| JP2005159851 | PORTABLE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL |
| WO/2001/073684 | NON-CONTACT DATA CARRIER |
| WO/2010/061609 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE |
CLAIMS
1. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) characterized in that it is adapted to be folded along a first axis (Al) and a second axis (A2) perpendicular to each other, which divide the apparatus (1) into four quadrants (A, B, C, D) interconnected by hinges (3, 3a) and (4, 4a) ; said axes (Al) and (A2) being orthogonal to each other and coincident with the axes of rotation of the hinges (3) and (4) ; the cross hinging system (3, 3a, 4, 4a) allowing the minimum movements required for fitting the curves of the body in fixed or moving conditions .
2. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said hinges (3) and (4) are located at the edges of each pair of adjacent quadrants.
3. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it has two or more displays (Dl, D2 , D3) and two or more input keypads or keyboards (Tl, T2) .
4. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said hinges (3) and (4) are joined to their respective quadrants (A, B, C, D) ; said quadrants (A, B, C, D) having in turn a larger housing (11) and (12) for also containing or holding the hinge (3, 4) of the opposite quadrant during the folding operation along the axes (Al, A2) .
5. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the displays Dl, D2 , (D3...) may be either independent or show a single image over multiple screens , to provide larger visual and operating field.
6. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one fixation means or a self-gripping strap (V) for placing it in a blazer or shirt pocket. 7. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard (Tl, T2) and the displays (Dl, D2 , D3) are arranged as desired either on the inner folding surface or on the opposite surface: as the display and keyboards are folded, in the former case, they will be located inside, and in the latter case they will be readily available to the user, who will be anyway able to operate from either side.
8. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it has one or more batteries , arranged on one two or more quadrants .
9. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it has features (II, 12, 13), such as inputs and/or outputs for modular connection with additional electronic apparatus (1) similar to the present invention, thereby providing a functional product, such as a kind of mini portable handheld pocket computer . 10. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it has specific function keys for direct typing of frequent functions , in addition to the common numeric and alphabetic keys . 11. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the hinges (3, 4) are in such arrangement that the division into the four quadrants (A, B, C, D) is either symmetric or non symmetric .
12. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the display and the numeric keypads and/or alphabetic or alphanumeric keyboards are arranged on the inner folding side of the cross hinging system (3, 4).
13. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the display and the numeric keypads and/or alphabetic or alphanumeric keyboards are arranged on the outer folding side of the cross hinging system (3, 4) .
14. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it is equipped with hardware or software accessories , a microprocessor, one or more memory and phone cards, one or more integral cameras , one or more microphones , one or more features for wireless or USB communication.
15. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it has a strap (20) that is designed to receive a signal from the apparatus (1) upon arrival of a call or callback and then emit a vibration alert signal, thanks to a small internal battery that can operate a vibrator, also incorporated in said strap (20) ; the vibration signal being emitted upon arrival of a call or callback or text message or email message or else to the electronic apparatus (1) ; the strap (20) being adapted to be attached and wrapped around any garment in contact with the skin or worn on the finger or the watchband.
16. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the strap (15) emits vibration signals even when the apparatus 1 is off, because the call signal is directly transmitted to said strap (20) .
17. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it can be deployed to adequately occupy all the available space and be locked thereby without jolting.
18. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it has one or more housings (95) and associated internal reading and storage systems of known type for reading memory cards of common type : said cards containing much information, such as texts, books, movies, music, and else; said information being readable on both displays of the apparatus . 19. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that said two or more displays (Dl, D2 , D3) and two or more input keypads or keyboards (Tl, T2) are arranged on one or both sides of the quadrants . 20. A portable handheld electronic apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said hinges (3a) and (4a) are of soft type, and are made of flexible material with electric connections embedded therein; so that the quadrants of the displays can be joined in perfectly flush arrangement, thereby seamlessly forming a single display. |
TITLE: PORTABLE HANDHELD ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
SPECIFICATION
The present invention relates to a portable handheld electronic apparatus which is a large-width foldable and ergonomic apparatus , as better explained hereafter .
The electronic apparatus may be, for instance, a simple reader, a hand-held computer, a portable phone, a navigator, a portable TV set, etc. In many cases , even when the portable handheld electronic apparatus is of considerable thickness , but adequately foldable, it will still ensure ergonomic advantages and facilitate hand movements for easy grip thereof in narrow spaces, such as in jeans pockets or in the back and side pockets of man's trousers; it will also provide advantages in its thinner (ultrathin) version and in the size adapted for insertion in a classical wallet for a back pocket of man's trousers or in the inside pocket of a blazer . The electronic apparatus is preferably wide, designed to occupy any available space in large and small pockets, considering standard pocket sizes, and to be folded in two orthogonal directions : both the above features are convenient in that they allow mass distribution and, due to the self-locking effect, they prevent any jolting.
Also, the distribution of mass over width considerably reduces the volumetric thickness of electronic apparatus ; thus , one of the aims of this invention is to distribute volume instead of concentrating it.
Thus , the portable handheld electronic apparatus may be conveniently held in trouser pockets , in
(lateral or inside) blazer pockets, in small shirt pockets, in coats and jackets.
Furthermore, its large width is advantageous in that it provides very wide surfaces for operation of its features and occupies almost the entire available space in traditional trouser pockets without allowing any jolting.
Also , the present apparatus is compatible with the spaces available in bags , purses , cases , etc . and may even fit in a wallet, as mentioned above.
Due to its articulation ability in the two orthogonal folding directions , the apparatus can be well adapted to the curvatures of the spaces in which it is held, particularly the lateral and back pockets of trousers, when sitting or standing.
Thanks to its cross folding system, the apparatus provides, in its folded position, all the ergonomic and practical features allowing one-hand operation, as is currently required for portable apparatus , such as phones, etc.
The "ultrawide" feature ensures:
"locking" of the electronic apparatus without jolting in pockets of any size; large space for many operating keys and for multiple displays; size reduction, for the apparatus to have such ergonomic size as to allow one-hand operation.
Furthermore , a large available surface , as provided by the present invention, allows for more advanced solutions as compared with traditional portable electronic apparatus .
For example, the useful display surface may be increased, with multiple displays being possibly provided, and the keyboard or keypad may also use a larger surface, thereby possibly providing a considerably greater number of function keys .
One more advantage of the invention is its modular construction, because it can operate alone as a functional ergonomic unit, but it can also be combined with other similar apparatus , thereby providing twice its power and usefulness , while maintaining its articulation and folding features for all desired purposes .
The solution described herein of two or more portable handheld electronic apparatus units connected in series provides a functional product, a kind of mini portable handheld pocket computer which still has a small and ergonomic size.
Finally, the electronic apparatus of the invention may be coupled and operate in combination with a very small annular element or a very small strap element, to be attached to underwear or watchbands and emit a vibration signal as a call or callback or message arrives , even when environmental conditions would not allow the user to hear a tone or beep; the vibration feature ensures privacy as the call or callback or message arrives and eliminates the disturbance of tones .
These objects and advantages are achieved by the portable handheld apparatus of this invention, which is characterized as set out in the annexed claims .
This and other features will be more apparent from the following description of a few embodiments of one of the possible applications of the invention, namely a
telephone or cell telephone apparatus , which is shown by way of example and without limitation in the accompanying drawings , in which :
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable handheld electronic apparatus of the present invention, particularly a cell phone,
- Figure IA shows the apparatus of Figure 1 in a half-folded position,
- Figures 2 , 2λ and 3 show the apparatus of Figure 1 according to a first transverse folding arrangement of the portable handheld mobile electronic apparatus,
- Figures 4 and 5 show the apparatus of Figure 1 according to a second longitudinal folding arrangement of the portable handheld mobile electronic apparatus , - figure 5A shows the folding variant that uses soft hinges ,
Figure 6 shows a variant embodiment of the invention,
- Figure 7 shows the apparatus of Figure 6 in a longitudinal folding arrangement,
- Figure 8 shows the apparatus of Figure 6 in a transverse folding arrangement,
Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, adapted for modular use, - Figure 10 shows two modular units of the electronic apparatus joined together,
- Figure 11 shows a variant embodiment of the electronic apparatus , which constitutes one of the objects of the invention, particularly designed for sending messages,
- Figure 12 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 11 in a possible folded position,
- Figure 13 shows a further variant embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention,
- Figure 14 shows the apparatus of Figure 13 in a possible folded position,
- figures 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 show possible arrangements of the apparatus of the invention,
- Figure 18 shows a strap element designed to be attached and wrapped around any garment in contact with the skin, which can receive the call signal from the portable handheld electronic apparatus and emit a vibration signal,
- Figure 18 is another view of the strap with a vibrating alert device incorporated therein,
- Figure 20 shows a possible application of the strap to a watchband. Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, numeral 1 generally designates a portable handheld electronic apparatus of the present invention, namely a cell phone, of the type comprising a structure designed to be articulated and folded in two folding directions , as described below.
The apparatus 1 is divided into four regions or quadrants A, B, C and D, which are joined or connected together by special hinges , designated by numerals 3 and 4, located at the edges of each pair of adjacent quadrants.
Such location and arrangement allows this portable handheld electronic apparatus 1 to be folded along a first axis Al and a second axis A2 , said axes Al and A2 being substantially orthogonal to each other and coincident with the axes of rotation of the hinges 3 and 4.
Particularly, in Figures 2 and 4 the hinges 3 and 4 are shown in their optimal operation, allowing the
electronic device 1 to be folded first in a transverse direction (Fig. 3) and next in a longitudinal direction (Fig. 5) .
The hinges 3 and 4 are joined to their respective quadrants A, B, C, D, which have in turn a wider housing 11 and 12 for also containing or holding the hinge of the opposite quadrant during the folding operation along the above axes .
The hinges 3 and 4 may be either of rigid type, like those currently used or may be specific for the cross folding system, or even of soft type, as shown in Figure 3A and 5A and designated as 3a and 4a; they will be made of flexible material with electric connections embedded therein. With these hinges , the quadrants of the displays will be joined in perfectly flush arrangement, thereby seamlessly forming a single display.
By this arrangement, the apparatus 1 has an optimized ergonomic construction for any selected size, to facilitate hand movements for easy grip thereof in narrow spaces, such as in jeans pockets or in back pockets of man's trousers; or possibly in a classical back pocket wallet or in an inside pocket of a blazer ; this is shown, for example, in Figures 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22.
The four quadrants may be designed for a more convenient, or even diversified use, depending on the desired purpose; in the embodiment of Figure 1, the apparatus 1 may have two displays Dl , D2 on two quadrants, not necessarily the A and B, but possibly C and D, or in cross arrangements, such as A and C or D and B; the other quadrants may contain the function keys and/or one or more keypads or keyboards Tl , T2.
Figure 9 shows one variant, in which a display D3 with dedicated features is provided in sector D , in addition to the upper displays Dl and D2.
The displays Dl, D2 , (D3...) may be either independent or show a single image over multiple screens , to provide a larger visual and operating field.
Referring now to Figure 5, the apparatus 1 is shown to include a fixation means or a self-gripping strap V, such as Velcro (registered trademark) , allowing effective repositioning in a blazer or shirt pocket.
The keyboard Tl , T2 and the displays may be arranged as desired either on the inner folding surface (like in Fig. 1) of the apparatus 1 or on the opposite surface , as shown in Figures 6 , 7 and 8 ; as the display and keyboards are folded, in the former case, they will be located inside, and in the latter case they will be readily available to the user , who will be anyway able to reply or make calls from either side.
Multiple ultrathin batteries may be also provided on two or more quadrants .
According to a variant embodiment, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the apparatus 1 may have features II, 12, 13 (inputs/outputs) for modular connection with additional phone apparatus 1 similar to the present invention, thereby providing a functional product, such as a kind of mini portable handheld pocket computer .
The apparatus 1 is shown to have a large width: any size definition will not be susceptible of limiting the scope of the invention but shall be only intended as a functional ergonomic unit.
The portable handheld electronic apparatus 1 may
be conveniently held in trouser pockets, in (lateral or inside) blazer pockets, in small shirt pockets, in coats and jackets: the resulting advantage consists in a considerably larger available surface, as compared with the one obtained with other traditional apparatus .
It shall be also noted that the present mobile apparatus has a large display, the latter possibly extending over the two upper, lower or lateral quadrants , and a larger keypad or keyboard. The apparatus 1 may be equipped with any other useful hardware or software accessory, such as a camera with one or more microphones integrated therewith, one or more features for wireless, infrared, Bluetooth
(registered trademark) communication protocols , or even USB within the four quadrants A, B, C, D, and even two microprocessors and two or more memory cards, phone cards , etc . may be also housed therein .
If the apparatus is a portable handheld cell phone, it can use the face opposite the operating face (i.e. the one with the keys), as an additional single display covering the entire available and operating surface, such as a reader, a navigator, etc. This will obviously increase the thickness of the electronic apparatus, without reducing its ergonomic advantage, which is still ensured by its cross folding ability.
Referring to Figures 18 and 18a, an accessory element 20, i.e. a strap, is shown, which is designed to be combined with the electronic apparatus 1 of the present invention, and can communicate therewith thanks to a small internal battery that can operate a vibrator for emission of a vibration signal upon arrival of a call, a text message, an email message or else of the electronic apparatus .
The vibration will be emitted upon reception of the call signal transmitted by the electronic apparatus 1 by the strap 20.
The strap 20 will ensure maximum privacy to the user that receives the call , who can remain in any public place and receive a call alert without disturbing; it also avoids the need of muting the tone.
The strap 20 may be conveniently attached and wrapped around any garment in contact with the skin or worn on the finger or the watchband (Figure 19) .
The strap 20 may be closed on itself for the watchband to be introduced therein or may be attached to such watchband by a small button; otherwise, the strap 20 may be adapted to be opened and closed in said watchband, as shown in the figure.
Also, the button solution may have the advantage of allowing attachment to or insertion in buttonholes of a shirt or other garment.
In accordance with the variant embodiment as disclosed herein, the strap 20 will advantageously emit call alerts even when the apparatus 1 is off : hence , the called person may be warned of the arrival of a call (or message or else) even if the caller cannot reach him/her . Thus, the mobile apparatus is bypassed and the call is directly sent to the buzzer.
In the embodiment as disclosed herein of an electronic apparatus adapted to be folded along a first axis Al and a second axis A2 which are perpendicular to each other and divide the apparatus into four quadrants A, B, C, D connected to each other by hinges 3 and 4, the length or number of hinges may be different or equivalent to those illustrated herein, without
departure from the scope of the invention.
When the apparatus 1, here a cell phone, is held within a pocket, it can extend over the maximum width allowed by the pocket; when it is used, it can be handled either in its open condition or in a vertically or horizontally folded condition and may be operated by one hand.
Referring to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown a variant embodiment of the telephone apparatus 1 , which constitutes one of the objects of the invention, particularly designed for sending messages; the four quadrant arrangement is not symmetric, but one part, namely the quadrants A and C, is larger than the part of the adjacent quadrants B and D, while maintaining the overall size of the wide and ultra-thin apparatus .
The quadrants B and D may contain the alphabetic keys , whereas the numeric keys may remain in the quadrant under the one with the display (e.g. quadrant A) , wherefore each alphabetic key might have one function, i.e. one letter or symbol, for easy and quick writing.
The function, alphabetic or numeric keys may be arranged in any manner .
In this configuration, the display (quadrant A) may be larger than in the two-display arrangement (Figure 1) , for improved visibility.
Referring to Figures 13 and 14 , there is shown an arrangement for differentiating the keys and functions of the electronic apparatus 1 of the present invention, allowing use of one face for calling and audio functions and the other face for messages .
Namely the two displays, as mentioned above, might be joined together, to display a single image extending
on both .
Furthermore , specific function keys may be provided, for direct typing of frequent punctuation characters, in addition to the common numeric and alphabetic keys .
Also, the numeric keys may be provided on a quadrant other than that for the alphabetic keys .
In this case, only two letters will be provided for each key instead of three or four, for quicker message typing; also, the bottom keys may be for numbers and punctuation characters .
As mentioned above, the display and the numeric keypads and/or alphabetic or alphanumeric keyboards may be arranged either on the inner folding side of the cross hinging system or on the outer side .
All the variants disclosed herein allow one-hand use of the folded electronic apparatus , except the message function of Figure 11, which requires the use of both hands or a supporting surface . The same apparatus, in the folded condition of Figure 12 allows one-hand operation.
Also referring to Figure 10 , the apparatus exhibits many advantageous features to meet the ever increasing data and image transfer needs . In certain application variants , one example whereof being shown in Figure 9 , the telephone apparatus 1 may have one or more housings 95 and associated internal reading and storage systems (of known type) for reading memory cards of common type: these cards contain much information, such as texts, books, movies, music, etc. and the two-display arrangement will facilitate reading.
Finally, in accordance with a further variant
embodiment, not shown, the electronic apparatus 1 may have keypads and/or keyboards arranged on both sides of the quadrants , or dual display arrangements on both sides . The above description has the purpose of illustrating the use of a "cross folding system" in portable handheld electronic apparatus for telephone use, where in either high or low profile conditions but always in combination with a large width and foldability of the apparatus, considerable ergonomic advantages are provided.
Nonetheless, the concept and applicability of the invention can be extended, and is actually intended to extend, to any portable handheld electronic apparatus, such as handheld computers, navigators, readers, mini- TV sets and other apparatus resulting from modern technology .
The use of soft hinges as mentioned above will provide displays formed of multiple separate panes , for seamless display of images and texts.
The above described system, with a first axis (Al) and a second axis (A2) perpendicular to each other, dividing the apparatus (1) into four quadrants (A, B, C, D) connected together by hinges (3, 3a) and (4, 4a) , which has been referred to as "cross folding system", always ensures a highly ergonomic construction regardless of the selected size, both for an ultra-thin cell phone to be held in a wallet and for a handheld TV set. The above mentioned ergonomic advantages , enhanced by the use of soft hinges, are apparent:
- when the apparatus is held in a pocket,
- when it has to be drawn from the pocket,
- when it has to be operated and used.
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