Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20090110352?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-12-26 03:56:10
Document Index: 599697427

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'arts 2', 'arts 2', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 4']

Patent US20090110352 - Electronic Device Having Optical Data Connection Of Movable Housing Parts - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention provides an electronic device comprising two or more housing parts which are movable in relation to each other with an optical arrangement enabling optical data communication between electronic components located in the housing parts. The device according to the invention comprises...http://www.google.com/patents/US20090110352?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20090110352 - Electronic Device Having Optical Data Connection Of Movable Housing PartsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20090110352 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 12/295,446PCT numberPCT/IB2006/000762Publication dateApr 30, 2009Filing dateMar 31, 2006Priority dateMar 31, 2006Also published asUS7778503, WO2007113604A1Publication number12295446, 295446, PCT/2006/762, PCT/IB/2006/000762, PCT/IB/2006/00762, PCT/IB/6/000762, PCT/IB/6/00762, PCT/IB2006/000762, PCT/IB2006/00762, PCT/IB2006000762, PCT/IB200600762, PCT/IB6/000762, PCT/IB6/00762, PCT/IB6000762, PCT/IB600762, US 2009/0110352 A1, US 2009/110352 A1, US 20090110352 A1, US 20090110352A1, US 2009110352 A1, US 2009110352A1, US-A1-20090110352, US-A1-2009110352, US2009/0110352A1, US2009/110352A1, US20090110352 A1, US20090110352A1, US2009110352 A1, US2009110352A1InventorsMarcus Schorpp, Maatta Elsa-SakariOriginal AssigneeMarcus Schorpp, Maatta Elsa-SakariExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (4), Classifications (14), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetElectronic Device Having Optical Data Connection Of Movable Housing PartsUS 20090110352 A1Abstract The present invention provides an electronic device comprising two or more housing parts which are movable in relation to each other with an optical arrangement enabling optical data communication between electronic components located in the housing parts. The device according to the invention comprises a first housing part comprising first electronic components, a second housing part comprising second electronic components, wherein said first housing part and said second housing part are movably connected and capable of taking at least a first and a second position in relation to each other, a first optoelectronic device connected with said first electronic components, a second optoelectronic device connected with said second electronic components, and a first light duct, and a second light duct, wherein said first light duct is arranged to provide a first light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said first position, and said second light duct is arranged to provide a second light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said second position.
a first housing part comprising first electronic components; a second housing part comprising second electronic components; wherein said first housing part and said second housing part are movably connected and capable of taking at least a first and a second position in relation to each other;
a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device; a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device; and a light deflection element arranged on said second housing part; wherein
a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device; a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device; and a light deflection element arranged on the hinge element; wherein
a first deflection element connected with said first optoelectronic device; a second deflection element connected with said second optoelectronic device; a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device; and a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device; wherein
a light guiding element, wherein a first end thereof is connected with said first optoelectronic device; a beam splitter located within said light guiding element, adapted for deflecting a fraction of light emitted by said first optoelectronic device; and a second deflection element located at a second end of said light guiding element, adapted for deflecting the remaining fraction of light; wherein
TECHNICAL FIELD Mobile electronic devices comprising two movable housing sections or parts have become rather popular recently. Prominent examples are the so-called slider phones and the so-called flip- or collapsible phones. The housing parts of such phones usually can take at least two positions, wherein in a first (closed) position only the most important display and/or control elements are accessible, for example the display together with keys for taking/rejecting calls and viewing incoming messages. In order to render the phone fully operational, that is, to enable the user to access all control and/or display elements, the housing parts are moved in relation to each other, taking the second (open) position exposing e.g. the full keypad and/or main display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the present invention an electronic device is provided, comprising:
a first housing part comprising first electronic components; a second housing part comprising second electronic components;
a first optoelectronic device connected with said first electronic components; a second optoelectronic device connected with said second electronic components;
a first light duct; and a second light duct;
said first light duct is arranged to provide a first light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said first position; and said second light duct is arranged to provide a second light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said second position. Replacing the mechanically stressed conventional wire connections with optical data links provides an improved reliability in such electronic devices, while at the same time enabling higher data rates. Furthermore the arrangement of the present invention does not need more than one optoelectronic sender/receiver or transceiver per housing part, thus saving costs and area on the printed wiring board. Still further advantages of such an arrangement will be explained in more detail in the detailed description of embodiments of the present invention.
a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device; a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device; and
said first light duct is formed by said first light guiding element; and said second light duct is formed by said first light guiding element, said light deflection element and said second light guiding element. According to an exemplary embodiment the first and second housing parts are connected foldably via a hinge element, and the device further comprises:
a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device; a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device; and a light deflection element arranged on the hinge element;
said first light duct is formed by said first light guiding element, said light deflection element and said second light guiding element; and said second light duct is formed by said first light guiding element and said second light guiding element. According to an exemplary embodiment the first and second housing parts are connected foldably, and the device further comprises:
a first deflection element connected with said first optoelectronic device; a second deflection element connected with said second optoelectronic device; a first light guiding element connected with said first optoelectronic device; and a second light guiding element connected with said second optoelectronic device;
said first light duct is formed by said first and said second deflection element; and said second light duct is formed by said first light guiding element and said second light guiding element. According to an exemplary embodiment the first and second deflection elements each comprise a diffraction grating or at least one reflecting element.
a light guiding element, wherein a first end thereof is connected with said first optoelectronic device; a beam splitter located within said light guiding element, adapted for deflecting a fraction of light emitted by said first optoelectronic device; and a second deflection element located at a second end of said light guiding element, adapted for deflecting the remaining fraction of light;
said first light duct is formed by the section of said light guiding element extending from said optoelectronic device to said beam splitter, and said beam splitter; and said second light duct is formed by said light guiding element and said second light deflection element. According to an exemplary embodiment the first and the second deflection element each comprise at least one reflecting element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be more fully understood by referring to the attached drawings, which are provided only for illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but which should not be construed as limiting the invention to particular details. In the drawings
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the present invention is depicted schematically. That is, common elements present in a mobile phone or like devices are not shown here, like displays, control keys etc. Also the dimensions depicted here are only to be understood as illustrative, and should not be construed as limiting for the present invention. In this and also the other figures certain dimensions (e.g. the distance between top and bottom housing part) may intentionally be exaggerated, in order to improve the intelligibility. These remarks apply similarly to the other figures, in order to avoid unnecessary repetitions.
In this embodiment the second housing part 4 is substantially identical with housing part 2, in a reversed manner. That is, it comprises an optoelectronic receiver 8 having its electronic interface connected with electronic components located within the housing part 4, and having its optical interface connected with a second light guiding element 22. A second light deflection element 34 is located within the second light guiding element 22, in close proximity or even directly coupled to the receiver 8. The second light deflection element 34 is provided to lead light received from the first light deflection element 32 into the second light guiding element 22�in this particular embodiment in a direction perpendicular to the reception direction�to be received by the receiver 8.
Similarly to the embodiments described in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4 the light emitted by the sender 6 is thus split up here. A fraction of the light intensity is deflected by the first light deflection element 54, to be received�in the first position of the two housing parts 2, 4�by the receiver 8. In this first position the housing parts 2 and 4 are located such that the first light deflection element 54 forms a first light duct providing a first light path (indicated by the upper dashed arrow), which leads light emitted from the sender 6 to the receiver 8.
FIG. 6 depicts another variant of a �beam splitter� type arrangement. Therefore many of the considerations made above apply here as well, so please also refer to the detailed description of the corresponding previously described embodiments. In this particular embodiment, which also relates to a slider type phone, glass or plastic fibres are used as light ducts. It should be noted that the term �glass/plastic fibre� in the context of the present invention is used as a synonym for either a single fibre or a combined bundle of several fibres. In this specific embodiment shown here a first glass fibre 62 extends from the sender 6 to a point in the housing part 2 which is�in the closed position of the slider phone shown in the upper left section of this figure�located such that light emitted from sender 6 is led to be received by receiver 8 in the top housing part 4.
In the lower right section of the figure the open position of the mobile device is shown. A second glass fibre 64 is also connected with the optical interface of sender 6. Basically it will depend on the actual area of the optoelectronic sender 6 occupied by the connection of the different glass fibres which amounts of light intensity will be coupled into each glass fibre. Similar considerations with respect to the light intensity as with the previous embodiments apply here as well; therefore please refer to the corresponding descriptions with regard to this aspect. The second glass fibre (bundle) 64 extends from sender 6 to a position on the housing part 2 which is�in the open position of the slider phone shown in the lower right section of this figure�located such that light emitted from sender 6 is led to be received by receiver 8 in the top housing part 4.
The present invention can make use of light guides which are usually rigid plastic parts that can be used to lead light in a similar way as known from optical fibres. In light guides the change in the refractive index�required to keep the light inside the guide�is usually constituted by the light guide/air interface. Another possible design of light guides is similar to optical fibres, and here the change in the refractive index is caused by a cladding material around the thick core. Light guides are usually made of polymers.
Lenses for correcting/improving the light path(s) can also be used, e.g. at the entrance or exit of light guiding elements, or connected directly with the optoelectronic sender/receiver/transceiver, e.g. for providing a substantially linear or non-divergent exit/entry path of light exiting/entering the respective devices. In contrast, certain embodiments rely on an at least slightly divergent exit/entry of light, particularly embodiments using the �beam splitter� approach with diffraction gratings. Therefore suitable lenses and also other conventional optical devices can be used to obtain the desired/required light path. Just as an example, the parabolic/elliptic mirror used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be exchanged by a prism.
The light guides to be used with the invention can be implemented in several manners, e.g. as pure polymer pipe, as polymer pipe with cladding (�fibre type�) or as fibre bundle made of plastic or glass fibres. Especially the latter offers the possibility to embed the light guide into the phone cover mould, thus not requiring extra space and providing an improved protection.
It should be apparent that the present invention can also be applied to electronic devices with more than two housing parts which are movable. For example it can be applied to a foldable phone having two main housing parts and a camera module that can be turned 180� for capturing self-portraits of the user of the device. Also the invention is not to be limited to mobile phones only. It can be used in any electronic device comprising two or more housing parts which are movable in relation to each other, and wherein a data connection between the housing parts is required.
Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7777679 *Jun 7, 2007Aug 17, 2010Lg Electronics Inc.Mobile terminalUS7877123 *Sep 28, 2007Jan 25, 2011Motorola Mobility, Inc.Method and apparatus for RF signal transmission in a slider phoneUS8620122Sep 10, 2010Dec 31, 2013Avago Technologies General Ip (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Low-profile optical communications module having two generally flat optical connector modules that slidingly engage one anotherUS20110105203 *Mar 4, 2009May 5, 2011Hosiden CorporationOptical Communication Structure* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification385/37, 385/31International ClassificationH04B10/00, G02B6/42, G02B6/34Cooperative ClassificationH04M1/0214, H04B10/22, G02B6/4214, H04M1/0235, G02B6/43European ClassificationH04B10/22, G02B6/43, G02B6/42C3R, H04M1/02A2B8Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 22, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Sep 30, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: NOKIA CORPORATION, FINLANDFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SCHORPP, MARCUS;ESA-SAKARI, MAATTA;REEL/FRAME:021608/0519Effective date: 20080908RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google