Patent Publication Number: US-2006009255-A1

Title: Mobile terminal concept with a slide and twist mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a mobile communications device, and more particularly to mobile communication devices having mechanical transformations that compliment each other making it possible to protect the display of the communication device and adjust the camera angle in relation to the display.  
      2. Prior Art  
      The use of pocket size mobile communication devices such as mobile phones has increased substantially in recent years. However, one recurring problem that continues to exist is damage to the displays of mobile communication devices, particularly mobile phone displays tend to break or damage easily, due to the fragile nature of these displays. Typically, the displays of these mobile phones are weak. If these displays are not sufficiently protected, then several different problems may occur.  
      For example, one such problem with a display of a mobile device lacking any protection, is that this type of device would break easily. Another problem would be that the visibility of the mobile device display, even with a protective window, could erode due to the accumulation of scratches on the surface of the display window. In addition, mobile devices only utilizing protective devices for their displays are perceived as low value/low technology devices. Further, a mobile phone display without sufficient protection is perceived to break easily which causes discomfort amongst consumers. Moreover, in touch sensitive displays the above mentioned protection for the display becomes even more critical because with touch sensitive displays it is not possible to use protective windows for these displays.  
      Generally, in the prior art, the normal way to protect the display of, for example, a mobile phone is to rely solely on a protective window for the display. However, as noted above, reliance solely on a protective window for the display has several drawbacks and disadvantages.  
      Certain prior art devices have attempted to rectify the drawbacks of protective window displays. For example, some prior art devices have incorporated folding form factor displays, wherein the display folds down against another piece to protect the display. This method has disadvantages in that these mobile phones are usually bulkier than their non-folding counter-part mobile phones. Also, the folding design limits the possible camera applications one can perform because these type of mobile phones generally do not have rotatable displays. Some mobile phones employ leather or plastic covers in addition to the protective window, but these added measures typically do not provide acceptable display protection.  
      Slide concepts have also been applied to protect a certain part, e.g. camera lens of mobile phones. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,084 B1 to Lonka relates in relevant part to a mobile communications device with a camera, employing a slide concept to protect a camera lens when the camera is not in use. However, slide concepts alone do not protect the display of a mobile phone.  
      Therefore, there is a need in the art for a mobile phone which is designed to provide adequate protection for its display from the environment. There is also a need in the art for a mobile phone wherein its structure not only provides adequate protection for its display from the environment, but also enables different camera mode applications as well. The present invention fulfills these needs, and further provides related advantages.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a mobile communications device such as a mobile phone which has two mechanical transformations that compliment and enhance each other. The transformations are known as slide and twist and form what is known as the slide and twist mechanism of the present invention. This invention brings display protection to sliding form factor mobile communication devices. The slide and twist mechanism of the present invention comprises a sliding assembly and a rotating means.  
      The protection of the display is accomplished by first sliding the mobile phone into a fully open and operational position via the sliding assembly. The display is then rotated via the rotating means, e.g. a hinge to an inward position directly opposite the front portion of the mobile phone, so that when the mobile phone is closed, via the sliding assembly, the display rests against a top surface within the mobile device and is shielded from the environment.  
      The slide and twist mechanism also makes it possible to adjust the display in relation to the camera, in camera phone embodiments, in order to enable different camera mode applications.  
      In accordance with the invention, a mobile communications device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a first part having a display and a second part connected to the first part by a movable connection system. The movable connection system is adapted to allow the first part to linearly slide relative to the second part. Further, the movable connection system is also adapted to allow the first part to rotate relative to the second part. In a preferred embodiment, the mobile communication device is a mobile telephone.  
      In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a mobile phone is provided. The mobile phone includes an upper part that houses a display, a middle part having a first set of user keys located on a top surface of the middle part said upper part and a lower part having a second set of user keys on a top surface of the lower part. The, upper part, middle part and lower part each have a top face and a bottom face. The mobile phone further includes a hinge pivotally connecting the bottom face of the upper part and the top face of middle part together. Further, the mobile phone includes a rail assembly slidably connecting the upper part and the middle part to the lower part. The upper and middle parts are slidable against the top surface of the lower part via the rail assembly towards the top face of the lower part for opening the mobile phone until the sliding of the upper part and middle part reaches a point wherein the top face of the middle part is aligned with the top face of the lower part so that the mobile phone in a fully open and operation position. In addition, the upper and middle parts are slidable against the top surface of the lower part towards the bottom face of the lower part for closing the mobile phone until the sliding of the upper part and middle part reaches a point wherein the bottom face of the middle part is aligned with the bottom face of the lower part so that the mobile phone is in a closed position. The upper part housing the display is rotatable about the hinge when said mobile phone is a fully open and operational position. The mobile phone further includes a digital camera built into the mobile phone, wherein display is rotable via the hinge relative to the camera when the mobile phone is in a fully open and operational position for enabling different camera mode applications. In alternative embodiments, the digital camera is built into a bottom surface of the lower part. In other embodiments, the digital camera is built into a sidewall of the middle part or a sidewall of the lower part. Moreover, when the mobile phone is in the fully open and operational position the display may be rotated so that the display is facing inward away from a front portion of the mobile phone, so that when the mobile phone is closed the display rests against the top surface of the lower part within the mobile device and the display is shielded from the environment.  
      In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for configuring a mobile communications device is provided. The method includes sliding linearly a first part of the device having a display relative to a second part of the device via a movable connection system; and rotating the first part relative to the second part via the movable connection system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the mobile communications device of a first embodiment the present invention in a closed but partially operable position;  
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the mobile communications device of a first embodiment of the present invention in a fully open and operational position;  
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the mobile communications device of a first embodiment of the present invention in a fully closed and substantially non-operable position;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the movement of the upper and middle parts of the mobile device of the first embodiment along the top surface of the lower part of the mobile device via the rail assembly;  
      FIGS.  5 ( a )-( f ) illustrate a cross-section view of a portion of a first section of the rail assembly;  
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate the rotation of the upper part of the mobile device housing the display via the hinge;  
      FIGS.  9 ( a )-( u ) illustrates methods of using the mobile device of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 10-11  depict a second embodiment of the present invention comprising a mobile telephone having a built in digital camera; and  
       FIGS. 12-16  depict different camera mode applications which are enabled using the slide and twist mechanism of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILDED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a mobile communication device  10  incorporating features of the present invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments.  
      In the embodiment shown, the mobile communications device  10  generally comprises a mobile telephone  10 . In alternate embodiments, the mobile communications device  10  could comprise any suitable type of mobile communicator, such as a device which comprises a pager function or a text transmission function. The mobile communications device  10  could comprise any suitable type of features including, for example, a digital camera feature.  
      The mobile phone  10 , in the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , generally comprises an upper part  12 , a middle part  14  and a lower part  16 . The mobile phone  10  further includes a keypad  18 , a display  20 , function keys  22 , a microphone, a loudspeaker, a transceiver, a battery and other components conventional to a mobile telephone, such as a microprocessor and an antenna.  
      In particular in the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the upper part  12  of the mobile  10  phone houses the display  20 . The display  20  is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other other similar electronic display well known to people skilled in the display art for showing text, characters or graphics. The middle part  14  of the mobile phone  10  preferably includes the function keys  22  (e.g. call start and end keys, arrow keys or corresponding browsing keys, memory management keys). Lower part  16  of the mobile phone  10  preferably includes the keypad  18  (e.g. alphanumeric keys for entering telephone numbers or names). In alternate embodiments, the various electronic components e.g. battery, keypad  18 , function keys  22  of the mobile telephone  10  could be located in any one of the housing sections  12 ,  14  or  16 .  
      The mobile phone further comprises a slide and twist mechanism which comprises a sliding assembly  26  or rail assembly and a rotating means or hinge  28 . The slide and twist mechanism is used to movably connect the upper part  12 , middle part  14  and lower part  16  of the mobile phone together. The slide and twist mechanism also provides some beneficial protective effects to the display  20  of the mobile phone  10  and also enhances and/or enables camera modes described in other embodiments herein.  
      Specifically, in the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , the middle  14  and upper parts  12  are each slidably connected to the lower part  16  via the sliding assembly  26 , preferably a rail assembly, which allows for sliding movement of the upper  12  and middle  14  parts along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  in a linear direction (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) defined by the rail assembly  26 . Further, the upper part  12  of the mobile telephone  10  is rotatably connected to the middle part  14  via rotating means  28  (e.g. a hinge) which allows twisting or rotating movement of the display  20  housed within the upper part  12  about a center axis of the hinge  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . As already stated herein, it is the connection of the upper  12 , middle  14  and lower  16  parts to one another and also the movement of these parts  12 ,  14  and  16  using the slide and twist mechanism of the present invention, that provides the unique protection of the display  20  and unique enhanced and/or enabled camera modes. The slide and twist mechanism will be discussed in greater detail throughout this application.  
      In general, the dimensions of the mobile phone  10  of the first embodiment may vary. The materials used in manufacturing the mobile phone  10  may also vary. For example, the mobile phone  10  may be constructed of either metals, plastics, ceramics, or any combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, since the mobile phone  10  is a hand held device, none of the principal dimensions (e.g. width, height or thickness) should be over 25 centimeters. However, any suitable dimensions could be provided, such as when the present invention is used in a larger device. Moreover in a preferred embodiment, the combined principal dimensions of the upper  12  and middle part  14  should substantially equal the principal dimensions of the lower part  16 , so that when closing the phone  10  (via sliding the upper  12  and middle parts  14  along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16 , via the rail assembly  26 ), the entire lower part  16  is substantially covered by the upper  12  and middle  14  part. The middle  14  and upper parts  12  together, however, may for example also be wider and/or longer than the lower part  16  because the requirement is only that the upper  12  and middle  14  parts together substantially cover the top surface  30  of the lower part  16 .  
      Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1-3 , these figures show the mobile phone  10  in different positions or configurations.  FIG. 1  illustrates the mobile phone  10  in a closed, but partially operational position. More specifically in the position of  FIG. 1 , the top face  32  of the upper part  12  is aligned with the top face  34  of the lower part  16  and the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  is aligned with the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16 , so that together the upper  12  and middle  14  parts are covering substantially the entire lower part  16 . In  FIG. 1 , it is also noted that the display  20  of the mobile phone  10  is facing outward and accessible/viewable. Although the mobile phone  10  is in the closed position with the keypad  18  covered, it can still be used for certain purposes, e.g. accept incoming calls by means of the function keys  22 .  
      Further, it is not a requirement that the surfaces of the mobile phone  10  as discussed above and depicted in  FIG. 1  be aligned. For example, in other embodiments (some of which are discussed below), the surfaces are not aligned, but rather e.g., the upper part  12  and at least a portion of the middle part  14  are higher than the lower part  16 .  
       FIG. 2  shows the mobile phone  10  in a fully open and operational position. In particular,  FIG. 2  depicts the mobile phone  10  of  FIG. 1  that has been fully opened by sliding the upper  12  and middle  14  parts along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16 , via the rail assembly  26 , in a direction away from the keypad  18  towards the top face  34  of the lower part  16 . The middle  14  and upper  12  parts are slid along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  until the top face  40  of middle part  14  and the top face  34  of the lower part  16  are aligned with one another, or stated otherwise, slid as far as the upper part  12  and middle part  14  are able to physically slide in the direction toward the top face  34  of the lower part  16 , thereby placing the mobile phone  10  into a fully open and operational position.  
       FIG. 3  depicts the mobile phone  10  in its fully closed, substantially non-operational position with the display  20  protectively hidden. Although the mobile phone  10  depicted in  FIG. 3  is in the fully closed, substantially non-operation position, it still has some functionality, e.g. accepting an incoming call. In addition, in alternative embodiments a small secondary display is located preferably on the bottom surface of the lower part  16  for providing watch and caller ID functionality.  
      More particularly,  FIG. 3  depicts the mobile phone  10  of  FIG. 2  which has been maneuvered into the fully closed, non-operational position by way of the slide and twist mechanism. Namely in order to accomplish the above, the upper part  12  which houses the display  20  of the mobile phone  10  depicted in  FIG. 2  is first rotated about 180 degrees via the hinge  28  so that the display  20  is now facing in the opposite direction then the display  20  depicted in  FIG. 2 . For obvious reasons that are readily apparent from the description and the drawings, the display  20  of the mobile phone  10  of the first embodiment can only be rotated when the mobile phone  10  is in the fully open and operational position as depicted in  FIG. 2 .  
      Next, also with regard to  FIG. 3 , the upper  12  and middle part  14  are slid along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  in a direction towards the keypad  18 , until the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  and the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16  are aligned with one another. Once the above alignment occurs, the mobile phone  10  is now in the fully closed, non-operational position with the keypad  18  protected from the environment and the display  20  turned inward towards the top surface  30  of the lower part  16 , and thus, inaccessible to the user and the environment. Most notably, the display  20  is now fully protected from environmental effects such as dust and scratching objects by having been rotated and slid using the slide and twist mechanism of the present invention. A more detailed discussion regarding the slide and twist mechanism is set forth below.  
      As already stated, the slide and twist mechanism consists of the sliding assembly  26  and the rotating means  28 . A more detailed description of these elements is discussed  10  below.  
      First, the sliding mechanism or rail assembly  26 , as mentioned above, allows for sliding movement of the upper  12  and middle  14  parts together along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  of the mobile phone  10 . The sliding of the upper  12  and middle parts  14  is linear either in the direction towards (shown by arrow  42  in  FIG. 4 ) the top face  34  of the lower part  16  (e.g. in order to open the mobile phone  10 ) or in the direction towards (shown by arrow  44  in  FIG. 4 ) the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16  (e.g. in order to close the mobile phone  10 ) The sliding movement can be either straight or it follows an arch, depending upon the construction of the sliding assembly or rail assembly  26 .  
      It is noted that there are different degrees of opening and closing the mobile phone  10 . In other words, one could partially open the mobile phone  10  from a closed position, by sliding and then locking into position the upper  12  and middle parts  14  via the rail assembly  26  at any point going towards the top face of the lower part up until right before the point where the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  becomes aligned with the top face  34  of the lower part  16 . If one desired the mobile phone to be in a fully open and operational position one would continue to slide the upper  12  and middle  14  parts along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  via the rail assembly  26  until the top face  40  of the middle part  14  became aligned with the top face  34  of the lower part  16 . In alternate embodiments, the fully open and operational position occurs at a higher position than the previously discussed embodiment, such that the top face  40  of the middle part  14  is extended in a position above the top face  34  of the lower part  16  (in a direction moving further away from the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16 ).  
      Alternatively, if one wished to partially close the mobile phone  10  which was at least partially open, one could slide the upper  12  and middle  14  parts via the rail assembly  26  along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  in a direction towards the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16  up until right before the point where the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  becomes aligned with the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16 . If one desired the mobile phone  10  to be in a fully closed, one would continue to slide the upper  12  and middle  14  parts along the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  via the rail assembly  26  until the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  became aligned with the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16 .  
      In alternate embodiments, one could slide the upper  12  and middle  14  parts via the rail assembly  26 , in a direction away from the top face  34  of the lower part  16 , to a point such that the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  extends at least partially below the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16 . In yet other embodiments, one could slide the upper  12  and middle  14  parts via the rail assembly  26 , in a direction away from the top face  34  of the lower part  16 , such that substantially the entire middle part  14  extends below the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16 , so as to reveal for example, storage media, a battery, charging component or other component located in the bottom surface of the middle part  14 .  
      The sliding assembly or rail assembly  26  can be constructed in many different ways. The main principle is that the upper  12  and middle  14  parts slide against the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  following a continuous path, defined by the slide assembly or rail assembly  26 .  
      In embodiments illustrated in FIGS.  5 ( a )-( c ) and ( f ), the sliding assembly is a rail assembly  26  comprised of a first section and a second section. The first section of the rail assembly is located on the left side of the mobile phone  10  and the second section of the rail assembly  26  is located on the right side of the mobile phone  10 . Further, the first and the second section of the rail assembly  26  each comprise a gripping feature  46  and a slot feature  50 . Moreover, together, the first and second sections of the rail assembly  26  slidably connect the upper  12  and middle  14  parts to the lower part  16 . The gripping feature  46  of the rail assembly  26  describes an element that is protruding (as shown in FIGS.  5 ( a )-( c )) from either of the facing parts (lower  16 , middle  14  or upper parts  12 ). The slot feature  50  of the rail assembly  26  describe an element located on the other part corresponding (lower  16 , middle  14  or upper parts  12 ) to the facing part that allows the gripping feature  46  to grip onto a slot that the slot feature  50  provides. The facing part is defined herein as the part facing the other part. In other words, for example, if the gripping feature  46  is protruding from the middle part  14  then the facing part in this situation is the lower part  16 . Together, the gripping feature  46  and slot feature  50  create the rail mechanism  26  for linear movement.  
      By way of example, the embodiments depicted in FIGS.  5  ( a )-( c ) and ( f ), depict a cross-sectional view of a portion of the first section of the two section rail assembly  26 , located on the left side of the mobile phone  10 . In particular, the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 ( a ), the gripping feature  46  is protruding from the lower part  16  and the slot feature  50  is located on the bottom surface of the middle part  14  of the mobile phone  10 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 ( b ), the gripping feature  46  is protruding from the lower part  16  and the slot feature  50  is located on the left side of the middle part  14 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 ( c ), the gripping feature  46  protrudes from the lower part  16  and the slot feature  50  is located on the left side of the middle part  14 . In another embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 ( f ), the gripping feature  46  protrudes from the lower part  16  and the slot feature  50  is located on a bottom left hand side corner of the middle part  14 . However, as mentioned above there are several different possible combinations for the placement of the gripping feature  46  and slot feature  50 . For example, instead, the gripping feature  46  may protrude from the upper  12  and/or middle parts  14  and the slot feature  50  may be located on the lower part  16 .  
      In alternative embodiments, the first section of the rail assembly  26  comprises a rail feature  60  and the second section of the rail assembly comprises a rail feature  60 . In particular,  FIG. 5 ( d ) depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of the first section of the rail assembly  26  located on the left side of the mobile phone  10 , wherein the rail feature  60  connects the middle  14  and lower parts  16  together from the side.  FIG. 5 ( e ) depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of a first section of the rail assembly  26  located on the left side of the mobile phone  10 , wherein the rail feature  60  connects the middle part  14  and lower parts  16  together from in between the middle  14  and lower parts  16 .  
      It is again noted that while the above embodiments depicted in FIGS.  5 ( a )-( f ) make reference only to the first section of the rail assembly  26  located on the left side of the mobile phone  10 , the same principles also apply to the second section of the rail assembly located on the right side of the mobile phone  10  as well. Further, the above embodiment for the rail assembly  26  is but preferred embodiments and, thus, any slide assembly or rail assembly  26  known in the art which is in accordance with the principles of the present invention may likewise be used.  
      The other constituent of the slide and twist mechanism, the rotating means or hinge  28 , is now discussed in further detail. In the first embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 , the rotating means is preferably a hinge  28 . The hinge  28  is specifically illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 , and as mentioned above, rotatably connects the upper  12  and middle parts  14  together, allowing for twisting movement (illustrated by arrow  52  in  FIG. 6 ) of the upper part  12  which houses the display  20 . In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the hinge  28  acts as a pivotal axis that is located between the top face  40  of the middle part  14  and the bottom face  54  of the upper part  12 . The hinge  28  keeps the bottom face  54  of the upper part  12  facing the top face  40  of the middle part  14 , allowing rotation of the upper part  12  housing the display  20  around the center axis of the hinge  28 . In one embodiment, the hinge  28  may be rotated about its center axis at an angle anywhere from about 0 to about 180 degrees in one direction. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge  28  may be rotated about its center axis at an angle anywhere from about 0 to about 360 degrees, or more, causing a corresponding rotation of the display  20 . The ability to rotate the display  20  provides the user with the ability to protect or shield the display  20  from the environment, and in mobile phones equipped with a built in camera, the rotating movements achieved with the hinge  28  provides additional benefits such as enabling and/or enhancing different camera modes applications.  
      The hinge  28  may be constructed in many ways. For example it may be a pin, tube, bar or equivalent. It may also be a combination of a pin, tube, bar or equivalent. The hinge may be constructed of several parts. Moreover, the hinge  28  may be built into either the top face  40  of the middle part  14  or alternatively into the bottom face  54  of the upper part  12 .  
      Now referring to FIGS.  9 ( a )-( u ), methods of using the mobile phone  10  of the first embodiment are specifically illustrated. Most importantly, the workings of the slide and twist mechanism are specifically illustrated in these figures. These methods illustrated in FIGS.  9 ( a )-( u ) are by way of example only and are in no way meant to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, a user starting with the mobile phone  10  depicted in  FIG. 9 ( a ), a mobile phone  10  which is in the closed position but partially operation because the display  20  is facing outward and accessible to the user, could use the function keys for example to send or receive a phone call, or use scrolling features. However, if the user desired full access to the mobile phone  10 , including access to the alphanumeric keypad  10 , the user would slide the upper part  12  and middle part  14  which are connected together, against the top surface  30  of the lower part  16 , using the rail assembly  26 , in a direction away from the keypad  18  towards the top face  34  of the lower part  16  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ( b )) until the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  was at least above the keypad  18  (as shown in  FIG. 9  ( c )). Additionally, if one desired not only to have access to the keypad  18  but also to have the mobile phone  10  in a fully open and operational position as well (for example to be able to rotate or twist the display  20 ), they could continue to slide the upper  12  and middle part  14  against the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  until the top face  40  of the middle part  14  was aligned with the top face  34  of the lower part  16 , or stated otherwise, the upper  12  and middle parts  14  were slid as far as they could go in the direction of the top face  34  of the lower part  16 .  
      After the user was finished operating (e.g. making a telephone call) the mobile phone  10  depicted in either  FIG. 9 ( c ) or  9 ( d ), they could now close the phone and also protect the display from the environment. In order to accomplish the above, the user would first place the mobile phone  10  in its fully operational position, if this had not already been done, simply by sliding the upper  12  and middle part  14  against the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  so that the top face  40  of the middle part  14  is aligned with the top face  34  of the lower part  16 . The user then rotates the upper part  12  of the mobile phone depicted in  FIG. 9 ( d ), e.g. 180 degrees (as shown in FIGS.  9 ( e )-( h )) so that the display  20  housed in the upper part  12  would now be facing in the opposite direction from its original direction, as shown in  FIG. 9  ( h ).  
      The next step is to slide the upper  12  and middle parts  14  of the mobile phone  10  depicted in  FIG. 9  ( h ) in a direction towards the bottom face  38  of the lower part  16  and towards the keypad  18  (as shown in FIGS.  9 ( i )-( j ) until the bottom face  36  of the middle part  14  and the bottom face  38  of lower part  16  are aligned with one another, so that the entire lower part  16  is substantially covered by the upper  12  and middle part  14  combination, thereby placing the mobile phone in a fully closed, substantially non-operational position (as shown in  FIG. 9 ( k ). Further, as can be seen in  FIG. 9 ( k ), the keypad  18  and the display  20  are each shielded or protected from the environment when the mobile phone  10  is in this fully closed position. Most notably, the display  20  is protected from the environment because having been rotated  180  from its original position, it was now facing inward away from contact with the environment, so that when the mobile phone was closed the display  20  lay flat against the top surface  30  of the lower part  16  away from access to the user and the environment. The beneficial protective effects of the slide and twist mechanism of the present invention are specifically described and illustrated in the figures above.  
      Alternatively, by way of illustration, the user could operate the mobile phone  10  depicted in  FIG. 9 ( k ), which as mentioned is in the fully closed position with the display facing inward, and thus, protected from the environment. The operation of the phone depicted in  FIG. 9  ( k ) would be the same as described above for the phone  10  depicted in  FIG. 9  ( a ), except that with the mobile phone of  FIG. 9  ( k ), the display  20  starts out protected from the environment and ends up accessible to the user and the environment when the mobile phone  10  is ultimately closed as shown in  FIG. 9  ( u ). This specific operation of the mobile phone  10  of  FIG. 9 ( k ) is illustrated in FIGS.  9 ( l )-( u ).  
      A second embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 10-16 . This embodiment depicts a mobile phone  110  having a built in camera  112 , preferably a digital camera. The mobile phone in this embodiment is identical to the mobile phone  10  of the first embodiment, with the exception of the built in camera  112 . Most importantly, since the camera phone  110 , includes all of the elements of the mobile phone  10  of the first embodiment, it also includes the slide and twist mechanism described in the first embodiment as well. Therefore, the mobile phone  110  of the second embodiment is opened and closed in the same manner as the mobile phone  110  of the first embodiment, and the display  20  of the mobile phone  110  is also protected from the environment in the same manner as the display  20  of the first embodiment. In addition, the slide and twist mechanism provides some additional benefits for the mobile phone  110  in relation to use of its camera modes.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the camera  112  is preferably located in the bottom surface of the lower part  16 . In alternative embodiments, the camera  112  may be located in different parts of the mobile phone  110 , e.g., in a sidewall of the lower part  14  or in a sidewall of the middle part  14  (as shown in  FIG. 16 ), such that camera is pointing sideways. The camera phone  110  includes the capabilities of conventional digital camera phones such as digital photography, storing of digital images, video conferencing, linkage to a networks for content swapping and any other digital phone camera technology known in the art. In addition, the slide and twist mechanism also enables and/or enhances different camera modes or applications of the second embodiment because of the twisting or rotating movement provided by this mechanism. Namely, the angle between the camera  112  and the display  20  can be varied, enabling and/or enhancing different applications of use. This variance of angles between the display  20  and the camera  112  is accomplished by rotating the upper part  112  of the mobile phone  110  anywhere from about 0 to 360 degrees about the central axis of the hinge  28 .  
      For example,  FIG. 12 , illustrates imaging and sharing what a particular user sees. Here, the camera  112  of the mobile phone  110  is pointing in the opposite direction than the display  20 , so that imaging is occurring through the mobile phone  110 . This feature allows you to view on the display  20  what you are aiming at with the camera  112  of the mobile phone  110 . You may also share the captured image with a recipient over a network.  
       FIG. 13  represents two users sharing or swapping content. When content swapping using the slide and twist mechanism of the second embodiment, one user may share what he or she sees on their display  20  with a second user. The second user may in turn share with the first user, using his or her own camera  112  an image captured of himself or herself or an image of what he or she is seeing. Also, for example, both users could see a document that was being captured by one of the users and which is then shared to both users to be seen on both of their displays  20 .  FIG. 13  illustrates content swapping in the form of a videoconference, wherein both users are capturing their own faces with their own camera  112 , while at the same time seeing the other person in their display  20 . This videoconference mode illustrated in  FIG. 13  is enabled due to the twisting or rotating movements of the display  20  relative to the camera  112  of the mobile phone  110 .  
       FIG. 14  represents a user imaging themselves and viewing the image of themselves at the same time. This user is able to view his or her own image while simultaneously capturing this image because the twisting movement of the slide and twist mechanism enables one to point the camera  112  towards themselves, while being able to view the display  20  at the same time.  
       FIG. 15  illustrates discreet imaging. This discreet imaging mode is almost the same as the imaging &amp; sharing what you see mode depicted in  FIG. 12 , but since you can twist the angle between the camera  112  and the display  20 , you don&#39;t need to point the camera  112  towards the target through the mobile phone  110 . Instead, you can have the camera  112  high or low on your body which gives you much more flexibility in areas where direct pointing would not be desirable. This ability to adjust the angle of the display  20  relative to the camera  112  is especially useful in crowds where you can also view the image you capture with your hands raised, looking up at the display  20 .  
      As can be seen from the  FIGS. 12-16 , just a simple adjustment of the angle of the display  20  relative to the camera  112  provides the user with many different camera mode possibilities and applications. The rotation of the display  20  also optimizes the viewing angle of the camera mobile phone  110 .  
      Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.