Abstract:
An improved mobile electronic device  100  with a unique thin and cost-effective form and design can have a large display  170  and a large full qwerty keypad  138  on the outward surface and can have a capacitive touchpad  186  on the inward surface of the flip  102  or slide that facilitates navigation on the display and can detect and recognize the flip or slide position within the mobile electronic device. A pattern of capacitive traces or wires  202  can be laid out within the layers of a printed circuit board to detect a user&#39;s finger gestures without enlarging or adversely impacting the size of the mobile electronic device. The attractive mobile electronic device can also provide for the use of a speaker port  196  underneath a removable battery door  194  and a way to seal a port under a battery door for audio enhancement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates in general to mobile devices, and more particularly, to mobile electronic devices with an electronic display and a keyboard. In certain embodiments, the mobile electronic device comprises a mobile telephone, but the disclosure is not limited to mobile telephones. 
     2. Background Art 
     There is a significant market for mobile electronic devices with large displays coupled with large, full qwerty keypads, as well as, a unique, thin, and cost-effective mobile electronic device with a keypad on the back of a clamshell device and a single display on the front of the device. 
     The market also desires a familiar navigation method for utilizing the display. Traditional solutions such as 5-way dome layouts, joysticks, or trackballs require significant X, Y, or Z space and often cause reliability issues. 
     Previously, a touch interface has been placed on the back of a mobile device with a tablet form factor. The drawback to this implementation is potential unintended actuation and no physical keypad on which to enter text. Also, in the past porting implementations or speaker holes in conventional mobile electronic devices have typically been unattractive visible holes in the housing. Furthermore, a flip or slider-detect function can be accomplished through the use of a hall-effect sensor and magnet positioned in opposing halves of a conventional mobile electronic device. 
     It is therefore, desirable to provide an improved mobile electronic device which overcomes most, if not all, of the preceding problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An improved mobile electronic device with a unique, thin and cost-effective form and design is provided that is user-friendly, reliable, fun and effective. The attractive mobile electronic device can have a large display and a large full qwerty keypad on the outward surface and can have a capacitive touchpad on the inward surface of the flip or slide that facilitates navigation on the display and can detect and recognize the flip or slide and the orientation of the mobile electronic device. The multi-functional mobile electronic device is easy to use, comfortable and economical. 
     The mobile electronic device can be a radiotelephone, a cellular (cell) phone, a mobile phone, smart phone, flip phone, slider phone, portable networking device, qwerty flip device, wireless device, portable gaming device, mobile communications device, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless e-mail device, a two way pager, internet communication device, hand held electronic device, or combinations of the preceding. Desirably, the mobile electronic device is of a compact size for readily fitting in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, suit pocket, and/or purse. 
     The mobile electronic device can have a touchpad or touch-detecting surface on the rear of a flip or slide device for use as input mechanism. This provides a natural location of pointer fingers when holding the base of the mobile electronic device, so that the user does not need to block the display comprising a touchscreen to navigate and select items on the touchscreen, nor does the user need navigation keys on the keypad in the base. 
     The touchpad or touch-detecting surface can detect when the other half of the mobile electronic device is near it by detecting change in capacitance from the metal housing. This reduces cost of flip/slide detection because the touch surface is used for this additional function. The mobile electronic device is more reliable as it does not rely on a magnetic switch. 
     The mobile electronic device can have a touchpad sensor integrated into the printed circuit board (PCB) of the flip or slide, which can also be used for other functions such as an earpiece speaker and/or a display connection. Advantageously, the touch surface can be implemented without adding the cost of a standalone sensor. The size of the mobile electronic device is not increased because the PCB thickness is already present for other electrical functions. 
     This invention can utilize the rear surface of the flip portion of the mobile electronic device for user interface (UI) navigation. When the mobile electronic device is fully opened, a capacitive or resistive touchpad is positioned on the inward surface of the flip or slide directly behind the display in the outward surface of the flip or slider portion of the mobile electronic device. When the touchpad is touched by the user, the motion of the finger translates to motion within the UI on the forward facing display. This can include highlighting different web links or scrolling through text. It can also include implementing a mouse cursor on the UI which follows the motion of a user&#39;s finger on the back of the mobile electronic device. 
     The capacitive/resistive touch, cursor functionality, and blind navigation techniques in this form for the mobile electronic device is unique and offers many advantages. The X/Y touchpad on the inward surface or rear of the flip prevents the user from having to block the display screen on the outward surface of the flip when navigating as they would when using the touchscreen. The position in the flip prevents unintentional actuation since the user will hold the base and the touchpad is hidden when the flip or slider is closed. Furthermore, the use of this location for a touchpad for a navigation solution eliminates the need for a navigation device on the main keypad which opens space on the keypad for additional functional keys or reducing the X/Y size needed for the keypad. 
     Furthermore, in conjunction with a metal surface on the inside of the transceiver half (base) of the mobile electronic device, the capacitive touchpad could be utilized as a flip or slider detect mechanism. In the closed position, the touchpad on the back or inward surface of the flip or slider, can contact or come into close proximity with a metal battery door or other feature on the inside surface of the base and can be detected by the capacitive touch controller of the touchpad. When the flip or slider is opened, the proximity of metal is removed and the mobile electronic device recognizes the open state. 
     Moreover, by placing a printed circuit board (PCB) in the flip assembly, a pattern of copper traces or wires can be laid out to detect a user&#39;s finger gestures without enlarging or adversely impacting the size of the mobile electronic device. This allows for an additional input and functions with no additional cost for a sensor. 
     A unique mobile electronic device is provided with a novel form factor in which capacitive/resistive touch, cursor functionality, and blind navigation techniques are implemented and offer specific advantages. The X/Y touchpad on the rear of the flip prevents the user from having to block the touchscreen display when navigating as they would when using the touchscreen. The position in the flip prevents unintentional actuation since the user will hold the base and the touchpad is hidden when the flip is closed. Also, the use of this location for a navigation solution eliminates the need for a navigation device on the main keypad and provides space for additional functional keys or reducing the X/Y size needed for the main keypad. 
     The additional use of the touchpad for a flip detect mechanism, is unique and advantageous compared to the mechanical switches or hall-effect-based magnetic switches used in conventional hinged products. This re-use of the navigation pad can be less expensive compared to a magnetic switch implementation. 
     The mobile electronic device utilizes the rear surface of the flip portion of the mobile electronic device for user interface navigation. When the mobile electronic device is fully opened a capacitive or resistive touchpad can be positioned behind the display in the flip portion of the mobile electronic device. When the pad is touched by the user, the motion of the finger translates to motion within the user interface (UI) on the forward facing display. This can include highlighting different web links or scrolling through text. It can also include implementing a mouse cursor on the UI which follows the motion of a user&#39;s fingers on the back of the mobile electronic device. 
     The inventive mobile electronic device can also provide for the use of a speaker port underneath a removable battery door and a way to seal a port under a battery door for audio enhancement. A speaker port has never been done this way before. Most speaker ports are visible on the outside surface of the device. This speaker port can be hidden. It is not usually possible to port sound underneath a surface with good audio without such a seal. 
     The invention also discloses a way to port sound with good audio where the port is hidden. With the mobile electronic device closed, the port is hidden between the two halves of the mobile electronic device. When the mobile electronic device is opened, the port is still hidden underneath the battery door. A seal underneath the removable battery door enables this porting scheme to work with good audio. 
     By utilizing an existing PCB in the flip assembly of the mobile electronic device, a pattern of copper traces can be laid out to detect a user&#39;s finger gestures without impacting the device&#39;s size. This allows for an additional input with no additional cost for a sensor or increased size. This method and stack-up is applicable to a reverse-clam type of form factor as well as traditional clam devices, traditional slider devices, qwerty (QWERTY) side-slide devices, or any other form-factor where the display is housed in a separate portion of the housing that is desired to achieve optimal thinness. 
     The mobile electronic device can comprise a base and a movable portion, such as a flip or slide that is operatively connected to the base, such as by a hinge or slide. The movable portion is movable from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. The mobile electronic device can further comprise: a keypad on the outward surface of said base, a touchscreen comprising a display on the outward surface of the movable portion and a touchpad on the inward surface of the movable portion. The touchpad can comprise a touchpad sensor and preferably comprises a capacitance touchpad for detecting the position of the movable portion. The touchpad can also comprise a navigator for navigating the display. The touchpad can be positioned opposite and operatively connected to the display. Desirably, the touchpad is positioned to be touched by the user without blocking viewing of the display. 
     The novel mobile electronic device can have a printed circuit board in the movable portion and a pattern of capacitive touch traces can be embedded within the printed circuit board for detecting a user&#39;s finger gestures without increasing the size of the mobile electronic device. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the mobile electronic device has: a speaker and a battery in the base, a battery door positioned along the inward surface of the base for accessing the battery, a speaker port hidden underneath the battery door for emitting sound from the speaker, and an acoustic seal that is positioned underneath the battery door for sealing the speaker port for audio enhancement. 
     This invention as described in the specification and patent claims achieves excellent results. 
     A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following detailed descriptions and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a mobile electronic device in accordance with principle of the present invention of the present disclosure shown in a closed position in a tablet mode in which the flip and base are positioned at a zero (0) degree angle relative to each other. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the mobile electronic device shown in the closed position in the tablet mode. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mobile electronic device shown in a partially open position in a media viewing mode. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the mobile electronic device shown in the partially open position in the media viewing mode. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mobile electronic device shown in a fully open position in a text-entry mode. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the mobile electronic device shown in the fully open position in the text-entry mode. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the mobile electronic device shown in the fully open position. 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the mobile electronic device shown in the fully open position. 
         FIG. 9  is a back view of the mobile electronic device shown in the fully open position and illustrating the speaker port. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged back view of part of the mobile electronic device shown in the open position and illustrating the acoustic seal and battery door. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a portion of the flip of the mobile electronic device. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a portion of the base of the mobile electronic device. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a portion of the flip of the mobile electronic device and illustrating a printed circuit board with capacitive touch traces. 
         FIG. 14  is greatly enlarged cross-sectional side view of the rectangular portion  FIG. 13  and illustrating the printed circuit board with capacitive touch traces and non-conductive/decorative layers to bring the touch surface flush with the housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following is a detailed description and explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best modes for practicing the invention. 
     Referring to the drawings, a mobile electronic device  100  can comprise a flip  102  which can be pivotally connected by a hinge  104  to a base  106 . The flip can be pivotable from a closed position, to partially open positions and to a fully open position and vise versa. The mobile electronic device can be movable to different orientations for providing different functionality in the partially open positions. 
     The mobile electronic device can be: a flip phone, slider phone, portable networking device, internet communications device, clamshell device, radio telephone, cellular phone, mobile phone, smart phone, portable gaming device, personal digital assistant, wireless e-mail device, two-way pager, handheld electronic device, or combinations of the preceding. The mobile electronic device preferably is of a compact size for readily fitting in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, suit pocket, and/or purse. 
     The base and the flip each can have an outward (outer) surface  108  or  110 , an inward (inner) surface  111 ,  112 ,  113 , or  114 , edges comprising longitudinal sides  115 ,  116 ,  117  or  118  in a portrait mode, and lateral ends  119 ,  120 ,  121  or  122  in a portrait mode. 
     The base has a transceiver housing  123  (xcvr) and defines an internal base compartment  124  ( FIG. 12 ) that can provide a cavity for containing a battery  126  and a speaker  128 . 
     The base can have a keypad assembly  132  which can comprise a housing (keypad housing)  134  with a rim  136  that can provide a periphery that can surround or partially surround a keypad  138 . The keypad assembly can have backlighting below the keypad. The keypad can be positioned on the outward surface of the base and can face downwardly when the flip is in the partially open position, such as in a media viewing mode. The keypad can be partially transparent, clear and light transmissive. The keypad can comprise: a qwerty keypad, capacitive keypad, keyboard, alpha numeric keys, a base touchscreen, or combinations of the preceding. The keypad can have a capacitive touch surface. The keypad can occupy most, preferably 70% to 99%, of the outward surface of the base. 
     The keypad can also comprise a moldprint keypad with graphics on the underside of the keypad or on a layer below the keypad. Such graphics for the keypad can include one or more of the following: text, numbers, characters, alpha numeric images, color graphics, black graphics, moving graphics, animation, video clips, logos, photographs, decorations, designs, symbols, and other images. 
     In one embodiment, the keypad comprises a tactile qwerty keypad positioned over a series of switches (domes) which a user can depress. The keypad may also change or transform in response to the press of a button or mode change in the user interface from a tactile qwerty keypad to a keypad with a disabled area and a touchable area for user input. 
     A display structure assembly  164  can provide a display module  166  with display housing  168  and a touchscreen display  170  on the outward surface of the flip. The display can be positioned opposite the keypad when the flip is in a closed position in a tablet mode. The display can face upwardly with and in proximity to the keypad when the flip in a fully open position in an e-mail/text mod. The display can be positioned at an angle of inclination when the flip is in a partially open position in a media viewing mode. The display can occupy most, preferably 70% to 99%, of the outward surface of the base. 
     The display can comprise a touchscreen comprising a touch sensitive lens  172  with an input lens surface  174 . Touch sensors can be integrated to either the input surface or the opposite surface of the lens. The touch sensor generates a signal in response to a manually engageable haptic input from a user when the user touches the lens with a finger to emit light forming an image on the lens. The touchscreen display can be can be transparent, clear and light transmissive and can comprise a capacitive touchscreen, an organic light emitting display (OLED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     A touchpad assembly  186  can provide a touchpad sensor  202  with a touchpad cover  204 . The touchpad assembly can also have a housing  188  (touchpad housing) and a bezel (touchpad bezel) which can provide a back plate (touchpad backplate), with or without a rim, for holding the touchpad, such as with adhesive. A touchpad gasket can be positioned between and sealing the touchpad housing to a peripheral portion of the touchpad. 
     The touchpad can be positioned on the inward surface of the flip at a location which is transversely opposite of the display. The touchpad can be a capacitive touchpad for detecting the position of the flip. The touchpad can provide navigation control within the user interface (UI) on the display, such as, but not limited to: highlighting a web link on the display, scrolling through text on the display, clicking to enter a command on the display, and/or implementing a mouse cursor on the touchscreen. The touchpad can also comprise one or more of the following: a zoom control, a magnifier, scroll bar, scroll control, a slide bar in a browser window, enter key, command key, shift key, visual selector, cursor, and/or pointer. The touchpad can occupy a substantial portion, such as from 25% to 75%, of the inward surface of the flip. In the illustrative embodiment, the touchpad is smaller and occupies a smaller area than either the touchscreen display or the keypad. The flip assembly can also have a slot providing a supplemental audio port  193 . 
     Advantageously, the touchpad is positioned to be touched by the user without blocking viewing of the display when the flip is in the partially open and fully open positions. The touchpad can be hidden and inaccessible when the flip is in the closed position. 
     A removable battery door  194  ( FIGS. 9 and 12 ) can be positioned along the inward surface of the base at a location transversely opposite of the keypad. The removable battery door can be substantially hidden and inaccessible when the flip is in the closed position. 
     A speaker port  196  ( FIGS. 9 and 12 ) can be hidden underneath the removable battery door. The speaker port can provide an acoustical passageway for emitting sound from the speaker. 
     An acoustic seal  198  ( FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 ) can be positioned underneath the battery door for sealing the speaker port and directing travel of sound from the speaker underneath the battery door to produce enhanced audio. 
     The flip can have an internal flip compartment that provides a cavity to contain a printed circuit board  200  (PCB) ( FIG. 13 ) in the flip. A pattern of capacitive touch traces  202  ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ) or wires can be embedded within the printed circuit board for detecting a user&#39;s finger gestures without increasing the size of the mobile electronic device. Non-conductive decorative layers  204  can be provided to bring the touch surface of the touchpad flush with the touchpad housing. 
     The hinge can comprise a friction hinge which can have a radial range of motion of 180 degrees or more and can have detents at both ends of travel. This can be achieved through the use of an asymmetrical cam in conjunction with a single tab on a follower. The friction hinge can allow a full 360 degree range of motion with any number of detents at any radial position. The friction hinge also provides a dependable and inexpensive way to produce a tilt in the display of a qwerty flip device or in a qwerty mode. 
     The asymmetric cam can have a cam face which provides an asymmetrical cam surface upon which the follower rides. The asymmetrical cam surface can have two or more detents including, but not limited to, a first detent at a zero (0) degree position for closing the electronic device and a second detent at a position at or beyond 180 degrees so that the electronic device can be partially opened and subsequently pivoted to a fully opened position with the flip opened at an angle at or beyond 180 degrees relative to the base. The detents of the asymmetrical cam can be separated by 210 degrees to allow for 190 degrees of travel and 10 degrees of preload at both ends of travel. In some circumstances, it may be desirable that the cam has more than two detents. The asymmetrical cam can have diametrically opposite curved surfaces diametrically opposite generally flat planar surfaces. 
     Advantageously, the friction hinge provides specific positions of the electronic device including: (1) a closed position in a tablet mode as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in which the flip and base are positioned at a zero (0) degree angle relative to each other at a closing torque, (2) a fully open position in a qwerty mode as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  in which the flip and base are positioned at a open angle at or substantially greater than about 180 degrees at a fully open qwerty torque, and (3) a partially open position in a media viewing mode as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  in which the flip and base are positioned at an open angle substantially greater than the closed position but substantially less than fully open position at a torque less than the closing torque and the fully open torque. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the partially open position in the media viewing mode ranges from 70 degrees to 100 degrees and the fully open position is 180 degrees to 190 degrees in the qwerty mode. 
     In operation and use, in the tablet mode of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flip is held closed using the first detent in the cam. In the closed position, the interior inwardly facing inward surfaces of the flip and base abut and face each other so as to be hidden from view in the interior of the electronic device and are not accessible to the user. In the closed position, the exterior outer surfaces of the flip and base are visible and accessible to the user. 
     In the media viewing mode as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the user sets of the desired angle of the flip and the flip is then held open with a holding torque produced by the friction between the asymmetrical cam and the follower. In the partially open, media viewing mode, the user sets the desired angle of the flip to access the inward surfaces of the flip and base. 
     In the fully open position as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the flip is held open at about 190 degrees using the second detent in the asymmetrical cam. In the fully open position the user can readily and fully access the touchpad, keypad, battery door and touchscreen display. 
     Among the many advantages of the mobile electronic device are:
         1. Superior capability.   2. Superb performance.   3. Enhanced audio.   4. Excellent navigation, scrolling, zooming and magnification.   5. Better detection of finger gestures.   6. Outstanding ability to detect the orientation, angle, position and mode of the flip.   7. Reliable.   8. Comfortable.   9. Light weight.   10. Portable.   11. User friendly.   12. Easy to use.   13. Durable   14. Economical.   15. Attractive.   16. Efficient.   17. Effective.       

     Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications, substitutions, and rearrangements of parts, components, and/or process (method) steps, as well as other uses of the mobile electronic device can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of this invention.