Abstract:
The mobile device described herein includes a display module. The display module rotates about one of two independent axes to provide different viewing angle options to the user. The mobile device includes a housing and a display module. The display module includes a display, first and second sides adjacent to the display, and first and second hinges associated with the first and second sides, respectively. The first hinge rotatably mounts the display module to the housing for rotation about a first axis. The second hinge rotatably mounts the display module to the housing for rotation about a second axis, independent of the first axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to mobile devices, and more particularly to mobile device displays. 
         [0002]    Conventional mobile devices, such as mobile telephones, gaming devices, personal data assistants, etc., include one or more displays. By displaying information to the user, the display provides feedback to the user about current operations, past operations, and options for future operations. 
         [0003]    On many devices, the orientation of the display relative to the housing is fixed. Some mobile devices, such as clamshell mobile telephones, include a display module that rotates in one direction relative to the housing. In all cases, the user&#39;s ability to orient the display is still generally limited. As such there remains a need for alternative displays for mobile devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A display module for a mobile device according to the present invention rotates about two independent axes relative to a housing that substantially surrounds the display module to provide different viewing angle options to the user. According to one exemplary embodiment, the mobile device includes a housing and a display module. The display module includes a display, first and second sides adjacent to the display, and first and second hinges associated with the first and second sides, respectively. The first hinge is configured for rotating the display module relative to the housing about a first axis. The second hinge is configured for rotating the display module relative to the housing rotation about a second axis, independent from the first axis. In some embodiments, the first and second axes of rotation are generally parallel. In some embodiments, the first and second axes of rotation are generally perpendicular. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show an exemplary mobile device according to the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary display module according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary block diagram for the mobile device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show an exemplary locking mechanism for the display module of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show another exemplary locking mechanism for the display module of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show another exemplary mobile device according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show another exemplary mobile device according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show another exemplary mobile device according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The present invention applies to any mobile device, including cellular telephones, personal data assistants, gaming devices, palmtop computers, etc.  FIG. 1  shows one exemplary mobile device  100  having a display module  110  rotatably connected to a housing  120 . When secured to the housing  120 , at least a portion of the display module  110  rests within a recess  122  in the housing  120 . As discussed in further detail below, display module  110  rotates relative to the housing surrounding the display about different axes of rotation. This enables the user to adjust the viewing angle of the display module  110  for a wide variety of purposes, including camera operations, display glare reduction, etc. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows one exemplary display module  110 . Display module  110  includes a display  112  and two or more hinges  114 ,  116  disposed along two sides or edges of the display module  110 . When both hinges  114 ,  116  are secured to the housing  120 , display  112  faces outwardly from the mobile device  100  and is generally parallel with an external surface of housing  120 . When only the left hinge  114  is secured to the housing  120 , display module  110  is free to rotate to the left about an axis of rotation  130  associated with hinge  114 . Similarly, when only the right hinge  116  is secured to housing  120 , display module  110  rotates to the right about a different axis of rotation  132  associated with hinge  116 . For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2 , the axes of rotation  130 ,  132  are generally parallel and on opposing sides of display module  110 . However, it will be appreciated that this is not required, as discussed further below. 
         [0015]    Each hinge  114 ,  116  includes a set of one or more electrical contacts  115 ,  117 , herein referred to as “hinge contacts,” that electrically connect to display  112 . When at least one of the hinges  114 ,  116  is secured to housing  120 , hinge contacts  115 ,  117  align with and electrically connect to a corresponding set of one or more electrical contacts  124 ,  126  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A, and  5 A) disposed on housing  120 , herein referred to as “housing contacts.” As a result, when at least one hinge  114 ,  116  is secured to housing  120 , display  112  electrically connects to the mobile device  100 . It will be appreciated that a left set of housing contacts  124  aligns with the hinge contacts  115  on left hinge  114 , and that a right set of housing contacts  126  aligns with the hinge contacts  117  on right hinge  116 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary block diagram for mobile device  100 . Mobile device  100  includes a user interface  140 , processor  150 , memory  152 , and housing contacts  124 ,  126 . User interface  140  enables the user to interact with the mobile device  100 . In addition to display module  110 , user interface  140  includes one or more input controls  142 , a speaker  144 , and a microphone  146 . Processor  150  performs various processing tasks, including control of the overall operation of mobile device  100 , according to data and programs stored in memory  152 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that processor  150  may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), including an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). When mobile device  100  is a mobile communication device, such as a cellular telephone, mobile device  100  may also include a transceiver  160  and antenna  162 . Transceiver  160  may operate according to any known standard. Exemplary communication standards include but are not limited to, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), etc. 
         [0017]    As discussed above, housing contacts  124 ,  126  are configured to align and mate with hinge contacts  115 ,  117 . As a result, securing at least one hinge  114 ,  116  to the housing  120  electrically connects display  112  to processor  150  by electrically connecting at least one set of hinge contacts  115 ,  116  to the corresponding set of housing contacts  124 ,  126 . Processor  150  controls the information displayed on display  112  according to any known means using this electrical connection. According to one embodiment (not shown), processor  150  may be permanently connected to all housing contacts  124 ,  126 . As a result, when any set of hinge contacts  115 ,  117  electrically connect to any set of housing contacts  124 ,  126 , display  112  is electrically connected to processor  150 . 
         [0018]    According to another embodiment, mobile device  100  may include a switch  154  that selectively connects processor  150  to one set of housing contacts  124 ,  126  based on the mode of rotation of display module  110 . Processor  150  may determine the mode of rotation of display module  110  using any known means. For example, processor  150  may determine that one hinge  114 ,  116  is secured to housing  120  by detecting the presence of an electrical signal on one of the housing contacts  124 ,  126 . Alternatively, processor  150  may determine the mode of rotation based on a mechanical switch (not shown) that is activated when a hinge  114 ,  116  is secured to the housing  120 , and deactivated when the hinge  114 ,  16  is separated from the housing  120 . 
         [0019]    Based on the determined mode of rotation, processor  150  controls switch  154 . For example, when processor  150  determines that only the left hinge  114  is secured to housing  120 , processor  150  connects switch  154  to the left housing contacts  124 , which are in electrical contact with the left hinge contacts  115 , to electrically connect display  112  to processor  150 . Similarly, when processor  150  determines that only the right hinge  116  is secured to housing  120 , processor  150  connects switch  154  to the right housing contacts  126 , which are in electrical contact with the left hinge contacts  117 , to electrically connect display  112  to processor  150 . When processor  150  determines that both hinges  114 ,  116  are secured to housing  120 , processor  150  connects switch  154  to either the left housing contacts  124  or the right housing contacts  126  based on a pre-defined default setting. 
         [0020]    The present invention uses one or more locking mechanisms  170  to releasably secure each hinge  114 ,  116  to the housing  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , each locking mechanism  170  comprises a clip locking mechanism  170  that includes an end cap  172  and a clip  174 . At least one end of each hinge  114 ,  116  has an end cap  172  secured thereon. A corresponding clip  174  is secured to the housing  120  such that each clip  174  aligns with an end cap  172 . When pushed into clip  174 , the end cap  172  snaps into the clip  174  to frictionally secure the hinge  114 ,  116  to the housing  120 . To release a hinge  114 ,  116  from the housing  120 , the user pulls on the desired hinge  114 ,  116  in a generally outward direction to pull the corresponding end cap(s)  172  from the clip(s)  174 . While not explicitly shown, display module  110  and/or housing  120  may include some additional feature to facilitate removing a hinge  114 ,  116  from the locking mechanism(s)  170 , such as a pull tab, finger indentation, etc. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show another exemplary locking mechanism  170 . According to this embodiment, each locking mechanism  170  comprises a detent locking mechanism  170 . An exemplary detent locking mechanism  170  includes a cylinder  176  secured to an edge of recess  122 , and a ball  178  and spring  177  secured within the cylinder  176 . Spring  177  and ball  178  can move within cylinder  176  in a generally vertical direction. The ball  178  partially protrudes from the cylinder  176  due to the pressure exerted on the ball  178  by spring  177 . When a hinge  114 ,  116  of display module  110  is pushed between two opposing detent locking mechanisms  170 , ball  178  snaps into an indentation  118  on each end of the hinge  114 ,  116  and pushes against the indentation  118  responsive to the force exerted by spring  177 . The opposing forces exerted on the opposing ends of the hinge  114 ,  116  by the opposing detent locking mechanisms  170  secure the hinge  114 ,  116  to the housing  120 . To release a hinge  114 ,  116  from the housing  120 , the user pulls on the desired hinge  114 ,  116  in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the opposing forces generated by the detent locking mechanisms  170 . Like with the clip locking mechanism  170 , display module  110  and/or housing  120  may include some additional feature to facilitate removing a hinge  114 ,  116  from the detent locking mechanism  170 , such as a pull tab, finger indentation, etc. 
         [0022]    The above describes the invention in terms of a display module  110  having hinges  114 ,  116  along a left and right side of a display module  110  that enable the display to be independently rotated about generally parallel axes of rotation. However, the present invention is not so limited. As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , hinges  114 ,  116  may be disposed along opposing top and bottom sides or edges of display module  110  to enable display  112  to rotate upwardly or downwardly. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , hinges  114 ,  116  may be disposed along adjacent sides or edges of the display module  110  to enable display  112  to rotate along non-parallel and generally perpendicular axes of rotation. It will further be appreciated that display module  110  may include hinges along more than two sides to allow rotation along more than two axes. For example, display module  110  may include hinges along three sides or along all four sides to allow display  112  to rotate in three or more directions. 
         [0023]    As discussed above, display module  110  includes a display  112  that faces outwardly from the mobile device  100  when the hinges  114 ,  116  are secured to housing  120 . It will be appreciated that display module  110  may further include a second display  113  on an opposing back side of the display module  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . According to this embodiment, hinge contacts  115 ,  117  may connect to both displays  112 ,  113 . Alternatively, each hinge  114 ,  116  may include a separate set of contacts for each display  112 ,  113 , where each set of contacts aligns with and mates with a separate set of housing contacts. When both hinges  114 ,  116  are secured to housing  120 , only the front display  112  is visible. However, both displays  112 ,  113  are visible when the display module  110  is rotated about one of the hinges  114 ,  116 . This embodiment enables one or more users to view the displayed information from either side of a rotated display module  110 . 
         [0024]    It will further be appreciated that while the above describes the display module  110  as it relates to a recess  122  in housing  120 , the inventive display module  110  is not required to be associated with a recess  122 . Display module  110  may alternatively rest on top of housing  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , or form some other part of mobile device  100 . 
         [0025]    The above also describes the invention in terms of a rotating display module having hinges fixedly secured to two or more sides of the display module, where the hinges are releasably secured to the housing. However, it will be appreciated that the hinges may alternatively be fixedly secured to the housing and releasable secured to two or more sides of the display module. 
         [0026]    The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.