Portable communication device having a combined slider and flip hinge assembly
AssigneeSony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
InventorsRandolph C. Demuynck, Matti V. Maatta, Sang B. Kim, Charles C. Hunt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable communication device includes a base, an intermediate portion and a top portion that are operatively coupled by a combination hinge assembly. The combination hinge assembly is configured to facilitate sliding motion between the base and the intermediate portion and rotation between the base and the top portion. The base, intermediate portion and top portion may be configured to include respective displays and/or touch input devices to provide a portable communication device with increased display area and/or control area with a smaller footprint often associated with conventional clamshell or slider portable communication devices.
Claims18
A portable communication device comprising:
- a base;
- an intermediate portion;
- and
- a top portion;
- wherein the base, the intermediate portion and the top portion are operatively coupled by a combination hinge assembly, wherein the combination hinge assembly is configured to facilitate rotational movement between the base and the top portion and sliding movement between the base and the intermediate portion;
- and wherein the combination hinge assembly comprises a base hinge plate, an intermediate hinge plate, and a top hinge plate;
- wherein the top hinge plate is rotationally coupled to the base hinge plate;
- and
- wherein the intermediate hinge plate is slidingly coupled to the base hinge plate;
- and
- wherein the combination hinge assembly is configured to facilitate rotation between the top portion and the base portion in an angular range of between 0 degrees and about 180 degrees.
A portable communication device comprising:
- a base;
- an intermediate portion;
- and
- a top portion;
- wherein the base, the intermediate portion and the top portion are operatively coupled by a combination hinge assembly, wherein the combination hinge assembly is configured to facilitate rotational movement between the base and the top portion and sliding movement between the base and the intermediate portion;
- and wherein the combination hinge assembly comprises a base hinge plate, an intermediate hinge plate, and a top hinge plate;
- wherein the top hinge plate is rotationally coupled to the base hinge plate by a spring hinge;
- and
- wherein the intermediate hinge plate is slidingly coupled to the base hinge plate;
- and
- wherein the combination hinge assembly is configured to facilitate rotation of the top portion in an angular range of between 0 degrees and about 180 degrees relative to the base portion.
A combination hinge assembly for use in connection with a portable communication device, the combination hinge assembly comprising:
- a base hinge member, an intermediate hinge member and a top hinge member, wherein the top hinge member is rotationally coupled to the base hinge member by a flip hinge, and wherein the intermediate hinge member is slidingly coupled to the base hinge member by a slider hinge;
- wherein the combination hinge assembly is configured to facilitate rotation between the top hinge member and the base hinge member in an angular range of between 0 degrees and about 180 degrees, and to facilitate sliding motion of the intermediate hinge member relative to the base hinge member when the top hinge member is rotated by about 180 degrees relative to the base hinge member.
A portable communication device comprising:
- a base having a first touch-sensitive input device;
- a top portion having a second touch-sensitive input device, the top portion being coupled to the base by a first hinge assembly, the first hinge assembly being configured to facilitate rotational movement of the top portion relative to the base;
- and
- an intermediate portion having a third touch-sensitive input device, the intermediate portion being coupled to the base by a second hinge assembly, the second hinge assembly being configured to facilitate sliding motion of the intermediate portion relative to the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.