WO2001006738A1

WO2001006738A1 - Mobile telephone

Info

Publication number: WO2001006738A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001503
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas LÖFVENMARK
Original assignee: Loefvenmark Thomas
Priority date: 1999-07-20
Filing date: 2000-07-18
Publication date: 2001-01-25
Also published as: SE9902739D0; SE9902739L; AU6196100A

Abstract

A mobile telephone comprises one single shape-rigid outer casing (1) which has a front wall (2), a back wall, two longitudinal side walls (4, 5) and upper and lower gable walls (6, 7) , an antenna (8), a microphone (9) and a receiver (10). In the front wall (2) is stationarily provided on one hand a main button set (11) and on the other hand at least one display window (12) for showing at least digits and/or letters. According to the invention, the button set (11) is placed between the upper gable wall and the display window (12), in order to confer good ergonomy in connection with the use of the mobile telephone.

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONE

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mobile telephone of the type that comprises one single, shape-rigid outer casing that has a front wall, a back wall, two opposing longitudinal side walls and two opposite upper and lower gable walls, and an antenna, a microphone and a receiver in connection with said sole casing, in the front wall there being stationarily provided on one hand a main set of at least ten buttons with digits and/or letters, which with their upper ends are directed towards the upper gable wall, and on the other hand at least one display window for displaying at least digits and/or letters that are directed in the same direction that the digits and letters, respectively, on said buttons.

Background of the Invention

In one respect, mobile telephones of the above defined type are distinguished by large simplicity due to the fact that the display window as well as the main button set are stationarily arranged and always exposed in the front wall of the outer casing. This involves that no flap or any other movable part has to be swung or opened before using the telephone, nor closing it after finished use. However, in another respect, such mobile telephones are associated with troublesome inconveniences, viz . when they are to be used by only one hand. In the daily use of a mobile telephone, many situations arise, in which one of the user's hands is occupied and only the other hand is available for holding and manipulating the telephone. As examples of such situations may be mentioned the driving of vehicles, carrying of objects, keeping the balance of one's body, etc. To be able to make at least outgoing telephone calls, it is necessary for the user to make several different grips by means of the hand and the fingers of the hand. After the hand having taken the mobile telephone in the usual way from the place in question where it is kept, the conventional mobile telephone - whose display window is placed adjacent to the upper end of the outer casing, while the main button set is placed adjacent to the lower end of the outer casing - is moved a bit upwards or outwards in the hand. Thus, some fingers of the hand have to move the telephone away a bit from the wrist as such. Some users move the telephone to a protruding position relative to the wrist, in which position the middle finger and the ring-finger are set against one of the longitudinal side walls of the casing, and the little finger is applied against the lower gable wall. In this condition, the little finger prevents the telephone from sliding downwards or inwards in the hand, at the same as the middle finger and the ring-finger keep the telephone laterally by pressing it against the inside of the wrist. Then, the thumb can be used to manipulate the different buttons that are provided in the front wall of the outer casing. However, in the described condition, the mobile telephone is placed with bias in the hand due to the fact that its center of gravity is located outside the wrist, or possibly, near the latter. In practice, this involves that the mobile telephone tends to tip relative to the wrist. In order to counteract this tendency to tip, the forefinger is placed under the upper, protruding part of the telephone casing. In this way, the telephone is held firm in the hand only by means of the middle finger and, to some extent, also the ring-finger. Depending on the hand's physionomy, it may become suitable for other users to locate not only the little finger but also the ring-finger in the region of the lower gable wall of the casing, whereby only the middle finger holds the mobile telephone against the wrist. More precisely, such a finger positioning may be required to make the thumb located at the opposing longitudinal side wall reach also the lowermost buttons of the button set. In this alternative state, the center of gravity of the mobile telephone is located at a still larger distance away from the wrist. In both these cases of use, the hand lacks a reliable, firm grip around the telephone; something that involves that the telephone may be easily dropped in connection with a single hand grip. The described location of the mobile telephone in the hand also implies that the telephone may be easily stolen, by the fact that the upper part of the mobile telephone that protrudes from the wrist is gripped and pulled loose from the hand. The unstable, unsafe holding of the mobile telephone often causes a sensation of unease or irrition with the user, which may lead to a loss of the mental concentration .

Objects and Characteristics of the Invention

The present invention aims at removing the above- mentioned inconveniences of previously known mobile telephones of the type as defined in the introductory part, and creating a generally improved mobile telephone. Therefore, a primary object of the invention is to provide a mobile telephone that may be held in the hand in a reliable way, at the same time as the thumb of the hand shall comfortably be able to manipulate all different buttons that are included in the button set of the front wall. A further object is to provide a mobile telephone that is not merely aesthetically attractive, but also optimally shaped from an ergonomic point of view. The invention also aims at solving certain problems inherent in the antennas of previously known mobile telephones. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a mobile telephone whose display window may be read without any obstruction by disturbing reflections in connection with a certain location of the mobile telephone during use.

According to the invention, at least the primary object is obtained by the characteristics that are defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the mobile telephone according to the invention are further defined in the dependent claims .

Brief Description of the Prior Art

In US-A-5 822 703 a mobile telephone is disclosed with a limited number of buttons in a button set placed in the proximity of the upper gable wall of the outer casing of the telephone. However, in this case the button set consists of a secondary set of buttons that is arranged in the back wall of the outer casing, while the main button set comprising at least ten digit buttons is arranged in the front wall, more precisely in the proximity of the lower gable wall of the outer casing. In other words, the digit buttons in the front wall of this mobile telephone are marred by the same inconveniences as the above- mentioned, previously known mobile telephones of the conventional type. US-A-5 491 507 discloses in connection with a drawing figure 17 an embodiment of a mobile telephone, according to which a button set is placed farther away from a user than a display window in connection with the use of the telephone. However, in this case the button set is included in a swing flap that may be folded in towards the part of the telephone that comprises the display window. In other words, the button set and the display window are not stationarily arranged in a common front wall included in a shape-rigid outer casing.

WO-A-98/48 548 also discloses a mobile telephone with a button set arranged in one of two inter-pivotable parts of the telephone, the display window being provided on the inside of the other pivotable part of the telephone. Nor in this case are the button set and the display window stationarily mounted and directly exposed in a common rigid front wall. US-A-5 332 322 discloses a mobile telephone that per se has a button set located adjacent to an upper gable wall of the telephone casing, but in this case the telephone lacks any display window whatsoever.

DE 19520947 discloses a previously known portable computer with a telephone function. However, this construction is entirely conventional as far as a display window is placed adjacent to a receiver and the upper gable wall of the construction casing, while a button set is placed adjacent to a microphone and the lower gable wall of the casing.

Brief Description of the Appended Drawings

In the drawings

Fig 1 is a front view of a mobile telephone according to the invention, F Fiigg 2 2 is a side view of the same mobile telephone as seen from the left in Fig 1,

Fig 3 is a view of the telephone as seen from behind, and

Fig 4 is a further side view of the mobile telephone as seen from the right Fig 1.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In the drawings is shown a mobile telephone that comprises one single, shape-rigid outer casing generally designated by reference numeral 1. This casing has a front wall 2, a back wall 3, two opposing longitudinal side edges 4, 5 and two opposing gable walls 6, 7, of which the former constitutes an upper gable wall, while the latter constitutes a lower gable wall. Further, in or connection with the casing, is an antenna 8, a microphone 9 and a receiver 10.

In the front wall 2 is stationarily provided on one hand a mam button set designated 11 m its entirety, and on the other hand at least a display window 12. As a minimum, said mam button set 11 comprises ten buttons with digits and/or letters. Due to space reasons, only digits are shown on these buttons, but practice letters also occur on them. It is a characterizing feature for these digits/letters that they have their upper ends directed towards the upper end of the telephone. This involves that the digits and the letters, respectively, may be naturally read when a user holds the telephone with the lower gable wall 7 turned downwards and/or inwards towards the body. In the shown preferred embodiment, the ma button set 11 comprises in a way known per se totally twelve buttons, of which ten consist of digit buttons, while the other two consist of symbol buttons . These are placed at either side of a lower central 0-button. The buttons are conventionally distributed in separate rows and columns. More precisely, three buttons are arranged m each one of four vertically separated rows.

So far described, the shown mobile telephone is substantially previously known.

It is characteristic for the shown telephone according to the invention that the button set 11 is placed between the upper gable wall 6 and the display window 12. In practice, the button set 11 is placed near the upper end of the casing. Thus, the distance between the upper gable wall 6 and the uppermost button row may be less than 15% of the total length of the casing. Therefore, above the button set is formed a comparatively narrow region that is free from buttons. In this region is situated the receiver 10. The longitudinal extension of the button set 11 may advantageously amount to 20 to 30%, suitably about 25%, of the total length of the casing 1. The width of the individual button row should amount to at least 75% of the largest width of the casing. In other words, the outer buttons of each row will be located at a distance from the longitudinal side wall 4, 5 respectively that is smaller than 7,5% of the width of the casing.

Besides the previously mentioned display window 12, the shown preferred embodiment of the mobile telephone also comprises a second display window 13. Hereby, the display window 12 forms a primary display window of the conventional type, while the display window 13 forms a secondary display window, m which other information than the radio traffic information may be displayed, e.g., information on dates and similar.

As may be clearly seen m Fig 1, the primary display window 12 is placed comparatively near the lower end of the outer casing 1. Also m this case, the distance between the display window 12 and the lower gable wall 7 of the casing should be smaller than 15% of the total length of the casing. Therefore, below the display window is formed a comparatively narrow free region, in which the microphone 9 is placed. Besides the above mentioned digit buttons in the button set 11, the mobile telephone also comprises at least one manoeuvre or selection button 14 for the sending and/or receiving. At previously known mobile telephones, this selection button is placed m the front wall of the casing. However, it is characteristic for the mobile telephone according to the invention that the selection button 14 is provided in one of the two opposing longitudinal side walls of the outer casing. The embodiment of the mobile telephone according to the invention, as exemplified in the drawings, is made for left-hand holding. In this case, the selection button 14 is placed on the left longitudinal side wall 4 of the outer casing. In this longitudinal side wall is also provided a button 15 for the control of a tape recorder (not shown) built-m the telephone. Due to the placing on the left side of the casing, the two buttons 14, 15 may be manipulated in a simple and comfortable way by means of the thumb of the left hand. To the comfortable manipulating of these buttons 14, 15 also contributes to a high degree the placing of the buttons at a level on the same height as the main button set 11.

In the right longitudinal side wall 5 of the outer casing are provided two buttons 16, 16' for the control of the sound volume of signals. Advantageously, these buttons may be placed at about the same height as the two upper button rows of the button set 11.

Besides digit and sign buttons in the main button set 11, a number of further buttons are arranged in the front wall 2. A group of buttons 17 of three buttons includes two buttons for the display of time and date/week, respectively, and a third button may be used for erasing in the tape recorder of the telephone .

A further button 18, which is placed at the side of the microphone 9 and near the lower end of the casing, consists of an on/off button. Moreover, there is a button 19 for erasing/correcting in the information mass of the primary display window 12.

In the back wall 3 of the casing 1 is comprised a demountable lid 20 that covers and encloses a cavity for batteries and/or circuit cards. In this context it should also be mentioned that the front wall 2 may consist of a demountable cover which may be replaced in a conventional manner to make possible different choices of colour.

In a way known per se, the antenna 8 is detachably connected to an appurtenant setting. According to conventional, previously known mobile telephones, this holder is placed in the region of the upper end of the mobile telephone casing. This is also the case according to the present mobile telephone. Thus, a setting 21 is provided at the corner or transition between the upper gable wall 6 and the right longitudinal side wall of the casing. However, in a way that is characteristic for the present invention, also a second setting 22 is provided in the casing. This casing is placed at the lower right corner of the casing, i.e., between the lower gable wall 7 and the right longitudinal side wall 5 of the casing. In other words, the two antenna settings 21, 22 are placed along a common geometrical axial line located in the immediate proximity of the right longitudinal side wall of the casing.

When sending, the antenna of the mobile telephone radiates radio waves. The question whether these radio waves are harmful or not is the subject of a lively debate in the mobile telephone technique of today. If the antenna is placed at the upper end of the mobile telephone, it will be located adjacent the ear, towards which the receiver is directed, i.e., near the person' s brain, exactly at the place where the cranium is as thinnest. By providing the mobile telephone with two diametrically opposed antenna settings, as shown in the drawings, the client/user may decide him-/herself whether the antenna, when using the mobile telephone, should be located near the ear or maximally distanced from it.

The mobile telephone according to the invention may be delivered with a loose antenna 8 and a covering washer (not shown) for closing the antenna setting that is not being used.

Advantages of the Invention

A primary advantage of the mobile telephone according to the invention is that it is located ergonomically correctly in the hand, already when the hand grips the telephone. More specifically, the center of gravity is conveyed to the middle of the hand, and the hand' s thumb reaches immediately the entire main button set in a physiologically natural way, without having to move the telephone relative to the wrist. Here, all four fingers from the forefinger to the little finger, may be set against the longitudinal side of the casing that is opposite to the thumb. In other words, neither the forefinger nor the little finger has to be separated from the middle finger and the ring- finger, respectively, in order to exert any axially supporting or locking function. By the fact that all four fingers besides the thumb may be set against said longitudinal side, the telephone may be firmly held between these fingers and the inside of the wrist while accomplishing a reliable grip. Under this grip, neither the upper part nor the lower part of the telephone protrudes to any considerable extent from the hand. To the user, this grip brings about a feeling of natural safety and good ergonomy. By the fact that all digit buttons in the main button set may be reached without any trouble, the dialling operations may be performed in a trouble-free way with maintained concentration of mind. To the good ergonomy also contributes to a high degree the placing of the control button 14 in the longitudinal side wall, along which the thumb works. Thus, in an art-separating way, this control button is separated from the digit buttons in the main button set, viz . by extending perpendicularly to those. The location of the display window in close proximity to the lower end of the mobile telephone also brings the advantage that the risk of reflex phenomena in the glass of the display window is minimized when the mobile telephone is placed in a conventional holder of the type that exists on the instrument boards of vehicles. In other words, the legibility of the display window from a driver' s stand is improved. It is evident that the construction of a mobile telephone for right-hand holding is partly reversed. Thus, for mobile telephones for the right hand, the two antenna settings and the sound volume control buttons are placed on the left side of the casing, while the buttons for sending/receiving and the tape recorder control, respectively, are placed on the right side of the casing.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone comprising one single, shape-rigid and substantially equally wide outer casing (1) that has a front wall (2), a back wall (3), two opposing longitudinal side walls (4, 5) and two opposite upper and lower gable walls (6, 7), and an antenna (8), a microphone (9) and a receiver (10) in connection with said single casing (1), in the front wall (2) there being stationarily provided on one hand a main set (11) of at least ten buttons with digits and/or letters, which with their upper ends are directed towards the upper gable wall (6), and on the other hand at least one display window (12) for displaying at least digits and/or letters that are directed in the same direction that the digits and letters, respectively, on said buttons, characterized in that the main button set (11) in its entirety is placed between the upper gable wall (6) and the display window (12), the receiver (10) being placed in a region between the upper gable wall (6) and the main button set (11), and the microphone (9) in a region between the display window (12) and the lower gable wall (7) .

2. Mobile telephone according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one selection button (14) for sending and/or receiving is provided in one of the two longitudinal side walls (4, 5) of the outer casing.

3. Mobile telephone according to claim 2, chara cterized in that one or several sound volume control buttons (16, 16') are provided in the longitudinal side wall (5) that is opposite to the longitudinal side wall (4) in which said selection button (14) is provided.

4. Mobile telephone according to any of the preceding claims, the antenna (8) being detachably connected with a setting (21) placed in the upper gable wall of the outer casing, characterized in that in the outer casing (1) is provided, besides the first mentioned setting (21), a second setting (22), more specifically in connection with the lower gable wall (7) .

5. Mobile telephone according to claim 4, characterized in that the two antenna settings (21, 22) are placed in near proximity to one and the same longitudinal side wall, preferably along a common axial line.