Hinge mechanism for a portable, foldable electronic device comprising at least two use positions

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for a portable, foldable electronic device comprising two or more positions and comprising at least three housing parts foldable in relation to each other, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises: a hinge system adapted to couple a first housing part to a second housing part, to fold the first and the second housing parts in relation to each other, and to couple the first and the second housing parts to a third housing part in a foldable manner; and an ejector mechanism adapted for moving said hinge system away from the third housing part.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 918,283 filed on Jul. 30, 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism for a portable, foldable electronic device comprising two or more positions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] For storing various 1data, known electronic devices are available, such as notepad computers, small hand-held computers or PDA devices (personal digital assistant). The data can be viewed by means of the display of the device. The data are entered in the devices by means of a keypad or a touch screen. Also wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones, comprise a keypad and a display for storing or selecting telephone numbers. Known devices include Nokia® 8850, 7110 and 6110 mobile phones. Devices are also available having two different user interfaces, normally the user interfaces of a mobile phone and a PDA device. One suc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improvement to a prior art device by making it easier to handle with one hand and reducing the width of the device when opened. The device has a hinge mechanism that allows for the housing parts to be opened without changing their orientation. The device can be used in both the vertical and horizontal positions. The device has a display area that is seamless and uniform, allowing for larger units to be displayed and stereo speakers to be placed on the side of the display. The device can also be connected to a wirelessly operating headset device for hands-free use and listening to music."

Problems solved by technology

A particular problem is induced by the placement of the camera also in the PDA / CMT device to make the use of the camera possible and simple in different positions of the device.

In known PDA / CMT devices that can be opened and closed, a problem is the placement of keys or corresponding control buttons, cursor keys, rotatable rolls or balls, rocker buttons or navigation keys in an optimal way for the use.

A particular problem lies in two interfaces which are used in different positions of the device, wherein the grip of the user's hand should be simultaneously changed and / or released to make the use comfortable and to make opening of the device even possible.

The keys for several different grips must be placed within reach of the fingers, but at the same time, they often require space e.g. on the display.

It is problematic to implement control keys for other integrated auxiliary functions and positions in PDA / CMT devices whose size is continuously reduced.

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