Electronic device slide and tilt mechanism

Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, a first arm member, and a spring. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The electronic circuitry is mounted in the housing. The first arm member is connected between the first housing section and the second housing section. The first arm member is configured to move a portion of the second housing section away from the first housing section. The spring is connected between the second housing section and the first arm member. The spring is configured to exert a torque between the second housing section and the first arm member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic device and, more particularly, to a slide and tilt mechanism for an electronic device.

2. Brief Description of Prior Developments

As electronic devices continue to become more sophisticated, these devices provide an increasing amount of functionality by including such applications as, for example, a mobile phone, digital camera, video camera, navigation system, gaming capabilities, and Internet browser applications. Many of these devices with increased functionality have more than one configuration. Fold and slide mechanisms have been widely used in different kinds of mobile electronic devices to accommodate these multiple configurations. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-004130 discloses a tilt type hinge configuration for an electronic device.

Additionally, there are also recent conventional configurations (such as the AT&T Tilt™ 8925 Kaiser, from High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC)) on the market that combine tilting with sliding so that the display of the device can be opened to allow for better viewing angles as in folding devices. However in the conventional product configurations, the sliding and tilting mechanisms are clearly separate elements.

The conventional solutions have all had either more than two links per side of the product, or the requirement for visible slots in the upper face of the lower part. These conventional solutions also provide volume inefficiencies as they tend to take up a lot of space.

Accordingly, there is a desire to provide an improved mechanism for transforming a two part handset product from a flat closed configuration, to an open and tilted configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, a first arm member, and a spring. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The electronic circuitry is mounted in the housing. The first arm member is connected between the first housing section and the second housing section. The first arm member is configured to move a portion of the second housing section away from the first housing section. The spring is connected between the second housing section and the first arm member. The spring is configured to exert a torque between the second housing section and the first arm member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, an arm member, and a resilient member. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The electronic circuitry is mounted in the housing. The arm member is connected between the first housing section and the second housing section. The resilient member is connected between the second housing section and the arm member. The resilient member is configured to exert a contact force between an edge of the second housing section and the first housing section. The arm member is configured to move the edge of the second housing section along an upper face of the first housing section.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, a first arm member, and a spring. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The electronic circuitry is mounted in the housing. The first arm member is connected between the first housing section and the second housing section. The first arm member is configured to move a portion of the second housing section above a top end of the first housing section. The spring is connected between the second housing section and the first arm member. The spring is configured to tilt the second housing member towards the first housing member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed. A housing including a first housing section and a second housing section is provided. Electronic circuitry is installed in the housing. A first arm member is connected between the first housing section and the second housing section. The first arm member is configured to move a portion of the second housing section away from the first housing section. A spring is connected between the second housing section and the first arm member. The spring is configured to exert a torque on the second housing section.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an opening mechanism is disclosed. The opening mechanism includes an arm member and a spring. The arm member includes a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to be pivotably connected to a first housing section. The second end is configured to be pivotably connected to a second housing section. The spring is connected to the second end of the arm member. A portion of the spring is configured to be connected to the second housing section. The spring is configured to exert a torque between the second housing section and the arm member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an electronic device10incorporating features of the invention. Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

In this exemplary embodiment the device10is a multi-function portable electronic device. However, in alternate embodiments, features of the exemplary embodiment of this invention could be used in any suitable type of hand-held portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a gaming device, a music player, or a PDA, for example. In addition, as is known in the art, the device10can include features or applications such as a camera, a music player, a game player, or an Internet browser, for example. The device10generally comprises a housing12, a transceiver14connected to an antenna16, electronic circuitry18, such as a controller for example, within the housing12, a user input region (which may comprise a keypad for example)20and a display22. The display22could also form a user input section, such as a touch screen. The housing12includes a first housing section24and a second housing section26. It should be noted that in alternate embodiments, more than two housing sections could be provided. Additionally, in alternate embodiments, the device10can have any suitable type of features as known in the art.

The second housing section26is movably connected to the first housing section24between a closed position as shown inFIGS. 1,2and3, and an open position as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 2-5illustrate front and side views of the device10. It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, portions of the housing sections24,26are shown as transparent to further illustrate features of the disclosed device.

In this embodiment, the first housing section24comprises a first user input region20at an upper face28of the first housing section24. The first user input region20may be a keyboard, a keypad, or a keymat, for example. However, it should be noted that alternate embodiments may provide any suitable type of user input region. The first user input region20is visible and accessible when the device10is in the open position shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. In this open position, a top end30of the second housing section26is above (and extends beyond) a top end32of the first housing section24.

The second housing section26comprises the display22. The display22is visible when the device10is in the closed position or the open position. In the open position, the second housing section26is tilted towards the first housing section24to allow for better viewing of the display22while a user is using the input region20.

It is to be noted that although the figures illustrate the first housing section24comprising the user input region20and the second housing section26comprising the display22, alternate embodiments may comprise any suitable location for the user input region and display. Additionally, more than one user input region and/or display may be provided.

The second housing section26is connected to the first housing section24by arm members34. Each of the arm members (or swivel arms)34comprises a first end36and a second end38. The first ends36are pivotably connected to the first housing section24. The second ends38are pivotably connected to the second housing section26. The ends of the arm members (or links)34may be connected to the housing sections24,26by any suitable means which allows for pivoting or rotating of the arm members34between the closed position and the open position. For example, the connection (or pivot points)40between the ends of the arm members34may be simple free-running pivots for example. Additionally, cylindrical hinges42may be provided at the connection between the first end36of the arm member34and the first housing section24. The cylindrical hinges (or cylindrical hinge modules)42could also be used for damping and/or biasing or latching the device (or handset)10in the closed position.

Electrical interconnection between the first housing section24and the second housing section26may be made by fitting a wire or a flexible printed circuit (FPC) cable37along the arm members, or links,34. However, any suitable means for electrically connecting the first housing section24to the second housing section26may be provided. Additionally, the arm members34may be widened or narrowed accordingly to accommodate the suitable type of electrical connection.

The second housing section26also comprises slots44proximate a first end46and a second end48of the device10(shown inFIGS. 4 and 5). The slots (or link recesses)44provide openings within the second housing section26which are suitably sized and shaped to receive the arm members34when the device10is in the closed position.

The device10further comprises a resilient member50, such as a torsion spring for example, between the second end38of each of the arm members34and the second housing section26. The torsion spring50is configured to exert a torque on the second housing section26. The torque provides a turning force (about the pivotable connection40at the second ends38of the arm members34) on to the second housing section26in a first direction52. As the arm members34pivot about the cylindrical hinges42(when the device10is moved from the closed position to the open position), the second housing section26is moved away from the first housing section24. The torque (in the first direction52) exerted by the torsion spring50on the second housing section26biases an edge54of the second housing section26towards the first housing section24and provides a contact force therebetween. The torsion spring50also forces the edge54of the second housing section26into contact with the first housing section24and holds the device (or handset)10open. Thus, as the arm members34pivot, the edge54of the second housing section26slides across the upper face28of the first housing section24.

The arm members34are configured to pivot in a first direction35when the configuration of the device10is changed from the closed position to the open position. The arm members34pivot such that the second ends38of the arm members34rotate about the cylindrical hinges42(at the first ends36of the arm members34) and away from the first housing section24. In the closed position the second ends38of the arm members34are proximate a middle portion of the first housing section24. In the open position, the second ends38of the arm members34are rotated in a direction towards the top end32of the first housing section24. This further places the top end30of the second housing section26above the top end32of the first housing section24such that a middle portion (along the pivot connections40) of the second housing section26is proximate the top end32of the first housing section24. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the slots44may only be provided on one side of the pivot connections40, this allows for the other side to serve as a stopper mechanism (preventing further rotation of the arm member34) and provides the second housing section to be at an angled or tilted relationship with respect to the first housing section (the second housing section may be tilted at an acute angle “A” as shown inFIG. 4for example). However, in alternate embodiments, instead of utilizing the non-slotted side of the second housing section26to prevent further rotation of the arm members34, friction between the edge54of the second housing section26and the first housing section24may provide the stop mechanism.

The disclosed device10provides a new kind of mechanism that allows both sliding and tilting to be implemented in the device10with a simple mechanism. This is accomplished by providing the swivel arm34for cover (or second housing section)26movement where the second end38of the arm member34is connected to the torsion spring50, which biases the cover (or second housing section)26of the device10into a tilted position when opened.

The slide and tilt mechanism (or opening mechanism) uses one link34and one torsion spring50per side (or end)46,48of the device10. The torsion spring50pulls the product into its open position, and then holds it in that position. With the pair of commercially available cylindrical hinges42, cam portions of the hinge modules could hold the product in both its open, and closed positions. However, in an alternate embodiment, a magnetic catch51(or any other suitable type of catch) may be provided to keep the device10in a closed position. In a preferred embodiment, hinge42exerts no force on the arms34to retain the arms34in the open position. Instead, the torsion spring(s)50force the front edge54of the second housing section26into contact with the first housing section24. It is this contact and the continued biasing force of the torsion spring(s)50which maintain the first and second housing sections24,26at the open position until positively closed by the user with the catch51then being strong enough to overcome the bias of the torsion spring(s)50and keep the apparatus closed.

It should be noted that althoughFIGS. 1 and 5illustrate the device10comprising two arm members34and two torsion springs50connected between the first housing section24and the second housing section26, alternate embodiments may comprise any suitable number of arm members34or torsion springs50. For example,FIGS. 6-9illustrate a device10′ comprising a single broad link or arm member34′ and a single torsion spring50′ connected between a first housing section24′ and a second housing section26′. Similar to the slide and tilt mechanism implementation for the device10,FIGS. 6and7illustrate the device10′ in a closed position.FIGS. 8-9illustrate the device10′ in an open position. The arm member34′ and torsion spring50′ are pivotably connected between the first housing section24′ and the second housing section26′ as described above for the device10.

The disclosed device10,10′ provides an improved configuration for transforming a two part handset product from a flat closed configuration, to an open and tilted configuration. The disclosed mechanism is implemented with very few parts, and uses very little volume in the product.

In conventional configurations, the mechanisms allowing for sliding and tilting all have either pairs of connecting links on each side of the device, or slots in the visible upper face of the lower part (or first housing section). With the disclosed configuration, the second housing section26,26′ may be mechanically connected to the first housing section24,24′ by only the arm member(s)34,34′. In other words, the slide and tilt mechanism may only comprise two link members34(one an each end46,48of the device10) or a single link member34′ as in the second embodiment. Additionally, the link recesses44,44′ may only be required in second housing section26,26′. This is accomplished by using only the single spring50on each side of the device to provide the opening force (or just a single spring50′ as in the second embodiment). The disclosed location and implementation of the springs50,50′ eliminates the need for slots in visible faces (such as the upper face28for example) of the device and occupies very little volume. This improves the aesthetics of the device as the link recesses44,44′ are disposed in a portion of the device not visible to the user.

Furthermore, the slide and tilt mechanism is simple, uses very few parts, and occupies very little volume and is also a more robust configuration when compared to conventional designs. The disclosed device10,10′ provides features (such as simple free-running pivots and commercially available cylindrical hinges, for example) allowing for low cost production, providing a good operational feel, while maintaining product reliability.

FIG. 10illustrates an exemplary method100for manufacturing (or assembling) the device10. The method100includes the following steps. Providing a housing12comprising a first housing section24and a second housing section26(step102). Installing electronic circuitry in the housing (step104). Connecting a first arm member34between the first housing section24and the second housing section26, wherein the first arm member34is configured to move a portion of the second housing section away from the first housing section (step106). Connecting a spring50between the second housing section26and the first arm member34, wherein the spring50is configured to exert a torque between the second housing section26and the first arm member34(step108). It should be noted that any of the above steps may be performed alone or in combination with one or more of the steps.