Abstract:
A portable telephone ( 100, 700 ) such as a flip type cellular telephone is provided with a pivoting head ( 112, 710 ), that includes a multipurpose auxiliary display ( 118, 720 ), and a camera ( 122, 716 ). The pivoting head facilitates using the camera to capture pictures of the user of the cellular telephone, or of a scene that the user is observing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to cellular telephones. More particularly, the present invention relates to clamshell style cellular telephones. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the past decade the use of cellular telephones has increased to the point that a high percentage of people in many societies carry cellular telephones with them at all times and enjoy the ready access to telephonic communications that the cellular telephones provide. Recently, there is an interest in enhancing the functionality of phones, so that users who already carry cellular telephones will be able to make greater use of them. In this vein, and in anticipation of increased cellular network bandwidth, recently cameras have been integrated into cellular phones, in order to allow user to transmit still pictures and video. 
     Cellular telephones having a statically mounted camera facing the front of the cellular telephone, allow users to take a picture of themselves while operating controls on the front of the telephone. However simultaneously operating controls on the front of the telephone, while taking a picture of a scene in front of the user is ergonomically problematic. 
     One ergonomically advantageous cellular telephone is the clamshell type. Clamshell type cellular phones are quite small when folded allowing them to be easily stowed, while at the same time when opened up to an obtuse angle are long enough to bridge the distance between the ear and mouth. Recent models of clamshell type cellular telephones have small displays on the outside of the top half that are viewable when the telephone is closed. Such small displays are used to display caller ID information to the user without the user having to open the telephone, thus allowing the user to selectively answer calls without opening the telephone, and allowing the telephone to be configured to automatically answer incoming telephones when the user opens the telephone. However, the use of such displays is limited since they are not visible when the telephone is opened and the user is facing the main display, and keyboard. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cut away front view of an embodiment of a clamshell cellular telephone including a pivoting head in a first position; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut away side view of the clamshell cellular telephone shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut away side view of the clamshell cellular telephone shown in  FIGS. 1–2  with the pivoting head in a second position; 
         FIG. 4  is a graph including plots of profiles of a cam and complementary follower included in the cellular telephone shown in  FIGS. 1–3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the follower represented in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a lower part of an upper half of the cellular phone shown in  FIGS. 1–3 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment cellular telephone. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
     The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 
       FIG. 1  is a cut away front view of an embodiment of a clamshell cellular telephone  100 , and  FIG. 2  is a cut away side view of the clamshell cellular telephone  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The cellular telephone  100  comprises a lower half  102  that includes a keypad  104 , and encloses electrical circuits on one or more circuit boards (not shown). An antenna  202  attaches to the lower half. The cellular telephone  100  further comprises an upper half  106 , that is coupled to the lower half  102  by a hinge  108 . The hinge  108  includes a hinge axis  109 . The upper half is known in the art as the ‘flip’. 
     The upper half  106  comprises a lower part  110  that is coupled to the lower half  102  of the cellular telephone by the hinge  108 , and a pivoting head  112  that is coupled to the lower part  110  by a pivot mechanism  114 . A main display  116  for the cellular telephone  100  is located at a surface  117  of the lower part  110  of the upper half  106 . The pivoting head  112  includes an auxiliary display  118 , an earpiece speaker  204 , and a camera  122 . The auxiliary display  118  is located on a first side  120  of the pivoting head  112 , and the earpiece speaker  204 , and the camera  122  are located adjacent a second side  206  of the pivoting head  112 . The pivoting head  112  includes an acoustic port  208  proximate the earpiece speaker  204  on the second side  206 . In use a user positions the cellular telephone  100 , so that the acoustic port  208  is adjacent the user&#39;s ear. The second side  206  of the pivoting head  112  also includes an aperture  210  through which the camera  122  views a scene in the surroundings of the cellular telephone  100 . 
     Generally, when the user is entering data or commands and/or configuring the cellular telephone  100 , the cellular telephone  100  will be positioned so that the keypad  104  and the main display  116  face the user. This position facilitates operating the keypad  104  to control the cellular telephone  100 , and viewing the main display  116  in order view information displayed on the main display  116  in response to keystrokes. 
     In the position shown in  FIG. 2 , the pivoting head  112  is oriented so that the auxiliary display  118  faces in a direction opposite to the direction the main display  116  faces. When the auxiliary display  118  faces away from the main display  116  and the cellular telephone  100  is closed by bringing the upper half  106  along with the pivoting head  112  to the lower half  102 , the main display  116  will be concealed, but the auxiliary display  118  will be exposed and is then suitably operated to display caller ID information, or text message information to the user without the user having to open the cellular telephone  100 . Furthermore, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , with the cellular telephone  100  open, the earpiece speaker  204  is suitably positioned for conducting telephone conversations, and the camera  122  is suitably oriented to take a picture of the user if the user holds the cellular telephone  100  in front of his or her face. 
       FIG. 3  is a cut away side view of the clamshell cellular telephone  100  shown in  FIGS. 1–2  with the pivoting head  112  in a second position. The configuration shown in  FIG. 3  is the same as that shown in  FIG. 1  and different from that shown in  FIG. 2 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , the pivoting head  112  is oriented so that the auxiliary display  118  faces in the same direction as the main display  116 . In this orientation, the camera  122  faces in a direction opposite to the direction that the main display  116  faces. Thus if the user holds the telephone  100  so that the keypad  104 , and the main display  116  faces him or her, then the camera  122  will be oriented to view the same scene that is viewed by the user looking beyond the telephone  100 . In this configuration the main display  116  is suitably operated to display the scene captured by the camera  122 , and the auxiliary display  118  is suitably operated to display a text message as it is composed by the user using the keypad  104 . The user can readily compose a text message or notation that is to be associated with a picture taken by the camera  122  while taking the picture. The picture along with the message or notation is then suitably stored in the cellular telephone  100 , or transmitted through a cellular network (not shown). 
     Thus, depending on the orientation of the pivoting head  112 , the camera  122  can be oriented to take a picture (or video) of the user while the user operates the keypad  104  (e.g., to control the camera), or to take a picture (or video) of a scene in front of the user while the user operates the keypad  104 . 
     As indicated in  FIGS. 2–3  the pivot mechanism  114  includes a pivot axis  212 . The pivot axis  212  is normal to, though does not necessarily intersect, the hinge axis  109 . The lower part  110  of the upper half  106  of the cellular telephone  100  includes a longitudinal axis  214 . The longitudinal axis  214  is parallel to the plane of the main display  116 , and perpendicular to the hinge axis  109 . In the perspective of  FIGS. 2–3 , the pivot axis  212  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by an acute angle of alpha relative to the longitudinal axis  214 . Setting the pivot axis  212  at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis  214  allows the pivoting head  112  to be oriented to face different azimuthal angles about the longitudinal axis  214 . The pivot axis  212  and the longitudinal axis  214  define a plane that is perpendicular to the first  120 , and second  206  sides of the pivoting head  112 . The angle between the pivot axis  212  and the longitudinal axis  214  is suitably less than 20 degrees, and more suitably less than 15 degrees. This angle can be adjusted to accommodate different styling of the cellular telephone  100 . The first side  120  (including the auxiliary display  118 ), and the second side  206  of the pivoting head  112  are inclined toward each other so that the pivoting head  112  is tapered to a smaller width toward the top of the telephone  100 . Specifically, in the perspective of  FIG. 2 , with the pivoting head  112  oriented as shown, the first side  120  is tilted clockwise by the acute angle alpha relative to the pivot axis  212 , and the second side  206  is tilted counterclockwise by the acute angle alpha relative to the pivot axis  212 . By virtue of the above described tilt of the pivot axis  212  relative to the longitudinal axis  214  by alpha, and the tilt of the two sides  102 ,  206  of the pivoting head  112  by the angle alpha in opposite directions, whichever of the sides  120 ,  206  of the pivoting head  112  is oriented toward the front of the telephone  100  (main display  116  side) will be parallel with the surface  117  of the lower part  110  including the main display  116 , and owing to the transverse dimensioning of the pivoting head  112 , and central placement of the pivot mechanism  114 , will be flush with surface  117  of the lower part  110 . Additionally the upper half  106  will present the same profile to the lower half, allowing the cellular telephone to be closed whether the pivoting head  112  is oriented as shown in FIGS.  1 , 3  or as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lower half  102  comprises an inside surface  105  which comes to the upper half  106  when the upper half  106  is rotated toward the lower half about the hinge  108 . 
     Arranging the auxiliary display  118 , parallel to the main display  116  is desirable from an ergonomic standpoint and also allows the auxiliary display  118  to be operated as an extension of the main display  116 . Additionally whichever side  120 ,  206  of the pivoting head  112  faces away from the main display  116  will be oriented at an angle of two times alpha relative to the longitudinal axis  214  of the upper half  106 . By selecting angles of the sides  120 ,  206  of the pivoting head  112 , and tilting the pivot axis  212 , as described above a tapered design of the pivoting head  112  is achieved. 
     Alternatively, the pivot axis  212  is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis  214 , and parallel to the sides  120 ,  206  of the pivoting head  112 . 
     The pivot mechanism  114  comprises a pinion  124  that is integrally molded with the lower part  110  of the upper half  106 . The pinion  124  extends upward from a top surface  126  of the lower part  110 , into a hole  128  in a bottom surface  130  of the pivoting head  112 . An annular, axially acting cam surface  132  is integrally formed on top surface  126  of the lower part  110  surrounding and concentric with the pinion  124 . An annular follower surface  134  is integrally formed on the bottom surface  130  of the pivoting head  112  surrounding and concentric with the hole  128 . The annular follower surface  134  has a profile that is complementary to that of the cam surface  132  and axially engages the cam surface  132 . A hole  136  that extends axially through the pinion  124  serves as an electrical feed through for one or more narrow strips of flexible printed circuitry  138  used to conduct signals into and out of the pivoting head  112 . The narrow strips of flexible printed circuitry  138  are electrically coupled to the auxiliary display  118 , to the earpiece speaker  204 , and to camera  122 . Integrated circuits, such as a display driver for the auxiliary display  118  are optionally included in the pivoting head  112 . 
     Alternatively, the pinion  124  is attached to the pivoting head  112 , and the hole  128  is formed in the lower part  110  of the upper half  106 . 
       FIG. 4  is a graph including plots of the profiles of the cam surface  132 , and follower surface  134  as a function of rotation angle. A first plot  402  shows the profile of the cam surface  124  and a second plot  404  shows the profile of the complementary follower surface  126 . The profile  402  of cam surface  132  is smoothly varying in height, and resembles two cycles of a sinusoid. As shown in  FIG. 4  the profile of the cam surface  132  includes a first peak  406 , a first valley  408 , a second peak  410 , and a second valley  412 . Similarly, the profile of the follower surface  134  includes a first peak  414 , a first valley  416 , a second peak  418 , and a second valley  420 .  FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the follower represented in  FIG. 4  and shown in  FIGS. 1–3 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1–3 , the pivot mechanism  114  further comprises a coil spring  140  that is positioned around the pinion  124 , and sits on an annular spring seat  142  formed in the pivoting head  112  around the hole  128 . A spring retainer in the form of a snap washer  144  that fits in an annular groove  146  in the pinion  124  holds the spring  140  in compression, setting up a spring force that urges the pivoting head  112  toward the lower part  110  of the upper half  106  and causing the follower surface  134  to engage the cam surface  132 . Given the profiles of the cam surface  132 , and follower surface  134  described above and shown in  FIGS. 4–5 , there are two relative orientations of the pivoting head  112 , and lower part  110  that minimized the compression of the coil spring  140 , and are consequently stable. One stable relative orientation is that depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and another is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one stable configuration the first peak  406  of the cam surface  132  is aligned with the first peak  414  of the follower surface  134 . In the other stable configuration the first peak  406  of the cam surface  132  is aligned with the second peak  418  of the follower surface  134 . Thus, the coil spring  140 , cam surface  132 , and follower surface  134  serve to bias the pivoting head  112  to one of the two orientations. 
     According to an alternative embodiment the cam surface  132 , and follower surface  134  are eliminated so that the pivoting head  112  is not biased to any particular orientation. Although certain particular details of the pivot mechanism  114  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1–5 , different type pivot mechanisms are alternatively used. 
     In order to prevent the pivoting head  112  from being turned repeatedly in the same direction, and overstressing the flexible printed circuitry  138  a rotation stop mechanism is provided.  FIG. 6  is a top view of a lower part of an upper half of the cellular phone shown in  FIGS. 1–3  highlighting parts of the rotation stop mechanism. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  the rotation stop mechanism comprises a stop peg  148  that depends from the pivoting head  112 . As the pivoting head  112  rotates, the stop peg  148  passes through a first arcuate groove  150 , and a second arcuate groove  152  formed in the top surface  126  of the lower part  110  of the upper half  106 . The first arcuate groove  150  is closed at one end  602  (i.e. does not go all the way through the depth of the lower part  110 ) so as to stop the rotation of the pivoting head  112 . The second arcuate groove  152  is also closed at one end  604 , so as to stop the rotation of the pivoting head  112 . The length of the arcuate grooves  150 ,  152  is set to allow the pivoting head  112  to rotate through about 180 degrees. The length of the arcuate grooves  180  can be extended to allow a rotation range that exceeds 180 degrees. In such a case the cam surface  132  and follower surface  134  will, nonetheless bias the rotation of the pivoting head  112  to two orientations that are 180 degrees apart. Although, a particular form of stop mechanism is shown in FIGS.  1 , 6 , alternatively another type of stop mechanism is used. 
     In order for a processor (not shown) of the cellular telephone  100  to operate in a manner responsive to the orientation of the pivoting head  112 , the telephone  100  comprises an orientation detection system. As shown in  FIG. 1  the orientation detection system comprises a hall effect switch  154  disposed in the lower part  110  proximate the pivoting head  112 , and a magnet  156  disposed in the pivoting head  112  proximate the lower part  110 . When the pivoting head  112  is oriented as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  the hall effect switch  154  and the magnet  156  will be in close proximity to each other, allowing the hall effect switch  154  to sense the proximity of the magnet, and by that sense the orientation of the pivoting head  112 . For certain applications it is appropriate to control the operation of the auxiliary display  118  based on the orientation of the pivoting head  112 . For example if the pivoting head  112  is oriented such that the auxiliary display  118  faces the same direction as the main display  116 , the auxiliary display is suitably used to display information based on user input entered through the keypad  104 . On the other hand, if the pivoting head  112  is oriented such that auxiliary display  118  faces away from the main display  116 , then the auxiliary display  118  is suitably used to display caller ID information. Alternatively, the orientation detection system is not used, and the operation of the auxiliary display  118  is based on the state of execution of one or more programs running on the processor of the cellular telephone  100 . For example when the cellular telephone  100  is receiving an incoming telephone call, the auxiliary display  118  is used to display caller ID information, and when the user puts the cellular telephone  100  in picture taking mode, the auxiliary display  118  is used to echo text messages, or annotations being entered by the user, or to display information related to the functioning of the camera  122 . 
     As used in this description the term acute angle means an angle less than ninety degrees including zero degrees. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment cellular telephone  700 . The second cellular telephone  700  comprises an upper half or ‘flip’  702  coupled to a lower half  704  by a hinge  706 . The flip  702  comprises a lower part  708  that is coupled to the lower half  704 , and a pivoting head  710  that is coupled to the lower part  708  of the flip  702  by a pivot mechanism schematically represented at  712 . The pivoting head  710  comprises an earpiece speaker  714 , and a camera  716  located on a first side  718  of the pivoting head  710 , and a display  720  (indicated by dashed lines) on a second side  722  of the pivoting head  710  opposite from the camera  716 . 
     While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.