Dual Mode Communication Device

This invention is in general related to communication devices and more particularly to handheld communication devices.

Hand held communication devices appear in a variety of shapes and form factors. Next to pleasant appearance, user ergonomics are among the most important external factors designers consider in designing such products. One aesthetically pleasing form factor uses an extendable section, such as a flip or a clam shell cover. One of the objectives met by these extendable sections is protection of the user interfaces, such as the keypad and the display. Another is the extension of the communication device in the operating mode to provide sufficient length to cover the distance between the ear and mouth of the user. These extendable sections have also been used to respond to an incoming call. In such applications, an incoming call may be answered simply by opening the cover. As such the user does not need to press an answer button to receive a call. A problem with these covers is that operation of the product is greatly hampered when the cover is in the closed mode as neither the keypad nor the display are accessible. Some devices have attempted to partially address this problem by limiting the extendable section to cover only the keypad, hence leaving the display exposed. This approach fails to provide protection to the display which is greatly desired nor would such an approach provide access to the keypad when the cover is closed. Accordingly, a need exists for a device that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.

FIG. 1 shows a communication device in a first mode in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the communication device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a communication device in a second mode in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the communication device in accordance with the present invention.

In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art in effectively utilizing communication devices having a cover, the present invention provides for a see-through cover that provides access to the display of the communication device even when the cover is closed. In addition, through access keys are provided to accommodate access to the keypad when the cover is closed. As such, the communication device may be used regardless of the position of the cover. This is particularly useful with dual mode communication devices where the functionality of the device may be optimized by the position of the cover.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show an electronic device, such as a communication device 100 in the open and closed positions, respectively. FIG. 1 shows the communication device 100 in the closed mode and including a moveable housing element 102 on which push buttons 106 are located. Keys 106 are shown preferably directly underneath the display to provide for soft key features. The cover 102 covers at least a portion of the top surface of the device 100. Included in the coverage zone of the cover 102 is the display 114 and the keypad 118. The operation of the keypad 118 in this embodiment is similar to the keys of a regular telephone or other communication devices as it known in the art. A speaker 120 presents the received audio to the user while a microphone 122 inputs the audio for transmission. A Push-To-Talk (PTT) button 206 is located preferably on the side of the radio 100 and provides for the initiation of communication in the dispatch mode. Additional buttons 202 and 204 provide such functions as volume control or frequency selection, among other things. In alternative embodiments, the PTT switch may be located on the top surface, similar to the TalkAbout.TM. family of products being offered by Motorola Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.

Although switches 204 and 206 have been shown here to control the volume level, an alternative embodiment may use them as providing a function similar to the soft keys 116. In such an embodiment, these keys 202 and 204 may be used to provide the user with various functions as guided through the display terminal 114. e.g. the function of the keys may change from volume control in one mode to ID number locator in another to message scrolling in a third mode. These keys may be placed beneath the display 114 so that their function as soft keys may be enhanced. In such a place, keys 202 and 204 may be used more definitively as soft keys in the Y (vertical) dimension as are keys 116 in the X (horizontal) dimension. This alternative embodiment may provide additional flexibility to the communication device 100 in either mode and has particular benefit in the closed cover mode.

The user wishing to place a dispatch call may enter the private ID number of the second party and proceed to talk while the PTT button is pressed. For this, however, the cover must be opened for access to the keypad. The present invention eliminates the need to open the cover by providing pass through keys 106 and the see through window 108. These keys are available on the cover and may be used to scroll through a list of private IDs. A desired private ID may be searched and chosen from the memory and displayed on the display 114, seen through the see through area 108. Once located, the user proceeds to communicate by pressing the PTT switch 206. As such, the need to open the cover 102 is eliminated.

In the preferred embodiment, the two buttons 106 are used as soft keys. A soft key is referred to a key whose function changes depending on the application being run. The functions associated with the keys 106 are those meaningful and appropriate for dispatch operation, such as scrolling through the memory to locate the private ID number of a particular addressee. Alternatively, these keys may be used to access other features, such as changing the mode of operation or the operating zone of the device 100. A significant aspect of the present invention is that the device 100 may be used as a communication device when the cover 102 is closed without denying access to the keypad, which is otherwise the case when the cover of the communication device of the prior art is closed. In other words, there is no need for the user to flip the cover open to conduct communication, at least in this dispatch mode of operation.

In an alternative embodiment, the device 100 may include a voice recognition circuitry to be used in locating a particular addressee in either modes of operation. With such a circuit, the user may enter the ID number of a particular addressee simply by requesting it via voice. The recognition circuitry proceeds to recover the voice and locate the ID number associated with the name.

The communication device 100 as presented in this preferred embodiment, is capable of providing multiple modes of operation. Namely, the device 100 may operate in telephone or dispatch mode of operation. Alternatively, messaging or data modes may be accommodated. In the messaging mode, the device 100 may be used to receive pages as any other pager available as a stand alone product. In the data mode of operation, the device 100 may be used as a portable data machine. In addition, the device 100 may be used as a telephone. Utilizing the keys 106, an incoming call may be answered without opening up the cover. In other words, the user may choose to answer an incoming call by either opening the cover 102 or simply pressing one of the keys 106. In either case the present invention offers a unique advantage over the prior art. This advantage is provided via the see through section 108. The caller ID feature of the device 100 displays the number of an incoming call on the display 114. Seen through the clear area 108, the user may decide whether to answer the incoming call or not. This is not possible in the communication devices of the prior art which are equipped with a traditional cover. These devices all answer an incoming call as soon as the cover is opened. As such, the identity of an incoming call is not known to the user before the call is answered. Conveniently, and in accordance with the present invention, partial access to the device 100 is available even when the cover 102 is closed.

In summary, the device 100 provides enhanced functionality by providing access to the display and keypad, even when the cover 102 is closed. The see through section 108 may cover all or a portion of the display 114. As such, displayed information may be viewed with the cover 102 open or closed. Keys 106 provide access to the keypad 118 when the cover is closed. With such access to the keypad and the display, the user can use the device 100 in any mode with the cover open or closed, hence improving product usability.

Referring to FIG. 3, the communication device 100 is shown with the cover 102 open. The communication device 100 includes a body housing element 124 which accommodates the components to provide telephone and dispatch functionality thereto. The housing element 124 includes a top surface 126, the display 114, and the keypad 118. The movable housing element 102 is coupled to the housing element 124 via a hinge 112. The moveable housing element 102 selectively moves between at least a first position wherein at least a portion of the top surface 126 is covered to provide for selective operation in the dispatch mode and at least a second position wherein the top surface 126 is exposed to provide for selective operation is the telephone mode of operation. The moveable housing element 102 includes the see through section 108 covering at least a portion of the display section 114 when the movable housing element 102 is in the first position in order to protect the display section 114 and simultaneously provide access thereto. In place of the hinge 112 embodiments, other similar mechanisms, such as a railing or a sliding cover may be used to couple the moveable housing element 102 to the housing element 124. An antenna 110 is used for the efficient transmission and reception of radio frequency signals.

In the open mode, the entire keypad 118 is available to the user. As such, the user may place a dispatch call by entering the entire private ID number of an addressee and proceed to communicate using the PTT button 206. Alternatively, the user may place a telephone call by entering the number in the telephone mode and proceed to communicate. As can be seen more clearly from FIGS. 2 and 3 and in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the keys 106 pass through from the front surface to the back surface of the cover 102. As such, keys 106, when pressed, couple with keys 116 which are located directly below them. This coupling communicates a push applied to keys 106 from the front surface of the cover area to the keys 116 on the top surface 126. By providing the pass through keys 106, the same number of keys may be used to provide the device 100 with functionality with the cover 102 open or closed. In other words, there is no need to duplicate keys in order to accommodate the various modes in which the device 100 may be used.

In summary, the device 100 operates in at least two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation and with the cover open, it is able to place and receive phone calls just as any other wireless telephone. In a second mode of operation and with the cover closed, it can be utilized as a walkie talkie utilizing dispatch operation. A push-to-talk (PTT) bottom is used to facilitate the dispatch mode. A cover 102 is used to selectively cover at least a portion of the top surface 126 when the cover is closed. The cover 102 includes a see-through window 108 which covers the display area 114 in the closed mode in order to protect the display terminal 114 and while at the same time providing access thereto. In this mode of operation, the user can view the names or numbers of parties he is wishing to contact without having to open the cover which is otherwise required in the communication devices of the prior art. In a third mode, a user may retrieve data messages with the cover 102 closed simply by navigating through the application program using softkeys 106.

Referring to FIG. 4, the block diagram of the communication device 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown. Antenna 402 is coupled to transceiver circuits 404 where radio frequency signals received thereby are demodulated to baseband. Audio components of the demodulated signals are coupled to audio circuits 406 and then to annunciator/earpiece 408. The annunciator may be used to alert the user of a received call independent of the position of the cover 102. Alternatively, a speaker may be used in place of or in addition to the annunciator 408. The data components of the demodulated signals are coupled to a display 410. A keypad 412 provides key entries to a controller 414. These key entries are then coupled to the transceiver circuits for modulation at the proper frequency before they are transmitted via antenna 402. In addition to the annunciator 408, a vibrator 416 may be utilized to indicate to the user the presence of an incoming call. A microphone 418 is used for the coupling of audio to the transceiver circuits 404.

The present invention provides two significant benefits to the users of a two-way communication device. The first benefit is that the display 114 is viewable through a see-through window 108. This accessibility renders the device 100 more versatile in that multiple modes of operation along with multiple housing configuration can be accommodated without departing from the aesthetics associated and preferred with each mode of operation. With the cover 102 closed, the device 100 may be used with limited access to the keypad 118 through the soft keys 106. This closed mode is particularly beneficial in dispatch or data modes. In dispatch, the press of the push-to-talk button 206 initiates a transmission. In this mode, the user may desire to locate the private ID number of a particular unit. To do this, the user presses the activators 106 thereby activating keys 116. In the data mode of operation, keys 106 may be used to retrieve data since the display is accessible via the see-through window 108. As such, the functions of keys 116 do not have to be duplicated to accommodate the multiple modes the unit 100 provides.

In the open mode of operation, conversely, the device 100 can accommodate phone communications as provided by similar devices in the prior art. As can be seen, the versatility of the device 100 has been expanded by providing full functionality in one mode of operation, namely open cover; and limited operation, namely closed cover. Although the closed cover mode has been discussed in a dispatch environment, one can see that limited functionalities over the device 100 in the interconnect mode may be accomplished by the cover in the closed mode. In such circumstances, the access keys 106 may be used to locate a telephone number for a desired party and utilizing a speaker phone mode of operation a call can be traced to that party without having to open the cover 102.