Patent Publication Number: US-2005136853-A1

Title: Self-configuring multiple element portable electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices, and more particularly to portable electronic devices having multiple elements.  
      Many portable electronic devices exist that are designed for making life easier and more productive. Devices such as cellular phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) perform valuable functions such as communications, messaging, data storage and recall, etc.  
      These portable electronic devices often have two parts, a hinged cover having a display and a body having a keyboard. The display is typically chosen to match the intended purpose. For example, PDAs typically have a relatively large display, useful for displaying text and graphics. Cellular phones, on the other hand, typically have smaller displays designed for displaying a limited number of alphanumeric characters. This makes sense, as production costs may be kept down by including only the required capabilities in the device.  
      More and more, people find such portable electronic devices to be invaluable for keeping in touch with co-workers, family, and friends, and for organizing a busy lifestyle. As the demand for portable electronic devices increases, these devices tend to increase in functions, features, and complexity. However, such devices still tend to remain as distinct units due to the increased complexity and difficulty of use that often comes with integration of multiple devices.  
      Integration of multiple devices is understandably difficult, due to the need for providing different functions that intermesh operationally while sharing inputs, outputs, and other resources. This is further complicated by the need to create a device that is intuitively simple to use.  
      Non-integration of portable electronic devices produces several drawbacks. First, there are the obvious drawbacks such as needing multiple devices to accomplish all desired functions, along with the attendant size and weight inconvenience. Second, non-integration means that multiple devices have duplicate components, such as heavy and bulky displays, input devices, and power sources. Third, the increased use of microprocessors and their increasing capabilities allow devices to be developed that are flexible and can be configured to perform multiple functions. Fourth, integrating devices to share common components and to cooperatively function could provide increased value to consumers while reducing prices.  
      There remains a need in the art, therefore, for improvements in portable electronic devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIGS. 1-8  show a self-configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device having a first element joined to a second element by a joint;  
       FIG. 9  shows various input and output devices and other features;  
       FIG. 10  shows a first joint embodiment along with a positional sensor device arrangement; and  
       FIGS. 11-15  show various embodiments of a position sensor;  
      FIGS. show a second embodiment of the joint;  
       FIGS. 16-18  show detail of a socket of the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 19  shows two resulting predetermined positions of detents of the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 20  shows detail of the ball and the socket of the second embodiment;  
       FIG. 21  shows a graph of a communication signal superimposed on a power voltage; and  
       FIG. 22  shows a digital communication signal removed from the power voltage;  
       FIG. 23  shows an exemplary view of the communication device in a first position;  
       FIG. 24  shows an exemplary view the communications device in a second exemplary position.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      A self configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The device comprises at least a first electronic element and a second electronic element and a joint connecting the first electronic element and the second electronic element, with the joint allowing movement in more than one plane of the first electronic element in relation to the second electronic element, wherein the self configuring multiple element portable electronic device is capable of self configuring an operational mode based on a relative position of the first electronic element with respect to the second electronic element.  
      A self configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The device comprises at least a first electronic element and a second electronic element, a shaft affixed to the first electronic element of the hand-held device and having at least two lengthwise electrical conductor elements separated by an electrical insulator material, a ball formed on an end of the shaft, and a socket formed on the second electronic element, the socket including a plurality of spring loaded contacts adapted to press against the ball, with the plurality of spring loaded contacts adapted to contact the at least two lengthwise electrical conductor elements and electrically communicate with the at least two lengthwise electrical conductor elements, wherein the ball and the socket allow movement in more than one plane of the first electronic element in relation to the second electronic element, and wherein the contacts form a sensor for detecting a relative position of the first electronic element relative to the second electronic element, and wherein the self configuring multiple element portable electronic device is capable of self configuring an operational mode based on a relative position of the first electronic element with respect to the second electronic element.  
      A method for self configuring an operational mode in a self configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device having a first electronic element that may be moved in relation to a second electronic element is provided according to a third aspect of the invention. The method comprises the steps of detecting a relative position of the first electronic element relative to the second electronic element, and selecting an operational mode of the device based on the position.  
      Now turning to  FIGS. 1-8  show a self-configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device  100  having a first element  104  joined to a second element  106  by a joint  112 .  FIGS. 1-4  show a configuration sequence wherein the first element  104  and the second element  106  are manipulated to place the device  100  into a portrait configuration.  
       FIG. 4  shows a self-configuring device  100  when it is configured in a portrait configuration such as, for example, a cellular phone. A long dimension of the typically rectangular display  120  is vertically (or longitudinally) positioned when in use. Because the display  120  is therefore positioned like a portrait of a person, it is known as a portrait mode. The portrait configuration is also reflected in the inputs  115  of the second element  106 , which may be configured to reflect the portrait mode and may include numeric keys and other phone keys. The first element  104  may be rotated down to a closed position parallel to and in contact with the second element  106  to assume a closed configuration (not shown). This is typical of a cellular phone wherein a body and a lid may be folded together and closed during non-use.  
       FIGS. 5-8  show a configuration sequence wherein the first element  104  and the second element  106  are manipulated to place the device  100  into a landscape configuration.  
       FIG. 8  shows the self-configuring multiple element portable electronic device  100  in a landscape configuration, such as, for example, a pager. In the landscape configuration, the display  120  has the long dimension in a substantially lateral position, as is the second element  106 . This may also be appropriate for a device such as a PDA or other electronic appliances. Again, the first element  104  may be rotated down to a closed position parallel to and in contact with the second element  106  to assume a closed configuration (not shown).  
      Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the various input and output devices and other features are discussed. In a typical configuration, the first element  104  contains a display  120 . The display  120  may be any common display device, such as an LCD screen, a fluorescent display, a TFT display, or a CRT, for example. The display  120  in a cellular phone type configuration may be used to display phone related functions such as name and number storage, speed dial information, or phone control and operation settings, for example. In pager or PDA type operational modes, the display  120  may be used to provide a variety of graphics, images, text, or combinations thereof. The orientation of the display  120  may be self configured by the device  100  to match the overall orientation of the self-configuring multiple element portable electronic device  100 .  
      Also included in the first element  104  may be an antenna  126  and a camera  129 . The camera  129  is preferably a video camera, but alternatively may be a still digital camera. The antenna polarization may be modified to reflect the configuration (i.e., a horizontal polarization in the portrait mode and a vertical polarization in the landscape mode, for example).  
      The second element  106  may contain inputs  115  such as, for example, a keyboard. Alternatively, other input devices (not shown) may include a pointing device such as a joystick and buttons used on laptop or notebook computers, a track ball, a touch pad, a rocker switch, a touch screen, a TTY input device for disable persons, a braille key input, or a pad for handwriting pen, for example. The orientation of the inputs  115  will be self configured to match the overall orientation of the self-configuring multiple element portable electronic device  100 .  
      The joint  112  joins the first element  104  to the second element  106  and allows the first element  104  to move with respect to the second element  106 . This movement may be in two planes, unlike a typical cellular phone which consists of a body with a hinged cover that moves in only one plane.  
      Although the present invention is shown as having only two elements, it should be understood that the present invention also applies to portable electronic devices having three or more elements. In such cases, multiple joints  112  may be employed.  
      The joint  112  may optionally include one or more detents wherein a detent position provides a bias to hold the first element  104  in a predetermined position in relation to the second element  106 . Two such detents are preferably located to provide the relative positions shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 .  
      It can be seen from the figures that the joint  112  allows the first element  104  and the second element  106  to move with respect to each other, allowing various positions of the two elements. The joint  112  of the present invention also allows the device  100  to sense the relative positions of the first element  104  and the second element  106 . Because of this ability to determine the relative positions, both the display device  120  and the inputs  115  may be configured by the portable electronic device  100  into either a landscape mode or a portrait mode.  
      In addition to the changing of the orientation of displayed graphics or text, the orientation and arrangement of the individual keys or input elements of the inputs  115  may also be modified. For example, in a portrait (cellular phone) mode the input keys may be arranged so that they are properly oriented when the portable electronic device  100  is in a vertical portrait position (see  FIG. 4 ). In the landscape mode, the first element  104  and second element  106  are substantially parallel and horizontally positioned, and the input keys may be configured in a horizontal orientation (see  FIG. 8 ). Although  FIGS. 1-8  show both configurations starting from a similar initial configuration, it should be noted that the device  100  may be directly manipulated from one configuration to the other, without necessarily having to proceed to the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      The input keys may be reoriented by simply including multiple symbols or characters on each key (oriented in both portrait and landscape positions). Alternatively, the inputs  115  may include a touch-screen display that is capable of reconfiguring and reorienting the touch input regions and accompanying symbols and characters. A third alternative is the use of controllable backlighting, wherein symbols or characters are variably illuminated in a translucent or transparent input element or key. A fourth alternative is the use of electronic labels which contain symbols or characters that can be reconfigured and reoriented.  
      Likewise, other input and output devices, such as the camera  129  or an electronic handwriting tablet for use with a handwriting stylus, for example, may be self configured by the relative positions of the first element  104  and the second element  106 . In addition the operation of the input device must have the proper orientation. Handwriting recognition software must know whether the handwriting tablet is in a landscape or portrait positions. The same is true for joysticks and other similar devices.  
      As an additional feature, the relative positions of the elements may also select a service to be received. For example, the user may position the two elements  104  and  106  to cause the portable electronic device  100  to self configure as a cellular phone and receive incoming phone calls. The portable electronic device  100  may include an alert that notifies the user that a non-selected service is waiting to be received, such as an incoming page in this example. The user may therefore reposition the elements of the device  100  in order to cause the device  100  to self configure as a pager, whereupon the incoming page may be received and/or responded to.  
      As a further feature, altering the operational configuration and mode of the device  100  may be useful in conserving battery life. Some operational modes, chosen by the user, may consume less battery life, given screen activity, screen size, or non real-time synchronous message versus real-time messaging (i.e., paging versus telephony). The operation modes may also dictate different reverse channel transmit power levels, also allowing for battery life conservation.  
      Still further, altering the configuration and operation mode of the device results in the need to align the antenna for optimum RF operation, typically in a vertical polarization. As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the device is configured in a landscape orientation the antenna will need to be in a first position extending the antenna in a optimum RF polarization as the device is operated by the user.  FIG. 3  shows operation of the device configured in a portrait orientation, such as a cellular phone.  
       FIG. 9  shows detail of a first embodiment of the joint  112  of the present invention. The joint  112  includes a first fixed element  909  attached to the first electronic element  104 , a second fixed element  909  attached to the second electronic element  106 , and a connector element  903 . The connector element  903  rotatably attaches to and connects the two fixed elements  909 , and allows the first electronic element  104  to rotate in two planes with respect to the second electronic element  106 .  
       FIG. 10  shows the first joint embodiment along with a positional sensor device arrangement. Exemplary fixed elements  909  include a shaft  1047 . A fixed element  909  is affixed to the first and second electronic elements  104  and  106 , while the shaft  1047  is adapted to fit rotatably within an opening in the connector element  903 . The fixed elements  909  (or the connector element  903 ) may include a retainer device, such as the ridge or ring  1053 , for example, that allows the components to securely snap together.  
      The joint  900  may include one or more positional detents. This may be a ridge (not shown) on the shaft  1047  which may interact with grooves, etc., in the connector element  903  to provide fixed positional detents.  
      The fixed elements  909  each contain positional sensor devices (discussed below in conjunction with  FIGS. 11-13 ) that interact with the connector element  903 . The positional sensor devices are each connected to corresponding position sensor circuit boards  1035 , and are therefore capable of determining a relative rotational position of each electronic element with respect to the connector element  903 . When possessing data from both positions sensors and both position sensor circuit boards  1035 , the portable electronic device  100  can determine a relative position of the first electronic element  104  with respect to the second electronic element  106 .  
      Also shown in the figure is a bus  1039 . The bus  1039  may pass through a hollow interior of the fixed elements  909  and a hollow interior of the connector element  903 , and may be a single wire or lead, or a plurality of wires or leads. A positional information from a position sensor may be transmitted over the bus  1039 . In addition, the bus  1039  may conduct electrical power between the electronic elements. Alternatively, the data bus  1039  may be external to the three joint components.  
       FIGS. 11-13  show various embodiments of the position sensor  932 .  FIG. 11  shows a first sensor embodiment wherein a face of a fixed element  909  may include a plurality of position sensor contacts  1152 . A contact  1128  on the connector element  903  (only the contact  1128  is shown for clarity) may bridge pairs of position sensor contacts  1152 , giving the corresponding position sensor circuit board  1035  a closed electrical circuit that may be used to determine a relative position of an electronic element  104  or  106 . Due to the design of this sensor embodiment, only one pair of position sensor contacts  1152  may form a closed circuit at any time.  
       FIG. 12  shows a second sensor embodiment, wherein the position sensor comprises a variable resistor. The position sensor includes a fixed contact  1260 , a resistive surface  1269 , and a gap  1265  in the resistive surface  1269 , all formed on a fixed element  909 . A moving contact  1263  is affixed to the connector element  10003  (the connector element  903  is not shown for clarity). In use, the moving contact  1263  may rotate on the position sensor as the corresponding electronic element is moved. It should be understood that a wire or other lead must therefore extend from the moving contact  1263  to the position sensor circuit board  1035  (not shown). The resistance received by a corresponding position sensor circuit board  1035  will therefore vary according to the rotation of the position sensor.  
      The above description places the variable resistor on a fixed element  909 . However, the variable resistor could alternatively be formed on an end of the connector element  903 , with the moving contact  1263  being formed on a fixed element  909 .  
       FIG. 13  shows a third sensor embodiment, wherein the position sensor comprises a magnet  1373  and a Hall Effect sensor  1377 . The magnet  1373  is preferably affixed to an end of the connector element  903 , and the Hall Effect sensor  1377  is affixed to or embedded in a fixed element  909 . The magnet  1373  may be comprised of multiple magnetic north and south poles, and may be comprised of multiple magnets or magnetic poles of different strengths and orientations.  
      The Hall Effect sensor  1377  generates an electrical signal when in a magnetic field. The corresponding position sensor circuit board  1035  may use this electrical signal to determine a relative position.  
       FIGS. 14-15  show a second embodiment of the joint  112 . In the second embodiment, the joint  112  is a ball type joint having a ball  147  attached to either the first or second elements. In a preferred embodiment, the ball  147  is attached to the first element  104 . The ball  147  may optionally include a shaft  137  (see  FIG. 20 ). The ball  147  is rotatably received in a socket  162  formed in the second element  106 . The joint  112  therefore allows movement of the first element  104  in two planes in relation to the second element  106 .  
       FIGS. 16-18  show detail of the socket  162 .  FIGS. 17 and 18  are views of  FIG. 16  but from left and right sides, showing angle cuts (detents) designed to hold the two elements in predetermined positions for portrait and landscape configurations.  
       FIG. 19  shows the two resulting predetermined positions of the first element  104  in relation to the second element  106 .  
       FIG. 20  shows detail of the ball  147  and the socket  162 . The ball  147  comprises at least two conductors  151  and  153 , although more than two conductors could be employed. The two conductors  151  and  153  are separated by a strip of electrically insulating material  148 . The optional shaft  137  also includes conductive regions  141  and  143 , with the conductive regions  141  and  143  ending in the conductors  151  and  153  of the ball  147 . A voltage potential may be placed across the two conductive regions  151  and  153  of the ball  147 . A plurality of contacts  159  in the socket  162  press against the ball  147  in a spring-like fashion, and conduct electricity between the ball  147  and the second element  106 . The plurality of contacts  159  may therefore be used to sense the position of the first element  104  in relation to the second element  106  by determining which contacts of the plurality of contacts  159  are conducting electricity. The conductive regions and the contacts therefore allow the portable electronic device  100  to sense the relative position by determining which contact(s) receives the voltage of conductor  151  and which contact(s) receives the voltage of conductor  153 . The positional measurement resolution may be determined by the relative sizes (and numbers) of the conductive regions  151  and  153  of the ball  147 , and also by the size, number, and placement of contacts  159 .  
      Not only is the relative position sensed, but also electrical power may be transferred between the first element  104  and the second element  106  via the various embodiments of the joint  112 . This is desirable because a power source is preferably located in only one of the two elements  104  or  106 .  
      When the ball  147  is rotated, it may be possible that conductors  151  and  153  may be connected together, creating a short circuit. This may be prevented by the inclusion of a current sensing device that shuts down electrical power to the conductors  151  and  153  when a short circuit is detected. When the short circuit is removed, (i.e., the ball  147  is rotated further), the current sensing device may re-apply power.  
      A further advantage of the ball joint socket and associated contacts is that a two-way digital communication may be performed through the joint  112 . This two-way electrical communication may be accomplished by superimposing a digital signal on top of the DC power voltage level (electrical power) existing across the conductive elements  151  and  153  of the joint  112 .  
       FIG. 21  shows a graph of a communication signal superimposed on the power voltage, while  FIG. 22  shows the digital communication signal removed from the power voltage. The communication signal may be removed from the power voltage after the ball joint by using a capacitor to remove the DC component, leaving only the communications signal.  
      Moving to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , a self configuring multiple element wireless portable electronic communication device is shown. The embodiment comprises a housing  2300  having a first element  2302  and a second element  2304 . The housing  2300  further comprises a keyboard  2306  having a plurality of keys. The keyboard  2306 may be disposed on said first element  2302 . The housing  2300  further comprises a sensor (not shown) disposed in said housing  2300  and detecting a relative position of said first element  2302  relative to said second element  2304 . Finally, the housing comprises a keyboard controller (not shown), the keyboard controller coupled to the sensor, wherein a first set of keys  2308 , of said plurality of keys of said keyboard  2306  are activated by said keyboard controller in response to said first element  2302  being in a first position  2310  relative to said second element  2304 .  
      The device has at least two operational modes wherein the device self configures an operational mode based on a position of said first element  2302  relative to said second element  2304 . The device further comprises a second set of keys  2312  of said plurality of keys of said keyboard  2306  which are activated by the keyboard controller in response to the first element  2302  being in a second position  2402  relative to said second element  2304 . Even further, the first set of keys  2308  is a subset of said second set of keys  2312 . The first set of keys  2308  may be the same shape as the second set of keys  2312  or they may have a different shape than the second set of keys  2312 .  
      The first set of keys  2308 , of the plurality of keys, has a first set of indicia  2316  associated therewith, and the first set of indicia  2316  correspond to a first operation mode of said at least two operational modes. The second set of keys  2312  has a second set of indicia  2318  associated therewith, and the second set of indicia  2318  correspond to a second operation mode of the at least two operational modes. The first set of indicia  2316  are oriented at approximately a 45 degree angle relative to said second set of indicia  2318 , such that said second set of indicia  2318  can be read when said device is configured in said first position and said second position. The first set of keys  2308  are active when the device is configured in a first mode as a portrait display mode such that said second element is configured as a portrait display position  2320 . The second set of keys  2312  are active when said device is configured in a second operation mode as a landscape display mode such that said second element  2304  is configured as a landscape display position  2402 . The first set of keys  2308  may comprise a first shape. This first shape  2322  may comprise a circle or square. The second set of keys  2312  comprises a second shape  2324 , which is different than said fist shape  2322 . The second shape  2324  may be an oval, rectangle or pill, or a larger circle or square than used for the first set of keys  2306 . The indicia may be disposed on the keys or the indicia may be disposed adjacent to said keys. One set of indicia may be disposed on the keys while the other set of indicia may be disposed adjacent to the keys.  
      The second element  2302  may include a display device capable of being configured as a landscape display device and a portrait display device.  
      While the invention has been described in detail above, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments as described. It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive concepts.