Portable electronic device with an adaptable user interface

A handheld electronic device comprising:

• a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion;
• a controller mounted within said housing;
• a detachable user interface selectively attachable and detachable to said first housing portion;
• a first interconnect means mounted on and coupled to said detachable user interface;
• a second interconnect means mounted on said first housing portion and coupled to said controller, said second interconnect means for connecting to said first interconnection means when said detachable user interface is attached to said first housing portion;
• and
• a swivel hinge for coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate about a first axis of said swivel hinge, and
• wherein said swivel hinge further couples said first housing portion and said second housing portion such that said first and said second housing portions rotate about a second axis of said swivel hinge perpendicular to said first axis, and
• wherein said swivel hinge allows said housing to configure to a first closed position, where said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together and planarly adjacent enclosing said detachable user interface therebetween, and a second closed position wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together and planarly adjacent and said detachable user interface is outwardly accessible.

A handheld electronic device comprising:

• a housing, having a first housing portion and a second housing portion;
• a first user interface mounted in said first housing portion;
• a second user interface mounted in said second housing portion;
• and
• a hinge for coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion such that said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate about a first axis of said hinge between a first closed position, where said first housing portion and said second housing portion are folded together until they are planarly adjacent enclosing only said first user interface therebetween, and a first open position where said first and said second housing portions are angularly displaced about said first axis from said first closed position to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees,
• wherein said second housing portion partially covers said first user interface in said first closed position to define a first closed position accessible portion thereof and a first closed position inaccessible portion thereof, and
• wherein said swivel hinge further couples said first housing portion and said second housing portion such that said first and said second housing portions rotate about a second axis of said swivel hinge perpendicular to said first axis between a first housing portion first rotation position and a first housing portion second rotation position, as defined relative to said second housing portion, and between a second housing portion first rotation position and a second housing portion second rotation position as defined relative to said first housing portion, and
• wherein said first accessible portion of said first user interface of said housing in said first closed position is in said input operation mode, output operation mode or combination thereof and said inaccessible portion is in an inactive mode and said second user interface is in said input operation mode, said output operation mode, or a combination thereof, and
• wherein said first accessible portion of said first user interface of said housing in said first open position is in an input operation mode, output operation mode or combination thereof, and said inaccessible portion is in an input operation mode, output operation mode or combination thereof and said second user interface is in said input operation mode, said output operation mode, or a combination thereof.

A portable handheld wireless communication device comprising:

• a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion;
• and
• a swivel hinge coupling said first housing portion to said second housing portion,
• said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotateable about a first axis, and
• said first housing and second housing rotateable about a second axis, and
• said second axis is perpendicular to said first axis,
• said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a first closed position wherein a first face of said first housing portion is planarly adjacent to a third face of said second housing portion and,
• wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a second closed position wherein said first face of first housing portion is planarly adjacent to a fourth face of said second housing portion, and
• wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a third closed position wherein a second face of said first housing portion is planarly adjacent to said third face of said second housing portion, and
• wherein said first housing portion and said second housing portion rotate to a fourth closed position wherein said second face of said first housing portion is planarly adjacent to said fourth face of said second housing portion.