Abstract:
Radiotelephone flip covers hinged to a radiotelephone housing include a secondary keypad configured to overlie a primary keypad of a radiotelephone. A flip cover is movable between a closed position wherein at least a portion of a primary keypad is covered, and an open position wherein a primary keypad is uncovered. When a flip cover is in a closed position and when a secondary keypad key is depressed by a user, the depressed key in-turn depresses a respective primary keypad key to perform a radiotelephone function.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to radiotelephones and, more particularly, to radiotelephones with flip covers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Telecommunications devices, such as radiotelephones, have become increasingly popular for both personal and commercial use. However, with their increase in popularity, radiotelephones have also been undergoing miniaturization to facilitate storage and portability. Indeed, some contemporary radiotelephone models are only 11-12 centimeters in length. 
     Unfortunately, as radiotelephones become smaller, less area may be available for keypads that users utilize to operate radiotelephones. Accordingly, keypads have also become smaller, thereby causing the size and spacing of keys within keypads to decrease. However, for ergonomic reasons, there is a limit below which it may be undesirable to decrease the size and spacing of keys within a keypad. As a result, further miniaturization of radiotelephones may be constrained because of keypad ergonomic concerns. To accommodate radiotelephone miniaturization, it may become necessary to eliminate certain radiotelephone functions because of lack of space for keys to perform the functions. Alternatively, it may be necessary to require certain keys to perform more than one function. Unfortunately, multi-function keys may be somewhat difficult and confusing to users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to accommodate the miniaturization of electronic devices, such as radiotelephones, without compromising keypad functions available to users. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide radiotelephones undergoing miniaturization with ergonomic keypads. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are provided by a radiotelephone including a flip cover hinged to a radiotelephone housing and including a secondary keypad configured to overlie a primary keypad of the radiotelephone. A flip cover is movable between a closed position wherein at least a portion of a primary keypad is covered, and an open position wherein a primary keypad is uncovered. A secondary keypad includes at least one key having a first end extending through a top portion of the flip cover and an opposite second end spaced apart from a primary keypad key when the flip cover is in a closed position. When a secondary keypad key is depressed by a user, a second end of the depressed key engages and depresses a respective primary keypad key. 
     A primary keypad key, when depressed, performs a first function when a flip cover is in an open position. The same primary keypad key, when depressed via a secondary keypad key, performs a second function when a flip cover is in a closed position. A radiotelephone incorporating aspects of the present invention is capable of detecting flip cover position. Furthermore, a radiotelephone incorporating aspects of the present invention is capable of changing a primary keypad key first function to a different second function in response to movement of a flip cover from an open position to a closed position. Conversely, a radiotelephone incorporating aspects of the present invention is capable of changing a primary keypad key second function to a first function in response to movement of a flip cover from a closed position to an open position. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a flip cover may include a door member having a body portion and a pair of arms attached to, and extending away from, opposite lateral portions thereof. Each pair of arms may be configured to pivotally mount a respective door member to a radiotelephone housing between a closed position and an open position. A secondary keypad extends through a door member body portion. Each key of a secondary keypad has an end configured to operably engage a respective key of a radiotelephone primary keypad when a door member is in a closed position. 
     Radiotelephones incorporating a secondary keypad within a flip cover according to the present invention may improve radiotelephone functionality without requiring additional primary keypad space. Furthermore, a secondary keypad according to the present invention may eliminate the need for confusing multi-function primary keypad keys. Secondary keypads according to the present invention do not require electronic components within a flip cover for operation. Accordingly, radiotelephone functionality may be improved utilizing existing electronic components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary “flip phone” style radiotelephone within which aspects of the present invention may be incorporated. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates movement of the radiotelephone flip cover of FIG. 1A between open and closed positions. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a conventional arrangement of electronic components for enabling a radiotelephone to transmit and receive telecommunications signals. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a primary keypad and other internal components contained within top and bottom housings of a radiotelephone, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4A illustrates the radiotelephone of FIG. 3 incorporating a flip cover with a secondary keypad according to the present invention, and wherein the flip cover is in a closed position overlying a primary keypad. 
     FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view of the radiotelephone and flip cover of FIG.  4 A. 
     FIG. 4C is an exploded perspective view of the flip cover of FIG.  4 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a conventional “flip phone” style radiotelephone  10  is illustrated. The illustrated radiotelephone  10  includes a top handset housing  12  and a bottom handset housing  14  connected thereto to form a cavity therein. Top and bottom handset housings  12  and  14  house a keypad  22  including a plurality of keys  24 , a display  26 , and electronic components that enable the radiotelephone  10  to transmit and receive telecommunications signals. A flip cover  16  is hinged to one end of the top housing  12 , as illustrated. 
     In operation, the flip cover  16  may be pivoted by a user about axis A between closed and open positions, as illustrated in FIG.  1 B. When in a closed position, the flip cover  16  provides protection to the keypad  22  mounted within the top handset housing  12  from unintentional activation or exposure to the elements. When in an open position, the flip cover  16  may provide a convenient extension to the radiotelephone  10  and, when fitted with a microphone, may be favorably positioned to receive audio input from a user. In addition to these tangible benefits, there may also be unqualified consumer appeal for flip covers. 
     A conventional arrangement of electronic components that enable a radiotelephone to transmit and receive telecommunications signals is shown schematically in FIG. 2, and is understood by those skilled in the art of radiotelephone communications. An antenna  13  (also visible in FIG. 1A) for receiving and transmitting telecommunication signals is electrically connected to a radio-frequency transceiver  18  that is further electrically connected to a controller  19 , such as a microprocessor. The controller  19  is electrically connected to a speaker  20  that transmits a remote signal from the controller  19  to a user of a radiotelephone. The controller  19  is also electrically connected to a microphone  17  that receives a voice signal from a user and transmits the voice signal through the controller  19  and transceiver  18  to a remote device. The controller  19  is electrically connected to a keypad  22  and display  26  that facilitate radiotelephone operation. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1A, slots  11  may be provided at one end of the radiotelephone  10  for allowing a user to hear audio communications via a speaker enclosed within the top and bottom handset housings  12 ,  14 . One or more slots  15  may also be provided at an opposite end of the radiotelephone  10  for allowing a user to speak into a microphone enclosed within the top and bottom handset housings  12 ,  14 . When open, the flip cover  16  may direct sound from a user towards the microphone slots  15 . When the flip cover  16  is closed, sound from a user may pass through a slot (not shown) between the flip cover and the top handset housing  12 , as is known to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, a user may operate a radiotelephone with a flip cover in either an open or closed position. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded perspective view of various internal components contained within the top and bottom housings  12  and  14  of a radiotelephone  10  according to the present invention is provided. Illustrated components include a circuit board  34 , a polydome substrate  35 , and primary keypad  22 . As is known to those skilled in the art, various electronic components that enable a radiotelephone  10  to transmit and receive telecommunications signals may be mounted on the circuit board  34 . The illustrated circuit board includes a face  34   a  having a plurality of contact pads  36  located thereon. The contact pads  36  are positioned so that a respective contact pad is positioned beneath a respective key  24  of an overlying primary keypad  22 . Preferably, the polydome substrate  35  provides tactile response for the keys  24  of the primary keypad  22 , as is understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Each illustrated primary keypad key  24  has a first end  24   a  configured to extend through the top housing portion  12  for user access, and a second end (not shown) opposite the first end. When pressed by a user, each key second end is configured to extend through a respective opening  37  in the polydome substrate  35  and to be operably engageable with a respective contact pad  36  on the circuit board face  34   a . As is known to those skilled in the art of radiotelephones, a predetermined radiotelephone function is performed when a second end of a key makes contact with a respective contact pad  36 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4C, the radiotelephone  10  of FIG. 3 is illustrated with a flip cover  40  incorporating a secondary keypad  42  according to the present invention. The flip cover  40  includes a door member  45  having a body portion  47  pivotally attached to the top housing portion  12  via pivot arms  41  and  41 ′ which extend away from lateral portions  46  and  46 ′, as illustrated. Pivot arms  41  and  41 ′ cooperate with respective end portions  43  and  43 ′ of the top housing portion  12  to pivot the flip cover  40  between open and closed positions. 
     When in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 4A, the secondary keypad  42  housed within the flip cover  40  is accessible to a user for performing various radiotelephone functions. The primary keypad ( 22  of FIG. 4B) is not directly accessible to a user when the illustrated flip cover  40  is in a closed position, except as described below. When the flip cover  40  is in an open position, a user has full access to the keys  24  of the primary keypad  22 . It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. A flip cover according to the present invention may cover an entire primary keypad, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, or may cover only a portion of a primary keypad. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the secondary keypad  42  includes a plurality of keys  44  arranged in two rows. However, it is to be understood that various numbers and configurations of keys in a secondary keypad may be provided. Each secondary keypad key  44  has a first end  44   a  configured to extend through the top face  40   a  of the flip cover body portion  47  for user access, and a second end (not shown) opposite the first end  44   a  that extends through a respective opening  55  in a flip label substrate  57  (FIG.  4 C). The flip label substrate  57  helps maintain the secondary keypad  42  securely within the flip cover  40 . 
     The second end of each secondary keypad key  44  is operably engageable with a respective key  24  of the primary keypad  22  extending through the top housing portion  12 . When the flip cover  40  is in a closed position and a user presses a key  44  of the secondary keypad  42 , the second end of the pressed key extends through the flip label  57 , makes contact with and depresses a respective underlying key  24  of the primary keypad  22 . The depressed key  24  of the primary keypad makes contact with an underlying contact pad  36  on the circuit board face  34   a  to perform a specified function. 
     A transceiver within a radiotelephone incorporating a flip cover and secondary keypad according to the present invention is preferably aware of a position of a flip cover (i.e., whether a flip cover is open or closed). Various methods of detecting the position of a flip cover are known to those skilled in the art of radiotelephones and need not be discussed herein. According to the present invention, when a flip cover is closed, a radiotelephone transceiver is preferably aware that a secondary keypad overlies a primary keypad and accordingly may assign a different function to selected keys of the primary keypad. When a flip cover is open, a radiotelephone transceiver is preferably aware that the flip cover is open and keys of the primary keypad preferably revert to their default functions. 
     For example, primary keypad keys having overlying secondary keypad keys  44 , as illustrated in FIG. 4A, may be the “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8” and “9” keys. When the flip cover  40  is in an open position and these primary keypad keys are pressed by a user, signals corresponding to a “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8” and “9” are respectively generated by the radiotelephone electronics. However, when the flip cover  40  is in a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8” and “9” primary keypad keys may have different functions and may generate different signals when pressed via the secondary keypad keys. For example, the “4” key of the primary keypad may serve as a “volume increase” key to increase volume through the radiotelephone speaker. Similarly, the “5” key of the primary keypad may serve as a “volume decrease” key to decrease volume through the radiotelephone speaker. However, when the flip cover  40  is pivoted to an open position, the “4” and “5” keys preferably revert to their default functions (i.e., “4” and “5”). 
     Preferably, functions of primary and secondary keypad keys may be assigned and modified by radiotelephone users. For example, one user may assign the “4” primary keypad key with the function of “increase volume” while another user may assign the “4” primary keypad key with the function of “redial last number”. 
     In operation, a user may pivot the flip cover  40  to an open position and dial a telephone number with the primary keypad to place a call. The user may then close the flip cover  40  as illustrated in FIG.  4 A and utilize the secondary keypad for various user-assigned or predefined functions. Accordingly, the secondary keypad  42  compliments the primary keypad  22  by providing additional functionality without requiring additional primary keypad space in the upper housing  12  and without requiring a user to learn multiple functions of a primary keypad key. Furthermore, additional electronics within the flip cover are not required for secondary keypad operation. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.