FR2758671A1 - THREE-PART FOLDABLE CELLULAR TELEPHONE - Google Patents

Abstract

A three-part collapsible cellular telephone (100) comprising an upper housing part (101), a central housing part (102) and a lower housing part (103). The part (101) is rotatably coupled to the part (102) via a first joint (115). The part (103) is rotatably coupled to the part (102) via a second hinge (116). The portion (102) includes a display (105), a microphone opening positioned behind it, and one or more retention slots for attachment of the auxiliary battery. The lower housing portion (103) includes a keypad (107) allowing the user to power on and turn off the portable device (100), and make calls by entering and sending digits of phone numbers. The portion (101) includes a recess for the main battery (104) and a recess having openings for a speaker (106) placed behind it.

Description

THREE-PART FOLDABLE CELLULAR TELEPHONE

  The present invention relates, generally, to radio telephones and more specifically, a

  foldable cell phone in three parts for use in cell phone systems.

  Cellular cell phones are becoming more and more popular due to their reduced weight and compactness. In order to use them in a user-friendly manner, it is important that cellphones are as small as possible. The size is reduced somewhat by the use of a foldable keyboard cover as for the cellphones illustrated in US design patents Nos. DES.325 028, DES.359 734 and DES.368 598. Although these cell phones of the prior art become smaller, it is required to keep substantially the same overall length so as to

  maintain a correct distance from the user's ear to the mouth.

  Thus, there is a need for an improved three-part foldable cell phone which is smaller than art cell phones.

  anterior while maintaining the correct distance from the user's ear to the mouth.

  In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a three-part cell phone illustrated in the open position and according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the three-part cell phone of Figure 1 shown in the closed position; Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the three-part cell phone of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a right side view of the three-part cell phone of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a block diagram illustration of a radio frequency communication system using the portable device of Figure 1, the portable device having a discharge and charge circuit; Figure 6 is a side view of another embodiment of a three-part cellular telephone illustrated in the open position and according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a side view of the three-part cell phone of Figure 6 shown in the closed position; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cell phone in three parts of Figure 7 along the axis 8-8; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the three-part cell phone of Figure 7 along

axis 9-9.

  In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the foldable cell phone in three parts 100 illustrated with upper, central and lower parts of housing 101, 102 and 103 which can be powered using main and / or auxiliary batteries 104 , 108 in an operating mode. The three-part foldable cell phone 100 is preferably a hand-held portable device which is small enough to be carried in a shirt pocket or with a clip attached to the belt or clothing of the user. In FIGS. 6 and 7 is illustrated another embodiment of a cellular telephone which can be folded into three parts 200 with upper, central and lower housing parts 5 201, 202 and 203, a telephone further comprising a retractable antenna 209 illustrated in the retracted position in Figure 6 and in the extended position in Figure 7. In other embodiments, the phones 100 and 200 may be cordless phones or multi-mode phones. In addition, the present invention is not limited to three-part structures and is intended to

  encompass structures in four or more parts. In an embodiment of a foldable structure in four parts, an additional part of the housing can be connected to the upper housing part 101 of FIG. 1 and it can be rotated in the anti-direction

  clockwise, via an intermediate articulation, in order to close it on the upper housing part 101.

  The Figure illustrates a three-part foldable cell phone 100 having a main battery 104. The three-part foldable cell phone 100 includes a first housing part or upper part 101, a second central part or housing part 102 and a third part or lower part 25 of housing 103. The upper part of housing 101 is rotatably coupled to the central part of housing 102 via a first articulation 115. The lower part of housing 103 is rotationally coupled to the central part of housing 102 via a second articulation 116. Although the upper part of housing 101 is illustrated rotating clockwise for closing, it can rotate anti-clockwise in other embodiments. The first articulation 115 is offset from the central housing part 102 substantially by the thickness of the lower housing part 203 so that the upper part of

  housing folds up and covers the lower housing 203.

  The central housing part 102 includes a control circuit (see Figure 5), a display 105, a microphone opening and one or more holding slots for fixing the auxiliary battery 108 (see Figure 4). According to a feature of the present invention, the display 105 is recessed in the surface of the central housing part 102. An antenna (see FIG. 5) can be inside the central housing part 102 or extend therefrom, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. A microphone (not illustrated) is placed behind the microphone opening in the central housing part 102. The display 105 provides visual information to a user presenting, through

  for example, the telephone numbers, the amplitude of the reception signal, the name and telephone numbers of the calling party as well as the current value of the residual charge in the main battery 104 or in the auxiliary battery 108.

  The lower housing part 103 includes a keyboard 107 (see FIG. 3) allowing the user to switch on and off the three-part foldable cellular telephone 25 100 and to initiate calls by entering and sending the digits of phone numbers. According to a characteristic of the present invention, the lower housing part 103 rotates, via a second articulation 116, in order to close on the display 105 in the central housing part 102, thus protecting the display 105 from damage,

  dirt, dust and other pollutants.

  The upper housing part 101 includes a recess for the main battery 104 and a recess

  for loudspeaker 106 having openings, a loudspeaker

  speaker (not shown) being placed behind the latter. The main battery 104 produces a predetermined output voltage for supplying the foldable cell phone5 in three parts 100. In addition to providing the user with speech, the speaker or a separate transducer can provide a warning signal when when an incoming call is received and when the main and / or auxiliary batteries 104, 108 are almost exhausted. 10 The main and / or auxiliary batteries 104, 108 can

  be removed from the three-part foldable cell phone 100.

  Figure 2 illustrates the foldable three-part cell phone 100 in the closed position. The main battery 104 is inserted into a corresponding recess in the upper housing part 101. The main battery 104 is fixed to the foldable cell phone in three parts 100 by inserting it below a lip 218 on the surface of the part upper housing 101 and rotating the main battery 104 down into the recess. The main battery 104 is rotated until a locking part cooperates with corresponding parts of the hollow. The main battery 104 is released by pressing the locking piece away from the corresponding pieces in the recess and rotating the main battery 104 up and out of the recess. The main battery 104 and the corresponding recess of the upper housing part 101 are described, in more detail, in the 30 US Patent Filing of this holder N 08/558 586 entitled "Discharging and Charging Device and Method

  of an Arrangement with Several Batteries "whose inventors are Shakil H. Barkat, Matthew D. Mottier and Richard Ng, deposited on October 31, 1995 and incorporated here in its entirety with reference.

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  Figure 5 is a block diagram illustration of a cellular telephone system 300 in which a cellular base station 301 and the foldable three-part cellular telephone 100 communicate via RF radio frequency signals 302. The foldable cellular telephone three parts 100 comprises an antenna 303, a receiver 304, a transmitter 305, a control unit 306 and a user interface 308 comprising a loudspeaker (not illustrated), the display 10510 of FIG. 1, a microphone ( not illustrated) and the keyboard 107 of FIG. 1. The control unit 306 can be, for example, a 68HC11 microprocessor marketed by Motorola Inc. The integrated circuits of the foldable cell phone in three parts 100 can be fixed on 15 plates light circuits of the type illustrated and described in US Pat. No. 5,301,420 (incorporated here in its entirety

  in reference) by means of direct surface mounting technologies or by grid of points in order to reduce the thickness of the circuit board.

  The foldable cell phone in three parts is powered by the main and / or auxiliary batteries 104, 108 removable and operates as follows. The antenna 303 transforms the RF radio frequency signals 302 into receive RF electrical signals and couples the receive RF electrical signals to the receiver 304. The receiver 304 transforms the receive RF electrical signals into receive data signals which are then coupled via control unit 306 and are provided to the user as an audible voice, via the loudspeaker, and as operating information via display 128. Speech and data entered by

  the user via the microphone and the keyboard 130 respectively are coupled to the transmitter 305 as data transmission signals. The transmitter 305 converts the 35 data transmission signals into R.F.

  which are converted by antenna 303 and are

  transmitted as radio frequency signals R.F. 302.

  It is possible to send / answer or cut telephone calls with the foldable cell phone in three parts 100 either by opening and closing the upper housing part 101, or respectively by opening and closing the lower housing part 103. The control unit 306 detects the opening and closing of the upper part of the housing 101 and the lower part of the housing 103 and makes / answers a call made / received or cuts a call in progress. The control unit 306 can be implemented

  as illustrated and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,845,772 to this owner incorporated herein in its entirety for reference.

  The three-part folding cellular telephone comprises a discharge and charge circuit 310, a memory 312 and a coupler 314. The discharge and charge circuit 310 selectively discharges the main and / or auxiliary batteries 104, 108 to provide uninterrupted power to the foldable three-part cellular telephone 100. The discharge and charge circuit 310 likewise charges selectively the main and / or auxiliary batteries 104, 108 under the control of a program executed by the control unit 306. The program is stored in the memory 312. The memory 312 is preferably is a read only memory (ROM) but can be a programmable erasable read only memory (EPROM), a random access memory (RAM) or another adapted memory. Although the memory 312 is illustrated separately from the control unit 306, it will be appreciated that the memory 312 can be inside the control unit 306 and / or that the control unit 306 can contain another memory in addition to memory 312. The coupler 314 allows a user to fix an external power supply (not shown)

8 2758671

  to provide power to operate the three-part foldable cell phone 100 (and save battery charge) or charge the main and / or auxiliary batteries 104, 108. The operation and arrangement of the discharge circuit and charge 310 are described in more detail in

  U.S. Patent cited above of this holder N 08/558 586 filed October 31, 1995.

  Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a side view of another embodiment of a foldable cell phone in three parts 200 according to the present invention and illustrated in the open position in Figure 6 and in the closed position in the Figure 7. The three-part foldable cell phone 200 includes a main battery 204 which protrudes slightly above the surface of the housing top 201 and which provides housing for larger and therefore larger battery cells capacity. The three-part foldable cell phone 20020 likewise includes a retractable antenna 209 illustrated in the retracted position in Figure 6 and in the extended position in Figure 7. An auxiliary battery 208 is illustrated in Figure 7, attached to the central housing part 202. The central housing part

  202 includes one or more holding slots for fixing the auxiliary battery 208.

  In Figure 8, there is shown a cross section view of the foldable cell phone in three parts of Figure 7 along the axis 8-8 which passes through the articulation 216. The articulation 216 carries cables 221 between the central part housing 202 and the lower housing part 203, part of the cables 221 penetrating through the opening 223 passing through an opening 224 and another part of the cables 221 penetrating through the opening 223 passing through an opening 225, towards the lower housing part 203 in order to connect a control unit of the central housing part 202 with a keyboard located in the lower housing part 203. Other methods of electrically connecting the central housing part 202 with the lower part of housing 203 and / or with the upper housing part 201 are illustrated and described in the US patent of this holder, incorporated here in its entirety with reference, and in the U.S. Patent Filing No. 10 N 08/437 344 titled "Process and Device for Passing Conductors through a Joint" whose inventors

  are Scott D. Beutler and Brian J. Hassemer, filed May 9, 1995 and incorporated in our case in its entirety for reference.

  In Figure 9, a cross-sectional view of the foldable cell phone in three parts is illustrated.

  of Figure 7 along the axis 9-9 and illustrating only the upper part 901 and the lower part 902 of the joint 216. The upper part 901 comprises snaps 905 and 906 which are coupled respectively to the axis locks 907 and 908 of the lower part 902.

  When the articulation 216 is assembled, the cables 221 are placed in the openings 223, 224 and 225 and the upper part 901 is snapped onto the lower part 902.

  In summary, a single cell phone foldable in three parts with removable main and auxiliary batteries folds so that the display is protected by the folded upper and lower parts. As the upper and lower parts fold down on the central part, the foldable cell phone in three parts can be quite small

  to enter a user's shirt pocket or a clip on the user's belt or clothing.

2758671

Claims (8)

  1. Radiotelephone characterized by: - a first housing part (101); - a second housing part (102) having a first articulation and a second articulation, the first articulation coupling to the first housing part, the second housing part further comprising a display for displaying information predetermined; - a third housing part (103) having a predetermined thickness and being coupled to the second articulation of the second housing part; and the first articulation of the second housing part being offset from the second articulation by at least the predetermined thickness of the third housing part, said third housing part rotating   along the second hinge to fold over the display and the first housing part rotating along the first hinge to fold over the third housing part.   2. Radiotelephone according to claim 1, characterized in that the third housing comprises, of   plus, a keyboard (107) for entering information and for controlling the radiotelephone.   3. Radiotelephone according to claim 2, characterized in that the second housing part   includes a control unit (306) and the second hinge includes an opening (273) for a plurality of cables to connect the keyboard to the control unit.   4. Radiotelephone according to claim 1, characterized in that the first housing part   includes a compartment (104) for maintaining a battery producing a predetermined output voltage.   5. Radiotelephone according to claim 1, characterized in that the second articulation comprises an upper part (901) and a lower part (902), the upper part comprising at least one latching and the lower part comprising at least one axis locking10 placed in opposition to at least the snap, at least the snap of the upper part snapping into   at least the axis locking of the lower part during assembly.   6. Radiotelephone according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an antenna   (209) coupled to the second housing part.   7. Radiotelephone according to claim 6, characterized in that the antenna (209) is an antenna   retractable having a retracted position and an extended position.   8. Radiotelephone for the emission and the cut of telephone calls, characterized by: - a first part of housing (101); - a second housing part (102) having a first articulation and a second articulation, the first articulation coupling to the first housing part, the second housing part further comprising a display for displaying information predetermined; 12 2758671   - a third housing part (103) having a predetermined thickness and being coupled to the second articulation of the second housing part; and the first articulation of the second housing part being offset from the second articulation by at least the predetermined thickness of the third housing part, said third housing part rotating according to the second articulation to fold over the display and the first rotating housing part 10 along the first articulation to fold over the third housing part; and - a control unit (306) for detecting the instant when the first housing part is open or   closed and where the third part of the accommodation is open or closed to respectively make and cut telephone calls.