Rotatable function selectors in communication handsets and methods therefor
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorRobert R. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless communication handset (10) having first and second movable coupled housing portions (20, 30) that rotate in corresponding first and second substantially parallel planes. The wireless communication handset is in a first operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a first angular configuration, the wireless communication handset in a second operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a second angular configuration, and the wireless communication handset in a third operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a third angular configuration.
Claims21
A wireless communication handset, comprising:
- a housing;
- a blade rotatably coupled to the housing, the blade rotatable in a plane;
- a rotary encoder having a first encoder portion coupled to the blade and a stationary encoder portion,
- the rotary encoder having a first active mode function output when the blade is in the first position,
- the rotary encoder having a second active mode function output when the blade is in the second position.
A wireless communication handset, comprising:
- first and second rotatably coupled housing portions,
- the first and second housing portions rotatable in corresponding first and second substantially parallel planes;
- the wireless communication handset in a standby mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a standby angular configuration,
- the wireless communication handset in a call mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated from the standby angular configuration to a call angular configuration,
- the wireless communication handset performing a first function when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a first function angular configuration between the standby and call angular configurations.
A wireless communication device operable in active and standby modes, comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotatable member rotatably coupled to the housing,
- a rotary encoder having a first encoder portion coupled to the rotatable member and a stationary encoder portion;
- the rotary encoder encoding a first active mode function output when the rotatable member is positioned in a first position relative to the housing and the wireless communication device is not in the standby mode,
- the rotary encoder encoding a second active mode function output when the rotatable member is positioned in a second position relative to the housing and the wireless communication device is not in the standby mode.
A method in a communication handset having a blade rotatably coupled to a housing, comprising:
- transitioning the communication handset from a stand-by operating mode to an active operating mode by rotating the blade in a plane relative to the housing from a standby mode position to an active mode position;
- invoking a first function of the communication handset by rotating the blade to a first position different than the active mode and standby mode positions;
- transitioning the communication handset to the stand-by mode by rotating the blade to the standby mode position from some other position.
A wireless communication handset, comprising:
- first and second rotatably coupled housing portions,
- the first and second housing portions rotatable in corresponding first and second substantially parallel planes;
- the wireless communication handset in a first operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a first angular configuration,
- the wireless communication handset in a second operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a second angular configuration,
- the wireless communication handset in a third operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a third angular configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.