Title of Invention	A MECHANISM FOR ROTATING AT LEAST A FIRST AND SECOND HOUSING ELEMENT OF A DEVICE AND A METHOD OF OPENING A FIRST AND SECOND HOUSING ELEMENT OF A HAND-HELD USING A SELF-OPENING MECHANISM.
Abstract	The present invention provides a mech- anism and method for rotating at least a first and second housing elements (120,220) of a device (100) with re- spect to one another. The first and second housing ele- ments (120, 220) have a common axis of rotation (705), which is substantially perpendicular to front surface of the device (100). The mechanism includes a ten- sion device (3000) having a first end coupled to the first housing element (120) and a second end coupled to the second housing element (220) at a point which travels around the axis of rotation along a path, where the path extends at least at partly around the axis of rotation at a distance from the axis of rotation. The tension device (300) biases the rotational relationship of the first (120) and second (220) housing elements toward an opened position. The mechanism additionally includes a me- chemical stop (600), that limit the further rotation of the first (120) and second (220) housing elements be- yond an opened position. The mechanism still further includes an engagement member (400), which is en- geged to one of the first and second housing elements (120,220) and is releasable engaged with the other one of the firsthand second housing elements (120, 220). The mechanism maintains the first and second housing elements (120, 220) in a closed position, when the en- gagement member (400) is engaged with the other one of the first and second housing elements (130, 220).

Title of Invention

A MECHANISM FOR ROTATING AT LEAST A FIRST AND SECOND HOUSING ELEMENT OF A DEVICE AND A METHOD OF OPENING A FIRST AND SECOND HOUSING ELEMENT OF A HAND-HELD USING A SELF-OPENING MECHANISM.

Abstract

The present invention provides a mech- anism and method for rotating at least a first and second housing elements (120,220) of a device (100) with re- spect to one another. The first and second housing ele- ments (120, 220) have a common axis of rotation (705), which is substantially perpendicular to front surface of the device (100). The mechanism includes a ten- sion device (3000) having a first end coupled to the first housing element (120) and a second end coupled to the second housing element (220) at a point which travels around the axis of rotation along a path, where the path extends at least at partly around the axis of rotation at a distance from the axis of rotation. The tension device (300) biases the rotational relationship of the first (120) and second (220) housing elements toward an opened position. The mechanism additionally includes a me- chemical stop (600), that limit the further rotation of the first (120) and second (220) housing elements be- yond an opened position. The mechanism still further includes an engagement member (400), which is en- geged to one of the first and second housing elements (120,220) and is releasable engaged with the other one of the firsthand second housing elements (120, 220). The mechanism maintains the first and second housing elements (120, 220) in a closed position, when the en- gagement member (400) is engaged with the other one of the first and second housing elements (130, 220).

Full Text	5 The present invention relates generally to the field of portable electronic devices and, more particularly, to a hand-held electronic device having all least a two- part housing which rotates between an opened and a closed position to facilitate usage. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Portable electronic devices have many functions and come in a variety of different form factors. For purposes of convenience there is a general trend to ward miniaturization of many types of portable electronic devices. Miniaturization generally makes it easier to carry the electronic device on one's self, including fitting 15 the device into one's pocket/purse or attaching the device to one's belt. While generally there is a motivation to shrink a device's form factor as much as possible, in several specific instances the extent to which the size of a device can be reduced is limited by other countervailing motivations. In some instances, the extent to which, the size of a device can be reduced is limited by minimum size 20 requirements that may be necessary for a person to conveniently use and/or interact with the device. For example, a keypad can only shrink so far before it becomes difficult to operate. A keypad generally needs to accommodate the size of the user's hands and/or fingers. Similarly, telephone handsets, which accommodate two-way communication, generally need to accommodate a microphone proximate a user's 25 mouth and a speaker proximate a user's ear. In order to meet these types of requirements, while otherwise attempting to minimize the devices overall size, many manufacturers have introduced devices having two part housings, which fold with respect to one another, thereby allowing the device to fold open when being used and to fold close when not being used. This 30 allows a device, like a phone, to be more conveniently stored when not being used, -1- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 and allows the device to expand to a convenient size commensurate with the usage needs. Previous wireless communication devices have incorporated two part housings, which fold open when being used and fold close when not being used. One 5 such design includes a flip-type or clam shell design, which generally includes two housing portions coupled together by a hinge at one end of the device. The two parts of the housing rotate with respect to one another along an axis of rotation, which is parallel to the front surface of the device or front facing. Further, previous wireless communication devices have incorporated a two 10 part housing, which includes two housing portions that rotate with respect to one another around an axis of rotation, which is perpendicular to the front surface of the device. In at least one design, the housing portions can rotate to an opened position in either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction. One such device is disclosed in US application Serial No. 09/826,180, entitled "Rotational Mechanism 15 for a Wireless Communication Device", filed April 4, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A large number of these devices being portable in nature ate of the type to be used by people away from home or work. In many instances, these individuals will attempt to use the device while performing other activities, where one or both of their 20 hands are generally full or are otherwise engaged. In absence of a self-operating mechanism, which, accommodates the opening of the two part housing, or in other words, the rotation of the two housing portions with respect to one another, the device generally needs to be opened by separately gripping each housing portion and repositioning/rotating the housing portions, relative to one another. This generally 25 requires that the user free up both hands for opening the device. For at least flip-type device designs, previous automated opening mechanisms have been developed, which reduce the effort required for opening the device. In some instances the automated opening mechanism, enables the device to be opened using a single hand. Many of these devices incorporate a spring loaded mechanism 30 held closed by a latch. By releasing the latch, the spring action causes the two portions of the housing to rotate with respect to one another into an opened position. -2- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 Generally one or more physical stops are additionally incorporated to limit the rotational movement of the two parts relative to one another at one or both of the opened and closed positions. However, the same geometries present in an automated opening mechanism for a flip-type device do not directly translate to an electronic 5 device having a two part housing, where the two housing parts rotate with respect to one another along an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the front facing of the device. Consequently, there is a need for a self operating opening mechanism for use in a hand-held portable electronic device including devices incorporating a two-part 10 housing, where the two parts rotate with respect to one another along an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the front facing of the device. In addition, the desired mechanism should not compromise the stability and rigidity of the device in the opened and closed positions. It would be further beneficial if the mechanism could be conveniently operated with a single hand, 15 SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION The present invention provides a mechanism for rotating at least a first and a second housing element of a device with respect to one another, where the first and second housing elements have a common axis of rotation, which is substantially 20 perpendicular to a front surface of the device. The first housing element has a path, which extends at least partly around the axis of rotation at a distance away from the axis of rotation. The mechanism includes a tension device, a mechanical stop and an engagement member. The tension device has a first end coupled to the first housing element, and a 25 second end coupled to the second housing element. The second end of the tension device is coupled to the second housing element at a point which travels around the axis of rotation along said path of the first housing element, as the first housing element and the second housing element rotate with respect to one another. The mechanical stop limits the relative rotational movement of the first and 30 second housing elements, when the first and second, housing elements are at or near a rotatably opened position. -3- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 The engagement member is engaged to one of the first and second housing elements and is releasable engaged with the other one of the first and second housing elements. The engagement member selectively limits the relative rotational movement of the first and second housing elements, when the first and second 5 housing elements are at or near a rotatably closed position. In at least one embodiment, the second end of the tension device is moved further away from the first end of the tension device along the path, as the first and second housing elements are rotated toward a closed position. In at least a further embodiment, the path in addition to including a first 10 portion, which extends partly around said axis of rotation, further includes a second portion, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element, away from the axis of rotation. In a still further embodiment the second portion of the path, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element, has a length that is longer than the unstretched length of the tension device. 15 The present invention further provides a method for opening a first and a second housing element of a hand-held device using a self-opening mechanism. More specifically, the method includes preloading a tension device having a first end coupled to a first housing element and a second end coupled to a second housing element, wherein, the tension device extends along a path of travel, by rotating the first 20 housing element and the second housing element toward a closed position. The path of travel extends at least partly around a common axis of rotation at a distance away from the common axis of rotation, where the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the device. The rotational movement of the first and second housing elements is limited, 25 when the first and second housing elements are at or near a rotatably closed position, by applying a holding force applied by an engagement member. The first and second housing elements are then released, thereby enabling me relative rotation of the first and second housing elements toward an opened position as a result of the force exerted by the preloaded tension device. When the first and second housing elements 30 are at or near a rotatably opened position, the further rotational movement of the first housing element relative to the second housing element is limited. -4- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 In at least one of the embodiments, releasing the first and second housing elements includes applying a release force to the engagement member, which biases the engagement member in a direction that reduces the holding force below a level where the force applied by the preloaded tension device can overcome the holding 5 force. In a further embodiment, releasing the first and second housing elements includes applying an opening force to at least one of the first and second housing elements, in the direction of rotation, which in addition to the force applied by the preloaded tension device overcomes the holding force applied by the engagement 10 member. These and other object, features, and advantages of this invention are evident from the following description of one or more preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a radiotelephone in a closed position; FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the radiotelephone of FIG. 1 in an opened position, as well as one alternative intermediate position; FIGS. 3A-3C are sequential plan views of the radiotelephone of FIGS. 1 and 2 20 having two housing elements, that move between an opened and a closed position, with the position of a tension device and corresponding end points and travel path of the tension device highlighted; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first and second housing elements of the radiotelephone of FIGS. 1-3 in a closed position with tension device and engagement 25 member illustrated; FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the first and second housing elements of the radiotelephone in a closed position with tension device and engagement member illustrated in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the first and second housing elements 30 with engagement member and tension device, viewed from the back facing, illustrating at least a portion of the mechanical stop; -5- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the other one of the first and second housing elements, not illustrated in FIG. 6, illustrating at least a portion of the mechanical stop; and FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for opening a first and a second housing 5 element of a hand-held device using a self-opening mechanism, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, 10 there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a collapsible radiotelephone 100 in a 15 closed position 110. The radiotelephone 100 has wireless communication capabilities and, thus, may be used to communicate with wireless infrastructure, such as cellular base stations, regional and local wireless transponders, and wireless local area networks. The radiotelephone 100 described herein is a representation of the type of wireless communication device that may benefit from the present invention. 20 However, it is to be understood that the present invention may be applied to any type of hand-held or portable electronic device including, but not limited to, the following devices: radiotelephones, cordless phones, paging devices, personal digital assistants, portable computers, pen-based of keyboard-based handheld devices, remote control units, an audio player (such as an MP3 player) and the like, Accordingly, any 25 reference herein to the radiotelephone 100 should also be considered to apply equally to other hand-held or portable electronic devices. For the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the radiotelephone 100 has at least two housing elements including an upper housing 120 having a generally elongated and planar shape. The upper housing 120 has an upper circular portion 122 30 at one end and an upper extending portion 124 extending away from the upper circular portion. In the closed position 110, as illustrated, the upper circular portion -6- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 122 and the upper extending portion 134 are rotated so as to be adjacent to similar matching elements corresponding to a lower housing, which are more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. The radiotelephone 100 further includes an external antenna 180, which may be provided to enhance the wireless communication capabilities of 5 the radiotelephone 100. Components of the radiotelephone 100 are positioned near the upper circular portion 122 including an interchangeable cover 130, a locking piece 140, and a display 150. The interchangeable cover 130 has a ring-like shape that may be attached to, and detached from, the radiotelephone 100. The interchangeable cover 10 130 may include cover selection buttons 132 and/or indicator lights (not shown) to provide additional functionality to the radiotelephone 100. For example, the preferred embodiment provides three cover selection keys 132: a left selection key, and right selection key and a menu key there between. The display 150 may be any type of output device that provides a convenient display of text and/or graphics to the user. 15 Preferably, the display 150 is a liquid crystal display having a backlighting system to illuminate the display when lighting conditions are insufficient for proper viewing by the user. The locking piece 140 locks certain components of the radiotelephone 100 together, while simultaneously allowing relative rotational movement of the upper housing with respect to the tower housing. The locking piece 140 also functions as a 20 display leas to protect the display 150 from undesirable, foreign matter. The extended portion 124 of the upper housing 120 may include upper housing selection, buttons 160 and speaker apertures 170. Although many different selection buttons may be provided on the upper housing 120, only one upper housing selection button 160 is shown in FIG. 1 by way of example. In this particular 25 embodiment the selection button is similar to a rocker button having a two-direction "scrolling" function. The upper housing 120 of the present invention may include one or mote selection buttons (such as selection buttons 132 and 160) for various types of features including, but not limited to, volume control menu control, call answering, call termination, caller identification, phone book control, voicemail conrrol, e- 30 mail/messaging control, network browsing, power on/off, and the like. The speaker -7- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 apertures 170 direct sounds generated by a speaker or other type of audio output device to the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper housing 120 principally functions as a cover, which as noted above can also include some functional electronic components, 5 such as selection buttons 132 and 160, a speaker, or indicator lights. However, in the illustrated embodiment, a majority of the functional electronic components are included as part of the lower housing, which is also referred to as the body. Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the radiotelephone 100 is shown in an opened position 210. The portions of the radiotelephone 100 that 10 become visible in the opened position 210 include a lower housing 220, a keypad 230 and a microphones aperture 240. When viewed from the front, the lower housing of the preferred embodiment has a substantially similar profiles to the upper housing 120. Correspondingly, the lower housing includes a lower circular portion 222 and a lower extending portion 224. In the opened position 210, the upper circular portion 122 of 15 the upper housing 120 is adjacent to, and positioned above, the lower circular portion of the lower housing 220. On the other hand, the upper extending portion 124 is positioned away from the lower housing. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper extending portion 124 is oriented in an opposite direction to the lower extending portion 124 on opposite sides of the appear and lower circular portions 122 and 222. 20 The keypad 230 may includes any layout of keys that provide convenient operation of the radiotelephone 100 by the user. The microphone aperture 240 directs sounds received from the user or other local sounds to a microphone or other type of audio input device. The preferred embodiment includes a standard layout of alphanumeric and 25 menu control for operation of the radiotelephone 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the keypad 230 includes twelve standard keys 232 (namely, 0 through 9, # and *) as well as three lower housing selection buttons 234. However, the radiotelephone 100 may include a larger grouping of keys, such as a QWERTY keyboard, if a device having a larger form factor or smaller individual keys is desired. Although not shown in FIG. 30 2, the keypad 230 may also include a cursor or graphical pointing device such as a joystick, touch, pad or track ball. Also, similar to selection buttons 132 and 160 -8- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 described, above, the lower housing selection buttons 234 may be used for various features including, but ant limited to, volume control, menu control, call answering, call termination, caller identification, phone book control, voicemail control, e- mail/messaging control, network browsing, power on/off, and the like, 5 The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.1 and 2 includes at least two functional positions, namely an opened position 210 (FIG. 2), and a closed position 110 (FIG, 1). Generally, the opened position 210 and the closed position 110 activate functions of the radiotelephone 100 such as answering an incoming call and/or initiating a new call, or terminating an existing call. Other relative rotational 10 positions may define alternative functions, and in some caaea may select or define functions not specific to radiotelephones. The relative rotational position of the housing may also affect the functionality of the cover selection buttons 132, upper housing selection button 160, and lower housing selection buttons 234. For example, the selection buttons 132, 160, 234 and 236 may each activate a different function 15 dependent upon the position of the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing 220. In order to facilitate movement between an opened position 210 and a closed position 110, the rediotelephone 100 includes a self operating opening mechanisin for rotating the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing 220. FIGS. 3A-3C 20 illustrate saquential plan views of portions of the radiotelephone of FIGS.1 and 2 having two housing elements, that move between an opered and a closed position, with the position of a tension device and corrasponding end points and travel path, of the tension device highlighted. More specifically, FIG. 3A illustrates the upper housing 120 and the lower 25 housing 220 in a rotatebly/ closad position, FIG. 3C illustrates the-upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 in a rotatably opened position. FIG. 3B illustrates the upper housing and the lower housing 220 between a rotatably opened position and a rotatably closed position. Highlighted in each of FIGS. 3A-3C is a representation of the position of the 30 end points, and the corresponding travel path, of a tension device relative to the upper and lower housing, as the upper and lower housing rotate with respect to eash other. -9- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 One end 302 of the tension device 300 is coupled to the upper housing 120, and the other end 304 of the tension device 300 is coupled to the lower housing 220. In at least one embodiment, the tension device 300 is a spring which extends between the two end points 302 and 304, along a path having a first portion 310, 5 which extends at least partly around an axis of rotation, and a second portion 320, which extends along the length of the upper housing 120. In alternative embodiments, the second portion of the path, could alternatively extend along a portion of the length of the lower housing 220, this can be the case, where the end points of the tension device are each coupled to alternative ones of the upper and 10 lower housing. In at least one embodiment, the portion of the path extending along the length of the upper housing 120 has a length, that is longer than the unstretched length of the tension device 300. This results in the tension device 300 exerting a force, which biases the upper and lower housing towadr an opened position, in a direction which 15 minimizes the path distance including the path distance associated with the portion of the path 310 that extends at least partly ground the axis of rotation, regardless of the amount of the path length that is associated with portion of the path 310 that extends at least partly around the axis of potation. In the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the path 130 that extends at least partly around the axis of rotation is minimized 20 when the upper and lower housings are in a rotatably open position relative to one another, as shown in FIG. 3C. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper housing 120 and lower housing 220 are rotated back to a closed position by manually applying an external closing force, which is greater than the tension force of the tension device 300. When the upper 25 housing 120 and lower housing 220 are at or near a closed position, a latch 400 or engagement member limits the relative rotation of the upper housing 120 and lower bousing 220 back toward an opened position. The latch 400 is illustrated as part of the perspective view of the first and second, or upper 120 and lower 220 housing elements of a radiotelephone, illustrated in FIG. 4. 30 In the illustrated embodiment the latch 400 includes a leaf spring 410 having a first end 415, which is firmly engaged to the lower housing 220, and a second end -10- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 420, which is selectively releasably engaged to the upper housing 120. In an alternative embodiment, the latch 400 has a first end 415 firmly engaged to the upper housing 120, and a second end 420 releasably engaged to the lower housing 220. Still further, in other embodiments, both the first end 415 and the second end 420 are 5 raleasably engaged to respedtiva ones of the upper 120 and lower 220 housings. In the illustrated embodiment, the leaf spring 410 is firmly engaged at two paints 425 proximate the first end 415, which are displaced a distance away from a contact point 430, where the leaf sprig 410 selectively engages the upper housing 120. The leaf spring 410 engages the upper housing 120 within a notch 435 formed 10 within the upper housing 120, when the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220, are at or near a rotationally closed position. The leaf spring 410 is confoured and/or bent to match one of the edge facings of the notch 435. The leaf spring 410 is biased toward an engagement position, which produces a frictional holding force, as well as physically impeding the rotational movement of 15 the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing 320. In order to release the upper housing 120, the end of the leaf spring 410 needs to be deflected away from of out of the notch 435. In the illustrated embodiment, there ate at least two ways for the leaf spring 410 to be deflected away from or out of the notch 435. The first way includes a push button 440, which is coupled to and/or 20 integrated with the leaf spring 410 proximate the scecond end 420. The push button is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. The push button 440 is positioned so as to be accessible to the user, via an exposed portion 445, which can be depressed by the user. When the push button 440 is depressed by the user, the leaf spring 410 is deflected by the push button 440 out of the notch 435. In at least one embodiment, 25 the push button is positioned so as to be readily accessible by a user's thumb or finger, while the device is generally held within the palm of the user's hand. The second way includes the manual application of a force 450, to at least one of the upper 120 and lower: 220 housings, which rotates the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing 220. When the applied force in combination with the 30 opening force applied by the tension device 300 exceeds a level of force required to sufficiently deflect the leaf spring 410 out of the notch 435 and overcome the -11- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 frictional force applied by the leaf spring 410, the latch 400 becomes disengaged and the tension device 300 can complete the respective rotation of the upper 120 and lower 220 housing elemens toward an opened position. FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged partial plan view of the first and second housing 5 elements of the radiotelephone in a closed position with tension device and engagement member illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one of the upper housing 120 with engagement member 400 and tension device 300, viewed from the back side facing. From the back side facing vantage at least a portion of the mechanical stop 600, as 10 provided in the present embodiment is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the mechanical stop corresponding to the upper housing 120 includes an end wall 605 of a channel 610. FIG. 6 additionally more clearly illustrates the push. button 440 coupled to and/or integrated with, the leaf spring 410. FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the lower housing 220, which 15 illustrates at least a further portion of the mechanical stop 600, partially illustrated in FIG. 6, More specifically, the lower housing 220 includes a post 700. The post is positioned so as to travel within the channel 610, illustrated in FIG. 6, though a varying degree of relative rotation, when the upper housing 120 and lower housing 220 are brought together. The channel ends, thereby restricting further rotation of the 20 upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 relative to one another, when the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 are at or near a rotatably opened position. The other end 615 of the channel ends, proximate to where the post 700 would be positioned in the channel, when the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 are at or near a rotatably closed position. 25 By intersecting the post 700 with the end of the channel 600, further rotation of the housing elements is restricted. It is possible to dampen the movement imunediately prior to reaching the end wall 605 of the channel 600 by narrowing the channel width or making the channel depth shallower. It is further possible that a small spring could be positioned within the channel 600 so as to be compressed 30 between the post 700 and the end wall 605 of the channel 600, immediately prior to -12- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 the end 605 of the channel 600, to act as a shock absorber, so as to dampen the force of any contact, when the post 700 and the end wall 605 intersect. While the illustrated embodiment has made use of a spring 300 as the tension device it will be readily clear to one skilled in the art that other types of tension 5 devices could be used. Furthermore the manner in which the tension device applies a force to the upper 120 and lower 220 housings could similarly involve alternative approaches. For example, a spring loaded pulley might be used to supply the necessary force, which might allow for greater flexibility in the placement of the tension device. 10 Additionally illustrated in FIG. 7 is an axis of rotation 705, which, extends through the front and back facing of the lower housing 220. The axis of rotation 705 similarly extends through, the front and back facing of the upper housing 120. FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for opening a first and a second housing element of a hand-held device using a self-opening mechanism in 15 accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. Generally, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the method 300 includes preloading 805 a tension device having a first end coupled to a first housing element and having a second end coupled to a second housing element by rotating the first and second element toward a more closed position from a more opened position. 20 In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-7, given the nature of the coupling of the tension device, the housing elements are rotetable from a more opened position toward a more closed direction in a counter-clockwise direction. However, one skilled in the art could readily recognize, that the geometries could be mirrored horizontally, which would allow for the housing elements to move from an opened 25 pasitiom toward a closed position, in a clockwise direction. It is further noted, that generally, the housing elements rotate toward a more opened position in a direction opposite to the direction that the housing elements rotate, when moving toward a more closed position. After the tension device is preloaded 805, and when the housing elements are 30 at or near a rotatably closed position, the rotational movement of the housing elements are limited by applying 810 a holding force. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. -13- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 1-7, a holding force is applied by the latch 400, where the end 420 of the leaf spring 410 engages the notes 435. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that other structures, which are suitable for producing a holding force, are similarly possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention. 5 The first and second housing elements are then released 815, thereby enabling the relative rotation of the first, and second housing elements toward an opened position. In the at least one illustrated embodiment noted above, the first and second housing elements, corresponding to the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220, can be released when the end 420 of the leaf spring 410 is disengaged from said notch 10 435. Alternatively, the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 can be released when an external manual opening force is initially applied to one or both of the first and second bousing elements which, when added to the force applied by the preloaded tension device, overcomes the holding force applied to the frist and second housing elements. 15 The tension device then acts upon both of the first and second housing elements to rotate the two toward a rotatably open position. The method then provides for the limiting 820 of the further rotational movement of the first housing element relative to the second housing element, when the housing elements are at or near a rotatably opened position. In at least some embodiments, the further relative 20 rotation is limited by a mechanical stop, which includes corresponding physical structures associated with respective ones of the first and second housing elements, that intersect. In at least one embodiment, the corresponding physical structures are a post 700 and the end wall 605 of a channel 600. Generally, in the preferred embodiment, the opened and closed position differ 25 from one another by approximately 180. However in some instances, the difference can be more or less. For example, in same instances a difference less than 180 might allow the radiotelephone to follow more closely the contour of a user's fate, where one end of the opened phone, which produces an audio output, is proximate to the user's ear, and where the other end of the opened phone, which teceives an audio 30 input, is proximate the user's mouth. -14- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 The method additionally provides for the first and second housing elements to be retained to a non-rotated position, in at least some instances, this requires the manual application of a force by the user, which counteracts the force produced by the tension device. In at least the illustrated embodiment, returning the first and second 5 housing element to a closed position serves to preload the tension device. While the, above described, self operating opening mechanism for use in a hand-held electronic device is completely mechanical, alternative approaches could introduce electro-mechanical elements such as motors or linear actuators without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, one of the advantages to 10 an all mechanical approach is that the all mechanical opening mechanism will not need to draw energy from a self contained power source, like a battery, when the mechanism is being used to open or close the device. This allows more of the energy stored in the power source to be used for the other operations of the device, such as the transmission and reception of a wireless signal. 15 While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present, invention as defined by the appended claims. -15- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A mechanism for rotating at least a first and a second housing element of a device with respect to one another, where the first and second housing elements have a common axis of rotation, which is substantially perpendicular to a front surface of 5 the device, the first housing element including a path, which extends at least partly around said axis of rotation at a distance away from the axis of rotation, said mechanism comprising: a tension device having a first end coupled to the first housing element, and a second end coupled to the second housing element at a point which travels around the 10 axis of rotation along said pain of the first housing element, as the first housing element and the second housing element rotate with respect to one another ; a mechanical stop, which limits rotational movement, when the first and second housing elements are at or near a rotatably opened position; and an engagement member, engaged to one of the first and second housing 15 elements and releasably engaged with the other one of the first and second housing elements, which limits rotational movement, when the first and second housing elements are at or near a rotatably closed position. 2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mechanical stop 20 includes corresponding physical structures, associated with each of the first and second housing elements, which intersect, when the first and second housing elements are at or near a rotatably opened position. 3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said path in addition to 25 including a first portion, which extends partly around said axis of rotation, further includes a second portion, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element and away from the axis of rotation. 4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the second portion of the 30 path, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element, has a length, that is longer than the unstretched length of the tension device. -16- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second end of the tension device is moved further away from the first end of the tension device along the path, including the portion of the path which travels around the axis of rotation, as the first and second housing elements are rotated toward a closed position. 5 6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tension device includes a spring. 7. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the corresponding physical 10 structures of the mechanical stop include a post and a wall. 8. A mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein the wall is an endwall of a channel located in one of the first and second housing elements. 15 9. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mechanical stop includes a shock absorber, which is engaged by both of the corresponding physical structures prior to the corresponding physical structures intersecting with one another. 10. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the engagement member is 20 a spring biased frictional engagement member. 11. A mechanism in accordance with claim 10 wherein the spring biased frictional engagement member includes a leaf spring fixed at a first end to one at the first and second housing elements, and frictionally engages at a second end the other one of the 25 first and second housing elements, 12. A mechanism in accordance with claim 11 wherein the spring biased frictional engagement member additionally includes a latch, which when depressed applies a force against the spring biased frictional engagement member thereby biasing the 30 second end of the leaf spring away from the other one of the first and second housing elements. -17- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 13. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the path of the tension device extending at least partly around the axis of rotation at a distance away from the axis of rotation defines an area within which a display is located. 5 14. A mechanism in accordance with claim I wherein said device is a hand-held device. 15. A mechanism in accordance with claim I wherein said device is an electronic device. 10 16. A mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein said electronic device is a wireless communication device. 17. A method of opening a first and a second housing element of a hand-held 15 device using a self-opening mechanism comprising. preloading a tension device having a first end coupled to a first housing element and having a second end coupled to a second housing element, wherein the tension device extends along a path of travel, which extends at least partly around a common axis of rotation at a distance away from the common axis of rotation, which 20 is substantially perpendicular to a font surface of the device, by rotating the first housing element and the second housing element toward a closed position; limiting the rotational movement of the first and second housing elements, when the first and second housing elements are at or neacr a rotatably closed position by applying a holding force applied by an engagement member; 25 releasing the first and second housing elements, thereby enabling the relative rotation of the first and second housing elements toward an open position as a result of the force exerted by the preloaded tension device, and limiting the further rotational movement of the first housing element relative to the second housing element, when the first and second housing elements are at or 30 near a rotatably opened position. -18- WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903 18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein preloading a tension device includes moving a first end of a spring coupled to the first housing element, further away from a second end of the spring, coupled to the second housing element, along the path of travel of the tension device. 5 19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein releasing the first and second housing elements includes applying an opening force to at least one of the first and second housing elements, which in addition to the force applied by the preloaded tension device, overcomes the holding force applied by the engagement member. 10 20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein releasing the first and second housing elements includes applying a release force to the engagement member which biases the engagement member in a direction that reduces the holding force below a level where the force applied by the preloaded tension device can overcome the 15 holding force. 21. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein limiting the further rotational movement at or near a rotatably opened position includes a first physical structure associated with the first housing element intersecting a second physical structure 20 associated with the second housing element. 22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein a first physical structure intersecting a second physical structure includes the first physical structure coming into contact with the second physical structure. 25 23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the first physical structure comes into contact with the second physical structure via a shock absorber. -19- The present invention provides a mech- anism and method for rotating at least a first and second housing elements (120,220) of a device (100) with re- spect to one another. The first and second housing ele- ments (120, 220) have a common axis of rotation (705), which is substantially perpendicular to front surface of the device (100). The mechanism includes a ten- sion device (3000) having a first end coupled to the first housing element (120) and a second end coupled to the second housing element (220) at a point which travels around the axis of rotation along a path, where the path extends at least at partly around the axis of rotation at a distance from the axis of rotation. The tension device (300) biases the rotational relationship of the first (120) and second (220) housing elements toward an opened position. The mechanism additionally includes a me- chemical stop (600), that limit the further rotation of the first (120) and second (220) housing elements be- yond an opened position. The mechanism still further includes an engagement member (400), which is en- geged to one of the first and second housing elements (120,220) and is releasable engaged with the other one of the firsthand second housing elements (120, 220). The mechanism maintains the first and second housing elements (120, 220) in a closed position, when the en- gagement member (400) is engaged with the other one of the first and second housing elements (130, 220).

Full Text

5 The present invention relates generally to the field of portable electronic
devices and, more particularly, to a hand-held electronic device having all least a two-
part housing which rotates between an opened and a closed position to facilitate
usage.
10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable electronic devices have many functions and come in a variety of
different form factors. For purposes of convenience there is a general trend to ward
miniaturization of many types of portable electronic devices. Miniaturization
generally makes it easier to carry the electronic device on one's self, including fitting
15 the device into one's pocket/purse or attaching the device to one's belt.
While generally there is a motivation to shrink a device's form factor as much
as possible, in several specific instances the extent to which the size of a device can
be reduced is limited by other countervailing motivations. In some instances, the
extent to which, the size of a device can be reduced is limited by minimum size
20 requirements that may be necessary for a person to conveniently use and/or interact
with the device. For example, a keypad can only shrink so far before it becomes
difficult to operate. A keypad generally needs to accommodate the size of the user's
hands and/or fingers. Similarly, telephone handsets, which accommodate two-way
communication, generally need to accommodate a microphone proximate a user's
25 mouth and a speaker proximate a user's ear.
In order to meet these types of requirements, while otherwise attempting to
minimize the devices overall size, many manufacturers have introduced devices
having two part housings, which fold with respect to one another, thereby allowing
the device to fold open when being used and to fold close when not being used. This
30 allows a device, like a phone, to be more conveniently stored when not being used,
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and allows the device to expand to a convenient size commensurate with the usage
needs.
Previous wireless communication devices have incorporated two part
housings, which fold open when being used and fold close when not being used. One
5 such design includes a flip-type or clam shell design, which generally includes two
housing portions coupled together by a hinge at one end of the device. The two parts
of the housing rotate with respect to one another along an axis of rotation, which is
parallel to the front surface of the device or front facing.
Further, previous wireless communication devices have incorporated a two
10 part housing, which includes two housing portions that rotate with respect to one
another around an axis of rotation, which is perpendicular to the front surface of the
device. In at least one design, the housing portions can rotate to an opened position in
either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction. One such device is
disclosed in US application Serial No. 09/826,180, entitled "Rotational Mechanism
15 for a Wireless Communication Device", filed April 4, 2001, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
A large number of these devices being portable in nature ate of the type to be
used by people away from home or work. In many instances, these individuals will
attempt to use the device while performing other activities, where one or both of their
20 hands are generally full or are otherwise engaged. In absence of a self-operating
mechanism, which, accommodates the opening of the two part housing, or in other
words, the rotation of the two housing portions with respect to one another, the device
generally needs to be opened by separately gripping each housing portion and
repositioning/rotating the housing portions, relative to one another. This generally
25 requires that the user free up both hands for opening the device.
For at least flip-type device designs, previous automated opening mechanisms
have been developed, which reduce the effort required for opening the device. In
some instances the automated opening mechanism, enables the device to be opened
using a single hand. Many of these devices incorporate a spring loaded mechanism
30 held closed by a latch. By releasing the latch, the spring action causes the two
portions of the housing to rotate with respect to one another into an opened position.
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Generally one or more physical stops are additionally incorporated to limit the
rotational movement of the two parts relative to one another at one or both of the
opened and closed positions. However, the same geometries present in an automated
opening mechanism for a flip-type device do not directly translate to an electronic
5 device having a two part housing, where the two housing parts rotate with respect to
one another along an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the front
facing of the device.
Consequently, there is a need for a self operating opening mechanism for use
in a hand-held portable electronic device including devices incorporating a two-part
10 housing, where the two parts rotate with respect to one another along an axis of
rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the front facing of the device. In
addition, the desired mechanism should not compromise the stability and rigidity of
the device in the opened and closed positions. It would be further beneficial if the
mechanism could be conveniently operated with a single hand,
15
SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION
The present invention provides a mechanism for rotating at least a first and a
second housing element of a device with respect to one another, where the first and
second housing elements have a common axis of rotation, which is substantially
20 perpendicular to a front surface of the device. The first housing element has a path,
which extends at least partly around the axis of rotation at a distance away from the
axis of rotation. The mechanism includes a tension device, a mechanical stop and an
engagement member.
The tension device has a first end coupled to the first housing element, and a
25 second end coupled to the second housing element. The second end of the tension
device is coupled to the second housing element at a point which travels around the
axis of rotation along said path of the first housing element, as the first housing
element and the second housing element rotate with respect to one another.
The mechanical stop limits the relative rotational movement of the first and
30 second housing elements, when the first and second, housing elements are at or near a
rotatably opened position.
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The engagement member is engaged to one of the first and second housing
elements and is releasable engaged with the other one of the first and second housing
elements. The engagement member selectively limits the relative rotational
movement of the first and second housing elements, when the first and second
5 housing elements are at or near a rotatably closed position.
In at least one embodiment, the second end of the tension device is moved
further away from the first end of the tension device along the path, as the first and
second housing elements are rotated toward a closed position.
In at least a further embodiment, the path in addition to including a first
10 portion, which extends partly around said axis of rotation, further includes a second
portion, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element,
away from the axis of rotation. In a still further embodiment the second portion of the
path, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element, has
a length that is longer than the unstretched length of the tension device.
15 The present invention further provides a method for opening a first and a
second housing element of a hand-held device using a self-opening mechanism. More
specifically, the method includes preloading a tension device having a first end
coupled to a first housing element and a second end coupled to a second housing
element, wherein, the tension device extends along a path of travel, by rotating the first
20 housing element and the second housing element toward a closed position. The path
of travel extends at least partly around a common axis of rotation at a distance away
from the common axis of rotation, where the axis of rotation is substantially
perpendicular to a front surface of the device.
The rotational movement of the first and second housing elements is limited,
25 when the first and second housing elements are at or near a rotatably closed position,
by applying a holding force applied by an engagement member. The first and second
housing elements are then released, thereby enabling me relative rotation of the first
and second housing elements toward an opened position as a result of the force
exerted by the preloaded tension device. When the first and second housing elements
30 are at or near a rotatably opened position, the further rotational movement of the first
housing element relative to the second housing element is limited.
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In at least one of the embodiments, releasing the first and second housing
elements includes applying a release force to the engagement member, which biases
the engagement member in a direction that reduces the holding force below a level
where the force applied by the preloaded tension device can overcome the holding
5 force.
In a further embodiment, releasing the first and second housing elements
includes applying an opening force to at least one of the first and second housing
elements, in the direction of rotation, which in addition to the force applied by the
preloaded tension device overcomes the holding force applied by the engagement
10 member.
These and other object, features, and advantages of this invention are evident
from the following description of one or more preferred embodiments of this
invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a radiotelephone in a closed position;
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the radiotelephone of FIG. 1 in an opened
position, as well as one alternative intermediate position;
FIGS. 3A-3C are sequential plan views of the radiotelephone of FIGS. 1 and 2
20 having two housing elements, that move between an opened and a closed position,
with the position of a tension device and corresponding end points and travel path of
the tension device highlighted;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first and second housing elements of the
radiotelephone of FIGS. 1-3 in a closed position with tension device and engagement
25 member illustrated;
FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the first and second housing elements of the
radiotelephone in a closed position with tension device and engagement member
illustrated in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the first and second housing elements
30 with engagement member and tension device, viewed from the back facing,
illustrating at least a portion of the mechanical stop;
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FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the other one of the first and second housing
elements, not illustrated in FIG. 6, illustrating at least a portion of the mechanical
stop; and
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for opening a first and a second housing
5 element of a hand-held device using a self-opening mechanism, in accordance with at
least one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms,
10 there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred
embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the
specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a collapsible radiotelephone 100 in a
15 closed position 110. The radiotelephone 100 has wireless communication capabilities
and, thus, may be used to communicate with wireless infrastructure, such as cellular
base stations, regional and local wireless transponders, and wireless local area
networks. The radiotelephone 100 described herein is a representation of the type of
wireless communication device that may benefit from the present invention.
20 However, it is to be understood that the present invention may be applied to any type
of hand-held or portable electronic device including, but not limited to, the following
devices: radiotelephones, cordless phones, paging devices, personal digital assistants,
portable computers, pen-based of keyboard-based handheld devices, remote control
units, an audio player (such as an MP3 player) and the like, Accordingly, any
25 reference herein to the radiotelephone 100 should also be considered to apply equally
to other hand-held or portable electronic devices.
For the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the radiotelephone 100 has at
least two housing elements including an upper housing 120 having a generally
elongated and planar shape. The upper housing 120 has an upper circular portion 122
30 at one end and an upper extending portion 124 extending away from the upper
circular portion. In the closed position 110, as illustrated, the upper circular portion
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122 and the upper extending portion 134 are rotated so as to be adjacent to similar
matching elements corresponding to a lower housing, which are more clearly
illustrated in FIG. 2. The radiotelephone 100 further includes an external antenna
180, which may be provided to enhance the wireless communication capabilities of
5 the radiotelephone 100.
Components of the radiotelephone 100 are positioned near the upper circular
portion 122 including an interchangeable cover 130, a locking piece 140, and a
display 150. The interchangeable cover 130 has a ring-like shape that may be
attached to, and detached from, the radiotelephone 100. The interchangeable cover
10 130 may include cover selection buttons 132 and/or indicator lights (not shown) to
provide additional functionality to the radiotelephone 100. For example, the preferred
embodiment provides three cover selection keys 132: a left selection key, and right
selection key and a menu key there between. The display 150 may be any type of
output device that provides a convenient display of text and/or graphics to the user.
15 Preferably, the display 150 is a liquid crystal display having a backlighting system to
illuminate the display when lighting conditions are insufficient for proper viewing by
the user. The locking piece 140 locks certain components of the radiotelephone 100
together, while simultaneously allowing relative rotational movement of the upper
housing with respect to the tower housing. The locking piece 140 also functions as a
20 display leas to protect the display 150 from undesirable, foreign matter.
The extended portion 124 of the upper housing 120 may include upper
housing selection, buttons 160 and speaker apertures 170. Although many different
selection buttons may be provided on the upper housing 120, only one upper housing
selection button 160 is shown in FIG. 1 by way of example. In this particular
25 embodiment the selection button is similar to a rocker button having a two-direction
"scrolling" function. The upper housing 120 of the present invention may include one
or mote selection buttons (such as selection buttons 132 and 160) for various types of
features including, but not limited to, volume control menu control, call answering,
call termination, caller identification, phone book control, voicemail conrrol, e-
30 mail/messaging control, network browsing, power on/off, and the like. The speaker
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apertures 170 direct sounds generated by a speaker or other type of audio output
device to the user.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper housing 120 principally functions as a
cover, which as noted above can also include some functional electronic components,
5 such as selection buttons 132 and 160, a speaker, or indicator lights. However, in the
illustrated embodiment, a majority of the functional electronic components are
included as part of the lower housing, which is also referred to as the body.
Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the radiotelephone 100 is
shown in an opened position 210. The portions of the radiotelephone 100 that
10 become visible in the opened position 210 include a lower housing 220, a keypad 230
and a microphones aperture 240. When viewed from the front, the lower housing of
the preferred embodiment has a substantially similar profiles to the upper housing 120.
Correspondingly, the lower housing includes a lower circular portion 222 and a lower
extending portion 224. In the opened position 210, the upper circular portion 122 of
15 the upper housing 120 is adjacent to, and positioned above, the lower circular portion
of the lower housing 220. On the other hand, the upper extending portion 124 is
positioned away from the lower housing. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper
extending portion 124 is oriented in an opposite direction to the lower extending
portion 124 on opposite sides of the appear and lower circular portions 122 and 222.
20 The keypad 230 may includes any layout of keys that provide convenient operation of
the radiotelephone 100 by the user. The microphone aperture 240 directs sounds
received from the user or other local sounds to a microphone or other type of audio
input device.
The preferred embodiment includes a standard layout of alphanumeric and
25 menu control for operation of the radiotelephone 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the
keypad 230 includes twelve standard keys 232 (namely, 0 through 9, # and *) as well
as three lower housing selection buttons 234. However, the radiotelephone 100 may
include a larger grouping of keys, such as a QWERTY keyboard, if a device having a
larger form factor or smaller individual keys is desired. Although not shown in FIG.
30 2, the keypad 230 may also include a cursor or graphical pointing device such as a
joystick, touch, pad or track ball. Also, similar to selection buttons 132 and 160
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WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903
described, above, the lower housing selection buttons 234 may be used for various
features including, but ant limited to, volume control, menu control, call answering,
call termination, caller identification, phone book control, voicemail control, e-
mail/messaging control, network browsing, power on/off, and the like,
5 The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.1 and 2 includes at least two
functional positions, namely an opened position 210 (FIG. 2), and a closed position
110 (FIG, 1). Generally, the opened position 210 and the closed position 110 activate
functions of the radiotelephone 100 such as answering an incoming call and/or
initiating a new call, or terminating an existing call. Other relative rotational
10 positions may define alternative functions, and in some caaea may select or define
functions not specific to radiotelephones. The relative rotational position of the
housing may also affect the functionality of the cover selection buttons 132, upper
housing selection button 160, and lower housing selection buttons 234. For example,
the selection buttons 132, 160, 234 and 236 may each activate a different function
15 dependent upon the position of the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing
220.
In order to facilitate movement between an opened position 210 and a closed
position 110, the rediotelephone 100 includes a self operating opening mechanisin for
rotating the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing 220. FIGS. 3A-3C
20 illustrate saquential plan views of portions of the radiotelephone of FIGS.1 and 2
having two housing elements, that move between an opered and a closed position,
with the position of a tension device and corrasponding end points and travel path, of
the tension device highlighted.
More specifically, FIG. 3A illustrates the upper housing 120 and the lower
25 housing 220 in a rotatebly/ closad position, FIG. 3C illustrates the-upper housing 120
and the lower housing 220 in a rotatably opened position. FIG. 3B illustrates the
upper housing and the lower housing 220 between a rotatably opened position and a
rotatably closed position.
Highlighted in each of FIGS. 3A-3C is a representation of the position of the
30 end points, and the corresponding travel path, of a tension device relative to the upper
and lower housing, as the upper and lower housing rotate with respect to eash other.
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One end 302 of the tension device 300 is coupled to the upper housing 120, and the
other end 304 of the tension device 300 is coupled to the lower housing 220.
In at least one embodiment, the tension device 300 is a spring which extends
between the two end points 302 and 304, along a path having a first portion 310,
5 which extends at least partly around an axis of rotation, and a second portion 320,
which extends along the length of the upper housing 120. In alternative
embodiments, the second portion of the path, could alternatively extend along a
portion of the length of the lower housing 220, this can be the case, where the end
points of the tension device are each coupled to alternative ones of the upper and
10 lower housing.
In at least one embodiment, the portion of the path extending along the length
of the upper housing 120 has a length, that is longer than the unstretched length of the
tension device 300. This results in the tension device 300 exerting a force, which
biases the upper and lower housing towadr an opened position, in a direction which
15 minimizes the path distance including the path distance associated with the portion of
the path 310 that extends at least partly ground the axis of rotation, regardless of the
amount of the path length that is associated with portion of the path 310 that extends
at least partly around the axis of potation. In the illustrated embodiment, the portion
of the path 130 that extends at least partly around the axis of rotation is minimized
20 when the upper and lower housings are in a rotatably open position relative to one
another, as shown in FIG. 3C.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper housing 120 and lower housing 220
are rotated back to a closed position by manually applying an external closing force,
which is greater than the tension force of the tension device 300. When the upper
25 housing 120 and lower housing 220 are at or near a closed position, a latch 400 or
engagement member limits the relative rotation of the upper housing 120 and lower
bousing 220 back toward an opened position. The latch 400 is illustrated as part of
the perspective view of the first and second, or upper 120 and lower 220 housing
elements of a radiotelephone, illustrated in FIG. 4.
30 In the illustrated embodiment the latch 400 includes a leaf spring 410 having a
first end 415, which is firmly engaged to the lower housing 220, and a second end
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420, which is selectively releasably engaged to the upper housing 120. In an
alternative embodiment, the latch 400 has a first end 415 firmly engaged to the upper
housing 120, and a second end 420 releasably engaged to the lower housing 220. Still
further, in other embodiments, both the first end 415 and the second end 420 are
5 raleasably engaged to respedtiva ones of the upper 120 and lower 220 housings.
In the illustrated embodiment, the leaf spring 410 is firmly engaged at two
paints 425 proximate the first end 415, which are displaced a distance away from a
contact point 430, where the leaf sprig 410 selectively engages the upper housing
120. The leaf spring 410 engages the upper housing 120 within a notch 435 formed
10 within the upper housing 120, when the upper housing 120 and the lower housing
220, are at or near a rotationally closed position. The leaf spring 410 is confoured
and/or bent to match one of the edge facings of the notch 435.
The leaf spring 410 is biased toward an engagement position, which produces
a frictional holding force, as well as physically impeding the rotational movement of
15 the upper housing 120 relative to the lower housing 320. In order to release the upper
housing 120, the end of the leaf spring 410 needs to be deflected away from of out of
the notch 435. In the illustrated embodiment, there ate at least two ways for the leaf
spring 410 to be deflected away from or out of the notch 435.
The first way includes a push button 440, which is coupled to and/or
20 integrated with the leaf spring 410 proximate the scecond end 420. The push button is
more clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. The push button 440 is positioned so as to be
accessible to the user, via an exposed portion 445, which can be depressed by the
user. When the push button 440 is depressed by the user, the leaf spring 410 is
deflected by the push button 440 out of the notch 435. In at least one embodiment,
25 the push button is positioned so as to be readily accessible by a user's thumb or
finger, while the device is generally held within the palm of the user's hand.
The second way includes the manual application of a force 450, to at least one
of the upper 120 and lower: 220 housings, which rotates the upper housing 120
relative to the lower housing 220. When the applied force in combination with the
30 opening force applied by the tension device 300 exceeds a level of force required to
sufficiently deflect the leaf spring 410 out of the notch 435 and overcome the
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frictional force applied by the leaf spring 410, the latch 400 becomes disengaged and
the tension device 300 can complete the respective rotation of the upper 120 and
lower 220 housing elemens toward an opened position.
FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged partial plan view of the first and second housing
5 elements of the radiotelephone in a closed position with tension device and
engagement member illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one of the upper housing 120 with
engagement member 400 and tension device 300, viewed from the back side facing.
From the back side facing vantage at least a portion of the mechanical stop 600, as
10 provided in the present embodiment is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the
portion of the mechanical stop corresponding to the upper housing 120 includes an
end wall 605 of a channel 610. FIG. 6 additionally more clearly illustrates the push.
button 440 coupled to and/or integrated with, the leaf spring 410.
FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the lower housing 220, which
15 illustrates at least a further portion of the mechanical stop 600, partially illustrated in
FIG. 6, More specifically, the lower housing 220 includes a post 700. The post is
positioned so as to travel within the channel 610, illustrated in FIG. 6, though a
varying degree of relative rotation, when the upper housing 120 and lower housing
220 are brought together. The channel ends, thereby restricting further rotation of the
20 upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 relative to one another, when the upper
housing 120 and the lower housing 220 are at or near a rotatably opened position.
The other end 615 of the channel ends, proximate to where the post 700 would be
positioned in the channel, when the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 are
at or near a rotatably closed position.
25 By intersecting the post 700 with the end of the channel 600, further rotation
of the housing elements is restricted. It is possible to dampen the movement
imunediately prior to reaching the end wall 605 of the channel 600 by narrowing the
channel width or making the channel depth shallower. It is further possible that a
small spring could be positioned within the channel 600 so as to be compressed
30 between the post 700 and the end wall 605 of the channel 600, immediately prior to
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the end 605 of the channel 600, to act as a shock absorber, so as to dampen the force
of any contact, when the post 700 and the end wall 605 intersect.
While the illustrated embodiment has made use of a spring 300 as the tension
device it will be readily clear to one skilled in the art that other types of tension
5 devices could be used. Furthermore the manner in which the tension device applies a
force to the upper 120 and lower 220 housings could similarly involve alternative
approaches. For example, a spring loaded pulley might be used to supply the
necessary force, which might allow for greater flexibility in the placement of the
tension device.
10 Additionally illustrated in FIG. 7 is an axis of rotation 705, which, extends
through the front and back facing of the lower housing 220. The axis of rotation 705
similarly extends through, the front and back facing of the upper housing 120.
FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for opening a first and a second
housing element of a hand-held device using a self-opening mechanism in
15 accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. Generally, as
illustrated in FIG. 8, the method 300 includes preloading 805 a tension device having
a first end coupled to a first housing element and having a second end coupled to a
second housing element by rotating the first and second element toward a more closed
position from a more opened position.
20 In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-7, given the nature of the coupling of
the tension device, the housing elements are rotetable from a more opened position
toward a more closed direction in a counter-clockwise direction. However, one
skilled in the art could readily recognize, that the geometries could be mirrored
horizontally, which would allow for the housing elements to move from an opened
25 pasitiom toward a closed position, in a clockwise direction. It is further noted, that
generally, the housing elements rotate toward a more opened position in a direction
opposite to the direction that the housing elements rotate, when moving toward a
more closed position.
After the tension device is preloaded 805, and when the housing elements are
30 at or near a rotatably closed position, the rotational movement of the housing elements
are limited by applying 810 a holding force. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
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1-7, a holding force is applied by the latch 400, where the end 420 of the leaf spring
410 engages the notes 435. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that other
structures, which are suitable for producing a holding force, are similarly possible
without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
5 The first and second housing elements are then released 815, thereby enabling
the relative rotation of the first, and second housing elements toward an opened
position. In the at least one illustrated embodiment noted above, the first and second
housing elements, corresponding to the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220,
can be released when the end 420 of the leaf spring 410 is disengaged from said notch
10 435. Alternatively, the upper housing 120 and the lower housing 220 can be released
when an external manual opening force is initially applied to one or both of the first
and second bousing elements which, when added to the force applied by the preloaded
tension device, overcomes the holding force applied to the frist and second housing
elements.
15 The tension device then acts upon both of the first and second housing
elements to rotate the two toward a rotatably open position. The method then
provides for the limiting 820 of the further rotational movement of the first housing
element relative to the second housing element, when the housing elements are at or
near a rotatably opened position. In at least some embodiments, the further relative
20 rotation is limited by a mechanical stop, which includes corresponding physical
structures associated with respective ones of the first and second housing elements,
that intersect. In at least one embodiment, the corresponding physical structures are a
post 700 and the end wall 605 of a channel 600.
Generally, in the preferred embodiment, the opened and closed position differ
25 from one another by approximately 180. However in some instances, the difference
can be more or less. For example, in same instances a difference less than 180 might
allow the radiotelephone to follow more closely the contour of a user's fate, where
one end of the opened phone, which produces an audio output, is proximate to the
user's ear, and where the other end of the opened phone, which teceives an audio
30 input, is proximate the user's mouth.
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WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903
The method additionally provides for the first and second housing elements to
be retained to a non-rotated position, in at least some instances, this requires the
manual application of a force by the user, which counteracts the force produced by the
tension device. In at least the illustrated embodiment, returning the first and second
5 housing element to a closed position serves to preload the tension device.
While the, above described, self operating opening mechanism for use in a
hand-held electronic device is completely mechanical, alternative approaches could
introduce electro-mechanical elements such as motors or linear actuators without
departing from the scope of the present invention. However, one of the advantages to
10 an all mechanical approach is that the all mechanical opening mechanism will not
need to draw energy from a self contained power source, like a battery, when the
mechanism is being used to open or close the device. This allows more of the energy
stored in the power source to be used for the other operations of the device, such as
the transmission and reception of a wireless signal.
15 While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited. Numerous
modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present, invention
as defined by the appended claims.
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WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A mechanism for rotating at least a first and a second housing element of a
device with respect to one another, where the first and second housing elements have
a common axis of rotation, which is substantially perpendicular to a front surface of
5 the device, the first housing element including a path, which extends at least partly
around said axis of rotation at a distance away from the axis of rotation, said
mechanism comprising:
a tension device having a first end coupled to the first housing element, and a
second end coupled to the second housing element at a point which travels around the
10 axis of rotation along said pain of the first housing element, as the first housing
element and the second housing element rotate with respect to one another ;
a mechanical stop, which limits rotational movement, when the first and
second housing elements are at or near a rotatably opened position; and
an engagement member, engaged to one of the first and second housing
15 elements and releasably engaged with the other one of the first and second housing
elements, which limits rotational movement, when the first and second housing
elements are at or near a rotatably closed position.
2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mechanical stop
20 includes corresponding physical structures, associated with each of the first and
second housing elements, which intersect, when the first and second housing elements
are at or near a rotatably opened position.
3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said path in addition to
25 including a first portion, which extends partly around said axis of rotation, further
includes a second portion, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first
housing element and away from the axis of rotation.
4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the second portion of the
30 path, which extends along at least a part of the length of the first housing element, has
a length, that is longer than the unstretched length of the tension device.
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WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903
5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second end of the
tension device is moved further away from the first end of the tension device along
the path, including the portion of the path which travels around the axis of rotation, as
the first and second housing elements are rotated toward a closed position.
5
6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tension device includes
a spring.
7. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the corresponding physical
10 structures of the mechanical stop include a post and a wall.
8. A mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein the wall is an endwall of a
channel located in one of the first and second housing elements.
15 9. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mechanical stop
includes a shock absorber, which is engaged by both of the corresponding physical
structures prior to the corresponding physical structures intersecting with one another.
10. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the engagement member is
20 a spring biased frictional engagement member.
11. A mechanism in accordance with claim 10 wherein the spring biased frictional
engagement member includes a leaf spring fixed at a first end to one at the first and
second housing elements, and frictionally engages at a second end the other one of the
25 first and second housing elements,
12. A mechanism in accordance with claim 11 wherein the spring biased frictional
engagement member additionally includes a latch, which when depressed applies a
force against the spring biased frictional engagement member thereby biasing the
30 second end of the leaf spring away from the other one of the first and second housing
elements.
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WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903
13. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein the path of the tension
device extending at least partly around the axis of rotation at a distance away from the
axis of rotation defines an area within which a display is located.
5 14. A mechanism in accordance with claim I wherein said device is a hand-held
device.
15. A mechanism in accordance with claim I wherein said device is an electronic
device.
10
16. A mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein said electronic device is a
wireless communication device.
17. A method of opening a first and a second housing element of a hand-held
15 device using a self-opening mechanism comprising.
preloading a tension device having a first end coupled to a first housing
element and having a second end coupled to a second housing element, wherein the
tension device extends along a path of travel, which extends at least partly around a
common axis of rotation at a distance away from the common axis of rotation, which
20 is substantially perpendicular to a font surface of the device, by rotating the first
housing element and the second housing element toward a closed position;
limiting the rotational movement of the first and second housing elements,
when the first and second housing elements are at or neacr a rotatably closed position
by applying a holding force applied by an engagement member;
25 releasing the first and second housing elements, thereby enabling the relative
rotation of the first and second housing elements toward an open position as a result
of the force exerted by the preloaded tension device, and
limiting the further rotational movement of the first housing element relative
to the second housing element, when the first and second housing elements are at or
30 near a rotatably opened position.
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WO 2004/062125 PCT/US2003/037903
18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein preloading a tension device
includes moving a first end of a spring coupled to the first housing element, further
away from a second end of the spring, coupled to the second housing element, along
the path of travel of the tension device.
5
19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein releasing the first and second
housing elements includes applying an opening force to at least one of the first and
second housing elements, which in addition to the force applied by the preloaded
tension device, overcomes the holding force applied by the engagement member.
10
20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein releasing the first and second
housing elements includes applying a release force to the engagement member which
biases the engagement member in a direction that reduces the holding force below a
level where the force applied by the preloaded tension device can overcome the
15 holding force.
21. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein limiting the further rotational
movement at or near a rotatably opened position includes a first physical structure
associated with the first housing element intersecting a second physical structure
20 associated with the second housing element.
22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein a first physical structure
intersecting a second physical structure includes the first physical structure coming
into contact with the second physical structure.
25
23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the first physical structure
comes into contact with the second physical structure via a shock absorber.
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The present invention provides a mech-
anism and method for rotating at least a first and second
housing elements (120,220) of a device (100) with re-
spect to one another. The first and second housing ele-
ments (120, 220) have a common axis of rotation (705),
which is substantially perpendicular to front surface
of the device (100). The mechanism includes a ten-
sion device (3000) having a first end coupled to the first
housing element (120) and a second end coupled to the
second housing element (220) at a point which travels
around the axis of rotation along a path, where the path
extends at least at partly around the axis of rotation at a
distance from the axis of rotation. The tension device
(300) biases the rotational relationship of the first (120)
and second (220) housing elements toward an opened
position. The mechanism additionally includes a me-
chemical stop (600), that limit the further rotation of
the first (120) and second (220) housing elements be-
yond an opened position. The mechanism still further
includes an engagement member (400), which is en-
geged to one of the first and second housing elements
(120,220) and is releasable engaged with the other one
of the firsthand second housing elements (120, 220).
The mechanism maintains the first and second housing
elements (120, 220) in a closed position, when the en-
gagement member (400) is engaged with the other one
of the first and second housing elements (130, 220).

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Patent Number

218980

Indian Patent Application Number

01038/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

16/2008

Publication Date

18-Apr-2008

Grant Date

16-Apr-2008

Date of Filing

31-May-2005

Name of Patentee

MOTOROLA, INC.

Applicant Address

1303 EAST ALGONQUIN ROAD, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60196, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	HARMON ROGER	4823 KENNETH DRIVE, CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PCT International Classification Number

H04B 1/38

PCT International Application Number

PCT/US2003/037903

PCT International Filing date

2003-11-24

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	10/331,294	2002-12-30	U.S.A.