Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1178648A2/en
Timestamp: 2019-05-27 12:20:08
Document Index: 28122204

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'arts 6', 'arts 2', 'art 26', 'arts 6', 'art 6', 'arts 6', 'arts 6', 'art 9', 'art 2', 'arts 6', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'arts 386']

EP1178648A2 - Portable, foldable electronic device comprising at least two use positions - Google Patents
EP1178648A2
EP1178648A2 EP01660142A EP01660142A EP1178648A2 EP 1178648 A2 EP1178648 A2 EP 1178648A2 EP 01660142 A EP01660142 A EP 01660142A EP 01660142 A EP01660142 A EP 01660142A EP 1178648 A2 EP1178648 A2 EP 1178648A2
EP01660142A
EP1178648B1 (en
2001-07-19 Application filed by Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd, Nokia Oyj filed Critical Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd
The invention relates to a portable, foldable electronic device (1) comprising an opened and closed use posi- tion, and a hinge mechanism (36) for the same. The device comprises at least a first housing part (6) com- prising at least an inner wall (62), a second housing part (9) comprising at least an inner wall (92), a hinge mechanism (36) arranged to fold the first and second housing parts (6, 9) in relation to each other for a first use position in the closed position, wherein the inner walls (62, 92) are placed against each other, remaining between the housing parts (6, 9), and for a second use position in the opened position, wherein the inner walls (62, 92) and simultaneously the housing parts (6, 9) are placed adjacent to each other, and wherein the device (1) can also be used on the side of the inner walls (62, 92). The device (1) also comprises a third housing part (2), to which the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) are attached by means of said hinge mechanism (36) in such a way that they are simultaneously folded in rela- tion to the third housing part (2) as well, when the device (1) is opened and closed.
The present invention relates to a portable, foldable electronic device comprising an open and closed use position as set forth in the preamble of the appended claim 1. The invention also relates to a hinge mechanism for a portable, foldable electronic device comprising two or more positions as set forth in the preamble of claim 13,
A PDA/CMT device comprising two user interfaces and two different use positions is also known from US patent publication 6,014,573. In the closed position, the device is used as a mobile phone, and in the opened position, a separate keypad and display are available. When opened, it is also possible to have e.g. a wireless connection to a communication network and to search for information by means of a browser or communication software in the device. A PDA/CMT device comprising two or more foldable housing parts is also known from US patent publication 6,047,196. The CMT user interface is placed on the outer sides of both housing parts. One embodiment of the device also comprises a wide display which is divided into two foldable housing parts. A corresponding wide display comprising two foldable housing parts is also known from the patent publication US 5,734,513. When the housing parts are closed, the displays remain protected therebetween. The separate displays are placed next to each other to form a wider uniform display.
The invention is based on a handle-like housing part which is added to foldable housing parts and in which the keys and other control buttons or the like are placed. The invention is also based on the way in which the other housing parts are folded in relation to this handle part. The handle part can be designed for an ergonomic grip. When the control buttons are placed on different sides of the handle part, and a navigation key which is preferably also equipped with a push-button function is placed on the upper comer of the device, the device can be controlled with one grip. The device can be opened with a push-button on the top surface. The same keys can also be used to control the auxiliary functions, such as camera, video and music functions.
In one embodiment, it is also possible to connect to the device a wire-lessly operating headset device comprising one or more earpieces and a headset. The device can be used e.g. as a hands-free device.
According to another advantageous embodiment, these are also used for listening to music which is transmitted from the PDA/CMT device in digital format in a wireless manner. The music is stored in the memory means of the device and/or it is transmitted to the device by using a wireless communication network. The functions are controlled by using the above-mentioned keys or buttons in the handle part. The headset device can also be equipped with a control unit comprising e.g. a display and keys. According to an advantageous embodiment, the device is controlled in a wireless manner by means of the headset control unit.
shows the device of Fig. 1 in a closed position and seen from above.
The device 1 comprises a corresponding second housing part 9 comprising an outer wall 91 which simultaneously constitutes the side and outer surface of the device 1. Part of the outer surface of the device 1 is also formed by the side surface 21, The side surface 21 and the outer wall 91 constitute a substantially even surface which is divided into two halves separated by a longitudinal seam 10 at the hinge. In the closed position, the inner walls 62, 92 are placed against each other, close to and facing each other, wherein the displays 81, 92 are simultaneously folded together. The displays 81, 82 and the inner walls 62 and 92 are protected between the housing parts 6, 9. Separately, the displays 81, 82 are substantially rectangular, and when combined by placing their long edges adjacent to each other, they constitute a foldable, almost quadratic display 8. In one embodiment, the angular position of at least one of the housing parts in relation to the other housing part can be adjusted, e.g. to an angular difference between 0° and 15°. This makes the use easier in the position of Fig. 5, wherein the display 82 represents a QWERTY keyboard and the display 81 displays the text written. Thus at least the display 82 is a touch screen. The device 1 can be readily opened in this angular position, from which it can be moved to the fully opened position shown in Fig. 5 (0° angular difference). The longitudinal edges of the housing parts 2 and 9 are supported against a base to make it easier to write.
According to one embodiment of the Figs. 3 and 4, a camera arm 18 for an image sensor is provided on the surface 29 of the upper part 26 in the handle 2. The horizontal camera arm 18 is placed between the housing parts 6, 9, and it has a set of openings 19 for the sensor lense arrangement. In the closed position, the sensor is oriented in the same direction as the viewfinder 14. The camera arm 18 is rotatable around its longitudinal axis downwards and in the opposite direction in a sector of at least 180°. The axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the side 29 and the walls 62, 92 in the opened position of Fig. 4. As the camera arm 18 can also be turned at least 90° upwards as shown in Fig. 5, the camera can be directed to a wide area, if the device 1 is supported stationary on its base. The axis of rotation is perpendicular to the sides 21, 22. To the position of Fig. 5, the camera arm 18 is bent or placed by means of an arch-like slide rail, at the end of which the camera arm 18 is fixed. Alternatively, the camera arm 18 is placed in the housing part 6, by the right window 32 and parallel with the wall 62. The set of openings is thus oriented towards the user in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the surface 62, wherein in the closed position, the camera is oriented in the direction of the viewfinder without moving the camera arm, The arm 18 can also be provided with rotation around its longitudinal axis to direct the camera downwards and upwards.
The unfolding mechanism 38 comprises arms 382 and 383 arranged on a joint longitudinal shaft journal 381 and extending towards the parts 6, 9. The pin 381 and the arms 382, 383 are allowed to move in the transverse direction, towards the parts 6, 9 in relation to the beam 391. The arms 383 and 382 are fixed to the beam 394 and to the hinge beam of the housing part 9 by means of a hinge pin 385 and a hinge pin 384, respectively. The parallel rotation axes in the longitudinal direction of the hinge pins 384, 385 are placed on opposite sides of the axis C, and each rotation axis on the side of the housing part to which also the hinge pin is fixed, The rotation axes are slightly closer to the part 2 than the axis C. The pin 381 is also provided with a tensioned torsional spring 388 which is continuously effective between the arms 382, 383 and tends to turn them around the pin 381 towards each other and to be parallel. Thus, a torque force is simultaneously produced, tending to turn the hinge pins 384, 385 towards each other around the rotation axis C. The hinge pins 384, 385 are turned so that the direction of their rotation axes is maintained. This, in turn, produces a torque effective on the housing parts 6, 9 to make them open when ejected, wherein when they are pushed in, the grooves 395, 396 are supported to the ridges 42, 43 of the housing part 2. When turned, the distances between the rotation axis of the hinge pin and the axis C on one hand and between the rotation axis of the hinge pin and the pin 381 on the other hand remain constant, with the result that the position of the pin 381 in relation to the beam and the handle part 2 will vary. Therefore, the pin and the arms are fitted in a movable manner in a nest in the middle part of the beam 391. Further, the ends of the pin 381 are provided with fitting parts 386 and 387.
Portable, foldable electronic device (1) comprising an opened and closed use position, comprising at least;
A device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) are arranged to move away from the third housing part (2) before opening in opposite directions, and that the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) placed against each other are arranged, upon closing, to partly move inside the third housing part (2) to reduce the outer dimensions of the device (1).
Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in its closed position, the housing parts (2, 6, 9) constitute a substantially integrated, rigid housing-like structure.
A device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises first electronic display means (81, 82) arranged on the inner wall (62, 92) of the first and/or second housing part (6, 9), and also second electronic display means (11) arranged in the third housing part (2), and further a set of electronic keys (3, 4, 5) arranged in the third housing part (2), which keys are arranged to control the functions of the device (1) and the information displayed on the display (11, 81, 82) at the same time when the device is held at the third housing part (2).
A device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first display means (81, 82) comprise a uniform, foldable electronic display (8) placed on the inner walls (62, 92) of the first and second housing parts (6, 9) and arranged for displaying information, texts and images in at least two different orientations for a vertical and a horizontal position of the device (1).
The device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in its opened position, the handle-like third housing part (2), which is arranged for holding the device (1) when it is closed and opened, is on the opposite side of the device (1) in relation to the inner walls (62, 92), extending in a direction which is perpendicular to said inner walls.
Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in its opened position, the inner walls (62, 92) are parallel and placed adjacent to each other to form a uniform inner wall.
Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that one of the housing parts (2, 6, 9) is provided with electronic image sensor means for still and/or video images.
A device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the the electronic image sensor means comprise a turnable camera arm (18) extending from the third housing part (2) in between the first and the second housing parts (6, 9), provided with a space (34, 35) and a transparent housing (32, 33) for the camera arm (18) and to protect it.
A device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the hinge mechanism (36) comprises a hinge system (39) arranged for folding the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) in relation to each other and the third housing part (2), an ejector mechanism (37) arranged to eject the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) wholly and the hinge system (39) partly from the third housing part (2), and an unfolding mechanism (38) arranged to assist in the opening of the first and the second housing parts (6, 9).
Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) are arranged to turn around such a joint rotation axis (C) which is placed between said housing parts (6, 9) and in the same plane with their inner walls (62, 92).
Device (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is a communication device comprising at least a CMT user interface which is available in the closed position of the device (1), and at least a PDA user interface which is available in the opened position of the device (1).
Hinge mechanism for a portable, foldable electronic device (1) comprising two or more positions and comprising at least three housing parts (2, 6, 9) foldable in relation to each other, wherein the hinge mechanism (36) comprises a hinge system (39), which is arranged to couple the first and second housing parts (6, 9) and to fold them in relation to each other, characterized in that the hinge system (39) is also arranged to couple the first and second housing parts (6, 9) to the third housing part (2) in a foldable manner by means of said hinge system (39), and that the hinge mechanism (36) also comprises an ejector mechanism (37) arranged for moving said hinge system (39) in relation to the third housing part (2), and an unfolding mechanism (38), arranged to assist in the opening of the first and the second housing parts (6, 9).
A hinge mechanism (36) according to claim 13, characterized in that the ejector mechanism (37) is arranged to eject the first and the second housing parts (6, 9) fully out of the third housing part (2) and to eject the hinge system (39) partly out of the third housing part (2).
EP1178648A2 true EP1178648A2 (en) 2002-02-06
EP1178648B1 EP1178648B1 (en) 2006-04-26