WO2004019596A2 - Mobile telephone - Google Patents

Mobile telephone Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004019596A2
WO2004019596A2 PCT/GB2003/003592 GB0303592W WO2004019596A2 WO 2004019596 A2 WO2004019596 A2 WO 2004019596A2 GB 0303592 W GB0303592 W GB 0303592W WO 2004019596 A2 WO2004019596 A2 WO 2004019596A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mobile telephone
control button
telephone according
location
arm
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2003/003592
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2004019596A3 (en
Inventor
David Henry Wykes
Original Assignee
Ttpcom Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ttpcom Limited filed Critical Ttpcom Limited
Priority to AU2003255801A priority Critical patent/AU2003255801A1/en
Publication of WO2004019596A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004019596A2/en
Publication of WO2004019596A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004019596A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1615—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function
    • G06F1/1622—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
    • A63F13/24—Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/30—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
    • A63F13/33—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections
    • A63F13/332—Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1662—Details related to the integrated keyboard
    • G06F1/1666—Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1662—Details related to the integrated keyboard
    • G06F1/1671—Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0241—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
    • H04M1/0243—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call using the relative angle between housings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0247—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings comprising more than two body parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
    • A63F2300/1043—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals being characterized by constructional details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
    • H04M1/0225—Rotatable telephones, i.e. the body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define in closed position
    • H04M1/0231—Including a rotatable keypad body part
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
    • H04M1/0225—Rotatable telephones, i.e. the body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define in closed position
    • H04M1/0233—Including a rotatable display body part
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H04M1/72427—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting games or graphical animations

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a mobile telephone, in particular to a mobile telephone having additional features allowing easier and enhanced operability.
  • a mobile telephone having additional features allowing easier and enhanced operability.
  • mobile telephones which additionally operate as radio receivers, MP3 players and game consoles.
  • the present invention is based on a recognition that, although many different games can be provided on a mobile telephone, it is often difficult for the user to interact effectively with the game by means of the keypad provided for the telephone.
  • a mobile telephone including: an upper surface having a keypad arrangement and a display screen; a lower surface opposite the upper surface; and peripheral side surfaces joining the upper surface to the lower surface; wherein the mobile telephone further includes: at least one arm extendible from a respective one of said side surfaces, said arm including a respective control button usable for controlling game applications loaded in the mobile telephone.
  • the mobile telephone may have a conventional outward appearance. It may be compact and easy to carry.
  • the arm may be moved outwardly from the side of the mobile telephone so as to expose the control button.
  • the control button may provide more convenient user operability.
  • the invention is particularly advantageous for use with games on the mobile telephone.
  • the additional operability offered by the control button on the moveable arm may also find application with other different functionalities.
  • the moveable arm may include two or more control buttons.
  • the mobile phone includes two of the arms, each extendible from a respective side of the mobile telephone, those respective sides being opposite one another.
  • the arms extend in opposite directions so as to expand the overall area presented to the user.
  • the functionality and operability of the telephone can be increased greatly.
  • the arms are extendible in a direction generally parallel to the upper and lower surfaces.
  • the mobile telephone is expanded in a generally planar manner.
  • the arms may be extendible from stowed positions which are generally flush with the respective side surfaces to extended positions beyond the respective side surfaces and between planes defined generally by the upper and lower surfaces.
  • the arms extend outwardly so as to ⁇ increase the size of the mobile telephone presented to the user by enlarging the mobile telephone in a generally planar manner.
  • the mobile telephone has a generally conventional exterior appearance with the well known advantages of a compact form.
  • control button is mounted on a face of the at least one arm and can be depressed towards the face in at least first and second locations providing first and second respective control signals, the second location being accessible only when the at least one arm is in the extended position.
  • control button can be used both for additional functionality when the arms are extended and also normal telephone operation when the arms are stowed. It is advantageous that, when the arms are extended, the control button is relatively large and may be depressed in a number of different ways. By only partly concealing the control button in the stowed position, it is possible to reduce the presented size of the control button and yet still allow the control button to have some functionality.
  • the control button extends beyond an edge of the at least one arm and the second location is at least partly beyond the edge such that in the stowed position the control button can still be depressed at the second location.
  • the control button extends from the side of the mobile telephone and can be depressed with respect to the front face of the mobile telephone.
  • the control button can be depressed at a diametrically opposed location to the second location and, with the at least one arm in the stowed position, the control button can be lifted away from the face at the second location so as to provide the effect of depressing the control button at the diametrically opposed location.
  • control button protruding from the side of the mobile telephone, it may be pushed down or pulled up with respect to the front face of the telephone. In this way, it can provide the two control signals whilst still being partly concealed within the mobile telephone.
  • control button may be of a known design which rocks about a central point in a number of directions evenly spaced around that point. Depressing the button so as to rock it can provide left right and up/down signals and also sometimes intermediate diagonal signals. Such buttons are often known as navigation keys.
  • control button is generally circular and includes an outer rotatable ring.
  • Rotation of the ring can provide a further control signal.
  • the control button extending from the side of the mobile telephone, the rotatable ring is still available for use when the arms are in their stowed positions. If necessary, it would ' be possible to disable functioning of the rotatable ring when the arms are in their extended positions.
  • the respective control buttons face in generally the same direction as the keypad arrangement.
  • the user is presented with a series of keys and buttons all facing in the same direction and presented for convenient use.
  • the arms may include control buttons, which face in other directions which are convenient for actuation when the mobile telephone is held as required.
  • the respective control button is responsive to pressure along the direction in which said keypad faces.
  • the operability of said respective control button is dependent on the position of said at least one arm.
  • the mobile telephone in the stowed position, may be responsive to rotation and up/down movement of the periphery of the control button whereas, in the extended position, it may be responsive to pressure on various portions of the front face of the control button, the control button. operating as a navigation key.
  • the keypad arrangement and the display screen are positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the mobile telephone and the arms are extendible from opposite lateral sides.
  • the arms extend outwardly on either side to provide the additional control buttons.
  • The. arms, in their extended positions also provide improved ergonomic grip areas.
  • the at least one arm is extendible by rotation about an axis within the peripheral side surfaces. This provides a convenient manner in which the arms may be extended.
  • the longitudinal length of a mobile telephone is greater than the lateral width.
  • the extendible arms are pivoted at one end of the mobile telephone and are stowed along the length of the mobile telephone, it is possible, upon rotation of the arms, to provide an increase in overall width equivalent to the length of the mobile telephone.
  • arms which extend width wise from cavities in the mobile telephone are limited in length to the width of the mobile telephone.
  • the arms extend from respective annular walls, the annular walls forming at least part of the peripheral side surfaces and being rotatable about the axis of the annular walls between the upper and lower surfaces.
  • This provides a very effective and secure arrangement in which the arms are rotatably attached to the mobile telephone.
  • the arms are rotatably supported whilst not interfering with the internal volume of the mobile telephone.
  • rotation of the arms will also provide some movement in the longitudinal direction of the mobile telephone.
  • the control buttons on the arms may be positioned more conveniently for the user.
  • electronic circuitry for the mobile phone is housed in a space defined within the respective annular walls and the upper and lower surfaces.
  • a method of controlling a mobile telephone using a control button which can be depressed at first and second locations either side of a central pivot including mounting the control button such that the first location extends at least partly beyond the edge of the mobile telephone whereby the control button can be lifted at the first location so as to cause depression of the control button at the second location.
  • a control button which otherwise was intended only for depression by a user can be operated in two different ways.
  • a user may depress the button at the first and second locations in the usual manner.
  • the user may press and lift the control button only at the first location while still achieving the same control functions.
  • the method uses a control button which can be depressed additionally at a plurality of other positions either side of the pivot point so as to operate as a navigation key.
  • a standard navigation key normally, operable only by depression on its front face, can also be operated by moving its edge up and down to provide corresponding control signals.
  • the method uses a control button which additionally includes an outer annular rotatable ring for providing additional control functions.
  • a mobile telephone which is reconfigurable between at least a first and a second physical state, the mobile telephone including a control button, the mode of operation of the control button changing according to the physical state of the mobile telephone.
  • a single control button may be provided, but when the mobile telephone is reconfigured, for instance by extending arms from the mobile telephone, the function for which the control button is used may be changed according to the change in function of the mobile telephone brought about by its reconfigured physical state.
  • the physical state of the mobile telephone may be sensed electronically and the mode of operation controlled according to the sensed state.
  • control signal produced by the control button may be used for different functions of the mobile telephone according to the physical state of the mobile telephone.
  • certain features of the control button for instance a rotatable outer ring, may be disabled for certain physical states. In other words, any control signal can merely be ignored.
  • the mobile telephone includes at least first and second relatively movable components, the first and second physical states corresponding to first and second relative positions of the movable components.
  • the first movable component may be an extendible arm and the second movable component may be the main body of the mobile telephone. Alternatively, they might consist of sliding or folding components of the mobile telephone.
  • control button is mounted on the first movable component such that in the first of said relative positions the second movable component partly restricts access to the control button, thereby changing the mode of operation.
  • control button By restricting access to the control button, it is no longer possible for a user to contact all portions of the control button. Where different portions of the control button provide different control signals, some of those control signals may no longer be available. Similarly, it may be that the user has to physically manipulate the control button in a different manner.
  • the control button is mounted on a face of the first movable component and can be depressed towards said face in at least first and second locations providing first and second respective control signals, the second movable component preventing access to the first location when in the first of the relative positions.
  • control button extends beyond an edge of the first movable component and the second location is at least partly beyond the edge such that in the first relative position with the second movable component covering the face of the first movable component, the control button can still be depressed at the second location.
  • control button protruding beyond the edge of the mobile telephone, it is still possible to depress it at the second location irrespective of the physical state of the mobile telephone.
  • the control button can be depressed at a diametrically opposite location to the second location and, with the first and second movable components in the first relative position, the control button can be lifted away from the face at the second location so as to provide the effect of depressing the control button at the diametrically opposite location.
  • the diametrically opposite location is the first location as mentioned above. Alternatively, it may be some other location. Irrespective, in this way, even though the control button is concealed such that the diametrically opposite location cannot be depressed in the normal way, the same control signal -may be • available by lifting the second location.
  • control button is generally circular and includes an outer rotatable ring.
  • the outer rotatable ring may provide additional functionality.
  • the present invention is also based on a recognition that the display screen of a mobile telephone is sometimes arranged with an undesirable orientation with respect to the game to be played.
  • a mobile telephone including: an outer surface and a display screen; wherein the display screen is physically rotatable within the plane of the outer surface.
  • the outer surface may be an upper surface of the mobile telephone in which the display and a keypad arrangement are disposed.
  • the display screen is physically rotatable by substantially 90°.
  • the display screen may be physically rotated between a landscape format and a portrait format. Indeed, this may be applicable to any non-circular shape display screen.
  • a particular functionality such as a particular game, is better suited to a particular format, whether landscape or portrait, the display can be rotated accordingly.
  • the mobile telephone further includes a display driver for electronically rotating a display image relative to the display screen such that the display image may be maintained with the same orientation relative to the mobile telephone when the display screen is physically rotated.
  • a display driver for electronically rotating a display image relative to the display screen such that the display image may be maintained with the same orientation relative to the mobile telephone when the display screen is physically rotated.
  • the user may see the same display image on the mobile telephone with the same orientation, irrespective of the chosen display format, eg. landscape or portrait.
  • the upper surface is formed from a circular display member rotatably supported in an upper housing wall, the display screen being mounted in the display member and the keypad arrangement being provided in the upper housing wall.
  • the display member forms part of a generally cylindrical housing for electronic circuitry of the mobile telephone.
  • a convenient structure may be. devised for housing the electronic circuitry without wasting undue space in providing additional parts for rotating the display screen.
  • the rotatable display screen may advantageously be used in conjunction with the extendible arms.
  • the respective annular walls which rotatably support the extendible arms may form part of the- generally cylindrical housing.
  • Figures 1(a) to (k) illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 2(a) and (b) illustrate an exploded view of component parts of a second embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 3(a) and (b) illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • the mobile telephone 2 of Figure 1(a) to (e) follows this arrangement and includes an upper surface 4 in which there is provided a display screen 6 and a keypad arrangement 8. Individual keys 10 of the keypad arrangement 8 are used to enter telephone numbers and initiate telephone calls using the mobile telephone 2, together with some other functions such as for SMS texts and messages.
  • the mobile telephone 2 has a lower surface 26 opposite the upper surface 4 and peripheral sides 14 which join the periphery of the upper surface 4 to the periphery of the lower surface.
  • the mobile telephone 2 is additionally provided with arms 12 which are extendible from sides 14 of the mobile telephone 2.
  • extendible is intended to indicate that the arms are moveable from a stowed position to a position extending from the ' main body of the mobile telephone.
  • the arms 12 need not, but could, themselves be extendible in their own length.
  • the arms 12 are provided with control buttons 16 and 18.
  • the mobile telephone 2 has an outward appearance similar to known mobile telephones. It is compact and easily handled.
  • the arms 12 are each in their stowed positions with their outer edges 20 flush with the sides 14 of the mobile telephone 2.
  • the buttons 16 and 18 are presented to the user.
  • the buttons 16 and 18 may be used to control any desired functionality of the mobile telephone 2, but, as illustrated, they are particularly useful for controlling game applications which are contained in the mobile telephone 2.
  • the extendible arms 12 allow the use of control buttons 16 and 18 which are relatively large when considering the size of the mobile telephone 2. This facilitates their use by the user.
  • control button 16,18 may be arranged to conform to well known arrangements for particular functionality, eg. games for the illustrated embodiment.
  • Control button 16 as illustrated works as a navigation key to provide up/down and left/right movement, whereas control buttons 18 are provided as function buttons A and B.
  • the navigator key 16 has additional functionality in that the outer rim rotates about a central portion.
  • the key is positioned in the arm 12 so that with the arm 12 in its stowed position, it protrudes from the side surface providing a thumbwheel type device for navigating the mobile telephone interface. This avoids the need to provide an additional rotatable control on the mobile telephone housing.
  • the control button 16 may be of any known design having an outer rotatable rim so as to control additional functionality.
  • control button 16 is rotatable and also rocks from side to side and up and down. In this way, when the arm 12 is extended, by rocking the control button 18 on either side or at its top or bottom, the control button operates as the navigation key described above. On the other hand, with the arm 12 in its stowed position, the control button 16 is rotatable so as to allow, for instance, scrolling of a telephone menu. The periphery of the control button which extends beyond the side of the mobile telephone can also be moved up and down (with respect to the upper and lower faces of the mobile telephone) as it rocks.
  • pressing the periphery down as illustrated in Figure l(j) is the same as depressing that side of the control button in its rocking motion
  • lifting the periphery up as illustrated in Figure l(k) is the same as depressing the opposite side of the control button in its rocking motion. Movement of the periphery up and down in this way can be used to select displayed items and control other functionality.
  • control button when the arm 12 is moved from its stowed position to the extended position and the mode of operation of the mobile telephone is changed, response to the rotatable nature of the control button may be inhibited.
  • the illustrated embodiment shows the control button 16,18 on an upper surface of the arms 12 facing in the same direction as the keys 10 of the keypad 8, it is also possible to provide control buttons on the arms 12 which face in other directions.
  • the illustrated embodiment includes two extendible arms, it is possible to provide a mobile telephone with only one extendible arm or indeed three or more extendible arms.
  • the particular construction and arrangement of the arms 12 is of some importance to the overall design, since it is very important that space should not be wasted. Although it is possible to obtain many advantages by providing arms which slide along their length out of the housing of the mobile phone, the required guidance and storage can take up space in an undesirable manner. Furthermore, the length of the arms is then restricted by the width of the housing of the mobile telephone. Hence, in the preferred embodiment, the arms 12 are rotatably mounted to the mobile telephone 2 about pivot points within the mobile telephone 2 such that, as mentioned above, the outer sides or edges 20 of the arms 12 lie flush with the sides 14 of the mobile telephone 2 when the arms 12 are stowed.
  • Figure 2(a) illustrates the main component parts for the extendible arm arrangement.
  • the. mobile telephone 2 is formed from an upper housing wall 22 having the upper surface 4 and a lower housing wall 24 having at least part of the lower surface 26.
  • concentric annular walls 28 are provided one on top of the other.
  • the concentric annular walls 28 engage with one another and with the upper and lower housing walls in a rotatable manner.
  • the precise nature of this rotatable mounting is not in itself of importance to the present invention and any suitable arrangement may be used.
  • the annular walls 28 are provided with upper and lower sections of different diameter which engage with mating surfaces of the respective adjacent components.
  • the extendible arms 12 are attached to or are provided integrally with respective annular walls 28. In this way, the arms 12 may be extended or stowed relative to the upper housing wall 22 in the manner explained with reference to Figures 1(a) and (i).
  • the display screen 6 is provided at one longitudinal end of the mobile telephone and the keypad arrangement 8 is provided at the opposite longitudinal end of the mobile telephone.
  • the arms 12 pivot about a point towards one longitudinal end (as illustrated, through the screen 6) so as to pivot and extend from opposite lateral sides of the mobile telephone. When the arms 12 are stowed, they extend to the opposite longitudinal end of the mobile telephone.
  • the arms 12 are themselves given significant depth with respect to the overall depth of the mobile telephone.
  • the lower surfaces 26a of the arms themselves form part of the overall lower surface of the mobile telephone.
  • the two arms come together at the opposite longitudinal end of the mobile telephone to their pivot point and form the lower " portion of the mobile telephone itself.
  • a space 30 is formed between the upper surface 4 and lower surface 26 of the mobile telephone.
  • this space is used to house electronic circuitry for operation of the mobile telephone. This is particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with ' the arms described above which themselves form the lower part of one end of the mobile telephone .
  • a mobile telephone may have uses . other than merely telephone communication.
  • the display screen 6 may be used to display images relating to games or other required functions. Often, the display ' screen 6 is larger in one dimension than the other, for example rectangular or oval. For the illustrated embodiment, the display screen 6 is wider than it is tall, a format which is commonly known as "landscape". However, different display images may suit different display formats. In particular, some images may be better presented on a display screen which is taller than it is wide, i.e. "portrait".
  • a display screen which is physically rotatable within the plane of the upper surface of the mobile telephone.
  • This rotation of the display screen may be . achieved in any number of ways.
  • a circular display member 32 is rotatably supported in the upper housing wall 22.
  • This display screen 6 is mounted in the display member and, therefore, the display screen 6 may easily be rotated from a landscape orientation as illustrated in Figure 2(a) to a portrait orientation as illustrated in Figure 2(b). It is possible for the display member and display screen to be rotated to various different angles and, indeed, in either direction.
  • the display screen can be rotated by at least 90° between landscape and portrait orientations.
  • the display screen can have a number of discrete rotational positions at which it is stable and remains in place. Of these, the two positions 90° apart are clearly the most important.
  • keys 10a and 10b may be provided in the display member 32.
  • the keys 10a and 10b will also rotate with the display screen 6.
  • the keypad arrangement 8 will still generally remain at a fixed orientation with the mobile telephone.
  • the display member 32 is of generally the same size as the annular walls 28.
  • the display member 32, annular walls 28 and lower housing wall 24 may together form a generally cylindrical housing.
  • This generally cylindrical housing defines the space 30 mentioned above in which electronic circuitry of the mobile telephone may be housed. This provides a particularly convenient assembly.
  • a display screen and circular display member could be provided on the back of the mobile telephone to provide a rotatable display screen there. This is particularly appropriate with the construction of Figures 2(a) and (b) and could be provided in addition to or instead of the front screen.
  • Figures 3(a) and (b) illustrate an aesthetic variation on the embodiment described with reference to Figures 2(a) and (b).
  • arms 12 are rotatable between the illustrated extended position to a stowed position.
  • the arms 12 form the lower portion of the mobile telephone at a longitudinal end opposite to that at which they are pivoted.
  • the display screen is mounted in a circular display member 32 which is rotatable relative to the rest of the mobile telephone. In this way, the display screen 6 may be rotated between a landscape orientation as illustrated in Figure 3(a) and portrait orientation as illustrated in Figure 3(b).
  • the mobile telephone includes a display driver for forming required display images on the display screen 6.
  • the display driver is able to display images with different orientations relative to the display screen 6. In this way, when the display screen 6 is rotated physically, the display . driver may rotate the image electronically by the same amount in the opposite direction. The image is thus retained in the same orientation relative to the mobile telephone as a whole. This allows the same image to be displayed either in portrait or in landscape format.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement to those of Figures 1 to 3.
  • the two extendible arms 12 separate to form what might be considered as a fixed arm 42.
  • the mobile telephone can be considered as including three arms, with two moveable arms 12 extendible either side of a central fixed ar 42. Other arrangements can be used with other fixed arms.

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Abstract

A mobile telephone including an upper surface having a keypad arrangement and a display screen, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and peripheral side surfaces joining the upper surface to the lower surface wherein the mobile telephone further includes at least one arm extendible from a respective one of said side surfaces, said arm including a respective control button usable for controlling game applications loaded in the mobile telephone and wherein the display screen is physically rotatable within the plane of the upper surface.

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONE
The present invention relates to a mobile telephone, in particular to a mobile telephone having additional features allowing easier and enhanced operability. With increased miniaturisation of electronic circuitry, it has become possible to introduce additional functionality into mobile telephones. For example, it is known to provide mobile telephones which additionally operate as radio receivers, MP3 players and game consoles.
The present invention is based on a recognition that, although many different games can be provided on a mobile telephone, it is often difficult for the user to interact effectively with the game by means of the keypad provided for the telephone.
According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile telephone including: an upper surface having a keypad arrangement and a display screen; a lower surface opposite the upper surface; and peripheral side surfaces joining the upper surface to the lower surface; wherein the mobile telephone further includes: at least one arm extendible from a respective one of said side surfaces, said arm including a respective control button usable for controlling game applications loaded in the mobile telephone.
In this way, during normal use as a telephone, the mobile telephone may have a conventional outward appearance. It may be compact and easy to carry. However, when a user chooses to operate the mobile telephone with additional functionality, for instance a game, the arm may be moved outwardly from the side of the mobile telephone so as to expose the control button. The control button may provide more convenient user operability. • The invention is particularly advantageous for use with games on the mobile telephone. However, the additional operability offered by the control button on the moveable arm may also find application with other different functionalities. It is also possible for the moveable arm to include two or more control buttons. Preferably, the mobile phone includes two of the arms, each extendible from a respective side of the mobile telephone, those respective sides being opposite one another.
In this way, the arms extend in opposite directions so as to expand the overall area presented to the user. With one or more control buttons provided on each arm the functionality and operability of the telephone can be increased greatly.
Preferably, the arms are extendible in a direction generally parallel to the upper and lower surfaces.
Hence, the mobile telephone is expanded in a generally planar manner. The arms may be extendible from stowed positions which are generally flush with the respective side surfaces to extended positions beyond the respective side surfaces and between planes defined generally by the upper and lower surfaces.
In other words, as mentioned above, the arms extend outwardly so as to ■ increase the size of the mobile telephone presented to the user by enlarging the mobile telephone in a generally planar manner. When the arms are not extended, but are in their stowed positions, by being flush with the side surfaces, the mobile telephone has a generally conventional exterior appearance with the well known advantages of a compact form.
Preferably, the control button is mounted on a face of the at least one arm and can be depressed towards the face in at least first and second locations providing first and second respective control signals, the second location being accessible only when the at least one arm is in the extended position.
In this way, the control button can be used both for additional functionality when the arms are extended and also normal telephone operation when the arms are stowed. It is advantageous that, when the arms are extended, the control button is relatively large and may be depressed in a number of different ways. By only partly concealing the control button in the stowed position, it is possible to reduce the presented size of the control button and yet still allow the control button to have some functionality. Preferably, the control button extends beyond an edge of the at least one arm and the second location is at least partly beyond the edge such that in the stowed position the control button can still be depressed at the second location.
In other words, with the arms stowed and flush with the side surfaces of the mobile telephone, the control button extends from the side of the mobile telephone and can be depressed with respect to the front face of the mobile telephone.
Preferably, with the at least one arm in the extended position, the control button can be depressed at a diametrically opposed location to the second location and, with the at least one arm in the stowed position, the control button can be lifted away from the face at the second location so as to provide the effect of depressing the control button at the diametrically opposed location.
In other words, with the control button protruding from the side of the mobile telephone, it may be pushed down or pulled up with respect to the front face of the telephone. In this way, it can provide the two control signals whilst still being partly concealed within the mobile telephone.
In practice, the control button may be of a known design which rocks about a central point in a number of directions evenly spaced around that point. Depressing the button so as to rock it can provide left right and up/down signals and also sometimes intermediate diagonal signals. Such buttons are often known as navigation keys.
Preferably, the control button is generally circular and includes an outer rotatable ring.
Rotation of the ring can provide a further control signal. With the control button extending from the side of the mobile telephone, the rotatable ring is still available for use when the arms are in their stowed positions. If necessary, it would ' be possible to disable functioning of the rotatable ring when the arms are in their extended positions.
Preferably, the respective control buttons face in generally the same direction as the keypad arrangement. In this way, the user is presented with a series of keys and buttons all facing in the same direction and presented for convenient use. However, of course, the arms may include control buttons, which face in other directions which are convenient for actuation when the mobile telephone is held as required.
Preferably, the respective control button is responsive to pressure along the direction in which said keypad faces. Preferably, the operability of said respective control button is dependent on the position of said at least one arm.
. In this way, in the stowed position, the mobile telephone may be responsive to rotation and up/down movement of the periphery of the control button whereas, in the extended position, it may be responsive to pressure on various portions of the front face of the control button, the control button. operating as a navigation key.
Preferably, the keypad arrangement and the display screen are positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the mobile telephone and the arms are extendible from opposite lateral sides.
In this way, when the mobile telephone is held in the normal manner with the display screen above the keypad arrangement, the arms extend outwardly on either side to provide the additional control buttons. The. arms, in their extended positions also provide improved ergonomic grip areas.
Preferably, the at least one arm is extendible by rotation about an axis within the peripheral side surfaces. This provides a convenient manner in which the arms may be extended.
Generally, the longitudinal length of a mobile telephone is greater than the lateral width. Where the extendible arms are pivoted at one end of the mobile telephone and are stowed along the length of the mobile telephone, it is possible, upon rotation of the arms, to provide an increase in overall width equivalent to the length of the mobile telephone. In contrast, arms which extend width wise from cavities in the mobile telephone are limited in length to the width of the mobile telephone.
Preferably, the arms extend from respective annular walls, the annular walls forming at least part of the peripheral side surfaces and being rotatable about the axis of the annular walls between the upper and lower surfaces. This provides a very effective and secure arrangement in which the arms are rotatably attached to the mobile telephone. The arms are rotatably supported whilst not interfering with the internal volume of the mobile telephone. Furthermore, rotation of the arms will also provide some movement in the longitudinal direction of the mobile telephone. In this way, the control buttons on the arms may be positioned more conveniently for the user. Preferably, electronic circuitry for the mobile phone is housed in a space defined within the respective annular walls and the upper and lower surfaces.
In this way, the space within the mobile telephone is still used effectively despite the rotational attachment of the arms.
Following on from the discussions above of using a dual functionality control button, the present application recognises for the first time the possibility of using such control buttons in advantageous arrangements.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a mobile telephone using a control button which can be depressed at first and second locations either side of a central pivot, the method including mounting the control button such that the first location extends at least partly beyond the edge of the mobile telephone whereby the control button can be lifted at the first location so as to cause depression of the control button at the second location.
In this way, a control button which otherwise was intended only for depression by a user can be operated in two different ways. A user may depress the button at the first and second locations in the usual manner. Alternatively, the user may press and lift the control button only at the first location while still achieving the same control functions.
Preferably, the method uses a control button which can be depressed additionally at a plurality of other positions either side of the pivot point so as to operate as a navigation key.
In this way, a standard navigation key normally, operable only by depression on its front face, can also be operated by moving its edge up and down to provide corresponding control signals.
Preferably the method uses a control button which additionally includes an outer annular rotatable ring for providing additional control functions. According to the present invention, there is also provided a mobile telephone which is reconfigurable between at least a first and a second physical state, the mobile telephone including a control button, the mode of operation of the control button changing according to the physical state of the mobile telephone. In this way, a single control button may be provided, but when the mobile telephone is reconfigured, for instance by extending arms from the mobile telephone, the function for which the control button is used may be changed according to the change in function of the mobile telephone brought about by its reconfigured physical state. The physical state of the mobile telephone may be sensed electronically and the mode of operation controlled according to the sensed state.
In this way, the control signal produced by the control button may be used for different functions of the mobile telephone according to the physical state of the mobile telephone. Similarly, certain features of the control button, for instance a rotatable outer ring, may be disabled for certain physical states. In other words, any control signal can merely be ignored.
Preferably the mobile telephone includes at least first and second relatively movable components, the first and second physical states corresponding to first and second relative positions of the movable components. The first movable component may be an extendible arm and the second movable component may be the main body of the mobile telephone. Alternatively, they might consist of sliding or folding components of the mobile telephone.
Preferably, the control button is mounted on the first movable component such that in the first of said relative positions the second movable component partly restricts access to the control button, thereby changing the mode of operation.
By restricting access to the control button, it is no longer possible for a user to contact all portions of the control button. Where different portions of the control button provide different control signals, some of those control signals may no longer be available. Similarly, it may be that the user has to physically manipulate the control button in a different manner. Preferably, the control button is mounted on a face of the first movable component and can be depressed towards said face in at least first and second locations providing first and second respective control signals, the second movable component preventing access to the first location when in the first of the relative positions.
In this way, in the first relative position, the user is not able to depress the control button at the first location.
Preferably, the control button extends beyond an edge of the first movable component and the second location is at least partly beyond the edge such that in the first relative position with the second movable component covering the face of the first movable component, the control button can still be depressed at the second location.
In other words, with the control button protruding beyond the edge of the mobile telephone, it is still possible to depress it at the second location irrespective of the physical state of the mobile telephone.
Preferably, with the first and second movable components in the second relative position, the control button can be depressed at a diametrically opposite location to the second location and, with the first and second movable components in the first relative position, the control button can be lifted away from the face at the second location so as to provide the effect of depressing the control button at the diametrically opposite location.
It may be that the diametrically opposite location is the first location as mentioned above. Alternatively, it may be some other location. Irrespective, in this way, even though the control button is concealed such that the diametrically opposite location cannot be depressed in the normal way, the same control signal -may be • available by lifting the second location.
Preferably, the control button is generally circular and includes an outer rotatable ring.
The outer rotatable ring may provide additional functionality. The present invention is also based on a recognition that the display screen of a mobile telephone is sometimes arranged with an undesirable orientation with respect to the game to be played.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a mobile telephone including: an outer surface and a display screen; wherein the display screen is physically rotatable within the plane of the outer surface.
This allows greater flexibility of use of the display screen.
The outer surface may be an upper surface of the mobile telephone in which the display and a keypad arrangement are disposed.
Preferably, the display screen is physically rotatable by substantially 90°.
In other words, where the display screen is rectangular or perhaps oval, it may be physically rotated between a landscape format and a portrait format. Indeed, this may be applicable to any non-circular shape display screen. Thus, where a particular functionality, such as a particular game, is better suited to a particular format, whether landscape or portrait, the display can be rotated accordingly.
Indeed, preferably, the mobile telephone further includes a display driver for electronically rotating a display image relative to the display screen such that the display image may be maintained with the same orientation relative to the mobile telephone when the display screen is physically rotated.
In this way, the user may see the same display image on the mobile telephone with the same orientation, irrespective of the chosen display format, eg. landscape or portrait. Preferably, the upper surface is formed from a circular display member rotatably supported in an upper housing wall, the display screen being mounted in the display member and the keypad arrangement being provided in the upper housing wall.
This arrangement allows very convenient physical rotation of the display screen relative to the rest of the mobile telephone. Preferably, the display member forms part of a generally cylindrical housing for electronic circuitry of the mobile telephone.
In this way, a convenient structure may be. devised for housing the electronic circuitry without wasting undue space in providing additional parts for rotating the display screen.
It will be appreciated that the rotatable display screen may advantageously be used in conjunction with the extendible arms. Indeed, in this respect, the respective annular walls which rotatably support the extendible arms may form part of the- generally cylindrical housing. The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures 1(a) to (k) illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2(a) and (b) illustrate an exploded view of component parts of a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 3(a) and (b) illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Mobile phones in general are well known and have a reasonably standard arrangement. The mobile telephone 2 of Figure 1(a) to (e) follows this arrangement and includes an upper surface 4 in which there is provided a display screen 6 and a keypad arrangement 8. Individual keys 10 of the keypad arrangement 8 are used to enter telephone numbers and initiate telephone calls using the mobile telephone 2, together with some other functions such as for SMS texts and messages. The mobile telephone 2 has a lower surface 26 opposite the upper surface 4 and peripheral sides 14 which join the periphery of the upper surface 4 to the periphery of the lower surface.
As illustrated in Figure 1(f) to (i), the mobile telephone 2 is additionally provided with arms 12 which are extendible from sides 14 of the mobile telephone 2. It will be apparent from the following that the term extendible is intended to indicate that the arms are moveable from a stowed position to a position extending from the ' main body of the mobile telephone. The arms 12 need not, but could, themselves be extendible in their own length.
The arms 12 are provided with control buttons 16 and 18. In the configuration of Figure 1(a) to (e), the mobile telephone 2 has an outward appearance similar to known mobile telephones. It is compact and easily handled. The arms 12 are each in their stowed positions with their outer edges 20 flush with the sides 14 of the mobile telephone 2. By moving the arms 12 to their extended positions illustrated in Figures 1(f) to (i), the buttons 16 and 18 are presented to the user. The buttons 16 and 18 may be used to control any desired functionality of the mobile telephone 2, but, as illustrated, they are particularly useful for controlling game applications which are contained in the mobile telephone 2. The extendible arms 12 allow the use of control buttons 16 and 18 which are relatively large when considering the size of the mobile telephone 2. This facilitates their use by the user. Furthermore,, as illustrated, the control button 16,18 may be arranged to conform to well known arrangements for particular functionality, eg. games for the illustrated embodiment. Control button 16 as illustrated works as a navigation key to provide up/down and left/right movement, whereas control buttons 18 are provided as function buttons A and B.
In the illustrated embodiment, the navigator key 16 has additional functionality in that the outer rim rotates about a central portion. The key is positioned in the arm 12 so that with the arm 12 in its stowed position, it protrudes from the side surface providing a thumbwheel type device for navigating the mobile telephone interface. This avoids the need to provide an additional rotatable control on the mobile telephone housing. The control button 16 may be of any known design having an outer rotatable rim so as to control additional functionality.
In a preferred embodiment, the control button 16 is rotatable and also rocks from side to side and up and down. In this way, when the arm 12 is extended, by rocking the control button 18 on either side or at its top or bottom, the control button operates as the navigation key described above. On the other hand, with the arm 12 in its stowed position, the control button 16 is rotatable so as to allow, for instance, scrolling of a telephone menu. The periphery of the control button which extends beyond the side of the mobile telephone can also be moved up and down (with respect to the upper and lower faces of the mobile telephone) as it rocks. In particular, pressing the periphery down as illustrated in Figure l(j) is the same as depressing that side of the control button in its rocking motion, whereas lifting the periphery up as illustrated in Figure l(k) is the same as depressing the opposite side of the control button in its rocking motion. Movement of the periphery up and down in this way can be used to select displayed items and control other functionality.
Preferably, when the arm 12 is moved from its stowed position to the extended position and the mode of operation of the mobile telephone is changed, response to the rotatable nature of the control button may be inhibited.
Although the illustrated embodiment shows the control button 16,18 on an upper surface of the arms 12 facing in the same direction as the keys 10 of the keypad 8, it is also possible to provide control buttons on the arms 12 which face in other directions. Similarly, although the illustrated embodiment includes two extendible arms, it is possible to provide a mobile telephone with only one extendible arm or indeed three or more extendible arms.
The particular construction and arrangement of the arms 12 is of some importance to the overall design, since it is very important that space should not be wasted. Although it is possible to obtain many advantages by providing arms which slide along their length out of the housing of the mobile phone, the required guidance and storage can take up space in an undesirable manner. Furthermore, the length of the arms is then restricted by the width of the housing of the mobile telephone. Hence, in the preferred embodiment, the arms 12 are rotatably mounted to the mobile telephone 2 about pivot points within the mobile telephone 2 such that, as mentioned above, the outer sides or edges 20 of the arms 12 lie flush with the sides 14 of the mobile telephone 2 when the arms 12 are stowed.
Figure 2(a) illustrates the main component parts for the extendible arm arrangement. In this embodiment, the. mobile telephone 2 is formed from an upper housing wall 22 having the upper surface 4 and a lower housing wall 24 having at least part of the lower surface 26. Between the upper housing wall 22 and the lower housing wall 24, concentric annular walls 28 are provided one on top of the other. The concentric annular walls 28 engage with one another and with the upper and lower housing walls in a rotatable manner. The precise nature of this rotatable mounting is not in itself of importance to the present invention and any suitable arrangement may be used. However, as illustrated, the annular walls 28 are provided with upper and lower sections of different diameter which engage with mating surfaces of the respective adjacent components.
•As illustrated, the extendible arms 12 are attached to or are provided integrally with respective annular walls 28. In this way, the arms 12 may be extended or stowed relative to the upper housing wall 22 in the manner explained with reference to Figures 1(a) and (i). It will be seen that the display screen 6 is provided at one longitudinal end of the mobile telephone and the keypad arrangement 8 is provided at the opposite longitudinal end of the mobile telephone. In this respect, the arms 12 pivot about a point towards one longitudinal end (as illustrated, through the screen 6) so as to pivot and extend from opposite lateral sides of the mobile telephone. When the arms 12 are stowed, they extend to the opposite longitudinal end of the mobile telephone.
In the illustrated embodiment, the arms 12 are themselves given significant depth with respect to the overall depth of the mobile telephone. In particular, the lower surfaces 26a of the arms themselves form part of the overall lower surface of the mobile telephone. When stowed, the two arms come together at the opposite longitudinal end of the mobile telephone to their pivot point and form the lower" portion of the mobile telephone itself. It will be seen that, within the annular walls 28, a space 30 is formed between the upper surface 4 and lower surface 26 of the mobile telephone. In a preferred embodiment, this space is used to house electronic circuitry for operation of the mobile telephone. This is particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with ' the arms described above which themselves form the lower part of one end of the mobile telephone . As will be appreciated from the above, a mobile telephone may have uses . other than merely telephone communication. Indeed, a digital camera may be provided on the rear surface. The display screen 6 may be used to display images relating to games or other required functions. Often, the display'screen 6 is larger in one dimension than the other, for example rectangular or oval. For the illustrated embodiment, the display screen 6 is wider than it is tall, a format which is commonly known as "landscape". However, different display images may suit different display formats. In particular, some images may be better presented on a display screen which is taller than it is wide, i.e. "portrait".
In order to overcome this problem, for display screens of any shape, it. is proposed to provide a display screen which is physically rotatable within the plane of the upper surface of the mobile telephone. This rotation of the display screen may be . achieved in any number of ways. However, for the preferred embodiment, a circular display member 32 is rotatably supported in the upper housing wall 22. By virtue of its circular shape, it is relatively straightforward to allow the display member to • rotate relative to the rest of the mobile telephone. This display screen 6 is mounted in the display member and, therefore, the display screen 6 may easily be rotated from a landscape orientation as illustrated in Figure 2(a) to a portrait orientation as illustrated in Figure 2(b). It is possible for the display member and display screen to be rotated to various different angles and, indeed, in either direction. However, clearly, it is most advantageous that the display screen can be rotated by at least 90° between landscape and portrait orientations. The display screen can have a number of discrete rotational positions at which it is stable and remains in place. Of these, the two positions 90° apart are clearly the most important.
In the illustrated embodiment, keys 10a and 10b may be provided in the display member 32. In this case, of course, the keys 10a and 10b will also rotate with the display screen 6. However, the keypad arrangement 8 will still generally remain at a fixed orientation with the mobile telephone. For the embodiment of Figures 2(a) and (b), the display member 32 is of generally the same size as the annular walls 28. In this way, the display member 32, annular walls 28 and lower housing wall 24 may together form a generally cylindrical housing. This generally cylindrical housing defines the space 30 mentioned above in which electronic circuitry of the mobile telephone may be housed. This provides a particularly convenient assembly. It should be appreciated that a display screen and circular display member could be provided on the back of the mobile telephone to provide a rotatable display screen there. This is particularly appropriate with the construction of Figures 2(a) and (b) and could be provided in addition to or instead of the front screen.
Figures 3(a) and (b) illustrate an aesthetic variation on the embodiment described with reference to Figures 2(a) and (b). In the same way, arms 12 are rotatable between the illustrated extended position to a stowed position. In the stowed position, the arms 12 form the lower portion of the mobile telephone at a longitudinal end opposite to that at which they are pivoted. The display screen is mounted in a circular display member 32 which is rotatable relative to the rest of the mobile telephone. In this way, the display screen 6 may be rotated between a landscape orientation as illustrated in Figure 3(a) and portrait orientation as illustrated in Figure 3(b).
The mobile telephone includes a display driver for forming required display images on the display screen 6. According to a preferred embodiment, the display driver is able to display images with different orientations relative to the display screen 6. In this way, when the display screen 6 is rotated physically, the display . driver may rotate the image electronically by the same amount in the opposite direction. The image is thus retained in the same orientation relative to the mobile telephone as a whole. This allows the same image to be displayed either in portrait or in landscape format.
Of course, some applications may produce images with only one format. Thus, for the embodiments discussed above, when the application produces an image in portrait format, a user would rotate the display screen 6 to arrange it in a portrait format relative to the rest of the mobile telephone. Figure 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement to those of Figures 1 to 3. In this arrangement, the two extendible arms 12 separate to form what might be considered as a fixed arm 42. Hence, the mobile telephone can be considered as including three arms, with two moveable arms 12 extendible either side of a central fixed ar 42. Other arrangements can be used with other fixed arms.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone including: an upper surface having a keypad arrangement and a display screen; a lower surface opposite the upper surface; and peripheral side surfaces joining the upper surface to the lower surface; wherein the mobile telephone further includes: at least one arm extendible from a respective one of said side surfaces, said arm including a respective control button usable for controlling game applications loaded in the mobile telephone.
2. A mobile telephone according to claim 1 including two of said arms extendible from opposite respective ones of said side surfaces.
3. A mobile telephone according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said at least one arm is extendible in a direction generally parallel to the upper and lower surfaces.
4. • A mobile telephone according to claim 3 wherein said at least one arm is extendible from a stowed position generally flush with said respective one of said side surfaces to an extended position beyond said respective one of said side surfaces and between planes defined generally by the upper and lower surfaces.
5. A mobile telephone according to claim 4 wherein, in the stowed position, a surface of said at least one arm forms part of said lower surface.
6. A mobile telephone according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the control button is mounted on a face of said at least one arm and can be depressed towards said face in at least first and second locations providing first and second respective control signals, the second. location being accessible only when said at least one arm is in the extended position.
7. A mobile telephone according to claim 6 wherein the control button extends beyond an edge of said at least one arm and said second location is at least partly beyond said edge such that, in said stowed position, the control button can still be depressed at the second location.
8. A mobile telephone according to claim 7 wherein, with said at least one arm in the extended position, the control button can be depressed at a diametrically opposed location to said second location and, with said at least one arm in the stowed position, said control button can be lifted away from the face at the second location so as to provide the effect of depressing the control button at said diametrically opposed location.
9. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim wherein the control button is generally circular and includes an outer rotatable ring.
10. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim wherein said respective control button faces in generally the direction in which said keypad arrangement faces.
11. A mobile telephone according to claim 10 wherein said respective control button is responsive to pressure along the direction in which said keypad faces.
12. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim wherein the operability of said respective control button is dependent on the position of said at least one arm.
13. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim wherein the keypad arrangement and the display screen are positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the mobile telephone and the at least one arm is extendible from a respective lateral side.
14. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one arm is extendible by rotation about an axis within the peripheral side surfaces.
15. A mobile telephone according to claim 14 wherein the at least one arm extends from a respective annular wall, the annular wall forming at least part of said peripheral side surfaces and being rotatable about the axis of the annular wall between the upper and lower surfaces.
16. A mobile telephone according to claim 15 wherein electronic circuitry for the mobile telephone is housed in a space defined within the respective annular wall and the upper and lower surfaces.
17. A mobile telephone including : an outer surface and a display screen; wherein the display screen is physically rotatable within the plane of the outer surface.
18. A mobile telephone according to claim 17 including an upper surface having a keypad arrangement and the display screen, the display screen being physically rotatable within the plane of the upper surface.
19. A mobile telephone according to claim 17 or 18 wherein the display screen is physically rotatable by substantially 90°.
20. A mobile telephone according to claim 17, 18 or 19 wherein the display screen is rectangular and is physically rotatable between a landscape format and a portrait format.
21. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims 17 to 19 further including a display driver for electronically rotating a display image relative to the display screen such that the display image may be maintained with the same orientation relative to the mobile telephone when the display screen is physically rotated.
22. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims 17 to 21 wherein the upper surface is formed from a circular display member rotatably supported in an upper housing wall, the display screen being mounted in the display member and the keypad arrangement being provided in the upper housing wall.
23. A mobile telephone according to claim 22 wherein the display member forms part of a generally cylindrical housing for electronic circuitry of the mobile telephone.
24. A mobile telephone according to claim 23 including the features of claim 16 wherein the respective annular walls form part of the generally cylindrical housing.
25. A mobile telephone which is reconfigurable between at least a first and a second physical state, the mobile telephone including a control button, the mode of operation of the control button changing according to the physical state of the mobile telephone.
26. A mobile telephone according to claim 25 wherein the physical state ' of the mobile telephone is sensed electronically and the mode of operation controlled according to the sensed state.
27. A mobile telephone according to claim 25 or 26 including at least first and second relatively movable components, the first and second physical states corresponding to first and second relative positions of the movable components.
28. A mobile telephone according to claim 27 wherein the control button is mounted on the first movable component such that, in the first of said relative positions, the second movable component partly restricts access to the control button, thereby changing the mode of operation.
29. A mobile telephone according to claim 28 wherein the control button is mounted on a face of the first movable component and can be depressed towards said face in at least first and second locations providing first and second respective control signals, the second movable component preventing access to the first location when in the first of said relative positions.
30. A mobile telephone according to claim 29 wherein the control button extends beyond an edge of the first movable component and said second location is at least partly beyond said edge such that, in said first relative position, with the second movable component covering the face of the first movable component, the control button can still be depressed at said second location.
31. A mobile telephone according to claim 30 wherein, with the first and second movable components in the second relative position, said control button' can be depressed at a diametrically opposite location to said second location and, with the first and second movable components in the first relative position, said control button can be lifted away from the face at the second location so as to provide the effect of depressing the control button at said diametrically opposite location.
32. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims 25 to 31 wherein the control button is generally circular and includes an outer rotatable ring.
33. A method of controlling a mobile telephone using a control button which can be depressed at first and second locations either side of a central pivot, the method including mounting the control button such that the first location extends at least partly beyond the edge of the mobile telephone -whereby the control button can be lifted at the first location so as to cause depression of the control button at the second location.
34. A method according to claim 33 using a control button which can be depressed additionally at a plurality of other positions either side of the central pivot so as to operate as a navigation key.
35. A method according to claim 33 or 34 using a control button which additionally includes an outer annular rotatable ring for providing additional control functions.
PCT/GB2003/003592 2002-08-20 2003-08-14 Mobile telephone WO2004019596A2 (en)

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GBGB0219407.4A GB0219407D0 (en) 2002-08-20 2002-08-20 Mobile telephone

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WO2004019596A3 (en) 2004-05-13
GB0219407D0 (en) 2002-09-25
AU2003255801A8 (en) 2004-03-11
AU2003255801A1 (en) 2004-03-11

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