US 8,553,397 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for coupling portable communication devices

AssigneeMotorola Mobility LLC

InventorsRachid Alameh, William Hede, Paul Steuer

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Abstract

A method and apparatus mechanically couple portable communication devices. The apparatus can include a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end, and a second shaft end. The apparatus can include a first portable communication device having a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing width. The apparatus can include a second portable communication device that can have a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with a first portable communication device communication signal interface and can have a second housing that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis. The first shaft length can be at least as long as the first housing width.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first
shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end at a first end along the first shaft longitudinal axis, and a second shaft end at a second end along the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft end opposite the first shaft end;
a first portable communication device including:
a first portable communication device communication signal interface;
and a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first housing width perpendicular to the first housing length, and a first housing height perpendicular to the first housing width and the first housing length, where the first housing width is greater than the first housing height;
and
a second portable communication device including:
a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with the first portable communication device communication signal interface;
and
a second housing coupled to the second shaft end, where the second housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis,
wherein the first shaft length is at least as long as the first housing width, and
wherein the first portable communication device is adapted to be used independent from the second portable communication device.

9 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a first shaft having:
a first shaft longitudinal axis;
a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis;
a first shaft end at a first end along the first shaft longitudinal axis;
a first shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the first shaft end of the first shaft length, the first shaft leg having a first shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis;
a second shaft end at a second end of the first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft end opposite the first shaft end;
and
a second shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the second shaft end, the second shaft leg having a second shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis;
a first portable communication device including:
a first portable communication device communication signal interface;
and
a first housing detachably coupled to the first shaft leg where the first housing rotates about an axis parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first housing width perpendicular to the first housing length, and a first housing height perpendicular to the first housing width and the first housing length, where the first housing width is greater than the first housing height;
and
a second portable communication device including:
a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with the first portable communication device communication signal interface;
and
a second housing detachably coupled to the second shaft leg, where the second housing rotates about an axis parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis,
wherein the first shaft length is at least as long as the first housing width, and
wherein the first portable communication device is adapted to be used independent from the second portable communication device.

16 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a first shaft having:
a first shaft longitudinal axis;
a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis;
a first shaft end at a first end along the first shaft longitudinal axis;
a first shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the first shaft end of the first shaft length, the first shaft leg having a first shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis;
a second shaft end at a second end of the first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft end opposite the first shaft end;
and
a second shaft leg coupled to the first shaft at the second shaft end, the second shaft leg having a second shaft leg longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first shaft leg longitudinal axis;
a first portable communication device including:
a first portable communication device communication signal interface;
and
a first housing detachably coupled to the first shaft leg such that the first housing is intended to be separated from the first shaft leg, where the first housing rotates about an axis concentric with the first shaft leg longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing length perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first housing width perpendicular to the first housing length, and a first housing height perpendicular to the first housing width and the first housing length, where the first housing width is greater than the first housing height;
a second portable communication device including:
a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with the first portable communication device communication signal interface;
and
a second housing detachably coupled to the second shaft leg such that the second housing is intended to be separated from the first shaft leg, where the second housing rotates about an axis concentric with the second shaft leg longitudinal axis;
and
a second shaft having a second shaft longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the second shaft coupled to the first housing and coupled to the second housing,
wherein the first shaft width is at least as long as the first housing length, and
wherein the first portable communication device is adapted to be used independent from the second portable communication device.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/098,446Filed 30 Apr 2011
Published: US 2012/0275089 A11 Nov 2012
Granted: 8 Oct 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 1/1647
Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing: including at least an…
G06F 1/1616
With several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function: with folding flat displays,…
G06F 1/1649
Including at least an additional display: the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
G06F 1/1681
Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts: details related solely to hinges