Abstract:
A mobile phone, including a processor operable to perform wireless communication, a housing for the processor, including front and back surfaces, a first display screen coupled with the processor and mounted on the outer side of the front surface, a second display screen coupled with the processor, separate from the first display screen, and a transparent portion on the outer side of the back surface through which the second display screen shows through to the outside of the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/615,454, entitled FOLDABLE MOBILE PHONE, filed on Nov. 10, 2009 by inventors Dov Moran, Eyal Bychkov, Itay Sherman and Uri Ron. U.S. application Ser. No. 12/615,454 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/113,262, entitled FOLDABLE MOBILE PHONE, filed on Nov. 11, 2008 by inventors Dov Moran, Eyal Bychkov, Itay Sherman and Uri Ron. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to housings and user interfaces for mobile phones. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mobile phones are manufactured in a variety of form factors. There are bar-shaped mobile phones, slider mobile phones that swivel, and flip mobile phones, referred to as “clamshells”, that have generally two, but possibly more, sections that fold via a hinge. A “hinge” refers to a bearing that connects two solid objects, generally allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components. 
     The user interface of a clamshell phone is generally distributed over its two or more sections. When a clamshell phone is open, its user interface is fully exposed and accessible. When a clamshell phone is closed, the phone is not fully functional. 
     Many mobile phone manufacturers, such as Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill., place a secondary screen on the rear side of the top section of a clamshell phone, which displays information to the user when the clamshell is closed. Information displayed on the secondary screen may include inter alia a date &amp; time, a number of missed calls, incoming messages and battery status. 
     In this regard, reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is an illustration of a prior art clamshell phone with a primary display screen in the clamshell&#39;s open position and a secondary display in the clamshell&#39;s closed position. Such prior art clamshell phones offer great advantage in displaying information to a user while the phone is closed. However, a drawback with such prior art clamshell phones is the additional space required by the secondary display and the ensuing additional cost. 
     It would thus be of advantage to produce a more space and cost efficient clamshell phone with primary and secondary displays. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention provide efficiently produced foldable clamshell phones with reduced space and cost requirements vis a vis prior art phones. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention involves a modular communicator and a jacket device. The modular communicator inserts inside a cavity of the jacket. When inserted, the modular communicator provides the jacket with wireless modem capability, and the jacket provides the modular communicator with an enhanced user interface. The modular communicator and the jacket each have their own display screens. When the modular communicator is inserted into the jacket, the communicator&#39;s display screen shows through an opening of the jacket casing, or through a transparent portion of the jacket casing. 
     The invention is applicable and advantageous to a variety of mobile phone form factors, including inter alia foldable mobile phones, bar-shaped mobile phones and slider mobile phones. 
     There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a mobile phone, including a modular communicator including a modem for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications, a communicator connector for making electrical connection with a jacket for the communicator, when the jacket is pouched in the communicator, a communicator display screen for displaying information, and a communicator controller (i) for executing programmed instructions for operating the modem, (ii) for transmitting data to and receiving data from the communicator connector, and (iii) for generating the information displayed on the communicator display screen, and a jacket for the modular communicator, including a mechanical jacket housing including a top section and a bottom section connected by a hinge which enables the top section to fold over the bottom section, a pouch including a cavity into which the communicator may be pouched, and a transparent portion through which at least a portion of the communicator display shows when the communicator is pouched in the jacket and when the top section is folded over the bottom section, a jacket connector that mates with the communicator connector to make electrical connection with the communicator, when the communicator is pouched in the jacket, and a jacket controller for transmitting data to and receiving data from the communicator controller, via the jacket connector. 
     There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a mobile phone, including a modular communicator including a modem for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications, a communicator connector for making electrical connection with a jacket for the communicator, when the jacket is pouched in the communicator, a communicator display screen for displaying information, and a communicator controller (i) for executing programmed instructions for operating the modem, (ii) for transmitting data to and receiving data from the communicator connector, and (iii) for generating the information displayed on the communicator display screen, and a jacket for the modular communicator, including a mechanical jacket housing including a pouch including a cavity into which the communicator may be pouched, a transparent portion through which at least a portion of the communicator display shows when the communicator is pouched in the jacket, and a jacket display screen for displaying a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface being generated by the jacket controller, a jacket connector that mates with the communicator connector to make electrical connection with the communicator, when the communicator is pouched in the jacket, and a jacket controller for transmitting data to and receiving data from the communicator controller, via the jacket connector. 
     There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a mobile phone, including a modular communicator including a modem for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications, a communicator connector for making electrical connection with a jacket for the communicator, when the jacket is pouched in the communicator, a communicator display screen for displaying information, and a communicator controller (i) for executing programmed instructions for operating the modem, (ii) for transmitting data to and receiving data from the communicator connector, and (iii) for generating the information displayed on the communicator display screen, and a jacket for the modular communicator, including a mechanical jacket housing including a front layer and a back layer coupled by a sliding mechanism that opens and closes the jacket housing by respectively raising and lowing the front layer relative to the back layer, a pouch comprising a cavity into which the communicator may be pouched, and a transparent portion through which at least a portion of the communicator display shows when the communicator is pouched in the jacket and when the jacket housing is open, a jacket connector that mates with the communicator connector to make electrical connection with the communicator, when the communicator is pouched in the jacket, and a jacket controller for transmitting data to and receiving data from the communicator controller, via the jacket connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a prior art clamshell mobile phone with a primary display screen in the open position and a secondary display in the closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a communication system constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a modular communicator being inserted into a jacket, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of a modular communicator and a jacket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a clamshell mobile phone with a primary display screen in the open position and a secondary display in the closed position, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a clamshell mobile phone with a primary display screen in the open position and a secondary display in the closed position, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a clamshell mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a bar-shaped mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an illustration of a slider mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is an illustration of a slider mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to foldable mobile phones. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a modular wireless communicator that may be coupled with a “jacket” in a manner referred to herein as “pouching”. A jacket is defined herein to mean a device that provides an enhanced user interface for the communicator, enriches the capabilities of the communicator, and is not able to operate independently when the communicator is not connected thereto. Pouching is defined herein to mean inserting the wireless communicator inside of the jacket so that the communicator is at least partially obscured by the jacket, and such that the jacket mechanically supports the communicator when the jacket is held by a user. The wireless communicator may be operated as a standalone device, or in conjunction with the jacket when pouched therein. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is an illustration of a communication system constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Shown in  FIG. 2  are a plurality of modular wireless communicators  100   a - 100   c , including 2.5G communicators for a GSM network, 3G communicators for a GSM network, and CDMA communicators for a CDMA network. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the networks illustrated in  FIG. 2  are exemplary of a wide variety of networks and communication protocols that are supported by the communicators of the present invention, such networks and communication protocols including inter alia WiFi, Bluetooth and WiMax. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a plurality of jackets  200   a - 200   h . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each communicator  100   a - 100   c  may be pouched in any of jackets  200   a - 200   h , so as to operate in combination therewith. Communicators  100   a - 100   c  are substantially of the same form factor and, as such, are able to be pouched in each of jackets  200   a - 200   h.    
     Reference is further made to  FIG. 3 , which is an illustration of a modular wireless communicator  100  being pouched in a jacket  200 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Jacket  200  as shown in  FIG. 3  includes a hollow cavity at the top for pouching of communicator  100  therein. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified block diagram of communicator  100  and jacket  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Communicator  100  includes nine primary components, as follows: a controller  110 , a modem  120  for sending and receiving voice and data, a user interface  130 , a memory storage  140 , a power management subsystem  150 , a power amplifier  160 , an antenna  170 , a connector  180  for connecting the communicator to jacket  200  when the communicator is pouched in jacket  200 , and a subscriber identification module (SIM)  190 . 
     Controller  110  executes programmed instructions that control the data flow between communicator  100  and jacket  200 . Modem  120  controls the communication functionality of communicator  100 . User interface  130  includes a display screen  131  and a keypad  132 . User interface  130  may optionally include additional components (not shown) such as a microphone, a headset audio jack, an earpiece, a mono speaker or stereo speakers, and a vibrator. 
     Power management subsystem  150  includes charging circuitry for charging a battery  155 . Power amplifier  160  includes a radio frequency (RF) interface  165 , and is connected to antenna  170 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the interface between controller  110  and storage  140 , and the interface between controller  110  and modem  120  are both SD interfaces. The interface between controller  110  and connector  180  is a custom interface. 
     Jacket  200  includes four primary components, as follows: a controller  210 , a user interface  230 , a memory storage  240 , and a connector  280  for connecting the jacket to communicator  100  when communicator  100  is pouched in the jacket. Jacket  200  may include an optional power management subsystem  250  and an optional battery  255 . 
     User interface  230  includes a display screen  231  and a keypad  232 . User interface  230  may optionally include additional components (not shown), such as a microphone, a headset audio jack, an earpiece, a mono speaker or stereo speakers, and a vibrator. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the interface between controller  210  and storage  240  is an SD interface. The interface between controller  210  and connector  280  is a custom interface. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 5 , which is an illustration of a clamshell mobile phone with a primary display screen in the open position and a secondary display in the closed position, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone has a top section  201  and a bottom section  202  connected by a hinge  203 , which enables top section  201  to be folded over bottom section  202  when the clamshell is closed. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , communicator  100  is pouched in bottom section  202 . Bottom section  202  has a portion  204  through which at least a portion of screen  131  shows, when communicator  100  is pouched in bottom section  202 . Portion  204  may be a partially transparent surface portion of bottom section  202 , or an opening in the surface of bottom section  202 . Moreover, top section  201  has a portion  205  that is positioned such that at least a portion of screen  131  shows through portion  205 , when communicator  100  is pouched in bottom section  202  and top section  201  is folded over bottom section  202 . Portion  205  may be a partially transparent surface portion of top section  201 , or an opening in the surface of top section  201 . 
     It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in the art that information on display screen  131  is visible when the clamshell phone of  FIG. 5  is closed. As shown in  FIG. 5 , such information may include inter alia a date &amp; time, an indicator of one or more missed calls, and a battery status for battery  155  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which is an illustration of a clamshell mobile phone with a primary display screen in the open position and a secondary display in the closed position, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone has a top section  201  and a bottom section  202  connected by a hinge  203 , which enables top section  201  to be folded over bottom section  202  when the clamshell is closed. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , communicator  100  is pouched in top section  201 . Top section  201  has a portion  205  through which at least a portion of screen  131  shows, when communicator  100  is pouched in top section  201 . Portion  205  may be a partially transparent surface portion of top section  201 , or an opening in the surface of top section  201 . 
     It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in the art that information on display screen  131  is visible when the clamshell phone of  FIG. 6  is closed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , such information may include inter alia a date &amp; time, an indicator of one or more missed calls, and a battery status for battery  155  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 7 , which is an illustration of a clamshell mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bottom section of jacket  200  includes sliding guides for communicator  100  to slide into place so that connectors  180  and  280  ( FIG. 4 ) are mated. The mobile phone has a top section  201  connected by a hinge  203 , which enables top section  201  to be folded over the sliding guides. 
     Top section  201  has a portion  205  through which at least a portion of screen  131  shows, when communicator  100  is slid into place and the clamshell is closed. Portion  205  may be a partially transparent surface portion of top section  201 , or an opening in the surface of top section  201 . 
     The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5-7  are efficient foldable mobile phone with reduced space and cost requirements vis a vis prior art foldable phones, such as the phone shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In reading the above description, persons skilled in the art will realize that there are many apparent variations that can be applied to the embodiments described. Thus it will be appreciated that the present invention applies to foldable mobile phones with more than two sections, such as a three-section foldable, wherein a top and a bottom section fold over a middle section to close the phone. 
     It will further be appreciated that the present invention also applies to non-foldable mobile phones, including inter alia bar-shaped phones and slider phones. Reference is made to  FIG. 8 , which is an illustration of a bar-shaped mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The jacket  200  shown in  FIG. 8  has a bar form factor, and includes jacket screen  231  and a portion  205  through which at least a portion of communicator screen  131  shows, when communicator  100  is pouched in jacket  200 . 
     Three configurations are shown in  FIG. 8 ; namely, (a) jacket screen  231  and portion  205  positioned on the front surface of jacket  200 , with jacket screen  231  above portion  205 ; (b) jacket screen  231  and portion  205  positioned on the front surface of jacket  200 , with jacket screen  231  below portion  205 ; and (c) jacket screen  231  positioned on the front surface of jacket  200 , and portion  205  positioned on the back surface of jacket  200 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 9 , which is an illustration of a slider mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The jacket  200  shown in  FIG. 9  has a slider form factor, and includes jacket screen  231  and a portion  205  through which at least a portion of communicator screen  131  shows, when communicator  100  is pouched in jacket  200 . Jacket  200  has a front layer  206  and a back layer  207 , which slide up and down relative to one another to open and close the jacket housing. Jacket screen  231  is positioned on front layer  206 , and portion  205  is positioned on a surface of back layer  207  that is concealed when jacket  200  is closed. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 10 , which is an illustration of a slider mobile phone with a display screen that shows through a jacket cover, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The jacket  200  shown in  FIG. 10  also has a front layer  206  and a back layer  207 , which slide up and down relative to one another to open and close the jacket. Jacket screen  231  is positioned on front layer  206 . Two configurations are shown for portion  205 ; namely, (a) portion  205  positioned on back layer  207  of jacket  200 , and (b) portion  205  positioned on a surface of front layer  206  that is concealed when the jacket is closed. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.