Abstract:
A multiple-fold portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device in one embodiment includes a first, second and third planar sections. The first and second planar sections are connected by a first joint and foldable in relation to each other. The second and third planar sections are connected by a second joint and foldable in relation to each other. Each planar section can include an input device or an output device or both.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/343,718 filed Dec. 24, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Application Ser. No. 12/343,718 has been allowed but a Patent No. is not yet available. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This specification relates to portable electronic devices and more particularly relates to a multiple-fold portable electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable electronic devices are ubiquitous because their applications are seemingly limitless. Some examples of portable electronic devices are cell phones, smartphones, email paging devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), audio players, video players, video cameras, still cameras, and portable video games. Increasingly, the functionalities of foregoing are being incorporated into single multi-function electronic devices. One challenge in designing a multi-function electronic device is to increase the operable surface used for input and output devices, such as display screens, keyboards, trackwheels, cameras, and touch screens. Yet, in maximizing the operable surface, care is also needed to reduce the volume of the device so as to maintain portability. A popular solution is a flip device that pivotally attaches a screen to a keyboard. In use, the flip device is flipped open to expose the screen and the keyboard. In storage, the device is closed like a clam with the screen facing the keyboard. However, as the functionalities of multi-function devices increase, flip devices can prove limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a double-fold portable electronic device in an open position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1  in a disassembled state; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1  in a shut position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1  transitioning between the open and shut positions; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1  in an intermediate position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1  in another intermediate position; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of certain internal components within the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-fold portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , a double-fold portable electronic device in accordance with a first embodiment is generally indicated at  100 . Double-fold portable electronic device  100  has an open position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a shut position (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Double-fold portable electronic device  100  has a first planar housing  105 , a second planar housing  110 , and a third planar housing  115 . Each planar housing  105 ,  110 ,  115  is a hexahedron. First planar housing  105  has a first surface  120 , a second surface  125 , a first side  130 , a second side  135 , and a first recess  140  situated in second side  135 . Second planar housing  110  has a third surface  145 , a fourth surface  150 , a third side  155 , a fourth side  160 , a second recess  165  situated in third side  155 , and a third recess  170  situated in fourth side  160 . Third planar housing  115  has a fifth surface  175 , a sixth surface  180 , a fifth side  185 , a sixth side  190 , and a fourth recess  195  situated in fifth side  185 . First planar housing  105  is connected to second planar housing  110  via a first joint  200 . First joint  200  is situated in the first recess  140  and second recess  165 . Second planar housing  110  is connected to third planar housing  115  via a second joint  205 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , to illustrate joints  200 ,  205  and their connections to housings  105 ,  110 ,  115  in more detail, double-fold portable electronic device  100  is shown with housings  105 ,  110 ,  115  detached from joints  200 ,  205 . First joint  200  comprises a first body  207 , a first hinge  210 , a second hinge  215 , a third hinge  220 , and a fourth hinge  225 . First body  207  has a lateral cross-section of an elongated C formed by a first rounded side  230  and a first flat side  235  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ). First body  207  comprises a first end  240  and a second end  245 . First hinge  210  and second hinge  215  extend from first end  240 . Third hinge  220  and fourth hinge  225  extend from second end  245 . Second joint  205  comprises a second body  250 , a fifth hinge  255 , a sixth hinge  260 , a seventh hinge  265 , and a eighth hinge  270 . Second body  250  has a lateral cross-section of an elongated C formed by a second rounded side  275  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) and a second flat side  280 . Second body  250  comprises a third end  285  and fourth end  290 . Fifth hinge  255  and sixth hinge  260  extend from third end  285 . Seventh hinge  265  and eighth hinge  270  extend from fourth end  290 . 
     First recess  140  has a first wall  295  and a second wall  300 . First wall  295  comprises a first pivot  305 . Second wall  300  comprises a second pivot  310 . Second recess  165  comprises a third wall  315  and a fourth wall  320 . Third wall  315  comprises a third pivot  325 . Fourth wall  320  comprises a fourth pivot  330 . Third recess  170  comprises a fifth wall  335  and a sixth wall  340 . Fifth wall  335  comprises a fifth pivot  345 . Sixth wall  340  comprises a sixth pivot  350 . Fourth recess  195  comprises a seventh wall  355  and eighth wall  360 . Seventh wall  355  comprises a seventh pivot  365 . Eighth wall  360  comprises an eighth pivot  370 . 
     First joint  200  is attached to first planar housing  105  via the mating of first hinge  210  with first pivot  305  and third hinge  220  with second pivot  310 . First joint  200  is attached to second planar housing  110  via the mating of second hinge  215  with third pivot  325  and fourth hinge  225  with fourth pivot  330 . Second joint  205  is attached to second planar housing  110  via the mating of fifth hinge  255  with fifth pivot  345  and seventh hinge  265  with sixth pivot  350 . Second joint  205  is attached to third planar housing  115  via the mating of sixth hinge  260  with seventh pivot  365  and eighth hinge  270  with eighth pivot  370 . 
     In the present embodiment, in the open position, first surface  120 , first rounded side  230 , third surface  145 , second flat side  280 , and fifth surface  175  all face the same general direction (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the present embodiment, in the shut position, first surface  120  is facing third surface  145 , fourth surface  150  is facing sixth surface  180  and double-fold portable electronic device  100  forms a hexahedron that is substantially three times the height of each housing  105 ,  110 ,  115  (shown  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , double-fold portable electronic device  100  is shown, in a side view, as it transitions between the open position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and shut position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). In the present embodiment, second side  135 , third side  155 , fourth side  160 , and fifth side  185  are rounded. Transitioning from the open position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to the shut position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) can be effected by folding housings  105 ,  110 ,  115  onto each other. First planar housing  105  and second planar housing  110  are folded towards each other in the direction that decreases the radial distance between first surface  120  and third surface  145 . Second planar housing  110  and third planar housing  115  are folded towards each other in the direction that decreases the radial distance between fourth surface  150  and sixth surface  180 . 
     Transitioning from the shut position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to the open position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) can be effected by unfolding housings  105 ,  110 ,  115  away from the housing that they are attached to by joints  200 ,  205 . First planar housing  105  and second planar housing  110  are unfolded away from each other in the direction that increases the radial distance between first surface  120  and third surface  145 . Second planar housing  110  and third planar housing  115  are unfolded away from each other in the direction that increases the radial distance between fourth surface  150  and sixth surface  180 . As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the rounding of second side  135 , third side  155 , fourth side  160 , and fifth side  185  reduces the friction between the sides when the folding or unfolding occurs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , double-fold portable electronic device  100  is shown in an exemplary intermediate position. First surface  120  and third surface  145  form an obtuse angle A. Fourth surface  150  and sixth surface  180  form an acute angle B. In the present embodiment, first surface  120  contains a keyboard  375 , third surface  145  contains a first display screen  380 , and fifth surface  175  contains a second display screen  385  (best seen in  FIG. 1 ). It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that depending on the function the device, display screens  380 ,  385  can be touch screens. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , double-fold portable electronic device  100  is shown in another exemplary intermediate position. First surface  120  and third surface  145  form an obtuse angle C. Third surface  145  and fifth surface  175  are facing the same direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , certain internal components within double-fold portable electronic device  100  are illustrated by way of a block diagram. Double-fold portable electronic device  100  is based on a microcomputer that includes a processor  390  connected to a read-only-memory (ROM)  395  that contains a plurality of applications executable by processor  390  to enable double-fold portable electronic device  100  to provide certain services (e.g. calendar, e-mail, phone, etc.). Processor  390  is also connected to a random access memory (RAM)  400  and a persistent storage device  405 , which is responsible for various non-volatile storage functions of double-fold portable electronic device  100 . Processor  390  receives input from input devices  410  such as keyboard  375  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), display screens  380 ,  385  (if they are touch screens), trackwheel  415  (shown in  FIG. 8 ), and webcam  419  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). Processor  390  outputs to output devices  420  such as display screens  380 ,  385  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Processor  390  is also connected to an internal clock  425  and a radio device  430  which, in turn, is connected to an antenna  435 . Together, the radio device  430  and the antenna  435  are used to communicate over a wireless network. Double-fold portable electronic device  100  is operable to receive and transmit communication signals containing data that is communicated to and from a communication system via the radio device  430  and the antenna  435 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  9  exemplary uses for double-fold portable electronic device  100  are shown. In  FIG. 1 , display screens  380 ,  385  can behave as an extended display screen (i.e., behave as one large screen) or as two separate display screens. For example, when processor  390  is running an application that requires a large display area, processor  390  can treat display screens  380 ,  385  as an extended display screen. One example application of double-fold portable electronic device  100  using display screens  380 ,  385  as two separate display screens is to have first display screen  380  display a map and have second display screen  385  display a zoomed in area of the map. Another example application of double-fold portable electronic device  100  using display screens  380 ,  385  as two separate display screens is to have first display screen  380  display thumbnails and have second display screen  385  display the file represented by a thumbnail that has been selected from first display screen  380 . The arrangement of the display screens  380 ,  385  can automatically control the screens&#39; behaviour. For example, transitioning from the open position (see  FIG. 1 ) to the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 5 , can cause processor  390  to change the treatment of display screens  380 ,  385  from an extended display screen to two separate display screens or duplicate display screens (i.e., anything shown on one screen is correspondingly shown on the other screen). Likewise, transitioning from the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 5  to the open position (see  FIG. 1 ), can cause processor  390  to change the treatment of display screens  380 ,  385  from two separate display screens or duplicate display screens to an extended display screen. In  FIG. 9 , second display screen  385  behaves as a touchscreen keyboard  440 . This can be used to play games or service any activity that requires input from more than one user. Touchscreen keyboard  440  may also be used as a touch phone keypad. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a double-fold portable electronic device in accordance with another embodiment is indicated generally at  100   a . Double-fold portable electronic device  100   a  is substantially the same as double-fold portable electronic device  100  and like elements of double-fold portable electronic device  100   a  bear the same reference characters, but followed by the suffix “a”. However, unlike double-fold portable electronic device  100 , double-fold portable electronic device  100   a  is shown in  FIG. 8  displaying a trackwheel  415 , a first button  416  and a second button  417  on either side of trackwheel  415 , all three components embedded in first rounded side  230   a , and a webcam  419  embedded in the side of second rounded side  275   a . It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that trackwheel  415  can be other similar input devices such as a trackball, an optical jog ball, and a joy stick. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a double-fold portable electronic device in accordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at  100   b . Double-fold portable electronic device  100   b  is substantially the same as double-fold portable electronic device  100  and like elements of double-fold portable electronic device  100   b  bear the same reference characters, but followed by the suffix “b”. However, unlike double-fold portable electronic device  100 , double-fold portable electronic device  100   b  is shown in  FIG. 9  displaying a touchscreen keyboard  440  on fifth surface  175   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a double-fold portable electronic device in accordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at  100   c . Double-fold portable electronic device  100   c  is substantially the same as double-fold portable electronic device  100  and like elements of double-fold portable electronic device  100   c  bear the same reference characters, but followed by the suffix “c”. However, unlike double-fold portable electronic device  100 , double-fold portable electronic device  100   c  is shown in  FIG. 10  displaying a touchpad  445  on third surface  145   c.    
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a double-fold portable electronic device in accordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at  100   d . Double-fold portable electronic device  100   d  is substantially the same as double-fold portable electronic device  100  and like elements of double-fold portable electronic device  100   d  bear the same reference characters, but followed by the suffix “d”. However, unlike double-fold portable electronic device  100 , double-fold portable electronic device  100   d  is shown in  FIG. 11  displaying a left half keyboard  457  on first surface  120   d  and a right half keyboard  460  on fifth surface  175   d . Left half keyboard  457  contains the keys of the left half of a QWERTY keyboard and right half keyboard  460  contains the keys of the right half of a QWERTY keyboard. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a double-fold portable electronic device in accordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at  100   e . Double-fold portable electronic device  100   e  is substantially the same as double-fold portable electronic device  100  and like elements of double-fold portable electronic device  100   e  bear the same reference characters, but followed by the suffix “e”. However, unlike double-fold portable electronic device  100 , double-fold portable electronic device  100   e  is shown in  FIG. 12  displaying a game control pad  465  on first surface  120   e.    
     While the embodiments discussed herein are directed to specific embodiments, it will be understood that subsets and variations of the embodiments are within the scope of the invention. For example, webcam  419  may be replaced by speakers. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that keyboard  375 , as drawn, is symbolic of a keyboard and that keyboard  375  may be a QWERTY keyboard  470  (see  FIG. 13 ), a SURETYPE®keyboard  475  (see  FIG. 14 ), telephone keyboard  480  (see  FIG. 15 ), a QWERTZ keyboard, a QWERTU keyboard, a DVORAK, or other keyboards.