Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-16
2001-06-05
Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S090300, C455S575100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243595
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to portable wireless communications devices, and in particular to those that have a display screen, audio transducers and a user input component on an extendible section of the device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
User input components having selection keys are used in communications devices, such as portable wireless devices, to permit a user to supply information to operate the device as well as to provide information to be transmitted by the device. Conventionally, the device consists of a user input component mounted on the main body of the device and electrically connected by wires to a controller module located within the main body. The device usually also includes a display component located on an external surface of the main body and electrically connected to the controller module for conveying information to the user of the device.
With the increasing need for greater functionality in the operation of portable communications devices, it is desirable that they include relatively large display screens and a substantial number of control keys. In addition, there is an increasing demand that the portable devices remain small, light and robust, and that the devices should take up little room particularly when they are not in use.
In order to meet these needs, portable devices have been developed that consist of a main body and an extendible section that will temporarily expand the size of the device. One general type of such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,946 which issued on Sep. 29, 1992 to Martensson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,788 which issued on Nov. 29, 1994 to Nagai, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,619 which issued on Sep. 12, 1995 to Maeda and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 390,555 which issued on Feb. 10, 1998 to Finke-Anlauff. The first two patents and the design patent describe a device having an extendible section that houses the device microphone. The third patent describes a device in which the extendible section houses the device receiver. The respective microphones and receiver described in the three patents are physically wired to the control module in the main body of the device whereas the microphone in the design patent is connected to the control module through sliding contacts. These arrangements provide very little added space for other components such as the display screen on the devices since only a small microphone or receiver are eliminated from the main body of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,517 which issued on Jan. 16, 1996 to Gray and U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,211 which issued on May 13, 1997 to Nagai both describe devices with hinged extendible sections on which are located a number of input keys and the device microphone. These devices allow for a relatively large screen on the main body of the device. In the first patent, the section swivels with respect to the main body and in the second patent, the section is hinged to swing open. In both patents, the keys and microphone are electrically connected to the control module in the main body by flexible wires that, with use, have a tendency to snag and break.
The above disadvantage is overcome in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,054 which issued on Dec. 10, 1996 to Tyneski et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,524 which issued on Feb. 3, 1998 to Jambhekar et al. These patents describe a device having a flap on which a number of input keys are located; however the keys are not wired to the main body. The keys are operational when the flap is closed since in this position the keys make physical contact with the touch sensitive screen. Though potential wiring problems are eliminated, the keys are of limited use since they can only be used when the flap is closed over the screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable wireless communications device having a main body with a relatively large display screen and an extendible section for the user input component.
It is another object of this invention to provide a portable wireless communications device having a main body and a sliding extendible section that is electrically connected to the main body through a limited number of contacts.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable wireless communications device having a main body and a sliding extendible section that is detachable from the main body such that it can be readily reassembled.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable wireless communications device which is operable whether the sliding extendible section is in the extended or non-extended position.
These and other objects are achieved in a portable wireless communications device which includes a main body having at least a microcontroller and a display screen connected to the microcontroller. The device would also normally include an audio receiver mounted at one end of the main body and a microphone mounted at the other end. An extendible section is slidably mounted in the main body to cover a large portion of the display screen when in the closed position and extending from the main body to an open position to uncover the display screen. The extendible section has a user input component mounted on it and is electrically connected to the microcontroller. The user input component may consist of a series of function keys used to operate the device or to input information for transmission from the device.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention each key is connected in series with a resistor of different size and the key/resistor combinations are connected in parallel between two leads, the two leads are electrically connected to a circuit within the main body for identifying closed keys.
In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, the extendible section is planar. The function keys are mounted on the top planar surface and two elongated parallel conductive strips are fixed to the bottom planer surface parallel to the direction of movement of the extendible section. The conductive strips are in contact with wiper contacts that are mounted within the main body and are electrically connected to the circuit within the main body for identifying closed keys.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the extendible section further includes a series of light emitting diodes mounted to illuminate the keys. The light emitting diodes are connected to two further elongated parallel conductive strips fixed to the bottom planer surface parallel to the direction of movement of the extendible section, the conductive strips are in contact with two further wiper contacts mounted within the main body and electrically connected to a power supply.
In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, a fifth elongated conductive strip divided into two sections along its length is fixed to the bottom planer surface parallel to the direction of movement of the extendible section, the conductive strip is in contact with a further wiper contact mounted within the main body and electrically connected to circuits within the main body to determine whether the extendible section is in the open or closed position.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the extendible section is detachably connected to the main body allowing it to be detached on the application of a significant force to it and subsequently to simply be reattached without damage to the device. The detachable extendible section is planar having a user input component mounted on a top planar surface and at least two elongated parallel conductive strips fixed to the bottom planer surface parallel to the direction of movement of the extendible section. The conductive strips are in contact with wiper contacts mounted within the main body to electrically connect the user input component to the microcontroller.
In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, the closed key identifying circuit includes a resistor which forms a resistor divider with the key/resistor combinations. A detector detects the voltage between the resistor and the key/resistor combina
Anderson Arlan J.
Craven Michael J.
Lee Michael C. G.
Mok Henry C.
Armstrong Darnell
Haszko Dennis R.
Hunter Daniel
Nortel Networks Limited
Smart & Biggar
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