DIGITAL DEVICE INCLUDING A SMARTPHONE AND A DIGITAL NOTEPAD

Abstract

A digital device comprising: - a smartphone (12) with a casing and a touchscreen, - a digital notepad (11) with a casing and a touchscreen, - sliders (10) configured so that the casing of the smartphone (12) and the casing of the digital notepad (11) can slide relative to each other between a first position in which they overlap and a second position in which both touchscreens are at least partially exposed. [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: DIGITAL DEVICE COMPRISING A SMARTPHONE AND A DIGITAL NOTEPAD TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital device incorporating smart smartphone functionalities.

[0002] Over the years up to the present day, the smartphone has continued to spread, replacing mobile phones whose use is limited and improving user experiences thanks to its multiple and advanced features.

[0003] In parallel, the appearance of digital notebooks and readers has offered a dematerialized reading and writing experience faithfully reproducing those of physical books, notably by using an "electrophoretic display".

[0004] Although some features of these two digital devices may be similar, the notepad currently lacks, or has very few, of the intelligent features of the smartphone. For its part, the smartphone is generally not designed to offer the same digital reading or writing experience as the digital notepad, particularly due to the often less gentle, more aggressive brightness of its screen, and also due to its ergonomics.

[0005] Furthermore, the smartphone's smart features also make navigating between different applications inconvenient and accessing writing and reading functions slower. In addition, notepads often come with a pre-installed proprietary application for reading and writing text, unlike many smartphones that require downloading and possibly purchasing an application.

[0006] All these disadvantages mean that the smartphone can be used alone to reduce bulk, but at the expense of a limited reading or writing experience.

[0007] Users wishing to take advantage of both digital devices may encounter several difficulties, such as the need to transfer notes from the digital notebook to the smartphone for word processing that requires the smartphone's intelligent features, such as those of the Microsoft® (registered trademark) "Word" application. These difficulties may also relate to the storage and transport of these two devices, which may have different dimensions, making it difficult to store them together. Conversely, devices of roughly the same size may be confused by the user, who may realize they are using the smartphone. instead of the digital notepad only when the device is turned on, which can waste time for note-taking. Description of the invention

[0008] There is therefore a need to find a solution that allows us to benefit from the intelligent features of the smartphone and the reading and writing comfort of the digital notepad while limiting the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0009] The purpose of this application is to combine the smartphone and the digital notepad by connecting them together in such a way as to allow a user to take advantage of both devices without risk of confusion between the devices while facilitating the storage of these devices.

[0010] According to one aspect, a digital device is proposed comprising: - a smartphone with a casing and a touchscreen, - a digital notepad comprising a casing and a touchscreen, - slides configured so that the smartphone case and the digital notepad case can slide relative to each other between a first position in which they overlap and a second position in which both touch screens are at least partially exposed.

[0011] The term “smartphone” means an intelligent mobile phone with advanced features such as the functions of a personal digital assistant and certain functions of a laptop computer.

[0012] The digital device according to this aspect allows a smartphone and a digital notepad to be connected in such a way as to simplify their use, which can be individual when the device is in the first position or simultaneous when the device is in the second position.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the smartphone and the notepad are connected by sliders so that the smartphone can be used when the smartphone and the notepad overlap. The smartphone may be preferred for its telecommunications function, such as telephone calls or internet browsing, and for its versatility with its various applications. The digital device is therefore designed to allow the use of the smartphone regardless of the position of the digital device.

[0014] Alternatively, the smartphone and the notepad are connected by the sliders so that the notepad can be used when the smartphone and the notepad overlap.

[0015] Advantageously, said slides comprise guide elements disposed at the longitudinal ends of the notepad and complementary guide elements disposed at the longitudinal ends of the smartphone, said guide elements and said complementary guide elements being mounted sliding relative to each other.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the guide elements are fixed to a frame of the digital notepad and the additional guide elements are fixed to a frame of the smartphone, the guide elements each having a groove and the additional guide elements each having a rail or a pin configured to slide in the groove of the respective guide element.

[0017] Preferably, the slides are configured so that, in the second position, the smartphone and the digital notepad are in the same plane.

[0018] The guide elements advantageously include stops so that the additional guide elements slide between the stops.

[0019] Advantageously, the notepad case includes a ring forming the guide elements and the smartphone case includes a ring forming the complementary guide elements.

[0020] Furthermore, the digital device is compatible with a wide range of smartphones, including those marketed by Samsung (registered trademark) and more particularly foldable smartphones such as the "Galaxy Fold" (registered trademark) and "Galaxy Flip" models.

[0021] In one embodiment, the smartphone casing is of the folding type. This casing comprises a first part and a second part, each including a portion of the touchscreen and configured to fold against each other when the smartphone is in a folded position. The first part of the smartphone casing includes said complementary guide elements and overlaps the digital notepad casing in the first position.

[0022] It was also considered to minimize manufacturing costs by integrating accessories that can be used with the smartphone and the notepad such as a stylus, and by adapting the electronic architecture of the smartphone and the notepad so that they share certain common elements such as a charging port to power their batteries for example.

[0023] In a first embodiment, the smartphone case or the digital notepad case has at least one location configured to house a stylus configured to cooperate with at least one of the touch screens, said location being obstructed when the smartphone case and the digital notepad case overlap in the first position.

[0024] In a second embodiment, the smartphone and the digital notepad include a shared memory accessible by the smartphone when the digital notepad is off and accessible by the digital notepad when the smartphone is off.

[0025] In a third embodiment, the smartphone and the digital notepad each include a battery, the smartphone including a charging port configured to be connected to a power cable so as to power the battery of the smartphone and the battery of the digital notepad.

[0026] Other embodiments may include controlling both devices by buttons carried only by one or only by the other of these devices.

[0027] The digital device advantageously provides means for improving its ergonomics, which take into account in particular the size and weight of the smartphone and the notepad, especially in the second position.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment, the smartphone or digital notepad includes a stand configured to hold the smartphone and the digital notepad in an upright position. The stand is specifically designed to allow the digital device to be held in an upright position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0029] The following description will be better understood with the aid of the attached drawings, in which: - [Fig. 1] is a front view of an example of a digital device in its second position and according to a first variant in which the smartphone is of the "foldable" type, - [Fig.2] is a front view of the digital device in [Fig.1] in its first position, - [Fig.3] is a rear view of the digital device in [Fig.1] in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, - [Fig.4] is a profile view of the digital device in [Fig.3] with a raised position, - [Fig.5] is a front view of another example of a digital device in its second position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTION METHODS

[0030] Fig. 1 schematically represents a front view of an example of a digital device 1 according to the invention.

[0031] The digital device 1 includes a smartphone or smart phone 12 and a digital notepad 11.

[0032] The smartphone 12 is typically a mobile phone configured to implement advanced functions such as those of a laptop computer, by including a library of applications downloadable from the internet. These applications include, for example, messaging services, tools for word processing or even photography tools associated with the smartphone camera.

[0033] Such a smartphone 12 comprises a casing 120 and a touchscreen 121 of classic and varied designs depending on the smartphone model. The casing 120 includes the smartphone's electronic circuits connected to the touchscreen 121 fixed to the front of the casing 120, as well as a frame protecting the ends of the smartphone.

[0034] In the example shown, the smartphone model is the "Galaxy Fold" (registered trademark) marketed by Samsung, and the casing is of the "foldable" type. The smartphone casing 121 comprises a first part 1211 and a second part 1212. The first part 1211 and the second part 1212 each comprise a portion of the touchscreen 121 and are configured to fold against each other when the smartphone is in a folded position. Alternatively (not shown), the smartphone is a standard model whose casing comprises only one part and is not configured to fold.

[0035] The digital notepad 11 also includes a case 110 and a touch screen 111. The case 110 includes electronic circuits of the digital notepad connected to the touch screen 111 fixed to the front of the case 110 as well as a frame protecting the ends of the notepad 11.

[0036] The touchscreen 111 differs from the smartphone's touchscreen 121 in that it features an electrophoretic display, more commonly known as "electronic ink" technology. This display typically has a relatively low brightness that is not harsh on the user's eyes, so as to mimic a page of a book under natural lighting. The touchscreen 111 is further configured to be backlit when the ambient light is insufficient for the user to read or write text on it.

[0037] The digital notepad model 111 typically includes a proprietary application for reading and editing text files. The proprietary application is designed to operate optimally on the digital notepad, such as displaying and interacting with the text in a way that simulates reading and writing in a book, while remaining compatible with the smartphone 12, for which operation is degraded.

[0038] The digital device 1 further includes slides 10 configured so that the smartphone case 121 and the digital notepad case 110 can slide relative to each other between a first position in which they overlap and a second position in which both touch screens 121 and 111 are at least partially exposed.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the smartphone case overlaps the digital notepad case so as to allow the smartphone to be used when the digital device 1 is in its first position.

[0040] More specifically, the smartphone case is superimposed on the touch screen 111 of the notepad 11 and makes the touch screen 121 of the smartphone 12 accessible to the user.

[0041] The foldable type smartphone can thus be folded or unfolded in the first and second positions of the digital device 1. The dimensions of the notepad correspond substantially to the dimensions of the first part 1211 of the smartphone case so that the touch screen 111 is entirely covered by this first part 1211 when the digital device 1 is in the first position.

[0042] The touch screen 111 is thus protected by the smartphone casing, particularly in the event of the digital device 1 being dropped.

[0043] The slides 10 advantageously comprise guide elements 101 arranged at the longitudinal ends 1101 of the notepad and complementary guide elements 103 arranged at the longitudinal ends 1201 of the smartphone.

[0044] Said guide elements 101 and said complementary guide elements 103 are mounted to slide relative to each other.

[0045] According to a particular embodiment, the guide elements 101 are fixed to the frame of the digital notepad and the additional guide elements 103 are fixed to the frame of the smartphone

[0046] In the example shown, the guide elements 101 each have a groove 102, and the supplementary guide elements 103 each have a rail or a pin configured to slide in the groove 102 of the respective guide element. Alternatively, the guide elements 101 each have a rail or a pin, and the supplementary guide elements 103 have a groove. In other words, the guide elements and the supplementary guide elements can be interchanged, allowing the digital device 1 to have a first configuration in which the smartphone straddles the notepad, as mentioned previously in the preferred embodiment, or a second configuration in which the notepad straddles the smartphone.

[0047] Preferably, the guide elements 101 comprise a first stop 1020 and a second stop 1021 so that the additional guide elements 103 slide between the stops 1020 and 1021.

[0048] The stops 1020 and 1021 are for example located at the ends of each groove 102 thus defining the end of travel of the rail 103.

[0049] Advantageously, the slides 10 are configured so that, in the second position, the smartphone and the digital notepad are in the same plane. In other words, sliding the slides 10 allows the screen 121 of the smartphone to be substantially aligned with the screen 111 of the digital notepad and thus allow the screen of the digital notepad to be fully exposed.

[0050] Therefore, the digital device 1, in its second position, allows the touch screen of the smartphone and the touch screen of the digital notepad to be used simultaneously, in particular in the case where the user wishes to take notes and use the smart features of the smartphone at the same time.

[0051] When moving from the first position to the second position, the rail is configured to slide first along the groove in a lateral direction of the digital notepad to the first stop 1020 and then to slide in a transverse direction of the notepad along the first stop 1020.

[0052] When moving from the second position to the first position, the rail is configured to slide first in the transverse direction along the first stop 1020 and then to slide along the groove in the lateral direction of the digital notepad to the second stop 1021.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the guide elements 102 have a ring inserted within the frame of the digital notepad 11 and / or the supplementary guide elements 103 have a ring inserted within the frame of the smartphone 12. Therefore, the guide elements can be assembled with the notepad housing during its design and the supplementary guide elements can be assembled with the smartphone housing during its design. Alternatively, the guide elements 102 are removably mounted with the notepad housing and the supplementary guide elements are removably mounted with the smartphone housing. For example, the guide elements and the supplementary guide elements are configured to be clip-on.

[0054] Fig.2 schematically represents a front view of the digital device described above in relation to Fig.1 in its first position, i.e. when the respective casings of the smartphone and the notepad overlap.

[0055] More particularly, when the smartphone is of the "foldable" type, the first part 1211 of the smartphone case includes said additional guide elements 103 and overlaps the case of the digital notepad in the first position of the digital device 1. The sliding of the smartphone relative to the digital notepad can thus be carried out while allowing the smartphone to be folded or unfolded, exposing or not the portion of the screen of the second part of the case 1212.

[0056] Furthermore, the notepad casing has at least one slot 1250 configured to hold a stylus 1251. Alternatively, said at least one slot may be located on the smartphone casing. The stylus 1251 is configured to cooperate with at least one of the touchscreens. The stylus 1251 allows, in effect, The user can interact with the two touch screens 121 and 111 without touching their fingers to these screens and also improves the user experience for writing text by reproducing the feeling of writing on a notebook for example.

[0057] Fig. 3 schematically represents a rear view of the digital device as described above in relation to Figures 1 and 2, in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.

[0058] The digital notepad case advantageously includes two slots for storing styluses, and more specifically comprises a first stylus compatible with the touchscreen of the digital notepad and a second stylus compatible with the smartphone screen. The second stylus can also serve as a spare in case the first stylus is lost or forgotten.

[0059] Advantageously, one of the slots is blocked when the smartphone casing and the digital notepad casing overlap in the first position. This slot is formed in particular at the rear of the first part of the casing and allows the stylus to be wedged between the smartphone and the notepad so that the stylus does not fall out during transport of the device 1. Preferably, the stylus is magnetically attached to the smartphone casing by means of a magnet, while still being able to be held in the device 1 in case of a magnet malfunction.

[0060] In an advantageous design of the digital device 1, the smartphone and the digital notepad share common elements that minimize the costs related to this design.

[0061] In one embodiment, the smartphone and the digital notepad include a shared memory 1130, for example, internal non-volatile memory or a micro SD memory card providing additional storage space. The memory 1130 is accessible by the smartphone when the digital notepad is switched off and accessible by the digital notepad when the smartphone is switched off. Preferably, the memory 1130 is integrated into the electronic circuitry of the notepad casing, which may include, when the memory is a micro SD card, a single compatible port for inserting or removing the micro SD card.

[0062] In another embodiment, the smartphone and the digital notepad each include a respective reference battery 122 and 112. Preferably, the notepad includes a charging port configured to be connected to a power cable 1121 so as to power both the smartphone battery and the digital notepad battery. Of course, the charging port can be integrated into the smartphone. A single charging port 1120 allows, in particular, the simultaneous charging of batteries 122 and 112 with the same compatible power cable.

[0063] The smartphone advantageously includes communication means 123, such as an NFC sensor for "Near Field Communication," corresponding to short-range wireless communication. These communication means 123 allow files to be transferred to or from another device. For example, such communication means 123 allow files such as text files stored in the shared memory 1130 of the notepad to be transferred to that other device, or files to be received from that device for storage in memory 1130.

[0064] The smartphone also includes a camera 126 configured for taking photographs or recording video. Image and video files can be stored in the shared memory 1130.

[0065] The digital notepad advantageously includes a stand 124 configured to hold the smartphone and the digital notepad in an upright position. Those skilled in the art will know how to adapt the positioning of such a stand on the notepad's casing, as well as the characteristics of this stand, to ensure that the device 1 remains stable in the upright position. Alternatively, the stand is supported by the smartphone casing.

[0066] Figure 4 schematically represents the digital device 1 described above in relation to Figures 1 to 3, in profile view. The digital device 1 is in the raised position, held by the extended stand 24.

[0067] Preferably, the stand 124 unfolds in two parts 1240 and 1241 and is located at the rear of the first part of the housing 1211, specifically on a central portion of the device to improve the stability of the device in the raised position. This positioning also has the advantage of protecting the stand and preventing its deployment when the housings of the smartphone and the notepad overlap.

[0068] Fig. 5 schematically represents a front view of another example of a digital device 1.

[0069] The digital device 1 according to this example comprises a 12" foldable smartphone of the "Galaxy Flip" model marketed by Samsung, for example. In particular, the first part 1211' and the second part 1212' of the smartphone casing are configured to fold vertically onto each other. All other elements, i.e., those relating to the digital notepad and the sliders, are analogous to those described previously in relation to Figures 1 to 4. In this example, the notepad has dimensions adapted to those of the smartphone when the latter is folded, i.e., dimensions corresponding substantially to those of the first part of the casing 1210'.

[0070] Consequently, the digital device 1 has the advantage of being compatible with a wide range of smartphones and digital notebooks, including smartphones that would not be foldable.

Claims

Demands

1. Digital device comprising: - a smartphone (12) having a casing and a touch screen, - a digital notepad (11) having a casing and a touch screen, - sliders (10) configured so that the casing of the smartphone (12) and the casing of the digital notepad (11) can slide relative to each other between a first position in which they overlap and a second position in which both touch screens are at least partially exposed.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the slides (10) are configured so that, in the second position, the smartphone (12) and the digital notepad (11) are in the same plane.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said slides (10) comprise guide elements (101) disposed at the longitudinal ends of the digital notepad (11) and complementary guide elements (103) disposed at the longitudinal ends of the smartphone (12), said guide elements and said complementary guide elements being mounted to slide relative to each other.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the guide elements (101) are fixed to a frame of the digital notepad (11) and the additional guide elements (103) are fixed to a frame of the smartphone (12), the guide elements (101) each having a groove and the additional guide elements (103) each having a rail or a pin configured to slide in the groove of the respective guide element.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the guide elements (101) have stops so that the additional guide elements (103) slide between the stops.

6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the digital notepad housing (11) has a ring forming the guide elements (101) and the smartphone housing includes a ring forming the complementary guide elements (103).

7. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the smartphone case (12) is of the foldable type and comprises a first part (1211) and a second part (1212), each comprising a portion of the touch screen and configured to fold against each other when the smartphone is in a folded position, the first part (1211) of the smartphone case comprising said additional guide elements and overlapping the digital notepad case in the first position.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smartphone case (12) or the digital notepad case (11) has at least one slot configured to house a stylus configured to cooperate with at least one of the touchscreens, said slot being obstructed when the smartphone case and the digital notepad case overlap in the first position.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smartphone (12) or the digital notepad (11) has a stand configured to hold the smartphone and the digital notepad in an upright position.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smartphone (12) and the digital notepad (11) comprise a shared memory accessible by the smartphone when the digital notepad (11) is off and accessible by the digital notepad (11) when the smartphone (12) is off and / or wherein the smartphone and the digital notepad each comprise a battery, the smartphone or the notepad comprising a charging port configured to be connected to a power cable so as to power the battery of the smartphone and the battery of the digital notepad.

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