Abstract:
A device includes a keyboard and a display. The keyboard allows entry of data into the device, and the display provides an information output. The display has a first position in which the display hides the keyboard, and the display has a second position in which the keyboard is exposed to allow entry of data via the keyboard. The display is visible to the user in both the first position and the second position.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/219,925, filed on Dec. 21, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The described invention relates to an electronic device providing a display output and allowing input via a keyboard or keypad. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Electronic devices employing display outputs include personal digital assistants (PDA&#39;s), palm PC&#39;s (such as the Palm Pilot device manufactured by 3COM), still and video cameras, two-way pagers, and so forth. In many cases, a few navigation buttons are used to allow a user to maneuver through displayed data. These electronic devices, however, may have real estate (i.e., area) limitations that may not allow for both a keyboard/keypad and a display output. Handheld devices especially may have these real estate constraints. 
     If a device has real estate constraints and needs both a keyboard/keypad and a display, a compromise is made. One solution is to use a touch screen LCD to allow the input of text as well as to display images. If keyboard input is desired, a virtual keyboard is displayed on the touch screen LCD. A user can then input information via the virtual keyboard. However, this limits the portion of the touch screen LCD that can be used for displaying images (because a virtual keyboard is also being displayed). 
     A hinged device with a display output on one side and a keyboard on the other side is an alternate solution. This type of device allows both input from the keyboard, and simultaneous display of data and/or images. However, when the hinged device is closed, the user can no longer view displayed information from the display output. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device includes a keyboard and a display. The keyboard allows entry of data into the device, and the display provides an information output. The display has a first position in which the display hides the keyboard, and the display has a second position in which the keyboard is exposed to allow entry of data via the keyboard. The display is visible to the user in both the first position and the second position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of an electronic device in a read only mode. 
         FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of an electronic device in a full I/O mode. 
         FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the display portion of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of a base portion corresponding to the display portion of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of electrically connecting the display portion to the base portion of the electrical device using a flexible connector. 
         FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of mechanically connecting the display portion to the base portion using a sliding mechanical guide. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an embodiment of a device that includes a display portion coupled to a base portion via a rod that allows the display portion to rotatably move to reveal the keyboard. 
         FIGS. 8A–8C  show different views of an embodiment of mechanically connecting the display portion to the base portion using an arm.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  are side views.  FIG. 8C  is a top view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device having a display that is capable of concealing a keyboard is disclosed. In a “read mode” the display is visible to a user, but the display conceals the keyboard. This mode allows easy access to data and images via the display. When the display is moved to a “full input/output (I/O) mode”, the display is still visible to a user, but the display no longer conceals the keyboard. This mode allows the user to input information via the keyboard as well as view information output from the display. 
       FIG. 1  shows a prior art example of an electronic device  10  having a display  20  and maneuver buttons  22 . A user is able to view information on the display  20 , and the maneuver buttons  22  allow limited input for scrolling through data. The information displayed may compromise pictorial information (images) or textual information (names, appointments, etc.). 
     The “read mode” of the present invention acts the same as that of the prior art  FIG. 1 . This read mode allows the user to conveniently access information and images from the electronic device  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the present invention in its “full I/O mode.” This mode is achieved by moving the display  20  so that it no longer conceals a keyboard/keypad  24 . The keyboard/keypad  24  may provide a full character set including all letters, numbers and special characters such as that of a typewriter or computer keyboard; or the keyboard/keypad  24  may provide a simplified character set such as the keypad of a touch-tone telephone. The term keyboard will be used to denote a full character set keyboard, or any subset of a full character set keyboard in which selection of a particular button corresponds to the input of a character (alphanumeric or special character). In both the read mode and the full I/O mode, the display output is visible to the user. 
       FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the display portion  30  of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of a corresponding base portion  32  of the present invention. In this embodiment, the display portion  30  and base portion  32  include several electrical contacts  40  that provide an electrical connection between the display portion  30  and the base portion  32 . 
     In one embodiment, the display portion  30  is a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the base portion  32  houses a processor, memory, and power source (batteries). However, in an alternative embodiment, the processor, memory and/or power source could be moved into the display portion. The power source could also be provided externally. 
     In one embodiment, the display portion  30  is coupled to the base portion  32  via a serial connection, such as an SPI* serial bus or an I 2 C* serial bus, which are well-known serial connections. (SPI is a serial bus developed by Motorola Incorporated as a peripheral interconnect standard. I 2 C is a serial bus developed by Philips Semiconductor.) *Third party names and marks are property of thier respective owners.  
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of electrically connecting the display portion  30  to the base portion  32  of the electrical device  10 . In this embodiment, a flexible connector such as a ribbon cable  42  is connected between the display portion  30  and the base portion  32 . A mechanical guide  46  such as grooves along the edges  44  of the base portion  32  (or display portion  30 ) is used to allow the display portion  30  to slidably move between the read mode and the full I/O mode. Rollers or ball bearings may be employed to allow freer movement within the mechanical guides. In one embodiment, the topside of the display portion  30  raises as its bottomside is moved within the mechanical guides to reveal the keyboard, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an alternative embodiment of a device that includes a display portion  30  coupled to a base portion  32  via a rod  50  that allows the display portion  30  to rotatably move to reveal the keyboard  24 . The display portion  30  may employ a curved side to allow rotatable movement. An electrical connection between the display portion  30  and the base portion  32  may be routed through the rod  50 . 
       FIGS. 8A–8C  show an alternative embodiment of mechanically connecting the display portion  30  to the base portion  32  using an arm  60 . The arm  60  is bendable and swivels in various directions to allow the display portion  30  to be placed in different positions. An electrical connection from the display portion  30  to the base portion  32  is routed internal to the arm  60 . 
       FIG. 8A  shows a side view of the device having extendable arm  60 . In its read mode, the device&#39;s display portion  30  fits within the base portion  32  as shown by the dotted lines. The display portion  30  can also be extended upwards and rotated so that the display faces the user, as shown in  FIG. 8B .  FIG. 8C  shows a top view of the display portion  30  that has been extended outward and then rotated about pivot  62 . 
     In one embodiment, contacts or sensors detect the position of the display portion  30  in order to present information to a user with the correct viewing orientation. For example, in the full I/O position of  FIG. 7B , the device would need to display information using an orientation that is opposite to that of the read mode of  FIG. 7A . Similarly, the device shown in  FIGS. 8A–8C  would need to detect the orientation of the display portion  30 . This could be done by detecting the angle of rotation of the pivot points of the arm  60 . 
     The present invention allows input via keyboard to a variety of different devices. For example, in one embodiment, a transmitter is added to communicate signals corresponding to characters input into the device via the keyboard, such as in a two-way pager or a cellular telephone application. In another embodiment, an optical system is added to capture one or more images, such as in a still or video camera application. 
     Thus, an electronic device having a display that conceals a keyboard is disclosed. The specific arrangements and methods described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention. Numerous modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the described invention. Although this invention has been shown in relation to a particular embodiment, it should not be considered so limited. Rather, the described invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.