlay 114 operably connected to an electronic controller 116 that together comprise a touch-sensitive display 118, a first input device 120, a second input device 122, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data port 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130, short-range communications 132, other device subsystems 134, and sensors 152. User-interaction with a graphical user interface may be performed through the touch-sensitive overlay 114, the first input device 120, and the second input device 122. The processor 102 interacts with the touch-sensitive overlay 114 via the electronic controller 116. Information, such as text, characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that may be displayed or rendered on the portable electronic device 100, is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118 via the processor 102. The processor 102 may also interact with an accelerometer 136 that may be utilized to detect direction of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reaction forces. The accelerometer 136 may include a cantilever beam with a proof mass and suitable deflection sensing circuitry. Although the touch-sensitive display 118 is described as comprising a display 112 and an overlay 114, the touch-sensitive components may overlay the display 112, or alternatively, may be integrated into the display.
To identify a subscriber for network access, the portable electronic device 100 uses a Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card 138 for communication with a network, such as the wireless network 150. Alternatively, user identification information may be programmed into memory 110.
The portable electronic device 100 also includes an operating system 146 and software programs or components 148 that are executed by the processor 102 and are typically stored in a persistent, updatable store such as the memory 110. Additional applications or programs may be loaded onto the portable electronic device 100 through the wireless network 150, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-range communications subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.
In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input to the processor 102. The processor 102 processes the received signal for output to the display 112 and/or to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124. A subscriber may generate data items, for example e-mail messages, which may be transmitted over the wireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104. For voice communications, the overall operation of the portable electronic device 100 is similar. The speaker 128 outputs audible information converted from electrical signals, and the microphone 130 converts audible information into electrical signals for processing.
Referring to
The first input device 120 (
The second input device 122 may also be, for example, a keyboard, or a touch-sensitive input device, such as a resistive or capacitive touch panel. The keyboard may be a full keyboard in which each alphabetical character is associated with a respective key of the mechanical keyboard. The full keyboard may be, for example, a QWERTY keyboard, a QWERTZ keyboard, or an AZERTY keyboard. Alternatively, the keyboard may be a reduced keyboard in which a plurality of alphabetical characters is associated with a respective key of the mechanical keyboard. Alternatively, the keyboard may be a numeric keypad. Optionally, the second input device 122 may include a numeric keypad in addition to a keyboard. Optionally, the second input device 122 may include media inputs or input keys that are associated with functions of the portable device 100.
The end wall 212 of the housing 202 defines a slot 216 that extends substantially the length of the end wall 212. An end 220 of the first input device 120 is exposed by the slot 216. The sidewall 208 of the housing 202 also defines a slot 218 that extends substantially the length of the sidewall 208. An end 222 of the second input device 122 is exposed by the slot 218.
Components of the portable electronic device 100, including the internal components described and shown in
The first input device 120 is shown in a storage position in
In an alternative configuration, the first input device 120 and the second input device 122 may be adjacent to one another.
The first input device 120 is retained within the housing 202 by a first push-push mechanism 400 (
A push-push mechanism, as referred to herein, includes any mechanism that is pushed to release one of the first and second input devices 120, 122 from the storage position, to facilitate movement into the use position, and pushed to retain one of the first and second input devices 120, 122 in the storage position. When one of the first and second input devices 120, 122 is pushed from the use position to the storage position, the push-push mechanism facilitates storage of one of the first and second input devices 120, 122. A push-push mechanism is also known as a push-to-open mechanism or a push-to-open and push-to-close mechanism.
A perspective view of the portable electronic device 100 is shown in
The movement of the first input device 120 will now be described with reference to
To return the first input device 120 to the storage position from the use position shown in
The portable electronic device 100 may also include sensors 152 (
A top view of an example of the first input device assembly 402 with the housing 202 removed for the purpose of illustration is shown in
The tray 404 includes a front surface 406, a sidewall 408, and an end wall 410. The front surface defines a pair of spaced apart slots 412, 414. The sidewall 408 includes a guide (not shown) for the first input device 120 to facilitate the movement of the first input device 120 between the storage position and the use position and vice versa. The end wall 410 acts as stop when the first input device 120 is moved into the storage position.
The first input device 120 is coupled to the tray 404 by the first push-push mechanism 400. The first input device 120 also includes a back surface (not shown) that includes a pair of spaced apart guide pins 416, 418. The guide pins 416, 418 cooperate with the pair of slots 412, 414 to guide movement of the first input device 120 relative to the tray 404.
The first push-push mechanism 400 includes a spring 420, a pin 422, and a pin follower 424. The spring 420 is coupled to the end wall 410 of the tray 404 and to the pin follower 424. The first input device 120 is connected to the pin follower 424. The pin follower 424 retains the first input device 120 in the housing 202 of the portable electronic device 100. To actuate the first push-push mechanism 400, the end 220 of the first input device 120 is pushed towards the end wall 410 of the tray 404. When force is applied to the end 220 of the first input device 120 to move the first input device relative to the tray 404, the spring 420 compresses until the pin 422 is released and slides within a slot (not shown) in the pin follower 424, actuating the first push-push mechanism 400. When the first push-push mechanism 400 is actuated, the spring 420 decompresses and the first input surface 120 moves relative to the tray 404 from the storage position to the use position.
A perspective view of the portable electronic device 100 is shown in
The movement of the second input device 122 will now be described with reference to
To return the second input device 122 to the storage position from the use position shown in
The portable electronic device 100 may also include sensors 152 (
The second push-push mechanism (not shown) may be similar to the first push-push mechanism 400 shown in
A perspective view of an example of the portable electronic device 100 is shown in
In the embodiments shown and described herein, the first input device 120 and the second input device 122 may be concealed within the housing 202 of the portable electronic device 100 when both the first input device 120 and the second input device 122 are in the storage position. The first input device 120 may be exposed for use when the first input device 120 is released from within housing 202 by actuation of the first push-push mechanism and moved to the use position. The second input device 122 may be exposed for use when the second input device is released from the housing 202 by actuation of the second push-push mechanism and moved to the use position.
In the above-described embodiments, the portable electronic device 100 includes a touch-sensitive display 118. The portable electronic device 100 may alternatively include a display without touch-sensing capabilities. For example, the portable electronic device 100 may include a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode (LED) display.
The portable electronic device 100 described herein includes multiple input devices that may be retained within a housing 202 portable electronic device 100 and each input device may be released from within the housing 202 of the portable electronic device 100 by actuation of a push-push mechanism. The portable electronic device 100 may be used in portrait orientation with one or two extended input devices or a landscape orientation with one or two extended input devices to facilitate data entry by a user. Further, the portable electronic device 100 may be stored or utilized in a compact position when multiple input devices are retained within the housing 202 of the portable electronic device.
According to one aspect, a portable electronic device includes a housing and a touch-sensitive display framed by the housing. A first input device is moveable from a storage position within the housing to a use position in which the first input device extends from an end wall of the housing, by actuation of a first push-push mechanism. A second input device is moveable from a storage position within the housing to a use position in which the second input device extends from a sidewall of the housing, by actuation of a second push-push mechanism. A processor is operatively coupled to the touch-sensitive display, the first input device, and the second input device.
The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
