GB2359441A

GB2359441A - Cover/stand for a portable videophone

Info

Publication number: GB2359441A
Application number: GB0003905A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Margaret Crosthwaite; Stephen William Eason; Andreas Mehne; Simon James Smith; Digby Symons; David Ahern
Original assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Ltd
Current assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-18
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2001-08-22
Also published as: WO2001061440A1; GB0003905D0; AU3388801A

Abstract

When in the closed position the cover 21, 23, 24 protects at least the touch screen/display of the videophone. Audio phone calls may be made with the cover in this position due to the aperture 29 adjacent the earpiece 4. In the open position the cover portion 24 is vertical behind the main body of the videophone to act as a support. The aperture 29 is now adjacent loudspeaker 6 to allow hands-free communication. An embodiment relating to a two-part housing videophone is shown in figs 6a-c. The invention may be applied to non-video mobile telephones, cordless telephones, PDA's and other portable data processing terminals.

Description

2359441 PORTABLE DATA PROCESSING TERMINAL The invention relates to a

portable data processing terminal. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to portable devices, capable of capturing video image information and of receiving and transmitting such information in mobile telecommunications system, such as cellular radio networks. Such devices are referred to herein as mobile videophones.

Mobile videophones are known. One example is the VP-210 VisualPhone produce by Kyocera Corporation. The VisualPhone has an image sensor and a thin film transistor JFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) along with cellular radio interface components. The VisualPhone is portable.

and along with an audio signal transmits and receives successive image frames in real time. The VisualPhone may be used in a hand-held mode, and may also be used in a hand-free mode, in which a flip-out stand attached towards the lower end of the handset is angled away from the handset, such that the display screen is angled toward the user when the handset is placed on a horizontal surface.

Also known are personal digital assistants (PDAs) which provide a touch-screen display man-machine interface. One example of such a device is the Hewlett-Packard Jomada 430 palm-size personal computer. The device includes a touch-screen display whereby the large majority of man-machine 2 interface interactions occur. The device includes a display cover which is opened when a user desires to input data via the touch-screen display. The cover is attached to the main housing by means of a two-hinged link arrangement, whereby the cover, which normally is located against the front surface of the device when covering the display screen, is locatable against the rear surface of the device to expose the display. A link member located between the two hinges pivots across the top of the device in order to allow the display cover to be located in its two different positions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide compact and utile features and improvements in relation to portable communications devices, in particular, but not exclusively, mobile videophones.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a portable data processing terminal, comprising:

housing having a front face; movable member attached to said housing; and mounting arrangement whereby said member is mounted to said housing, said mounting arrangement defining a predetermined first position, and a predetermined second position, in which said member is locatable with respect to said housing, wherein in the first position the member lies adjacent said front face, and wherein in the second position the member supports the housing in a 3 position in which the front face is inclined with respect to the horizontal when the terminal is placed on a horizontal surface.

The angle of inclination is preferably between 10' and 90', more preferably between 30' and 70% and even more preferably approximately 50'.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile telecommunications terminal comprising:

a housing comprising a touch-screen display and at least one audio transducer; and a movable member, wherein said member is movable from a first to a second position, said member at least partly covering said display in said first position and exposing said display in said second position, wherein said member includes a portion adapted for transmitting audio signals to or from said audio transducer when said member is in said first position.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile telecommunications terminal comprising a housing including a display portion and a cover member for said display. said cover member being movable from a first position, in which said cover member protects said display from external contact, to a second position, in which the cover member functions as a stand for the housing and allows the terminal to be 4 used in a hands-free mode of telecommunications when the terminal is placed on a horizontal surface.

a housing; a first audio transmitter located on one side of the housing and arranged for use when said terminal is used in a hand-held mode of teleconununications; a second audio transmitter located on another side of said housing and arranged for use when said terminal is used in a hands-free mode of telecommunications; and a member for holding said terminal generally upright for use in said hands-free mode, said member being movably attached to said housing and covering a man-machine interface part of said housing whilst exposing said first audio transmitter when said terminal is used in said hand-held mode and exposing said second audio transmitter when said terminal is used in said hands-free mode.

The present invention provides a cover of a mobile communication terminal to protect parts on the front side of the terminal. Another feature of the invention is to provide a stand for the terminal.

The present invention in different embodiments provides a pivotably movable cover member for a mobile telecommunications terminal. The cover member is mounted to the main housing of the mobile terminal by a hinge assembly. The cover member can be pivoted from a first position to a predetermined second position. In this second position the cover member supports the mobile terminal in a position oriented to face the user when placed on a horizontal surface. In this way the bottom surface of the main housing and the cover member act as a stand for the mobile terminal. In the first position the cover member covers at least some of the functional parts of the mobile terminal. The parts covered by the cover member may for example comprise the display of the mobile terminal. In this way sensitive functional parts of the front side are protected when the cover member is the first position.

The second position is preferably reached by a pivotably rotation of the cover member from the first position by more than 270'. In the second position the cover member is preferably in a substantially vertical position where the terminal is placed on a horizontal surface. This ensures a stable stand and inhibits the cover member from sliding in any direction away from the vertical position.

According to one embodiment of the invention the cover member has an aperture or cut-out exposing at least one functional part of the terminal.

This allows the use of the functional part if the cover member is in the first position. Preferably the part exposed is an earpiece of the mobile terminal, 6 such that audio signals may be transmitted therefrom to a user's ear whilst the cover member is in place.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the cover member comprises a first and a second portion. The second portion is inclined with respect to the first portion. This ensures an opening angle between the main housing and the cover member in its second position and thus stable stand of the terminal Preferably, a detent arrangement holds and stabilises the cover member in the first position. For example, detents on the back side of the terminal may be engaged by apertures or grooves on the front side of the first portion of the cover member in the second position.

Further aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, in which one embodiment of the invention will now be described. by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1A is a perspective front view of one embodiment of a mobile telecommunication terminal in accordance with the invention; Figure 1 B is a back view of the mobile terminal of Figure 1 A; Figure 2A is a front view of one embodiment of a cover member in accordance with the invention; Figure 2B is a side view of the cover member of Figure 2A; FiGure 2C is a back view of the cover member of Figure 2A; 7 Figure 3 is a front view of a link member for the hinge assembly according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective front view of the mobile terminal with the cover member closed; Figure 5A is a schematic view of a vertical cross-section through the centre of the mobile terminal with the cover closed; Figure 5B is a schematic view of a vertical cross-section through the centre of the mobile terminal with the cover in a position in which it acts as a stand, when the mobile terminal has been placed on a horizontal surface; Figure 6A is a perspective front view of the terminal with the cover member in a closed position according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6B is a perspective front view of the terminal with the cover member in a position in which it acts as a stand according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6C is a perspective back view of the terminal with the cover member in a second position according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The main components of a videophone as used in embodiments of the present invention are described in our International Patent Application WO 99/593) 12.

8 and F Figs. IA and IB illustrate a main housing 10 of a mobile videophone gs. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate a cover member 20, each according to a first embodiment of the invention. A hinge assembly connecting the main housing and the cover member comprises in the first embodiment a link member 2 1, which is shown in Fig. 3.

The videophone terminal comprises a main housing 10 housing all man-machine interface parts of the terminal, a thin sheet-like cover member and a link member 21. The man-machine interface parts of the terminal include a touch-screen display 2, earpiece 4, camera 5, rear speaker 6, stylus 8, button keypad 18, aperture 19, consisting of a TFT LCD covered by a pressure-sensitive membrane, whereby commands and data may be input by a user. To input commands or data, a user manually holds stylus 8 and applies pressure to a desired part of touch-screen display 2, thus selecting icons displayed on the display 2 and inputting data as desired. The housing includes an audio transmitter, namely a loudspeaker. mounted behind earpiece 4, located at the top of the housing 10, and an audio receiver, namely a microphone, located behind aperture 19 located at the bottom of the housing.

The earpiece 4 and the aperture 19 are each located on the front face 16 of the housing. The button keypad 18, as shown in Fig. 4, includes a four-way cursor positioning control key 18a, an accept function key 18b and a decline function key 18c. Also included are four additional function keys 18d. A rotatable video and still camera 5 is mounted to one side of housina 10, at the 9 top thereof To the other side of the top of the housing an antenna 7, which is pivotable upwards, is located whereby radio frequency signals are received from and transmitted to a mobile communications network, such as a cellular radio telecommunications network. Slide off battery cover 9 is located at the lower end of the rear surface 34 of the housing 10.

The terminal has a hand-held mode of telephony and a hands-free mode of telephony, which modes are selected by appropriate man-machine interface interactions. In the hand-held mode of operation, the loudspeaker associated with earpiece 4 is activated, so that when the terminal is held against a users ear, with earpiece 4 adjacent the user's ear, the user can hear audio signals transmitted from the loudspeaker behind earpiece 4 and so that speech uttered by the user is picked up by the microphone behind aperture 19.

In the hands-free mode a second loudspeaker, housed inside terminal behind rear speaker 6, located on the rear surface of the housing 10, is activated and the loudspeaker associated with earpiece 4 is de-activated. In the hands- free mode of operation, the microphone located behind aperture 19 also picks up audio signals from one or more users, and the videophone amplifies those signals as required before transmission over the radio frequency interface.

Rear speaker 6 is located in a separate location from earpiece 4 on the housing 10 in order to avoid a user's hearing being damaged in case of accidental activation of the hands-free mode of operation whilst the earpiece 4 is held against the ear by a user, since the audio signals transmitted by rear speaker 6 are of significantly greater amplitude than those transmitted by earpiece 4.

Link member 21 is pivotably mounted to the housing 10 by a first hinge 22. The cover member 20 is pivotably mounted to the link member 21 by a second hinge 3 1. The housing 10 has a recess 11 on its top side 12. The axis of the first hinge 22 is defined by two concave sockets 33 located centrally in either side of the recess, such that the axis lies parallel to the front and rear edges 1 -3, 14 of the recess 11. The distance from the hinge 22 to either of the edges 13, 14 of the recess is thus approximately equal. The link member 21 is connected to the housing by spherical projections 32 pivotably engaging the sockets 33 of the recess 11 such that the link member is pivotable within the recess 11 by approximately 180', from a position in which the link member 21 occupies the front half of recess 11, to a position in which the link member 21 occupies the rear half of the recess 11.

The cover member 20 has a first, short. abutting portion 23) and second covering portion'24 which extends down to and covers display 2. The second portion 24 is inclined with respect to the first portion 23 by an angle of approximately 40' (see Fig. 5B). The cover member 20 is pivotably movable about link member 21 by hinge 22. from a position where the first portion 23) is substantially parallel to the link member 21, by at least 90' in the rearward direction and at least 50' in the forward direction. The pivotal movement of the cover member 20 in a direction towards the back side of the housing 10 is restricted, when link member 21 is in its rearward position, to about 90' by abutment of first portion 23 against the rear surface 34 of housing 10 (see Fig.

5B). The pivotal movement of the cover member 20 in a direction towards the front side of the housing 10 is restricted, when link member 21 is in its forward position, to about 50' by abutment of second portion 24 against front surface 16 of housing 10 (see Fig. 4A).

The recess 11 is extended towards the front face 16 of the housing by a further recessed portion 15 which accommodates the first portion 23) of the cover member 23 when the cover member 2") is located to cover the display screen 2. The surface of this recess 15 is inclined by approximately 40' with respect to the surface of the front face 16 of the main housing.

The first portion 23 of cover member 20 comprises two small apertures 26. Housing 10 comprises two detents 25 on its rear side designed to engage within corresponding apertures 26 on the cover member.

In a first position the cover member 20 covers the display 2 entirely, whilst the remaining man-machine interface parts located on the front side of the main housing are left exposed, as shown in Fig. 4. A side view of a portion of the videophone with the cover member 20 in this position is shown in Fig. 5A. Link member 21 is pivotably rotated towards the front of the main housing and located flush inside recess 11. The back surface of cover member 21 substantially matches in shape the corresponding surfaces of the front side of the housing 10. The front of housing 10 comprises a frame-shaped 12 elevated surround 3 enclosing the display 2. The back surface of cover member has a raised flat surface 30 fitting flush inside surround 3 and matching the shape of the display 2 to protect the display from external contact in the closed position of the cover member 21. Projections 27 are engaged by the edges of surround 3, and thus stabilise the cover member in the first position by preventing sidewards movements. Detent 28 releasably engages with socket 17 and holds the cover member in the first position until the engagement is released.

The earpiece 4 of the videophone is exposed by an aperture 29 in the cover 20, when the cover member 20 is in the first position. This allows the terminal to be used in a hand-held mode for audio telephony, with earpiece 4 held against the user's ear, when the cover member 20 is closed and whilst display 2 is protected.

The cover member 20 is pivotable, by means of the hinge mechanism, from the first position described above to a second position. The cover member 20 in this position acts as a stand for the videophone, and the terminal may be used in a hands-free mode, when the terminal is placed on a substantially horizontal surface. This position is illustrated in Figure 5B. In this position the link member 21 is pivotably rotated towards the back of the main housing and located flush inside recess 11. The first portion 23) of the cover member is rotated by 90' with respect to the plane in which link member 21 lies, such that the first portion 23 abuts rear surface 34 at the top 13 of housing 10. In this position the detents 25 at the back of housing 10 engage with apertures 26. The detents 25 engaging with apertures 26 inhibit cover member 11, and also link member 2 1, being pushed upwards, relative to housing 10, by the weight of the housing 10, and thus hold the cover member in place in a stable position.

The length of the cover member 10 and the opening angle between the of cover member 20 and the back side of the main housing 10 are selected such that, in this configuration, the cover member is in a substantially vertical position when the apparatus is placed on a horizontal surface. In this way the weight of the housing 10 is transmitted downwards through cover member 20, via detents 25, which are located at a point substantially vertically above the point of contact of the cover member with the horizontal surface on which the videophone is placed. Thus, the second position is stable and the vertical disposition of cover member 20 inhibits the cover member from sliding towards or away from the housing along the horizontal surface under the weight of housing 10.

As can be seen in Fig. 5B, when cover member 20 is positioned to act as a stand, rear speaker 6 is exposed in that there is an audio transmissive space between rear surface of the housing and the cover member 20 leading from the speaker to the surrounding environment. Thus, cover member 20 does not impair the function of speaker 6 when the cover member functions as a stand.

14 The link member 21 is constructed to be removable from main housing 10 by pressure alone, so as to reduce the chance of breakage occurring in case the videophone is dropped with the cover member 20 open.

This feature is achieved by the resilience provided by the two V-shaped slots 23) in link member 2 1, as shown in Fig. 3, along with the releasable mounting of link member 21 to the housing 10 by hemispherical projections engaging in the sockets 33.

In a second embodiment of the invention a combined cover and stand is implemented by connecting a cover member via a single hinge to the main housing of a videophone. This embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 6A to 6C.

In this embodiment, a rotatable camera 50 is located centrally in the top of the housing 110, rather than to one side thereof. Otherwise, except in the respects described below, it is to be appreciated that this videophone includes all the characteristics and features of the videophone of the first embodiment.

The cover member 120 is mounted on top of the main housing 110 of the mobile videophone via a hinge 5 1. A first predetermined position where the cover member is closed and covers the display 112 of the main housing is shown in Fig. 6A. A second predetermined position, where the cover is pivotably rotated by over 270' with respect to the main housing is shown in Figs. 613 and 6C. In this position the cover member 120 is prevented from further rotation by contact between the cover member 120 and the main housing 110. The rotation is stopped when inner edge 53 abuts the rear face of the main housing 10. Return movement of the cover member 120 is inhibited by a cam or locking mechanism inside hinges 5 1, which thereby stabilises the videophone in its generally upright hands-free configuration. In an alternative to the abutting contact, a cam or locking mechanism can be used to restrict the pivotable movement of the cover member 120 both in the forward and return directions once the desired position has been reached to provide a stable hands-free configuration.

Whilst in the above-described embodiments the cover member is attached to the top side of the housing of the terminal, it is to be appreciated that other arrangements are also possible. For example, the cover member may be attached to the lower end of the housing, and pivotable from a position in which it protects the display of the housing on the front of the housing underneath the lower end to a predefined position in which the cover member supports the housing in a desired hands-free configuration.

Alternatively, the cover member may be detachably movable between the two positions.

Whilst the cover member in the above-described embodiments functions to cover the display in one position, it is to be appreciated that the cover member may also, or alternatively, cover other man-machine interface parts of the housing, located on the front face or on other parts of the housing, such as a key ad of the housing. Also, whilst in the above embodiment the p 16 cover member has an aperture for exposing the earpiece, in addition or alternatively, the cover may include an aperture or cut-out for allowing the transmission of audio signals to a microphone in the housing.

Finally, the invention is not limited in application to videophones.

Aspects of the invention may be implemented in other types of mobile terminal, such as mobile telephone (non-video) handsets, cordless telephone handsets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described above are preferred embodiments only. Namely, various features may be omitted, modified or substituted by equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

17

Claims

CLAIMS is 1. A portable data processing terminal, comprising:

housing having a front face; movable member attached to said housing; and mounting arrangement whereby said member is mounted to said housing, said mounting arrangement defining a predetermined first position, and a predetermined second position, in which said member is locatable with respect to said housing, wherein in the first position the member lies adjacent said front face, and wherein in the second position the member supports the housing in a position in which the front face is inclined with respect to the horizontal when the terminal is placed on a horizontal surface.

2. A portable data processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein said inclination is at an angle of between 10' to 900.

3. A portable data processing terminal according to claim 2, wherein said inclination is at an angle of between 30' to 7T.

4. A portable data processing terminal according to claim wherein said inclination is at an angle of approximately 5T.

18 5. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, said front face including man-machine interface parts of said terminal, wherein said member covers at least one of said man-machine interface parts of the terminal in said first position and does not cover at least one other of said man-machine interface pans.

6. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim and further comprising a touch-screen display, wherein said member at least partially covers the display of said terminal in said first position.

7. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said member is pivotably movable from said first position by more than 270' to said second position.

8. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said member is mounted to the top of said housing.

9. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding, claim. wherein a line, passing through a part of said member supporting said housing an a part of said member resting against a supporting surface. is 19 substantially vertically oriented in said second position when the terminal is placed on a supporting horizontal surface.

10. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said terminal functions as a mobile telephone and said member when in said first position exposes sufficient parts of the housing in order to conduct an audio telephone call.

A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said terminal functions as a videophone and said member when in said second position exposes sufficient parts of the housing in order to conduct a video telephone call.

12. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said member comprises a portion adapted for transmitting audio signals from an earpiece on said housing to a user's ear when said member is in said first position.

A portable data processing terminal according to any pre ceding claim, wherein said housing has a rear face and said second position is defined by said member abutting said rear face.

14.

A portable data processing terminal according to claim 13, wherein the member comprises a first part and a second part, the second part being inclined with respect to the first part and the first part performing said abutting.

15. A portable data processing terminal according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a loudspeaker output is arranged on said rear face and said member is arranged in said second position to expose said output to allow audio signals to freely pass therefrom into the surrounding atmosphere.

16. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim wherein in said second position, said terminal is stabilised by detent means operating between said housing sand said member in said second position.

17. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim wherein said mounting arrangement includes a hinge assembly which comprises an intermediate connecting link member, wherein the member is pivotably mounted onto said link and said link member is pivotably mounted onto said main housing.

21 18. A portable data processing terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said mounting arrangement is a snap-fit arrangement allowing said member to be removed from, and re-attached to, said housing by pressure alone.

19. A mobile telecommunications terminal comprising: a housing comprising a touch-screen display and at least one audio transducer; and a movable member, wherein said member is movable from a first to a second position, said member at least partly covering said display in said first position and exposing said display in said second position, wherein said member includes a portion adapted for transmitting audio signals to or from said audio transducer when said member is in said first position.

20. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to claim 19, wherein said portion is an aperture or a cut-out portion in said member.

21. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to claim 19 or 20. wherein said portion registers with an audio transmissive part of said 22 housing associated with said transducer when said member is in said first position.

22. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to any of claims 19 to 2 1, wherein said audio transducer is an audio transmitter.

23. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to claim 22, wherein said movable member is mounted to an upper part of said housing when in said first and second positions.

24. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to any of claims 19 to 2 1, wherein said audio transducer is an audio receiver.

25. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to claim 24, wherein said movable member is mounted to a lower part of said housing when in said first and said second position.

26. A mobile telecommunications terminal according to any of claims 19 to 25, wherein said member covers said display substantially entirely when in said first position.

23 27. A mobile telecommunications terminal comprising a housing including a display portion and a cover member for said display, said cover member being movable from a first position, in which said cover member protects said display from external contact, to a second position, in which the cover member finictions as a stand for the housing and allows the terminal to be used in a hands-free mode of telecommunications when the terminal is placed on a horizontal surface.

28. A mobile telecommunications terminal comprising: a housing; a first audio transmitter located on one side of the housing and arranged for use when said terminal is used in a hand-held mode of telecommunications; a second audio transmitter located on another side of said housing and arranged for use when said terminal is used in a hands-free mode of telecommunications; and a member for holding said terminal generally upright for use in said hands-free mode, said member being movably attached to said housing and covering a man-machine interface part of said housing whilst exposing said first audio transmitter when said terminal is used in said hand-held mode and exposing said second audio transmitter when said terminal is used in said hands-free mode.