Patent Publication Number: US-2012024648-A1

Title: Portable device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a portable device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs) may use a device mount to stand up straight. However, such portable device often cannot stand up straight without being placed on the device mount. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable device. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the portable device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line III-III of the portable device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the portable device of  FIG. 3  tilted backward. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the portable device of  FIG. 3  tilted forward. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable device  1 . The portable device  1  may be a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), for example. In the exemplary embodiment, the portable device  1  is a mobile phone. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the portable device of  FIG. 1 . The portable device  1  includes a display panel  300 , a motion sensor  400 , a panel rim  500 , and a curved base  600 . The curved base  600  houses a pendulum  100  and a motor  200 . The pendulum  100  is configured to slide inside the curved base  600  in response to the tilting of the portable device  1  to prevent the portable device  1  from falling over. The motor  200  may be installed above the pendulum  100 . The motor  200  may be a stepper motor or a servo motor, for example. The motion sensor  400  may be installed near the top of the portable device  1 . In the exemplary embodiment, the motion sensor  400  may be an accelerometer. The panel rim  500  protects the display panel  300 . 
     A navigation key  610  may be installed on the curved base  600 . The portable device  1  further includes a sideplate  700 . A first control key  710  and a second control key  720  may be installed on the sideplate  700 . In the exemplary embodiment, the first control key  710  may adjust the volume generated from the portable device  1 , and the second control key  720  may control a camera function of the portable device  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line III-III of the portable device  1  of  FIG. 1 . The portable device  1  stands in an upright position when no force is applied to tilt the portable device  1 . The pendulum  100  is curved. In the exemplary, the pendulum  100  is a curved permanent magnet. A curved track (not marked) is defined inside the curved base  600 . The pendulum  100  may slide along the curved track inside the curved base  600  when the portable device  1  is tilted back and forward. As a result, the pendulum  100  maintains the center of gravity of the portable device  1  in a position to prevent the portable device  1  from falling over. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the portable device  1  of  FIG. 3  tilted backward. The portable device  1  is tilted backward by an external force. The pendulum  100  slides backward to prevent the portable device  1  from falling over when the portable device  1  is tilted backward. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the portable device  1  of  FIG. 3  tilted forward. The portable device  1  is tilted forward by an external force. The pendulum  100  slides forward to prevent the portable device  1  from falling over when the portable device  1  is tilted forward. 
     The portable device  1  may further automatically tilt to a designated angle to provide interest. For example, the portable device  1  may tilt backward when receiving an incoming phone call, and tilt forward when receiving a short message service (SMS). In the exemplary embodiment, an application installed in the portable device  1  may control the motor  200  to provide a torque to tilt the portable device  1 . The motion sensor  400  may detect a tilt angle of the portable device  1  during tilting. When the application determines the tilt angle matches the designated angle, the application may control the motor  200  to keep the portable device  1  tilted by the designated angle. 
     It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.