Foldable electronic device

Abstract: A full function keyboard is provided for use with a mobile communication device. The keyboard is constructed in two portions (10, 11) which may be pivoted relative to the body of the device between two positions, one in which the keyboard is hidden and the keypad of the device is exposed for normal use and a second in which the two portions of the keyboard are positioned on opposite sides of the screen of the device to allow holding with both hands and operation with the thumb.

Description: The present invention relates to an electronic device, such as a mobile communications device. Mobile telephones and similar communication devices are rapidly expanding in use and function. Such devices will soon provide Internet access, personal information management, facsimile, messaging, in addition to telephone communication. To accomplish this there is a need to provide keyboards compatible with the more complex applications to which the mobile device will be adapted. Full function keyboards, such as the standard QWERTY typing array of keys and buttons, are difficult to provide while maintaining the compact size required in the mobile device. Such devices on the market today are cumbersome and often require a separate belt pouch for carrying the mobile device on the person of the user. In addition it is necessary to coordinate on screen displays for adaptation to the variety of functions. EP-A-0933908 describes a mobile communications device having a body portion and a lid hingably coupled to the body portion. A key is provided on a surface of the body portion which is covered by the lid when the lid is closed. A key is also provided on an inner surface of the lid. When the lid is open, the keys on the body portion and on the lid provide a keyboard. The present invention seeks to provide an improved electronic device. According to the present invention there is provided an electronic device for operation in multiple application comprising a body element having upper and lower faces relative to usage, a screen constructed in an upper face of the body element to provide a visible display of information to the user, a first panel fixed to the upper face of the body element, a second panel mounted on the body element for pivotal motion thereon between open and closed positions, the second panel having first and second faces, the first face accessible to the user in the closed position and the second face accessible to the user in the open position and a functional keyboard constructed in two portions, a first portion constructed in the second face of the second panel and a second portion constructed in the first panel, each of the functional keyboard portions having an array of keys consistent with a selected function, when the function keyboard is exposed for operative use in the function position and wherein the first and second functional keyboard portions are on opposite sides of the screen in the open position. The first and second panels may be in overlapping alignment in the closed position and on opposite sides of the opposite screen in the open position. The function keyboard may comprise a full function QWERTY key array split in first and second portions constructed respectively in first and second panels. The function keyboard may comprise a game controller with multiple functions keys divided between the first and second panels. The array of keys on the faces of the panels may be offset to prevent interference between the keys of the faces in the closed position. The device may be a mobile communication device and further comprise a communication keypad constructed on the first face of the second panel, the keypad being exposed for operative use in the closed position. The device may further include a control unit, the control unit operating to control the orientation display of the screen consistent with the functional position of the first and second panel that is aligned with the communication keypad in the closed position and aligned with the functional keyboard in the open position. The display on the screen may be rotated 90° between the open and closed positions. The orientations may be controlled by the position of the second panel. The communication device keypad may be locked in an inoperative mode in the open position. Embodiments of the present invention with now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top view of an embodiment of a communications device according to the present invention in a closed position; Figure 2 is a top view of an embodiment of a communications device according to the present invention in an open position; Figure 3a is a side view of an embodiment of a communications device according to the present invention in a closed position; Figure 3b is a schematic illustration of a display orientation when the communications device shown in Figure 3a is in a closed position; Figure 3c is a schematic illustration of the display orientation when the communication device shown in Figure 3a is in the open position; Figure 4 is a block diagram of the control system of an embodiment of a communication device according to the present invention; and Figure 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of this invention. A mobile communication device is provided with a full function keyboard. For the purpose of illustration, this invention will be described with reference to a mobile telephone, but is applicable to other devices such as pagers, game units and the like. As shown in figure 3a, a mobile telephone 1 is constructed having a body 2. The body 2 encloses a screen 3 which provides a display 4 for communicating pertinent information to the user in response to actions by the user. The mobile telephone 1 is constructed having two panels 5 and 6 which are mounted on the body 2. In figure 3, panel 5 is shown fixed to body 2 as a separated component, but it could also be constructed integrally with body 2. Panel 6 is rotatable on the body 2 about an axis x-x as shown in figures 1 and 2. In a first position, referred to as the closed position, panel 6 is rotated into overlapping alignment with panel 5, as shown in figure 3a. Rotating panel 6 has two opposing flat faces 7 and 8. Face 7 is the inner face when panel 6 is in the closed position and face 8 is the outer face in the closed position. In the preferred embodiment, face 8 contains a standard telephone keypad 9 for use when the mobile phone 1 is operating strictly in the communication mode. In the closed position, the device operates as a standard operating mobile telephone with the display 4 of screen 3 oriented in alignment with keypad 9. To provide the full function keyboard of the preferred embodiment of this invention, the key and button array 12, used for the particular application, is divided in half and arranged on left and right keyboard portions 10 and 11, on opposite sides of the screen (3) in the open position. To facilitate operation of the keyboard, it is designed for thumb actuation by both hands. This makes it convenient to hold the small device in both hands and operate the keyboard portions 10 and 11 accurately and efficiently. As shown best in figure 3, the left hand keyboard portion 10 is constructed on face 7 of rotating panel 6 on the opposite side of telephone keypad 9. The right hand keyboard portion 11 is constructed on upper face 13 of panel 5. A back cover is assembled on the face 14 of panel 5. To insure a compact engagement of panels 5 and 6 in the closed position, the portions of key array 12 on the opposing panel faces 7 and 13 are offset to avoid interference in the closed position. To operate the keyboard array 12, panel 6 is rotated approximately 180° to the open position to form a substantially flat unit having right and left keyboard portions separated by screen 3 as shown in figure 2. By holding the left and right hand portions in either hand, the keyboard, thus extended, can be conveniently operated using thumbs. In the open position, outer face 8 of panel6 is oriented away from the user. The display 4 of screen 3 is controlled for orientation in two positions depending on the mode of use. In the closed position, the display 4 is oriented in alignment with the keypad 9, while in the open position the display 4 is aligned with the function key array 12. As shown in figures 3b and 3c, display orientation is rotated 90° between the mobile telephone mode in which panel 6 is in the closed position to the full function mode when panel 6 is in the open position. This is accomplished by providing a panel position indicator 15 which signals control unit 16 when the panel 6 is opened or closed. Control unit 16 may be a microprocessor, display driver or other means including hardware or software. This could be automatic or by a manual button operated by the user. The control-unit 16 will signal the display control 17 to orient the position of the display as needed. In addition, in the open position, keypad 9 will be locked in an inoperative mode by telephone keypad lock 18. In an alternate embodiment shown in figure 5, instead of a keyboard, a game controller keypad is provided. The game keyboard consists of action buttons 19 and motion pad 20 constructed in panels 5 and 6 respectively. The telephone keypad 9 is constructed in the reverse side of panel 6, as described above. As a further alternative, the device could be designed without a communication capability and used as a game unit only. In this manner, a simple and compact keyboard is provided in operative association with a mobile communications device. It should be noted that other key arrays can be used such as the French AZERTY or the German QWERTZ(U). The device would also be useful as a microprocessor based game unit driven by game software or firmware.

Claims: An electronic device for operation in multiple applications comprising: a body element (2) having upper and lower faces (13,14), relative to usage; a screen (3) constructed in the upper face (13) of said body element to provide a visible display (14) of information to the user; a first panel (5) fixed to the upper face (13) of said body element; a second panel (6) mounted on the body element for pivotal motion thereon between open and closed positions, said second panel (6) having first and second faces (7,8); said first face (8) accessible to the user in said closed position and said second face (7) accessible to the user in said open position; and a function keyboard constructed in two portions (10,11), a first portion (10) constructed in the second face (7) of said second panel (6) and a second portion (11) constructed in said first panel (5), each of said function keyboard portions having an array (12) of keys consistent with a selected function, wherein said function keyboard is exposed for operative use in the open position, characterised in that said first and second functional keyboard portions (10,11) are on opposite sides of said screen (3) in the open position. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second panels (5,6) are in overlapping alignment in the closed position and wherein said first and second panels are on opposite sides of said screen (3) in the open position. An electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said function keyboard comprises a full function QWERTY key array split in first and second portions (10,11) constructed respectively in said first and second panels (5,6). An electronic device according to any preceding claim, wherein said function keyboard comprises a game controller with multiple functions keys (19,20) divided between said first and second panels (5,6). An electronic device according to any preceding claim, wherein said array (12) of keys on said faces of said panels (5,6) are offset to prevent interference between the keys of said faces in the closed position. An electronic device according to any preceding claim, wherein said device is mobile communication device and further comprises a communication keypad (9) constructed on said first face (8) of said second panel (6), said keypad being exposed for operative use in the closed position. An electronic device according to claim 6, further including a control unit (16), said control unit operating to rotate the orientation of the display (4) on the screen (3) consistent with the functional position of the first and second panels (5,6) so that it is aligned with said communication keypad (9) in the closed position and aligned with said functional keyboard (10,11) in said open position. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the display (4) on the screen (3) is rotated 90° between said open and closed positions. An electronic device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said orientation is controlled by the position of the second panel (6). An electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the communication device keypad (9) is locked in an inoperative mode in the open position.

Inventors: FINKE-ANLAUFF ANDREA, FINKE-ANLAUFF, ANDREA
Applicants: NOKIA CORP, NOKIA CORPORATION
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: H04M1, G06F3