Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090251854 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE TRANSITIONABLE BETWEEN COMPACT AND EXPANDED CONFIGURATIONS - A handheld electronic communication device that is transitionable between compact and expanded configurations is disclosed. The device includes a display panel positioned adjacent and parallel to a keyboard panel in the compact configuration. The display panel and keyboard panel are coupled together by one or more connectors. In at least one embodiment, the at least one connector enables relative x and z direction motion between the panels, while maintaining them in parallel. In at least one other possible embodiment the display panel can be shifted sideways from the keyboard to expose one or more keys. This other at least one possible embodiment is particularly useful when the device is used as a multimedia player and it is undesirable to expose the entire keyboard panel. | 10-08-2009 |
20100304799 | SLIDE FLIP MECHANISM AND CONFIGURATION FOR A MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device comprising a first component, a second component and a slider flip mechanism configured to operatively couple the first and second components. The first component may be configured with keys and the second component may be configured with a display. According to an embodiment, the slider flip mechanism comprises a hinge and a slide member, and is configured for sliding the second component relative to the first component from a slide-in position to a slide-out position, for example, to expose one or more of the keys. The slider flip mechanism is configured to also allow flipping of the second component relative to the first component from a flipped-closed position to a flipped-open position, for example, to expose the display. According to an embodiment, the slide member includes a camera component and is configured to protect and/or deactivate the camera component when the slide member is in the slide-in position. | 12-02-2010 |
20110310580 | MOBILE DEVICE WITH A FLIP-AROUND KEYBOARD - A mobile device having a flip-around keyboard includes a housing, a display, and a keyboard rotatably coupled to the housing. The housing has a top end, a bottom end, a front surface, and a back surface. The display is located on the front surface of the housing. The keyboard is rotatably coupled at about the bottom end of the housing. The keyboard has a front face having a plurality of keys and a rear face opposite the front surface. In a first configuration, the rear face of the keyboard faces the display of the housing. In a second configuration, the front face of the keyboard faces the back surface of the housing. The keyboard can be rotatably coupled to the housing by a coupler that permits greater than two hundred seventy degrees of rotation about a lateral axis parallel to an edge of the housing. | 12-22-2011 |
20120086648 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY - A portable electronic device includes a body and a display assembly coupled to the body and moveable relative to the body in response to receipt of an applied force on a side of the display assembly. The display assembly is biased to a position in which the display assembly overlies the body. The portable electronic device also includes a sensor arranged to detect movement of the display assembly relative to the body, and a processor coupled to the display assembly and the to the sensor to determine an input in response to detecting movement of the display assembly relative to the body. | 04-12-2012 |
20120098846 | CHARACTER INPUT METHOD - A system, method and apparatus are described herein for input of characters into a mobile device. In one implementation, a user can input representations of character strokes of logographic characters, such as Chinese characters, using a trackpad module. The system can then associate the character strokes with a character the user desires to input based on the received inputs and a series of well-known rules for writing the logographic characters. One implementation of the trackpad includes an optical trackpad comprising a plurality of sub-sections that can be used to determine the direction of movement of an object over the optical trackpad, for example, a finger over the optical trackpad. | 04-26-2012 |
20120262870 | FLEXIBLE MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES - A flexible mobile computing device includes a flexible display having a first display portion, a second display portion, and a third display portion positioned, along a longitudinal axis of the device, between the first and second display portions. The device also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) portion positioned behind the first display portion. Additionally, the device includes a battery portion positioned behind the second display portion. The device also includes a flexible connector positioned behind the third display portion, extending along a latitudinal axis of the device, and connecting the PCB portion to the battery portion. The flexible connector is configured to permit the first display portion to twist relative to the second display portion about an axis of the device other than the latitudinal axis. In addition, the flexible connector is configured to permit inward and outward bending of the device. | 10-18-2012 |
20120306762 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING KEYPAD - According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a base portion having a keypad, and a sliding portion. The sliding portion is coupled to the base portion and slideable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the keypad is covered by the sliding portion, and an open position wherein the keypad is exposed. The keypad includes a plurality of keys, at least some of the plurality of keys having a ridge that extends upwardly from the top surface of the key. Each ridge extends between a lower edge of the key and an upper edge of the key and is curved therebetween. Each ridge is offset from a midline of each key. | 12-06-2012 |
20130082656 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE CHARGEABLE VIA AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER PORT - A portable electronic device chargeable via at least one speaker port is provided. The portable electronic device comprises a housing containing: a processing unit, a least one speaker for playing audio signals; a power pack for powering the portable electronic device, including the processing unit; and a charging circuit electrically connected to the power pack for charging the power pack from an external power source. The portable electronic device further comprises at least one speaker port for enabling sound from the at least one speaker to exit the housing, the at least one speaker port enabled to convey power from the external power source to the charging circuit such that the power pack is chargeable via the at least one speaker port. | 04-04-2013 |
20130233925 | PORTABLE SMART CARD READER HAVING SECURE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY - A reader device includes a housing for receiving a smart card, a processor in electronic communication with an integrated circuit chip of the smart card when the smart card is received in the housing, a wireless communications device in electronic communication with the processor for enabling the reader device to transmit first encrypted information wirelessly and to receive second encrypted information wirelessly, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor that includes one or more routines executable by the processor. The one or more routines include a cryptographic module adapted to encrypt first information to create the first encrypted information and decrypt the second encrypted information to obtain second information. In addition, a communication system that includes the reader device and a computing device, wherein the reader device and computing device are able to wirelessly exchange information in a secure manner. | 09-12-2013 |
20140022178 | FLIPPING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A mobile electronic device including a first auxiliary section, a main screen section having a display screen, a second auxiliary section having a user input device, and a back section having a microprocessor and a battery. In a first state, the mobile electronic device includes the first auxiliary section and the main screen section on a first side of the device, and the second auxiliary section and the back section on a second side of the device, the first side and the second side being disposed on opposite sides of the mobile electronic device. In a second state, the mobile electronic device includes the second auxiliary section and the main screen section on the first side, and the first auxiliary section and the back section on the second side. | 01-23-2014 |
20140253456 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING KEYPAD WITH KEYS HAVING A RIDGED SURFACE PROFILE - According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a base portion having a keypad, and a sliding portion. The sliding portion is coupled to the base portion and slideable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the keypad is covered by the sliding portion, and an open position wherein the keypad is exposed. The keypad includes a plurality of keys, at least some of the plurality of keys having a ridge that extends upwardly from the top surface of the key. Each ridge extends between a lower edge of the key and an upper edge of the key and is curved therebetween. Each ridge is offset from a midline of each key. | 09-11-2014 |