Abstract:
A cellular telephone including a medical device to monitor he medical or health condition of a user is provided. The cellular telephone is provided with a keypad that is movable from a first position, where a first display and keypad is exposed, to a second position where a second display and keypad is exposed. In the first position, the cellular telephone operates in a conventional cellular telephone manner. In the second position, the cellular telephone operates as the medical device. The second display and/or keypad is hidden from public view when the keypad is in the first position.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119 
       [0001]    None. 
       CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §120 
       [0002]    None. 
       REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]    1. Field 
         [0005]    The technology of the present application relates generally to wireless devices, and more specifically to wireless devices having a movable keyboard to provide a privacy screen. 
         [0006]    2. Background 
         [0007]    Many people carry multiple electronic devices. These devices include cellular telephones, wireless laptop computers, pagers, wireless handheld computers, PDAs, handheld email units, such as, for example, a BLACKBERRY® from Research in Motion, and countless other electronic devices. 
         [0008]    Some of the electronic devices are combinable. A BLACKBERRY® is an example of an electronic device that combines the functionality of a wireless email unit as well as a cellular telephone. Some electronic devices, however, relate to personal information, such as, for example, health information. While the electronics for the personal information can be combined with other electronic devices, the display of the information is typically relatively open and notorious to the public. For example, a wireless telephone could be combined with a blood glucose monitor, which is usable by, for example, diabetics. However, the cellular telephone display and keyboard would readily indicate to the public that the owner/user is diabetic. The owner/user of the telephone may wish to protect the personal information. 
         [0009]    Thus, there exists in the art a need for a wireless device or handset having a privacy screen including and/or keyboard to allow access to information a user wishes to keep private such as, for example, health information. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]    Embodiments disclosed herein address the above stated needs by providing a handset having a privacy screen for a display and/or keyboard. An aspect of the present application includes an electronic device with a housing. The housing contains a first display and a first component. The first component is movable connected to the housing such that the first component has a first position and a second position. A second display and second component also is contained in the housing, such that when the first component is in the first position, the second display and component are hidden and when the first component is in the second position, the second display and component are exposed. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the present application, a method of arranging an electronic device is provided. The method includes steps for accessing a second, private display associated with the electronic device. First, an electronic device in a first configuration is provided. The electronic device has a first input and a first, open display in the first configuration. Next, the first input is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration to expose a second, private display. 
         [0012]    In yet another aspect of the present application, a wireless device that incorporates a personal medical monitoring device is provided. The wireless device may include a cellular telephone and a medical device to monitor vital statistics of a user and includes a housing that contains electronic circuits for operation of the cellular telephone and the medical device. A first input component associated with the cellular telephone is movably connected to the housing from a first position to a second position. A first, open display contained in the housing and being associated with the cellular telephone when the first input component is in the first position and a second, private display contained in the housing and being associated with the medical device when the first input component is in the second position. 
         [0013]    The foregoing and other features, utilities, aspects and advantages of the device and system will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front top perspective view of a wireless device incorporating technology associated with this application; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is another front top perspective view of the wireless device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a pivot associated with  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is another cross-sectional view of a pivot associated with  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is another cross-sectional view of a pivot associated with  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating one method of operating the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a system incorporating technology associated with this application; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a wireless device incorporating technology associated with this application; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the wireless device of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    The present technology will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-9 . Although the following application specifically relates to combining the functionality of a cellular telephone with a blood glucose monitor, one of ordinary skill in the are will understand on reading the disclosure that other types of electronic devices could be combined. For example, other electronic devices include handheld computers, PDAs, pagers, oxygen monitors, pulse-on monitors, blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, personal financial devices, or the like. Thus, the specific embodiment should be considered exemplary and non-limiting. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a handheld electronic device  100  is provided. Electronic device  100  is shown in a first configuration A, which may sometimes be referred to as the public or open configuration. Electronic device  100  in this example, as explained above, is a cellular telephone but could be any other electronic device, such as a PDA, handheld computer, or the like. Device  100  includes a housing  102  to contain the necessary electronic components software modules, and the like to perform the functionality of the electronic device. For a wireless device  100 , an antenna  104  may be provided either internally or externally to device  100 . Device  100  includes a first input component  106  and a first, open display  108 . For a cellular telephone, first input component  106  is an alpha-numeric keypad associated with a conventional cellular telephone. It includes numeric inputs  106   a  as well as a menu control button  106   b,  speaker and volume control  106   c  and the like. If electronic device was, for example, a handheld computer, first input component  106  may be more closely aligned with a conventional computer keyboard input. 
         [0025]    First, open display  108  contains icons  110  associated with a cellular display panel. First, open display  108  may contain a graphical user interface. For example first, open display  108  includes icons  110  associated for radio frequency signal strength  110   a,  ring tone volume  110   b,  time  110   c,  and date  110   d,  or the like. Other icons are of course possible and the icon choice is largely a matter of design choice, functional particular, user desires and the like. Optionally, device  100  may have a cover panel (not specifically shown but generally understood in the art) to cover and/or protect first, open display and first input component  106  when not in use. One or the other inputs on first input component  106  would include a power button  106   d  for a user to turn power on and off. If the cover panel is used, the cover panel may interface with the power supply to shut down certain aspects of the unit when the cover panel is closed to conserve power. 
         [0026]    First input component  106  is pivotally connected to housing  102  at pivot  114 . Pivot  114  is shown in cross-section in  FIG. 3 . Pivot  114  includes a recess  116  in housing  102 . Recess  116  has walls  118  on either side with an axle  120  connecting the walls. First input component has a bore  122  through which axle  120  extends forming a rotatable or pivotable connection between housing  102  and first input component  106 . While shown on a nominal bottom  124  of housing  102 , pivot  114  could allow first input component  106  pivot and unfold in a down direction, up direction, left direction, right direction, or a combination thereof, such as, for example, a left and right direction by providing two pivots  114  such that the first input component  106  comprises a first half  106 ′ and a second half  106 ″ that open similar to window shutters. Instead of providing axle  120  extending across recess  116 , axle  120  could be shaped more as protrusions  126  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this case, bore  122  may be more akin to detents  128  or depressions instead of a through bore. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the pivot connection may be reversed with protrusions  130  extending from first input component  106  into detents  132  on housing  102 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , electronic device  100  is shown in a second configuration B, sometimes referred to as the private or closed configuration. In second configuration B, a second unput component  202  is exposed by pivoting first input component  106  about pivot  114 . As shown, second input component  202  is provided on a back surface of first input component  106 . Although, depending on the application a second input component  202  may be unnecessary. Moreover, in second configuration B, a second, private display  204  can be contiguous to form a combined display  206  as shown. Alternatively, second, private display  204  may be a stand-alone display, see  FIG. 9 . Display  204  or combined display  206  would contain icons  208  related to the functionality of the second electronic device contained in device  100 . As shown, electronic device  100  provides a blood glucose monitor graphical user interface  210 . Second input component  202  similarly comprises keys  212  relevant to the appropriate functionality. As the present device  100  combines the functionality of a blood glucose monitor, it may have an emergency interlock  214  to alert emergency medical personnel should a dangerous medical condition be detected. As shown interlock  214  is provided as push button, but other types of interlocks are possible. 
         [0028]    In conjunction with device  100 , housing  102  may have an input port  216  to receive, for example, biological specimens. In this case, a drop of blood may be inserted using a sample tab  218  that fits in input port  216 . Electronic device  100  would read the biological specimen and provide the appropriate indication on second, private display  204 . Other styles or input ports could accept electrical inputs instead or physical inputs. For example, input part  216  may accept reading from a heart rate monitor, a pulse-ox monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc. 
         [0029]    As information displayed on second, private display  204  is potentially personal information, it is possible to provide password protection prior to allowing second, private display  204  to display any information. Alternatively, pivot  114  may be interlocked with a password or have a key  300  insertable into a lock  302 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a flowchart  600  is provided illustrating a potential method of operating electronic device  100 . While flowchart  600  is provided with a series of steps, these steps can be interchanged or substituted without departing from the scope of use of the electronic device. Moreover, steps show as separate for convenience may be combined into a single step. Also, a single step may be broken into a series of two or more steps. First, an electronic device in a first configuration A is provided, step  602 . In first configuration A, a first input component is exposed and available for use. Moreover, a first, public display is observable. Next, a decision is made to access the features of device  100  not available using first, public display and/or first input component, step  604 . Optionally, a lock preventing accessing the second input component and/or second, private display is disabled, step  606 . The lock could be, for example, an electronic interlock or mechanical lock. The lock may be disabled via a password, biometric signature (such as a thumb print, retina scan, voice print, or the like), a key or key card, or the like. Next, the first input component is moved such that a second input component is exposed, step  608 . Substantially simultaneously, second, private display is exposed as well. Thus, electronic device  100  is provided in a second configuration B. 
         [0031]    As can be appreciated, electronic device  100  as a cellular telephone provides a mechanism to transmit health related data obtained by a personal medical device to a central repository. The cellular telephone transmission protocols provide a HIPAA or other regulatory complaint mechanism to transmit the data although controls would need to be established on a repository server to avoid violation of HIPAA. Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a user  700  of electronic device  100  is shown. In this example, medical information detected by device  100  would be transmitted over cellular network  702  to central repository  704 . Central repository  704  could be a single facility or a series of networked facilities  704   l−n . While shown as a cellular telephone transmitting medical information using cellular telephone protocols, other networked transmissions are possible including both wired and wireless networks. Medical staff  706  could review the medical information at central repository  704  on a scheduled or random basis to provide medical instructions or health tips to user  700 . Moreover, alarm conditions in central repository  704  could alert medical staff  706  of a potential health risk to user  700 , which would allow medical stall  706  to act in a more expedited manner. Such emergency service may include contacting local “911” services or the like. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 1-7  have described exemplary embodiments of the technology associated with a pivot or clam shell style wireless device. One of ordinary skill in the art on reading the disclosure, however, would understand other styles of ordinary skill in the art on reading the disclosure, however, would understand other styles of wireless device configurations are possible, such as, for example, slider or wrap around devices. Referring specifically to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a slider style wireless device  800  is provided as an exemplary embodiment. Wireless device  800  is shown as a cellular telephone, but could be, for example, a handheld computer, a digital music player, or a PDA to name but a few. Wireless device  800  in  FIG. 8  is shown in a first configuration A. Device  800  includes a housing  802 , an antenna  804 , a first input component  806  keys  816  to allow a use to access and use device  800 &#39;s features. Device  800  may be provided with a separate cover (not shown, but which may be a slider style, clam shell style, wrap around style, or the like). Device  800  also may have some specialty buttons  810 , such as, for example, a menu button  812 , selection control buttons  814 , or the like. Moreover, display  808  may contain icons consistent with the designed use of device  800 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows device  800  is a configuration B. In configuration B, first input component  806  has been moved along slide connection  902 , which consists of a rail  904  on first component  806  in a groove  906  on housing  802 . Moving first input component  806  into configuration B exposes second input component  908  and second, private display  910 . Although instead of a separate second, private display  910 , moving first input component  806  into configuration B may provide an interlock to switch first, open display  808  to a second, private configuration. Moreover, first input component may also pivot to expose a third input component  912  that resides on a back side  914  of first input component  806 . Similar to device  100 , device  800  also may have an interlock to prevent access of the private portions of the device, a emergency contact or panic button  214 , or the like. 
         [0034]    The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the technology of the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.