EP0796026A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multimedia terminal cover hinge
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1997-03-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A housing assembly for an integrated digital multimedia capable wireless interface device having a plurality of operating capabilities. The housing assembly comprises a main housing, a cover, hinge assembly for coupling the cover to the main housing, The hinge assembly enables the cover to pivot and articulate relative to the main housing to transform the housing assembly into a plurality of mechanical configurations. Sensors responsive to the pivoting and articulating of the cover are provided in the housing assembly for determining which of the mechanical configurations the housing assembly has been transformed into. Once the sensors determine the particular mechanical configuration, an appropriate one of the operating capabilities of the device is automatically selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald John Bowen
- 👤 Richard Henry Erving
- 👤 David Michael Britz
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Henderson
- 👤 Robert Raymond Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0241; H04M1/0245; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0216; H04M1/022; H04M1/22; H01; H01H; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/046; H01H2223/05; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0214; H01H9/0235; H04M1/60; H04M1/6033; H04M1/6041; H04M1/605; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/12; H04M2250/18; H04M2250/22; H04M2250/52; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/142; H04N2007/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An assembly either for containing, or actually containing an integrated digital multimedia capable wireless interface device having a plurality of operating capabilities, said assembly comprising: a main housing (12); at least one member (14) each movable relative to the housing; means for enabling the said member to be movable relative to said main housing in order to transform said housing assembly from one configuration to another; and means responsive to the movement of the said member for selecting operating capabilities associated with said other configuration or configurations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A housing assembly for containing or actually containing an integrated digital multimedia capable wireless interface device having a plurality of operating capabilities, said housing assembly comprising: a main housing; a cover; hinge means for coupling said cover to said main housing, wherein said hinge means enables said cover to pivot and articulate relative to said main housing to transform said housing assembly into a plurality of mechanical configurations; and sensor means responsive to said pivoting and articulating of said cover for determining which of said mechanical configurations said housing assembly has been transformed into, wherein an appropriate one of the operating capabilities of the device is automatically selected in response to said mechanical configuration of said housing assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The assembly of claim 1 or 2, comprising a multimedia display screen, and/or control means coupled to said responsive or sensor means for selecting the operating capabilities of said device in response to signals generated by said sensor or responsive means during the reconfigurations or transformations of said assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein said plurality of configurations includes a cellular phone configuration in which said member or cover is oriented adjacent to said main housing whereby said control means automatically selects a cellular phone operating mode in response to signals generated by said responsive or sensor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein said cover includes a plurality of buttons arranged in a cellular phone keyboard format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said multimedia display screen is touch sensitive and said buttons on said cover coact with a covered portion of said display screen to enable the device to be operated as a cellular phone handset.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a speaker which enables the device to be switched between a handset acoustical mode and a speakerphone acoustical mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The assembly of claim 7, wherein the switching is controlled by switching means including infrared detection means for sensing when said housing assembly is remote and adjacent to a user's ear and for signaling the control means to select the appropriate acoustical mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The assembly of claim 8, wherein said multimedia display screen is touch sensitive and said switching means includes a button on said cover which coact with said screen for enabling the device to be operated in the appropriate mode, such as a near-talking speakerphone mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
The assembly of claim 7, further including a shutter which opens to reveal a video camera component of the multimedia device and wherein said cover or member includes a window that allows a video portion of said multimedia display screen to be viewed through said cover, said opening action of said shutter signaling said control means to automatically change the device from the cellular phone mode where said speaker and said microphone are in the handset acoustical mode to a live two-way video-speakerphone mode wherein a called party can be viewed on said video portion of said multimedia display screen through said window in said cover while said speaker and said microphone operate in the speakerphone acoustical mode, for example a near-talking speakerphone mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The housing assembly of claim 3 as appendant to claim 2, wherein said plurality of configurations includes a portrait configuration in which said cover is pivoted away from said main housing to reveal said multimedia display screen, said control means automatically selecting a multimedia operating mode and a portrait format for said multimedia display screen in response to said pivoting of said cover.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The housing assembly of claim 11, wherein said housing includes a shutter which opens to reveal a video camera component of the multimedia device, said opening action of said shutter signaling the control means to automatically engage a live two-way video-speakerphone mode wherein a called party can be viewed on a video portion of said multimedia display screen while said speaker and said microphone operate in a speakerphone acoustical mode, such as a near-talking speakerphone mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 12, wherein said cover pivots on said cover hinge when said housing is configured in said portrait configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The assembly of claim 3 as appended to claim 2, wherein said plurality of configurations includes a tabletop configuration in which said cover is fully pivoted from said main housing to reveal said multimedia display screen, said fully pivoted cover operating as a stand for said housing assembly, said control means automatically selecting a multimedia operating mode and a landscape format for said multimedia display screen in response to said pivoting of said cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 11 or 14, wherein said main housing includes a speaker and a microphone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
The assembly of claim 15, wherein said housing includes a shutter which opens to reveal a video camera component of the multimedia device, said opening action of said shutter signaling the control means to automatically engage a live two-way video-speakerphone mode wherein a called party can be viewed on a video portion of said multimedia display screen in said landscape format while said speaker and said microphone operate in a speakerphone acoustical mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The housing assembly of claim 16, wherein the control means in response to said rotation of said cover, selects a far-talking speakerphone mode when said housing assembly is configured in said tabletop format.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 11 or 14, wherein said hinge means comprises a double-articulating hinge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The housing assembly of claim 18, wherein said hinge includes a side cover, a cover hinge which couples said cover to said side cover and a side cover hinge which couples said side cover to said main housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The assembly of claim 19, wherein upon configuring said housing assembly in said tabletop format, said cover pivots open to a predetermined angle on said cover hinge and then said side cover pivots relative to said main housing a second predetermined angle on said side cover hinge to articulate said cover around said main housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 19, wherein said side cover hinge includes locking means for locking said housing assembly in said tabletop configuration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 2, wherein said sensor means is located either in said main housing, or in said cover, or in said hinge means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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