Abstract:
The invention is related to electronic devices ( 1 ), preferably cell phones or handhelds, containing a layer ( 2 ) and a moving mechanism for this layer ( 2 ), so that the layer ( 2 ) is extractable out of a rest position from the main casing ( 10 ). The described layer ( 2 ) usually contains a keypad ( 3 ). According to the invention, the moving mechanism allows the layer ( 2 ) to be extractable out of his rest position in different directions, preferably in two, three, or four directions. The inventive arrangement allows a more comfortable and flexible use of the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The following invention concerns an electronic device, preferably a cell phone or handheld, containing a layer and a moving mechanism for the layer, which allows the layer to be extractable out of a rest position.  
         [0002]     Electronic devices, especially cell phones, containing layers that are slideable out of a rest position are generally known. Several manufacturers of cell phones are producing that kind of device. The publication EP 944 219 A2 discloses some cell phones of this type.  
         [0003]     Thanks to the miniaturization of electrical components, today it is possible to reduce the size of cell phones significantly and to make them in that way very handy for carrying them around, e.g. in trouser pockets etc. On the other hand, this advantage also creates a drawback: The small size of the casing reduces the surface available for the manipulation of the cell phone and makes therefore the practical handling somewhat inconvenient. The use of a keypad that is arranged on a layer, which is slideable out of the main casing of the cell phone, offers in this respect several advantages.  
         [0004]     It is known that the use of an additional layer, which is extractable out of the main casing, allows the device to be temporarily enlarged. This enlargement makes the surface available for the manipulation of the device bigger for the time it is being used and augments temporarily the cell phone size as a whole, permitting better handling in this way.  
         [0005]     Although containing an extractable layer, the known types on the market offer only a limited possibility to adapt and to increase the casing surface for the manipulation of the device. This limitation has obviously been realized. An attempt to overcome this restriction is made e.g. with mechanisms like in the Nokia 9500 Communicator. This appliance shows another way to increase the casing surface in order to offer a more convenient format to the operator for manipulating the cell phone. The electronic device is foldable and opened it contains a wide screen in landscape format and a keyboard similar to the ones used for PC&#39;s. In this condition the cell phone is even suitable to be operable as a pocket PC. A drawback of this solution is the higher amount of components, which have to be integrated in the cell phone (e.g. two different displays and two different keypads). Further, used as a normal cell phone, there is no additional surface available for the manipulation of the device. The advantage to have a foldable casing is therefore not under all circumstances a benefit.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     The problem the following invention aims to solve is to simplify the electronical device and to make its components more flexible in their use, meaning giving them multipurpose usability.  
         [0007]     According to the present invention, an electronic device, preferably a cell phone or a handheld, containing a layer and a moving mechanism for the layer, which allows the layer to be extractable out of a rest position, is characterized in that the moving mechanism allows the layer to be extractable out of this rest position in different directions, preferably in two, three, or four directions, particularly preferably the moving mechanism is a sliding mechanism. Using layers, which are slideable out of their rest position in different directions, it is possible to use the same layer for different purposes, meaning in different configurations.  
         [0008]     To be slideable out of the rest position, the layer is equipped with a sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism can for instance be shaped according to the  FIG. 5 , which will be explained further below in this description. However, other useful sliding mechanisms are conceivable for the purpose of the invention.  
         [0009]     In a further aspect of the invention, the layer contains one keypad or one touchscreen, whereby the display orientation of the keypad or touchscreen will vary according to the direction the layer is extracted from the rest position. In this way it is possible to use the same keypad or touchscreen in different configurations, giving them in this way a multipurpose usability.  
         [0010]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the layer is extractable out of its rest position in two different directions. In this way, the electronic device can be used with the same layer—containing a keypad or a touchscreen, or a combination therefrom—in portrait or in landscape format.  
         [0011]     The invention can be used for all kind of electronic devices. However, it is especially dedicated for cell phones or for handhelds, or for devices constituting a combination therefrom. The layer is preferably extractable out of his rest position in different directions, preferably in two, three, or four directions. Depending on the direction the layer is extracted out of the rest position, the contained keypad or touchscreen can put on view a different display.  
         [0012]     In the case a keypad is used, that keypad can contain several mechanical keys. Preferably the mechanical keys contain pressure sensors, most preferably piezo sensors.  
         [0013]     Where single mechanical keys are used, it is preferable to enable them to display different signs or the same sign in different directions. To allow this, there exist different possibilities. On one hand it would be possible, that the single buttons show the respective letter in different directions at the same time (by simply printing the same letter in different directions onto the buttons) or at different times, depending on the direction the layer is extracted from the main casing. In the latter case, the key might have two or more integrated lamps, illuminating the letter in the correct direction when the layer is extracted (see figures).  
         [0014]     Instead of using buttons it would also be possible, that the keypad onto the layer comprises—at least partially—a touchscreen. With this solution the touchscreen would be enabled to display different arrangements of virtual keys, depending onto the direction the layer is extracted.  
         [0015]     Preferably the layer in its rest position is integrally retracted within the main casing of the electronic device. It would also be imaginable and part of the invention if the device is only partly retractable within the main casing.  
         [0016]     Usually the electronic devices in which the invention can be applied contain displays. If this is the case, it can be foreseen that the display automatically adapts its display-format according to the direction the layer is extracted. Preferably the electronical device also contains further buttons on its top surface, which can be used multidirectionally. Most preferably these buttons adapt their function or signification depending on the direction the layer is extracted. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The invention will be described in the following with figures. However, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 1, 2  show the same device with the same slideable layer extracted in two different positions  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows the layer integrally retracted in its rest position  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an electronical device containing a touchscreen instead of a keypad  
         [0021]      FIG. 5 a  possible configuration for the sliding mechanism 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     The  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a preferred application of the inventive layer in an electronic device  1 : in a cell phone. Both figures disclose the same cell phone with the same layer  2  extracted in two different directions. In this embodiment the layer  2  contains a keypad  3 . The disclosed keypad  3  contains several mechanicals keys  6 , but it is also conceivable that the keypad  3  contain just pressure sensors. The mechanical keys  6  or the conceivable pressure-sensor-keypad contain preferably piezo sensors. With the layer  2  extracted from the main casing  10  in the way showed in  FIG. 1 , the keypad  3  shows the display  4  in portrait format. The same keypad  3  can put on view another display  5 , once the layer  2  is extracted in the other direction. In this way the keypad  3  shows the display  5  in the landscape format. In the landscape format, having more keys available, the cell phone can be used as a handheld or a pocket-PC. The keypad  3  in the landscape format can be equivalent to a miniaturized PC-keyboard with equivalent functions.  
         [0023]     It should be noticed, that if the keypad  3  is extracted in the portrait-format, showing the display  4 , only a part of the keys of the entire keypad  3  are exposed to the user and available for the manipulation of the electronic device, the other keys remain actually hidden under the main casing  10 .  
         [0024]     From the  FIGS. 1 and 2  it can be easily realized how—in a preferred embodiment of the invention—the single keys  6  are enabled to display different signs or the same sign depending on the direction the layer  2  is extracted. Each key  6 , the  FIGS. 1 and 2  disclose mechanical keys, contains in fact two letters on its surface. However, only one of them is illuminated at a time.  
         [0025]     While one is illuminated, the other remains hidden due to the missing contrast of the surrounding surface of the button (see dashed signs onto the keys of the  FIGS. 1 and 2 ).  
         [0026]     It is conceivable, that the single keys  6  are enabled to display more than two signs, e.g. four signs: One sign for each direction the layer  2  is extractable out of the main casing  10 . It would also be possible, that the single keys  6  are enabled to disclose more that  4  signs, e.g. by providing each key-surface with a kind of digital display (not showed in the figures). This would make sense in the case the same keypad should be used for a multitude of applications, which requires keys showing different functions.  
         [0027]     The figures display further a display  9  on the surface of the cell phone. This element is preferably enabled to display its content corresponding to the direction the layer  2  is extracted from main casing  10 , meaning in portrait or landscape-format.  
         [0028]     The buttons  8  next to the display might also be used for different purposes, depending if and in which direction the layer  2  is extracted.  
         [0029]     The  FIG. 3  shows the same device as the forgoing figures. Here the layer  2  is integrally retracted in its rest position within the main casing  10  or aligned to the main casing  10 . In this configuration, the electronic device  1  has a considerably reduced, small size and is suitable for being carried in pockets. The device might be usable even in this configuration, meaning for calling or receiving calls, though not with all the options available with the keypad extracted.  
         [0030]     The  FIG. 4  shows a cell phone containing a touchscreen  7  instead of a conventional keypad as in the forgoing figures. The use of a touchscreen instead of a keypad is a very convenient solution for the invention, since a touch-screen is able to show several different displays, e.g. different virtual keypads, one for each direction the layer  2  is extracted. Analogous to the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the layer  2  containing the touchscreen  7  can be extracted from the main casing  10  in at least  2  directions, preferably in  4  directions. The illustrated buttons  8  might also change their function; depending in which direction the layer  2  is extracted. In a particular application of the invention, in which the electronic device, e.g. cell phone, is used as a game console, the touchscreen  7  can also be used for displaying a game.  
         [0031]     The  FIG. 5  shows one of several possible sliding mechanism for the inventive purpose. The layer  2  and the main casing  10  are displayed schematically, meaning without any additional elements shown, except for the sliding mechanism.  
         [0032]     To allow the movement of the layer  2 , the main casing  10  contains two L-shaped guide conducts, conduits, or channels  11 , in which two guide pins  12  are slideably arranged. The guide pins  12  are attached to the movable layer  2 . The guide conducts, conduits, or channels  11  and the guide pins  12  have a form-locking design (see cross section X-X), meaning that the guide pins  12 —and therefore the entire layer  2 —are only moveable along the L-shaped guide conducts, conduits, or channels  11 . To strengthen the described sliding mechanism and secure the movement of the layer  2 , the main casing  10  can as well be equipped with a guide pin  14 , while the layer  2  is provided with a corresponding L-shaped guide conduct, conduit, or channel  13 . Equipped with those L-shaped guide conducts, conduits, or channels  11  and  13  and the matching guide pins  12  and, respectively, the layer  2  is perfectly extractable out of its rest position in two different directions.  
         [0033]     It is conceivable to use T- or X-shaped guide conducts, conduits, or channels instead of the just described L-shaped ones. This would allow the layer to move in three or four directions.  
         [0034]     The illustrated layer  2  and main casing  10  may contain on their surface further elements, for example displays, keypads, touchscreens, buttons etc. In practice, the sliding mechanism is preferably built within the layer  2  and therefore practically not visible from the outside.  
         [0035]     The invention is not limited to the forgoing mentioned embodiments. It is especially not limited to be used within cell phones. Several other applications for the invention are imaginable, e.g. in handhelds, pocket-PC&#39;s, or other electronic appliances. The invention is especially suitable for being used in devices representing combinations of the mentioned appliances.  
       LEGEND  
       [0000]    
       
           1  Electronic device  
           2  Layer  
           3  Keypad  
           4  Display of keypad when layer is slid out in portrait position  
           5  Display of keypad when layer is slid out in landscape position  
           6  Mechanical key  
           7  Touchscreen  
           8  Buttons  
           9  Display  
           10  Main casing  
           11  Guide conduct, conduit, or channel on the main casing  
           12  Guide pin  
           13  Guide conduct, conduit, or channel on the layer  
           14  Guide pin