Patent Publication Number: US-2010110625-A1

Title: Foldable mobile computing device and operating method of the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a foldable mobile computing device and the operating method thereof, and more particularly, to a foldable mobile computing device having an input device, and the operating method thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As the development of digital technology, many kinds of mobile computing device, such as cell phones, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), digital video players, digital book readers or notebooks (laptop computers), have been provided to improve the modern life. To provide more portable convenience, entertainment and users&#39; willingness to use, these electronic devices are typically designed as slim-thin and light as possible for allowing the users operating at any time and at any place as he/she like. 
     However, this approach (design) has its drawbacks. Hence a mobile computing device designed as slim and thin means that there has no sufficient volume available for its operating interface, thus the operating environment of the mobile computing device may be limited, and this may result in difficulties for data inputting and operation. For instance, a cell phone typically can be designed in a slide type or in a flip-flop type, wherein different type of cell phone has different operating interface. Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B ,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate construction profiles of a slide cell phone  10  in accordance with the prior art. As depicted in  FIG. 1A , the operating condition of slide cell phone  10  is kept in standby condition or operated with a non-keyboard input paradigm (wherein, there appears no keyboard). When a user wants to operate the keyboard, he/she should drive the upper main-body  11  sliding against the lower main-body  13  beneath the upper main-body  11  to expose the keyboard, whereby the operating condition of the slide cell phone  10  is shifted to a keyboard input paradigm, as depicted in  FIG. 1B . In this prior art exemplar, the upper main-body  11  of the slide cell phone  10  has a display unit  100  and an operating interface  12 . And a means for sliding and connecting is disposed to structurally and electrically couple the upper main-body  11  to the lower main-body  13 . In this approach, however, since the surface of the lower main-body  13  on which an operating interface  14  is disposed, in a certain extent, is partially covered by the upper main-body  11 , thus the space provided for the operating interface  14  may be limited. Such that the operation of the slide cell phone  10  may be retarded, and there exists some functions that can not be completed with the absence of either the operating interface  12  or the operating interface  14 . Besides, because of the structurally limitations, that the display unit  100  of the upper main-body  11  is parallel to the operating interface  12  and the operating interface  14 , the display unit  100  can not be flipped up, like a flip-flop cell phone, to select a angle in respect to the operating interface  12  suitable for operation. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate construction profiles of a flip-flop cell phone  20  in accordance with the prior art. As depicted in  FIG. 2A , the flip-flop cell phone  20  is kept in standby condition. When a user wants to perform the procedures of call origination or termination or even wants to operate the keyboard, he/she should drive an upper main-body  21  to pivot around a pivotal axis  25  coupling the upper main-body  21  on the lower main-body  23  to expose the keyboard, as depicted in  FIG. 2B . In comparison with the slide cell phone  10 , the flip-flop cell phone  20  can provide more space for its operating interface  24  disposed on the lower main-body  23 . However, when the flip-flop cell phone  20  is kept in standby condition, the upper-main-body  21  and the lower main-body  23  are clapped together, whereby a display unit  200  disposed on the inner surface of the upper main-body  21  should be closed. Thus it is necessary to provide an additional sub-display  201  disposed on the outer surfaces of the upper main-body  21  allowing the users to observe the current performance of the flip-flop cell phone  20 . Though the sub-display  201  may provide the user operation convenience, nevertheless, it should cost certain additional expenditures. 
     Foregoing design concepts has been applied to the other mobile computing devices to purchase their optimum performance. For example, notebooks generally adopt a flip cover design to purchase greater operating interface, whereby a full-size or standard keyboard can be disposed on its main-body to provide their users a comfortable operating interface. Otherwise, some other mobile computing devices, such as PDAs, Smart-Phones or pocket personal computers, adopt slide cover design to purchase slim-thin and light. Thus in some prior art exemplars, an integrated keyboard is applied to these PDAs, Smart-Phones or pocket personal computers, by which though some strokes have to be eliminated, nevertheless the major functions as provided by a standard are still retained. However, the operating comfort and convenience should be decline. In short, the current requirements of a mobile computing device for satisfying the users are not only providing the advantages of light and portability but also providing an easily inputting operating interface, such as a standard keyboard with complete strikes or buttons, and a convenient display for accommodating the users observing the computing results. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention, a foldable mobile computing device is disclosed. The foldable mobile computing device comprises a first main-body, a second main-body and a pivotal axis. The first main-body has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface has a display unit mounted thereon for displaying and manipulating a controlling image; the second main-body has a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the third surface has a touch interface set thereon functioning as a keyboard when the foldable mobile computing device is operated with a keyboard input paradigm; and the pivot axis couples the first main-body and the second main-body. When the second surface and the fourth surface are clapped together, the foldable mobile computing device is operated with a non-keyboard input paradigm; and when the first surface and the third surface are driven to form an angle values in a certain range, the non-keyboard input paradigm is shifted to the keyboard input paradigm. 
     Another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a foldable mobile computing device is disclosed, wherein the foldable mobile computing device comprises a pivot axis used to couple a first main-body and a second main-body; the first main-body has a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; and the second main-body has a third surface and a fourth surface parallel to the third surface. The operating method comprises steps as follows: when the first main-body and the second main-body are clapped together to force the second surface parallel clapping on the fourth surface, the foldable mobile computing device can be operated with a non-keyboard input paradigm. When at least one of the first main-body and the second main-body is driven to pivot around the pivot axis, so as to force a display unit mounted on the first surface and a touch panel disposed on the third surface forming an angle values in a certain range, the non-keyboard input paradigm can be shifted to a keyboard input paradigm. 
     In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, a foldable mobile computing device and the operating method thereof are disclosed, wherein the foldable mobile computing device has two main-bodies coupled by a pivot axis. When the foldable mobile computing device is folded up, the operation condition of the foldable mobile computing device can be kept on a non-keyboard input paradigm, and when one of the main-bodies is pivot around the pivot axis to form the angle between these two main-bodies values in a certain range, the operation condition of the foldable mobile computing device can be shifted from a keyboard input paradigm to a non-keyboard input paradigm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A  and B illustrate construction profiles of a slide cell phone in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIGS. 2A  and B illustrate construction profiles of a flip-flop cell phone in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIGS. 3A  to C illustrate construction profiles of a foldable mobile computing device which is kept in a folded-up condition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4A  and B illustrate construction profiles of a foldable mobile computing device which is kept in a flip-up condition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     To illustrate the make and use of the present invention, there provides several embodiments of foldable mobile computing devices to discuss. Of note that each of the foldable mobile computing devices has two main-bodies pivot coupled with each other by a axis allowing main-bodies to rotate around, whereby the structural profiles of the foldable mobile computing devices provided by the present embodiments may similar to the prior art foldable mobile computing devices, such as the aforementioned prior art flip-flop cell phone. Though the profiles of the present embodiments are similar to the prior art, there are nevertheless characteristics, wherein a pivot axis disposed on the outer edge of two main-bodies of the foldable mobile computing device is used to manipulate the inputting paradigm of the foldable mobile computing devices according to the pivotal angle formed between the two main-bodies. 
       FIGS. 3A to 3C  illustrate construction profiles of a foldable mobile computing device  30  which is kept in a folded-up condition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 3A  is the front view of the foldable mobile computing device  30 ;  FIG. 3B  is the rear view of the foldable mobile computing device  30 ; and  FIG. 3C  is the side view of the foldable mobile computing device  30 . As depicted in  FIGS. 3A to 3C , the foldable mobile computing device  30  comprises a first main-body  31 , a second main-body  32  and a pivot axis  35 , wherein the pivot axis  35  is used to couple the first main-body  31  on the second main-body  32 , whereby the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  can rotate there around. Each of the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  comprises two surfaces. For example, the first main-body  31  has a first surface  311  and a second surface  312  parallel to the first surface  311 ; and the second main-body  32  has a third surface  323  and a fourth surface  324  parallel to the third surface  323 . When the foldable mobile computing device  30  is kept in a folded-up condition, the first surface  311  and the third surface  323  are disposed on opposite side serve as the external surfaces of the foldable mobile computing device  30 ; the second surface  312  and the fourth surface  324  are clapped together and folded in the foldable mobile computing device  30 . 
     The foldable mobile computing device  30  further comprises an operation system which is constructed by various integrating circuit and processing units disposed in the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32  designed according to the functional requirements and the intended use of the foldable mobile computing device  30 . In the embodiments of the present invention, a display unit  310  used to display controlling images for performing the operation system is disposed on the first surface  311  of the first main-body  31 . In the preferred embodiments, the preferable display unit  310  may be constructed by a touch panel. A touch interface  320  is disposed on the third surface  323  of the second main-body  32 . In the preferred embodiments, the touch interface  320  may be constructed by a touch panel and/or a touch keypad. 
     Continued from the preceding description, the operating method of the foldable mobile computing device  30  can be set forth as follows: When the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  are clapped together, the second surface  312  is forced to clap on the fourth surface  324 ; meanwhile the second surface  312 , the third surface  323  and the fourth surface  324  are parallel to the first surface  311 ; the foldable mobile computing device can be operated with a non-keyboard input paradigm. In this operating condition the touch interface  320  embodying as a touch panel or a touch keypad is not displayed on the third surface  323 . In other words, Because the touch interface  320  is embodied as a plurality of functional strikes displayed on a touch panel and/or a touch keypad, each of which is associated with a predetermined function to allow the users control the aforementioned operation system, when the touch interface  320  can not be displayed on the third surface  323 , the predetermined functions in corresponding to the functional strikes are not available. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the pivot axis  35  is designed as a single axis allowing the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32  to rotate there around to form a rotating angle values in a certain range, such that an angle formed between the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  can be substantially less than 360 degree. In some preferred embodiments, the pivot axis  35  further provides a fixing function to retain the relative position between the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  or the relative position of the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  in respect to the pivot axis  35 , so as to keep the angle formed by the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  in a constant degree during the rotation of the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32 . Hence the structure and functions of the single-axis pivot axis are well known in the prior art, hereafter it is not necessary to describe in detail. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate construction profiles of a foldable mobile computing device  30  which is kept in a flip-up condition in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 4A  is the perspective view of the foldable mobile computing device  30 ; and  FIG. 4B  is the side view of the foldable mobile computing device  30 . When the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32  rotates around the pivot axis  35 , the foldable mobile computing device  30  can be shifted from the folded up condition shown in the  FIGS. 3A  to C to the flip-up condition As depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Meanwhile the operating condition of the foldable mobile computing device  30  can be shift from the standby condition or the non-keyboard input paradigm to a keyboard input paradigm. In some embodiments for operating the foldable mobile computing device  30 , the angle formed by the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  should be kept in a range from about 200 to 230 degrees during the rotation of the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32 . At the same time the parallel first surface  311  and the third surface  323  can also be shifted to form an angle ranges from about 130 to 160 degrees. Such that the display unit  310  disposed on the first surface  311  of the first main-body  31  and the touch interface  320  disposed on the third surface  323  of the second main-body  32  are retained in a proper relative position suitable for the users to manipulate and observe the controlling images shown on the display unit  310  of the foldable mobile computing device  30 . 
     When the operating condition of the foldable mobile computing device  30  is operated with a keyboard input paradigm, the touch interface  320  is displayed on the third surface  323 . Namely the functional strikes of the touch interface  320  in corresponding to the predetermined functions can be available to allow the users control the aforementioned operation system. As depicted in  FIG. 4A , the touch interface  320  is embodied as a plurality of functional strokes that can be associated as a keyboard. And, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the functional strokes of the touch interface  320  may be associated as a full sized keyboard, a standard keyboard or an operating interface with eliminating strokes but still remains the major functions as provided by a standard keyboard. When the users compress the functional strokes displayed on the touch panel or the touch keypad to manipulate the touch interface  320 , the controlling images or the operation process of the foldable mobile computing devices  30  can be displayed by the display unit  310 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the preferred method for shifting the operating condition of the foldable mobile computing device  30  from the standby condition or the non-keyboard input paradigm to a keyboard input paradigm is to rotate the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32  that are originally clapped up together to the condition shown as  FIG. 4B . Wherein a sensor can be further disposed on the pivot axis  35  to detect the rating angle of the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32 . Hence the structure and functions of the sensor disposed on a pivot axis are well known in the prior art, hereafter it is not necessary to describe in detail. 
     In other words, when the second surface  312  and the fourth surface  324  that are originally clasped up to gather are separated by the rotation of the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32 , the foldable mobile computing device  30  no longer retains in the standby condition, and the functional strokes of the touch interface  320  can be displayed and available for operation. The preferred condition for operating the touch interface  320  is keep the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  in a certain relative position, wherein the outer surfaces of the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  (the second surface  312  and the fourth surface  324 ) may form an angle ranges from about 200 to 230 degrees. Namely (in accordance with  FIG. 4B ), when the first surface  311  and the third surface  323  are shifted to form an angle ranging from about 130 to 160 degrees, the touch interface  320  can be manipulated more easy and comfortable. Otherwise, when the first main-body  31  or the second main-body  32  rotates reversely around the pivot axis  35 , the foldable mobile computing device  30  can be shifted from the flip-up condition shown in the  FIGS. 4A  and B to the folded-up condition as depicted in  FIGS. 3A  to C; the operating condition of the foldable mobile computing device  30  can also be shifted from the keyboard input paradigm to the standby condition or the non-keyboard input paradigm again; and the angle formed between the first surface  311  and the third surface  323  can be shift back to zero. 
     It must be appreciated that the aforementioned concepts cane be applied to other mobile computing devices. Thus the foldable mobile computing device  30  can be a cell phone, a mobile phone, a personal PDA, a digital video player, a digital book reader, a notebook or any kind of portable electronic device. 
     The design of the present foldable mobile computing device  30  that has a foldable first main-body  31  and a second main-body  32  is characterized by the concepts as follows: Wherein a display unit  310  is disposed on one of the outer surface of the foldable mobile computing device  30 , the first surface  311  of the first main-body  31  that can be rotated around a pivot axis  35 . By rotating the first main-body  31  in a direction reverse to what the conventional flip-flop mobile computing devices do, the operating condition of the foldable mobile computing device  30  can be shifted, i.e. from a keyboard input paradigm to a non-keyboard input paradigm. Since the display unit  310  is dispose on the outer surface of the foldable mobile computing device  30 , no matter how the operating condition is shifted, the display unit  310  can perform in either keyboard input paradigm or non-keyboard input paradigm. Thus the display unit  310  of the present invention is compatible to provide the functions that are conventionally completed by a display unit and a sub-display unit of a prior art flip-flop mobile computing device  20 . Namely, mere the present display unit  310  can provide the functions equivalent to that provided by the combination of the display unit and the sub-display unit of the conventional flip-flop mobile computing device  20 . Such that the sub-display unit is no longer necessary for the foldable mobile computing device  30 . Accordingly, this approach of the present invention not only can reduce the manufacturing cost of a foldable mobile computing device, but also can entertain the users by virtue of the always-available display unit  310 . 
     Besides, because of when the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  are clapped together, the operation condition of the foldable mobile computing device  30  has been shifted to the non-keyboard input paradigm and kept in standby condition, thus the functional strikes of the touch interface  320  used to manipulate the foldable mobile computing device  30  cannot be displayed and enabled. Though the touch interface  320  is disposed on the other outer surface of the foldable mobile computing device  30 , nevertheless, it should not be interfered by users&#39; touch or external compression. Such that when the foldable mobile computing device  30  is carried or held by a user, an unexpected command should not be inputted through the touch interface  320 . In accordance with the preferred embodiment shown on  FIG. 4A , the touch interface  320  set on the second main-body  32  is displayed as a standard keyboard. In comparison with the conventional design of a slide cell phone  10 , since the upper main-body  11  partially covers the surface of the lower main-body  13  on which the operating interface  14  of the slide cell phone  10  is disposed, the space provided for the operating interface  14  may be limited. In contrast, since the first main-body  31  and the second main-body  32  are coupled by a pivot axis, the third surface  323  of second main-body  32  on which the touch interface  320  is disposed should not be covered or interfered by other spare parts of the foldable mobile computing device  30 . Accordingly, the operating space for setting the touch interface  320  should not be limited, whereby the users can comfortably use the touch interface  320  as a standard keyboard to input or operate the foldable mobile computing device  30 . 
     In accordance with the aforementioned description, the foldable mobile computing device provided by the present invention not only can resolve the aforementioned prior art problems but also can provide more portable and operating convenience allowing the users to observe the performance of the foldable mobile computing device at any time. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost of the foldable mobile computing device is decreased and the users&#39; willingness to use can be increased by virtue of the applications of the present invention. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.