Patent Application
20060270469
The present invention relates generally to the field of communication systems. In particular, the present invention relates to operating a wireless communication device.
Wireless communication devices are widely used for voice and data communication, remote monitoring, position finding, and other purposes. Examples of wireless communication devices include cellular telephones, mobile telephones, messaging devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and portable computers. Technological advancements have provided an increased portability of such devices through overall size reductions.
Wireless communication devices can communicate using radio frequency (RF) channels, such as the Global System of Mobile (GSM) communication system in an 850 Mega Hertz (MHz) or a 900 MHz frequency band, on the Digital Communication System (DCS) at an 1800 MHz frequency band, or a Personal Communication System (PCS) at a 1900 MHz frequency band. Wireless communication devices further can operate on other wireless channels such as the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that operates at 1.575 Giga Hertz (GHz), Bluetooth operation at 2.4 GHz, and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) that uses the spectrum from 1.92 GHz to 1.98 GHz for transmission and 2.11 GHz to 2.17 GHz for reception.
Conventionally, wireless communication devices are available in different designs such as “candy bar-type”, “flip-type” and “folder-type”. The candy bar-type wireless communication device typically includes, a main housing, a keypad serving as data input means, a display serving as data output means, transmitting modules and receiving modules contained within the main housing.
The flip-type wireless communication device typically includes a main housing, a flip, and a hinge unit to connect the flip to the main housing. Data input and output devices, and modules that transmit and receive data are contained within the main housing. The flip may be horizontally pushed/slided over the main housing and released for it to rotate under the action of a spring mechanism.
The folder-type wireless communication device includes a main housing, a folder, and a hinge unit. The hinge unit connects the folder to the main housing, thus enabling the rotation of the folder. The folder-type wireless communication device may be opened and closed by the rotation of the folder. When the folder-type wireless communication device is in the standby mode, the folder covers the main housing. When the folder-type wireless communication device is in the communication mode, the folder is released from the main housing.
One of the problems with today's wireless communication devices is that there is a considerable distance between the transmitting and receiving units, which limits the miniaturization of the wireless communication device.
Moreover, in operation, the length of the wireless communication device increases when the flip or the folder is released from the main housing. This may lead to an inferior RF performance and may also reduce the aesthetics of the design of the wireless communication device.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that the elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity, and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated in relation to other elements to improve the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.
In an embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is rotatably coupled to the first housing portion. Further, the second housing portion is adapted for a simultaneous translational and rotational motion in relation to the first housing portion.
In another embodiment, a method of operation of a wireless communication device, having a first housing portion and a second housing portion, is provided. The first housing portion is rotatably coupled to the second housing portion. The second housing portion executes a simultaneous translational and rotational motion with respect to the first housing portion.
Before describing in detail, a wireless communication device and method of operation thereof, in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to the operation of wireless communication device. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings. These drawings show only the specific details that are pertinent for understanding the present invention, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art and the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order, between such entities or actions. The terms ‘comprises’, ‘comprising’, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements, does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by ‘comprises . . . a’ does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
In various embodiments of the invention, the first antenna element 108 and the second antenna element 110 may be a dipole antenna, a notch antenna, a tri-band antenna, a hoop antenna, a 3rd-Generation (3G) antenna, or an equivalent. In an embodiment of the invention, the first antenna element 108 is a hoop antenna.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the wireless communication device 100 may be a mobile telephone, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a wireless personal digital assistant, a wireless personal computer, or an equivalent.
In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the hinge assembly 104 may include more than one pinion, more than one rack and/or a plurality of detents within the wireless communication device 100.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the detent 302 includes the cam profile 502 in a cam spring mechanism. This mechanism is described in conjunction with
In various embodiments of the invention, the interconnect cable 206 may be a flex cable, a co-axial cable, or an optical cable.
The present invention, as described herein, provides a simultaneous translational and rotational motion within the wireless communication device 100. According to various embodiments of the present invention, an axis of the hinge assembly 104 is translated linearly, when the second housing portion 106 is rotated with respect to the first housing portion 102. This is achieved by using the rack 204 and the pinion 202 construction of the hinge assembly 104.
Implementation of the present invention reduces the overall length of the wireless communication device 100 in the open position of the second housing portion 106 with respect to the first housing portion 102. According to various embodiments of the present invention, a part of the second housing portion 106 is inserted into the rack 204 in the first housing portion 102 (in an open position), which reduces the overall length of the wireless communication device 100 in the open position.
The present invention provides superior RF performance to the wireless communication device 100. This is due to the fact that when the second housing portion 106 is opened with respect to the first housing portion 102, the second housing portion 106 is closer to the first antenna element 108, thus improving the RF performance in the wireless communication device 100.
Further, the linear positioning of the hinge assembly 106 and the first antenna element 108 enhance the aesthetics of the design of the wireless communication device 100. This is because, when the second housing portion 106 is closed over the first housing portion 102, linear positioning of the hinge assembly 106 and the first antenna element 108 allows the first antenna element 108 to have a hoop-shaped form. Furthermore, when the second housing portion 106 is opened with respect to the first housing portion 102, the gap between the second housing portion 106 and the first housing portion 102 is reduced. This results in enhanced aesthetics of the wireless communication device 100.
In the foregoing specification, the invention, its benefits and advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of with ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s), that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of this application, and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
