Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2002-03-05
Trost, William (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
C455S347000, C455S550100, C455S575100, C379S433130, C379S445000, C343S702000, C343S882000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06353733
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to latching devices for compact devices with translating components and more particularly to latching devices for translating and rotating members on pocket-sized portable communication devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As a general rule, portable communication devices such as radiotelephones continue to shrink in size and to be configured in small compact packages (i.e., “pocket” sized radiotelephones). Recent radiotelephones have incorporated low profile designs. Low profile designs typically include a thin, light-weight cover member which “flips” over the radiotelephone body when the radiotelephone is closed and “flips” above and away from the radiotelephone body when the radiotelephone is opened. Consequently, this cover member is often called a “flip.”
The radiotelephone also typically includes an antenna element which, during operation, extends above the radiotelephone body. Radiotelephones have conventionally used various types of translating antennas, such as side-mounted swivel antennas and telescoping antennas. In a preferred low-profile application, the antenna is configured as a flexible “blade” or “strip” (i.e., a flexible strip transmission line) radiating element which can be very narrow, thin, and flexible. The blade antenna can rotate and extend similar to the flip described above. See, co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/217,142 and 09/217,048. The contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein. In any event, the antenna and flip typically stow in a retracted position proximate to (close to, inside, or adjacent) the radiotelephone body when closed.
It is desirable to configure the radiotelephone to include a latching device which can secure the translating or rotatable member(s) against the main housing when stowed to minimize unplanned deployment. It is also desirable to include a latching device which can assure that the translating or rotating member remains in the open operational position during use.
Unfortunately, the size of the user's pocket and/or a low profile radiotelephones can limit the space or area in which to fit a latching device. Indeed, many designs provide only a small volume for a latch mechanism. This small volume can reduce the robustness of a rotating but latchable hinge, especially when the latching hinge is positioned near the top of the radiotelephone. In a previous radiotelephone embodiment, a structural extended member has been configured to extend between the top and bottom of the radiotelephone to release the lock or latching mechanism to allow movement of the rotating member. However, on pocket sized radiotelephones, there is a limited amount of space available to position electrical or mechanical components (often less than 0.5 mm) around the boss of the housing to position such a flip release. Further, many flip models are relatively thin so it is undesirable to position the latching device on the flip itself. In addition, in operation, it is often ergonomically desirable to configure a latch mechanism to respond to a relatively small input force and position the latching device to be activated with easy operation (i.e., preferably single-handed engagement and disengagement).
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism which is robust, operationally easy to use, and which occupies a relatively small envelope.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism which can lock a rotatable member both in an open and closed position.
It is an additional object of the present invention to configure a latching mechanism such that it is operable with minimal force.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism with an externally accessible lock release which can be automatically reset upon translation of the flip toward the closed position.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism for a linearly translatable antenna.
These and other objects of the present invention are provided by a latching mechanism with a cavity which includes a quantity of rheological fluid material in fluid communication therewith and a magnetic or electric field source operably associated with the rheological material. The cavity contains components (such as a rotational shaft, a linear damper, gear, clutch, or other mechanism) which translate and which contact the rheological fluid or material. The rheological material, in response to the application of the magnetic or electric field, frictionally adheres to the translating member to inhibit rotation or translation (i. e., to lock or latch the device). The magnetic field is configured to be adjustable in that it can be spatially translated away (or electrically deactivated) or translated toward (or electrically activated) the mechanism to respectively release and lock the rotating member in position. The electric field can be provided by positioning two electrodes opposing the cavity with ER material therein and electrically activating same.
More particularly, a first aspect of the invention is a portable communication device with a latching mechanism. The portable communication device includes a housing having an upper surface and a rotating member pivotably attached to the housing and a latching mechanism. The rotating member has a first closed position and a second open position. The latching mechanism is operably associated with the rotating member and is configured with a cavity. A quantity of rheological material is disposed in the cavity. (As is known to those of skill in the art, the rheological material acts as a free flowing fluid in the absence of a magnetic or electric field and acts substantially as a solid in the presence of a magnetic or electric field). The latching mechanism also includes a field source operably associated with the rheological material. The rotating member is inhibited from rotation in response to a field generated proximate to the rheological material in the cavity. The rotating member is free to rotate in the absence of a field introduced proximate to the rheological material in the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, in response to application of a magnetic field proximate to the cavity, the latching mechanism precludes rotation of the rotating member from both the first and second positions.
A second aspect of the present invention is a portable communication device with a latching mechanism. The device comprises a primary housing and a translating antenna having a stowed position and an extended position. The portable communication device also includes an antenna receptacle positioned in the housing. The receptacle defines a fluid chamber and is sized and configured to receive a major portion of the length of the antenna therein when the antenna is in a stowed position. The receptacle includes an overflow channel in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The device also includes a quantity of rheological fluid disposed in the receptacle and a field generating means which is configured to generate a field proximate to the rheological fluid. The antenna is latched in the stowed position in response to a field generated proximate to the rheological fluid in the receptacle. Preferably, the device also includes an externally accessible latch release attached to the field generating means for controlling the introduction and removal of the field to the rheological material. Preferably, the field is a magnetic field and the rheological material is a magneto-rheological material.
Another aspect of the present invention is a latching mechanism for a translatable member. The translatable member is configured to linearly translate between retracted and extended positions. The latching mechanism includes a translatable member receptacle. The receptacle defines a fluid chamber and is sized and configured to receive a major portion of the length of the t
Murray Matthew J.
Vance Scott L.
Ericcson Inc.
Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec P.A.
Perez-Gutierrez Rafael
Trost William
LandOfFree
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