Rotating Mobile Device Housing with Concealed Keyboard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile devices with concealed keyboards face challenges in maintaining compact size while providing full functionality, as they often compromise on display size or keyboard accessibility.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first housing with a display screen and a second housing that contains a concealed keyboard, which can be rotated to expose the keyboard, allowing for a compact closed configuration and a full-sized keyboard experience in an open configuration, with a concealment cover that acts as a stand for the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a concealed keyboard is integrated into the mobile device, then keyboard functionality is provided, but the device size increases and compactness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is nested within the display assembly, specifically integrated into the bezel area surrounding the display. This allows the keyboard to be concealed when not in use, maintaining a compact device profile, while being readily accessible when needed for typing or data entry functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing it to be concealed or exposed based on user needs. The keyboard can be rotated or folded away from the display area, enabling the device to transition between a compact configuration for portability and an expanded configuration for keyboard usage.
2Ease of operation
If the keyboard is exposed for full accessibility, then typing comfort is improved, but the display size is reduced due to space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is positioned in the bezel area, utilizing the local space around the display rather than encroaching on the display area itself. This allows the display to maintain its full size while the keyboard provides tactile input capability in a dedicated local region that does not compromise screen real estate.
3Volume of moving object
If the keyboard is concealed to maintain compact size, then device portability is improved, but keyboard accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard assembly is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing it to be concealed or exposed based on user needs. The keyboard can be rotated or folded away from the display area, enabling the device to transition between a compact configuration for portability and an expanded configuration for keyboard usage.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a concealment cover is added to protect the keyboard, then keyboard protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The concealment cover is merged with the keyboard assembly itself, forming an integrated unit. The cover serves dual purposes: protecting the keyboard when concealed and serving as part of the structural assembly when the keyboard is in use. This integration minimizes additional components and reduces overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device having a concealed keyboard includes a first housing, a second housing rotatably coupled to the first housing, and a concealment cover coupled to a rear of the first housing. The first housing has a coupling edge and two sides that are substantially perpendicular to the coupling edge of the first housing. The second housing has a coupling edge and two sides that are substantially perpendicular to the coupling edge of the second housing. A receiving portion is formed on a rear surface of the first housing and is configured to receive the second housing. When the second housing is in the receiving portion, each respective side of the first housing and the second housing are co-terminal with one another. The concealment cover is exteriorly positioned with respect to the second housing when the second housing is in the receiving portion.