Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-01
2001-11-06
Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
C361S689000, C379S428030, C455S348000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314274
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable radio communication equipment and, more particularly to a portable radio communication apparatus having a key operation portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional portable radio communication apparatus such as portable telephone equipment, a key operation portion from which the telephone number, etc. are input is provided on the surface of a lower housing. When an upper housing has been folded, the lower housing is covered by this upper housing. Also, the key operation portion is so disposed as not to protrude from the surface of the lower housing so that in a state where the upper housing has been folded no space may exist at a surface of contact between the upper and lower housings.
Since the key operation portion is difficult to operate unless this key operation portion protrudes from the surface of the housing, it is considered in view of the operating efficiency to provide a counterbore at around the key operation portion.
Another conventional portable radio telephone apparatus has been disclosed in Japanese Utility-model Unexamined Publication No. 3-105048. According to this conventional apparatus, in a state where an upper housing has been folded, some space exist at a surface of contact between the upper and lower housings so that the key operation portion is so disposed as to protrude from the surface of the lower housing.
However, portable telephone equipment tends to decrease in size year by year and so the key operation portion also becomes small in size. For this reason, mere provision of such counterbore results in making the key operation portion difficult to operate. Further, the space between the upper and lower housings increases the size of the telephone apparatus when it is folded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable radio communication apparatus that has solved the above-described problems and been improved.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable radio communication apparatus that allows easy operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable radio communication apparatus that allows easy key operation without increasing in size.
According to the present invention, a portable radio communication apparatus includes a housing having a surface thereof, a key operation board having a plurality of keys mounted thereon, and a mechanism for moving the key operation board such that the keys protrude from the surface of the housing and retract within the housing. Therefore, the keys can protrude from the surface of the housing when the portable radio communication apparatus is used, resulting in improved operability of the keys.
The present invention can be applied to a foldable portable radio communication apparatus. According to this aspect of the present invention, a portable radio communication apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing having a surface thereof, and a hinge for permitting the first or second housing to be rotatably engaged therewith. The apparatus further include a key operation board provided in the second housing and having a plurality of keys mounted thereon, and a mechanism for moving the key operation board such that the keys are retracted within the second housing and are protruded from the surface of the second housing depending on a state of the first and second housings. Since the keys are retracted within the second housing and are protruded from the surface of the second housing depending on a state of the first and second housings, the keys can be protruded when the first and second housings are opened.
The present invention can be also applied to a single-body apparatus. According to this aspect of the present invention, a portable radio communication apparatus includes a housing having a plurality of openings formed in a surface thereof and a key operation board having a plurality of keysmounted thereon, wherein the keys are allowed to move through the openings, respectively. The apparatus further includes an energizing element for energizing the key operation board in such a direction that the keys retract within the openings and a mechanism for moving the key operation board such that the keys protrude from the first surface of the housing and retract within the housing.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5793605 (1998-08-01), Sellers
patent: 5857148 (1999-01-01), Weisshappel
patent: 5884197 (1999-03-01), Ricardo
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patent: Hei 5-95300 (1993-04-01), None
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patent: Hei 6-13253 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 7-221823 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 3043814 (2000-09-01), None
Corsaro Nick
Hunter Daniel
NEC Corporation
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
LandOfFree
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