Display for a portable terminal

A portable terminal having personal computing capability and wireless telecommunications capability. The portable terminal includes a display that is integral with, or otherwise attached to, a display. A housing is rotatably-coupled to the base and/or display. The portable terminal can be closed, wherein the housing overlies the base, or open, wherein base and housing flank the display. The display is fully visible to a user whether the portable terminal is open or closed. When open, a keyboard having keys that are apportioned between the housing and the base is accessible. To accommodate a change in the way in which a user is likely to hold and view the portable terminal when it's closed versus when it's open, the image in the display screen is rotated on command, or automatically, when the portable terminal is opened.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to a hand-held processor having wireless communications capabilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand-held processors, which are commonly called Personal Digital Assistants (“PDAs”), are becoming increasingly popular. PDAs possess relatively limited information processing, storage and retrieval capabilities. With these limited capabilities, a PDA performs specific tasks, such as functioning as an electronic diary, phone book, personal database, memo taker, calculator, alarm clock, etc. A user inputs data directly into a PDA using a stylus or a reduced-size keyboard. Additionally, PDAs are generally capable of exchanging information with a desktop computer, either by a physical connection or an infrared transceiver. PDAs typically include a relatively large display (i.e., large relative to the overall size of the PDA) and several buttons or keys for accessing specific applications and for scrolling to view information. Some PDAs also include a reduced-size keyboard.

Lately, wireless telecommunications capabilities have been incorporated into PDAs. Doing so provides advanced functions such as transmitting, receiving and displaying text messages. It also relieves a user of having to transport both a PDA and a wireless terminal (e.g., cellular telephone, pager, etc.).

Currently, most of the combined PDA/wireless terminals have one or more shortcomings that relate, among other areas of deficit, to compromised ergonomics or “user-friendliness” relative to a dedicated PDA or a dedicated wireless terminal. For example, some combined PDA/wireless terminals have hinged keyboards that rotate from a closed position to an open position for use. In some of these devices, the telecommunications capabilities can be accessed whether the keyboard is in the open or the closed position. While this arrangement provides a convenience for the user, it causes problems related to the usability of the display and the keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a combined PDA/wireless terminal (hereinafter a “portable terminal”) that avoids some of the shortcomings of combined PDA/wireless terminals in the prior art.

A portable terminal in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes a base, a housing, and a display having a display screen. The housing is rotatably-coupled to the base and/or display. The portable terminal can be closed, wherein the housing overlies the base, or open, wherein the housing and the base flank the display. The portable terminal is opened by rotating the housing out-of-plane of the base. The display is fully visible to a user whether the portable terminal is open or closed.

The telecommunications capabilities of the portable terminal can be accessed when the portable terminal is closed and when it is open. Most of the PDA capabilities of the portable terminal are accessed when the portable terminal is open, wherein a keyboard having keys that are apportioned between the housing and the base is accessible.

When the portable terminal is open, it is typically held by a user in a different orientation than when it is closed. In particular, when closed, the portable terminal is held like a phone (i.e., in a “vertical” orientation) and, when open, it is typically held like an open book (i.e., in a “horizontal” orientation). The display screen is rotated relative to the user as between these two positions. Consequently, if text appears “right-side-up” when the portable terminal is closed, it will appear to a user to be on its side when the portable terminal is open.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the image in the display screen is rotated 90 degrees when the portable terminal is opened. This rotation re-orients the image so that it is “right-side-up” to a user (when he or she changes the orientation of the portable terminal). The image in the display screen can be electronically rotated, either automatically as the portable terminal is opened or by user command (a keystroke, etc.). In a variation of the illustrative embodiment, the display itself can be physically rotated.

In some variations of portable terminal, when the image in display screen is electronically rotated, the functionality of certain soft “convenience” keys that border the screen is also “shifted” or “rotated.” The functionality is shifted so that a key appearing in a certain position relative to the display, from the user's perspective, always performs the same function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This Detailed Description begins with a relatively high-level description of the functionality of various circuitry/components (hereinafter collectively “components”) that compose a portable terminal in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Following this, various physical implementations of some these components, and their mechanical and functional interrelationships with other parts of the portable terminal, are described.

FIG. 1is a high-level block diagram of portable terminal100in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Portable terminal100provides both wireless telecommunications capabilities and personal computing (i.e., PDA-type) capabilities.

With regard to its telecommunications capabilities, portable terminal100is capable of transmitting and receiving both voice and data with wireless base stations (not shown) or other wireless terminals, or both. Additionally, portable terminal100is capable of supporting telecommunications with wireline terminals through a wireless base station and wireline infrastructure. As to its personal computing capabilities, portable terminal100provides typical PDA computing and storage capabilities, including, without limitation, scheduling, address book storage and retrieval, note-taking, and an ability to run a variety of application software packages (e.g., calculators, games, etc.).

Control circuitry102is advantageously capable of coordinating and controlling the other components of portable terminal100to provide, as appropriate, wireless telecommunications capability and personal computing capability, in known fashion. Control circuitry102typically includes a processor, memory, and electrical interconnections, among other hardware. In some variations of the illustrative embodiment, a single processor is used for carrying out and controlling PDA operations and wireless telecommunications operations. In some other variations, separate processors are used for PDA operations and wireless telecommunications operations.

It will be understood that as used herein, the term “processor” equivalently means a single integrated circuit (“IC”), or a plurality of ICs or other components that are connected, arranged or otherwise grouped together, such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, application-specific integrated circuits, associated memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.) and other ICs and components. Control circuitry102can include programmed general-purpose hardware or special-purpose hardware, or both.

Transmitter104and receiver106provide wireless telecommunications capability to portable terminal100at radio frequencies. Embodiments of present invention can use any access technology (e.g., frequency-division multiple access, time-division multiple access, time-division duplex, code-division multiple access, etc.) and any modulation scheme (e.g., frequency shift keying, quadrature phase-shift keying, etc.) in accordance with any interface (e.g., IS-41, IS-54, IS-95, GSM, etc.). Furthermore, portable terminal100can transmit and receive at any frequency (e.g., 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, etc.). It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use transmitter104, receiver106and antenna108.

Speaker110is capable of outputting an acoustic signal (e.g., the speech of another person, an alerting or ringing signal, etc.) to a user of portable terminal100in well-known fashion. Furthermore, control circuitry102is capable of adjusting the volume of the acoustic signal output from speaker110.

Microphone112is capable of receiving an acoustic signal (e.g., the speech of the user of portable terminal100, etc.), converting it to an electrical signal containing information that is indicative of the acoustic signal, and of conveying that information to control circuitry102for transmission via transmitter104in known fashion.

Display114is a visual display for outputting information (e.g., text, images, video, etc.) to a user of portable terminal100. Display114includes a display screen, such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), and various electronics that, in conjunction with control circuitry102, drives the display screen. Display114also typically includes a light source (not depicted) for illuminating the display screen. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use display screen114.

Keyboard116is a tactile input device that includes a set of keys that enables portable terminal100to receive information from a user. The keys in keyboard116can be used to input a variety of different types of information to portable terminal100. For example, the keys of keyboard116can be representative of, without limitation, alphabetic characters of an alphabet, numerals, mathematical operators, mathematical functions, specific commands that are useful in conjunction with certain types of application software (e.g., games, etc.), retail items (e.g., food and drink that is offered by a restaurant, specific types of inventory in a warehouse, etc.).

Keyboard116can include one or more keypads (i.e., regional groupings or grids of numerical and/or function keys arranged for efficient use). Advantageously, keyboard116is illuminated by a light source, under the control of control circuitry102, to aid the user of portable terminal100to enter information into keypad116. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use keyboard116.

Additional tactile input devices118include keys or key-like elements (e.g., a joystick, etc.) that are not physically co-located with the group of keys that define keyboard116. These additional keys enable user to deliver information to portable terminal100. In some embodiments, the information provided by additional tactile input devices118is different than the information that can be provided via the keys in keyboard116. For example, one additional tactile input device118is a pointing device that moves a cursor in display screen114. A second additional tactile input device118is a scroll button that allows a user to scroll through menu selections that are presented in display screen114. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use additional tactile input devices118.

Infrared transceiver120is a device (e.g., an IrDA compliant device, etc.) that enables portable terminal100to communicate with other devices by modulating infrared light. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use infrared transceiver120.

Keyboard-open sensor122is a device that senses when keyboard116, which in some variations of the illustrative embodiment is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, is in the open position (and/or is being opened). A signal from the keyboard-open sensor is delivered to control circuitry102, which, as appropriate, can take certain actions, as described later in this specification. Keyboard-open sensor122can be implemented in any of variety ways known to those skilled in the art (e.g., as a mechanical sensor, as an optical sensor, etc.).

Environmental sensor(s)124are one or more devices that sense ambient environmental factors (e.g., temperature, vibration, noise, light, motion, etc.). Environmental sensor(s)124generate a signal that is responsive to the environmental factor, and the generated signal is received by control circuitry102. The control circuitry then alters certain aspects of various components (e.g., the level of illumination that is provided to display screen114and/or keyboard116, the volume of speaker110, etc.).

It will be appreciated that the specific implementation of environmental sensor(s)124is a function of the environmental factor that is being sensed. For example, when environmental sensor124is required to sense ambient noise, environmental sensor124can be, for example, a microphone, such as microphone112. When environmental sensor124is required to sense ambient light intensity, it can be, for example, a cadmium-sulfide photoresistor, a charge-coupled device, or other known light-sensitive device. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use environmental sensors124.

Power supply126supplies electrical power to the components of portable terminal100that require power (e.g., processor(s), display screen114, sensors122and/or124, etc.). Power supply126is advantageously implemented with rechargeable or replaceable batteries. In some embodiments, at least two separate power supplies126are provided. One of the supplies, which is the primary power supply, has greater energy output and storage capacity and is used for powering portable terminal100during normal operations. The second supply is a back-up that is used, for example, to maintain data (e.g., address book information, scheduling information, etc.) in memory when the primary power supply is removed (e.g. for replacement, etc.).

Various physical implementations of the components that are described (functionally) above, and their mechanical and functional interrelationships with other parts of the portable terminal, are described in applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/161,831 “Portable Terminal With Foldable Keyboard”), which is incorporated herein by reference. Many of the components that are described therein, and which are properly included in at least some versions of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, are not described herein. The purpose for these omissions is to maintain a focus on elements that are germane to an understanding of the present invention. Also, for the sake of clarity, the components that have been described in terms of their functionality (see FIG.1), are provided with a “call-out” (i.e., numerical identifier) that is in the range102through198. The illustrative physical implementations these components, some of which appear inFIGS. 2 through 6D, have been provided with a different call-out. The purpose for this is that, in some cases, a component, as functionally described, incorporates more elements (additionally circuitry, etc.) than is depicted in the illustrative physical implementations.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, portable terminal100can be used in either of two basic configurations: “closed,” as depicted inFIGS. 2,3, and5A or “open,” as depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5D.

When portable terminal100is closed, housing340is superposed over base338so that the two housings coincide and serve as a handle for gripping the portable terminal100in the manner of a conventional wireless phone. Additionally, in this state, base338and housing340serve as a cover for a keyboard. As described further below, the keyboard is partitioned into two portions, one disposed on the inner surface of the base and the other on the inner surface of the housing. When closed, portable terminal100can be used to make and receive telephone calls.

To use various PDA-type applications (e.g., address book, schedule, etc.) of portable terminal100or to enter alphanumeric data (e.g., to send a data message, etc.), the keyboard of portable terminal100is accessed. To do so, portable terminal100is opened by rotating housing340out-of-plane away from base338, as illustrated inFIGS. 5B and 5C.

In the illustrative embodiment, the keyboard is implemented in two portions, keyboard portion548and keyboard portion550. Keyboard portion548is disposed within base338and keyboard portion550is disposed within housing340. When portable terminal100is open, display228is disposed between keyboard portion548and keyboard portion550.

In the illustrative embodiment, housing340is rotated 180 degrees out-of-plane to a “fully-open” position. It will be understood, however, that housing340need not be rotated a full 180 degrees to access and use the keyboard. In fact, a user might prefer to rotate housing340somewhat less than 180 degrees (e.g., 160 degrees rotation, etc.). In particular, some users might find that when base338and housing340are less than 180 degrees apart, less stress is placed on their wrists, especially during periods of extended use (e.g., game playing, etc.). Alternatively, in some variations of portable terminal100, housing340is rotatable beyond 180 degrees, again for the comfort of the user.

As suggested above, when portable terminal100is closed, it is most likely to be used in the manner of a conventional wireless terminal to send and receive calls.FIG. 6Adepicts portable terminal100(keyboard housing230shown in phantom) closed. From the perspective of a user that is holding “closed” portable terminal100in front of himself or herself, N(orth) is “up,” S(outh) is “down,” E(ast) is “right,” and W(est) is “left,” (this is the same view that is presented to the reader, as he or she gazes at FIG.6A). So, to the user, the word “CLOSED,” which appears in display screen232, is properly oriented for reading.

As previously indicated, when it is open, portable terminal100is most likely being used as a PDA.FIG. 6Bdepicts portable terminal100(base338and housing340shown in phantom). From the perspective of a user that is holding “open” portable terminal100in front of himself or herself, N(orth) is “right,” S(outh) is “left,” E(ast) is “down,” and W(est) is “up.” This is the view that is presented to the reader when he or she rotatesFIG. 6Bclockwise by 90 degrees. So, to the user, the word “OPEN,” which appears in display screen232, is not properly oriented for reading. (A user could use portable terminal100in the manner of a “flip-phone” [i.e., in a vertical orientation] when it is open, so that the word “OPEN” would be properly oriented for reading. But this would make it very difficult to use the keyboard, in particular the alpha-character keys.)

Consequently, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the image in display screen232is rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees. For a user that is holding portable terminal100in a “horizontal” orientation (i.e., housing340to the right of display228and base338to the left of display228), this re-orients the image so that it is in a “normal” reading orientation. This horizontal orientation is assumed to be the user's orientation for the description ofFIGS. 7A,7B and8A and8B, below. Consequently, these Figures should be viewed as indicated by the arrows that appear in those Figures.

Rotation can be accomplished in at least two ways. One way is to electronically rotate the image. Electronic rotation is described with reference toFIGS. 7A,7B and10.FIG. 7Adepicts open portable terminal100before the image in display screen232is electronically rotated. InFIG. 7A, screen image N(orth) is “right,” and screen image W(est) is “up,” etc. To a user, the word “OPEN,” which appears in display screen232, is not properly oriented.

FIG. 7Bdepicts open portable terminal100after the image in display screen232is electronically rotated. InFIG. 7B, screen image N(orth) is “up,” screen image W(est) is “left,” etc. To a user, the word “OPEN,” which appears in display screen232, is now properly oriented.

Portable terminal100is advantageously capable of automatically (i.e., in the absence of an explicit command from the user) electronically rotating the image in display screen232and also capable of electronically rotating the image on command from the user. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, automatic rotation is triggered as a user rotates housing340away from base338to open portable terminal100. More particularly, when keyboard open sensor122senses that the portable terminal100is being opened, it sends a signal to control circuitry102. When the signal is received by control circuitry102, image-rotating processing rotates the image in display screen232. It is within the capabilities of those skilled in the art to electronically rotate an image, so implementation details are not described here.

Alternatively, a user can cause an image in display screen232to electronically rotate by explicit command. That is, the user can rotate the image by depressing a key. This key can be, without limitation, a key in keyboard portion548or keyboard portion550or one of convenience keys236.

FIG. 10depicts a high-level block diagram that illustrates, among other functions, electronic image rotation, as described above and performed by control circuitry102. As depicted inFIG. 10, an image is generated in operation962. In operation964, the image is rotated (e.g., counterclockwise by 90 degrees, etc.) if user-generated rotate command966is issued (e.g., a user depressing a key, etc.) or if automatic rotate command968is issued (e.g., from keyboard open sensor122, etc.). To rotate the image 90 degrees counterclockwise, the image is transformed as follows:
(x,y)→(−y,x)  [1]where: x and y are the coordinates in a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.
Operations962,964,966, and968can be performed by hardware, software, or a combination of both. When portable terminal100is closed (after having been open) such that keyboard-open sensor122no longer senses an “open” condition, image rotation ceases. Alternatively, a keystroke by a user can cause the image rotation to stop.

A second way to rotate the image is to physically rotate display228(or display screen232). Physical rotation is illustrated with reference toFIGS. 8A and 8B.FIG. 8Adepicts open portable terminal100before display228is rotated (e.g., by hand, etc.). InFIG. 8A, screen image N(orth) is “right,” and screen image W(est) is “up,” etc. To a user, the word “OPEN,” which appears in display screen232, is not properly oriented.

It will be appreciated that portable terminal100must be specifically configured or adapted to enable display228to rotate independently of housing340and base338. Representative of such an adaptation is an arrangement consisting of ball858and two hemispherical detents860A and860B. When ball858engages detent860A, display228locks in place with the orientation depicted in FIG.8A. With turning force, ball858disengages from detent860A and display228is free to rotate. With continued rotation, ball858engages detent860B, such that display228is locked in place with the orientation depicted in FIG.8B. InFIG. 8B, screen image N(orth) is “up,” screen image W(est) is “left,” etc. To a user holding portable terminal100in a horizontal position (as described above), the word “OPEN,” which appears in display screen232, is now properly oriented. A variety of other arrangements, as are well known to those skilled in the art, that enable display228to rotate independently of housing340and base338can suitably be used in other variations of the illustrative embodiment.

In some variations of portable terminal100, display228includes four convenience keys236. For example, inFIGS. 9A and 9B, which show display228without housing340and base338, display228includes convenience keys236-1,236-2,236-3, and236-4bordering the corners of display screen232. In variations of the portable terminal100in which the image in display screen232(but not display228) is rotated (i.e., electronic image rotation), the spatial orientation of convenience keys236-1,236-2,236-3, and236-4changes, relative to the image, upon such rotation. This scenario is illustrated byFIGS. 9A and 9B.

InFIG. 9A, portable terminal100is closed, and a user views display screen232as indicated by the arrows. Consequently, the user sees convenience key236-1bordering the upper left of display screen232and convenience key236-2bordering the lower left of display screen232, etc. Assume that the user opens portable terminal100. And, in conjunction with this, assume that the image in display232is electronically rotated as described above and the user repositions portable terminal100such that it is being held in a horizontal position and viewed as shown by the arrows in FIG.9B.

From the user's perspective, convenience key236-1no longer borders the upper left of display screen232and convenience key236-2no longer borders the lower left of display screen232. As can be seen fromFIG. 9B, the user sees convenience key236-1bordering the upper right of display232and convenience key236-2bordering the upper left of display screen232.

If the various convenience keys perform different functions, this change in spatial orientation might be problematic for a user. In particular, with continued use, a user will tend to associate the function of a first convenience key with its position relative to the screen (e.g., the key to the lower-left of the screen accesses a telephone directory, etc.). But when the image is electronically rotated, and the user changes his or her perspective relative to portable terminal100, a second convenience key is, from the user's perspective, now in the position that was occupied by the first convenience key. Consequently, to the extent that a user associates the function of a key with its position relative to display screen232, he or she must recognize that the function will change depending upon whether portable terminal100is open or closed. This is undesirable.

In accordance with some variations of portable terminal100, when the image in display screen232is electronically rotated, the functionality of convenience keys236is “shifted” or “rotated” accordingly so that a key appearing in a certain position relative to the display, from the user's perspective, always performs the same function. So, for example, the convenience key that appears, from a user's perspective, at the lower left of the display always accesses the telephone directory, etc. For the scenario illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B, the functionality of each convenience key should be “shifted” to the convenience key that next appears with counterclockwise rotation. That is, the functionality of convenience key236-1is shifted to convenience key236-2, the functionality of convenience key236-2is shifted to convenience key236-3, etc. To this end, convenience keys236are advantageously software re-definable (i.e., soft) keys.

It will be understood that the terms “shifted” or “rotated,” as used to describe the change in function of convenience keys236, is intended to be descriptive of the end result rather than the process itself. That is; the functionality of one key is not actually shifted to another; rather, the operation of the keys are simply redefined or reprogrammed by the circuitry/software of portable terminal100in known fashion. This is the sense in which the terms “shifted” or “rotated” are used in this description and the appended claims with regard to convenience keys236.

FIG. 10depicts a high-level block diagram of method900for operating portable terminal100. The method pertains to rotation of an image and shifting of convenience-key functionality, as described above and performed by control circuitry102.

As depicted inFIG. 10, in operation970, the functionality of convenience keys962is rotated (e.g., counterclockwise by 90 degrees, etc.) if user-generated rotate command966is issued (e.g., a user depressing a key, etc.) or if automatic rotate command968is issued (e.g., from keyboard open sensor122, etc.). Operations966,968, and970can be performed by hardware, software, or a combination of both. When portable terminal100is closed (after having been open) such that keyboard-open sensor122no longer senses an “open” condition, rotation of image or shifting of convenience-key functionality ceases. Alternatively, a keystroke by a user can cause the rotation and shifting to stop.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.