Abstract:
A portable electronic device includes a main body for performing a function of the portable electronic device, a display unit removable or separable from the main body for displaying a result of the function performed by the main body, and a transmission line for electrically connecting the main body and the display unit such that the display unit can be separated from the main body without disconnecting the electrical connection between the display unit and the main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     I. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a portable electronic device and, more particularly, relates to a hand-held communication device.  
         [0003]     II. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     Portable electronic devices such as cell phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants (“PDA”s) or the like are getting more and more popular today. Such portable electronic devices typically include display screens to provide real-time image or information display during operation. In general, a display screen is immobile with respect to a main body of a portable device and is not allowed to separate from the main body during operation.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional portable electronic device  1 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , portable electronic device  1  includes a keypad  2 , a camera lens  3  and a display screen  4 . Display screen  4  is immobile with respect to keypad  2  or camera lens  3 . When in use, a user of portable electronic device  1  typically keeps display screen  4  in sight in order to view in real time an image or picture taken by camera lens  3 . In operation, display screen  4  and camera lens  3  are held at substantially the same elevation or position. In some situations, however, it may be desirable for a user to take a picture through camera lens  3  at a first elevation while viewing its image at display screen  4  at a second elevation different from the first elevation. Moreover, it may be desirable to replace a component such as display screen  4  with another one. It is therefore desirable to have a portable electronic device that allows a display screen to mechanically separate from a camera lens during operation and provides the flexibility of component replacement.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method that obviate one or more problems resulting from the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.  
         [0007]     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device that comprises a main body for performing a function of the portable electronic device, a display unit removable from the main body for displaying a result of the function performed by the main body, and a transmission line for electrically connecting the main body and the display unit allowing the display unit to be separated from the main body without disconnecting the electrical connection between the display unit and the main body.  
         [0008]     In one aspect, the portable electronic device further comprises a chamber for storing the transmission line.  
         [0009]     Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device that comprises a main body for performing a function of the portable electronic device, a display unit for displaying a result of the function performed by the main body, and a transmission line for electrically connecting the main body and the display unit being held at a first position to allow the display unit to engage with the main body, or being held at a second position to allow the display unit to be separated from the main body.  
         [0010]     In one aspect, the display unit and the main body are held at substantially the same elevation when the display unit and the main body are engaged to each other.  
         [0011]     In another aspect, the main body is held at an elevation different from that of the display unit after the display unit is removed from the main body.  
         [0012]     Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a portable electronic device that comprises providing a transmission line, electrically connecting a main body and a display unit of the portable electronic device with the transmission line, and removing the display unit from the main body by elastically releasing the transmission line.  
         [0013]     In one aspect, the method further comprises providing a chamber in the portable electronic device, and storing the transmission line in the chamber.  
         [0014]     In another aspect, the method further comprises operating the display unit at a first elevation, and operating the main body at a second elevation different from the first elevation.  
         [0015]     Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
         [0016]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.  
         [0017]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the present invention and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art portable electronic device;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a hand-held device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 2A  when a display unit is removed from a main body;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2C  is a plan view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a hand-held device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 3A  when a display unit is removed from a main body; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a plan view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a hand-held device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2A , the hand-held device includes a main body  10  and a display unit  20 . Main body  10  further includes a control panel  101 , for example, a keypad, provided on a front surface (not numbered) thereof, and a camera lens  104  provided on a side surface (not numbered) thereof. Display unit  20  further includes a screen  201  disposed on the front surface of main body  10 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 2A  when display unit  20  is separated or removed from main body  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2B , the hand-held device further includes a transmission line  30  for electrically connecting main body  10  to display unit  20 . Transmission line  30  allows display unit  20  to be separated from main body  10  without disconnecting the electrical connection to main body  10 . A first connector  31  disposed at one end of transmission line  30  is electrically connected to a connector  202  disposed in a chamber  203  of display unit  20 . A second connector  32  disposed at the other end of transmission line  30  is electrically connected to a connector  102  disposed in a chamber  103  of main body  10 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2C  is a plan view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 2A . Referring to  FIG. 2C , transmission line  30  for transmitting data signals or power signals between main body  10  and display unit  20  is stored in chamber  103 .  
         [0029]     When the hand-held device is operated in a first mode, as shown in  FIG. 2A  or  FIG. 2C , transmission line  30  is kept in chamber  103 . Display unit  20  is not removed from main body  10 , and has a first orientation relationship with main body  10 . For example, display unit  20  is maintained at substantially the same position or elevation with main body  10  during the first-mode operation.  
         [0030]     When the hand-held device is operated in a second mode, as shown in  FIG. 2B , transmission line  30  is able to be released from chamber  103 . Display unit  20  is removed from main body  10 , and has a second orientation relationship with main body  10 . For example, display unit  20  is maintained at a position or elevation different from main body  10  during the second-mode operation. When display unit  20  is removed from main body  10 , a user is can use camera lens  104  at a first elevation suitable for photography while viewing display screen  201  at a second elevation comfortable to the user. Furthermore, a user can replace a component of the hand-held device, for example, display unit  20 , transmission line  30  or main body  10 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a hand-held device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the hand-held device includes a main body  40  and a display unit  50 . Main body  40  further includes a control element  401 , for example, a shutter button, provided on a front surface (not numbered) thereof, and a camera lens  404  provided on a side surface (not numbered) thereof. Display unit  50  further includes a screen  501  disposed on the front surface of main body  40 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 3A  when display unit  50  is removed from main body  40 . Referring to  FIG. 3B , the hand-held device further includes a transmission line  60  for electrically connecting main body  40  and display unit  50 . Transmission line  60  is made of an elastic and conductive material, and allows display unit  50  to be separated from main body  40  without disconnecting the electrical connection to main body  40 . A first connector  61  disposed at one end of transmission line  60  is electrically connected to a connector  402  disposed in a chamber  403  of main body  40 . A second connector  62  disposed at the other end of transmission line  60  is electrically connected to a connector  502  formed in display unit  50 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 3C  is a plan view of the hand-held device shown in  FIG. 3B . Referring to  FIG. 3C , transmission line  60  for transmitting data signals or power signals between main body  40  and display unit  50  is stored in chamber  403 .  
         [0034]     When the hand-held device is operated in a first mode, as shown in  FIG. 3A  or  FIG. 3C , transmission line  60  is kept in chamber  403 . Display unit  50  is not removed from main body  40 , and has a first orientation relationship with main body  40 . For example, display unit  50  is maintained at substantially the same position or elevation with main body  40  during the first-mode operation.  
         [0035]     When the hand-held device is operated in a second mode, as shown in  FIG. 3B , transmission line  60  is able to be pulled out of chamber  403 . Display unit  50  is removed from main body  40 , and has a second orientation relationship with main body  40 . For example, display unit  50  is maintained at a position or elevation different from main body  40  during the second-mode operation. A user of the hand-held device is thus able to use camera lens  404  at a lower or higher elevation than that of display screen  201 .  
         [0036]     The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.  
         [0037]     Further, in describing representative embodiments of the present invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of the present invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.