Patent US6434371B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6434371B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Selecting flip phone operating mode using flip position
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 2000-05-05
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Granted: 2002-08-13
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Expires: 2020-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A flip cover and hinge operate as a rotary switch to select the mode of operation of a communications device. Multiple contacts are located on the sides of the inner surface of the flip cover and a single contact is located on each side of the body of the communications device. Each contact located on the sides of the inner surface of the flip cover represents a different mode of operation for the communications device. As the flip cover rotates from a closure position to its final position as a stand, the mode of operation of the communications device changes as the contact from the body of the communications device connects with one of the contacts on the flip cover. Three modes of operation are presently implemented: the KEYPAD mode, the SMARTPHONE mode, and the SPEAKERPHONE mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Claxton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/40; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/60; H04M1/6033; H04M1/6041; H04M1/605; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0241; H04M1/0245; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising: a first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation; a second portion, coupled to said first portion, having a set of electrical contacts, wherein different sets of contacts are made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and a processor for determining which of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion are electrically connected to said set of electrical contacts from said second portion by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from one of said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes based on said measurement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising: a first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation; a second portion, coupled to said first portion, having a set of electrical contacts, wherein different sets of contacts are made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and a processor for determining which of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion are electrically connected to said set of electrical contacts from said second portion by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from one of said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes based on said measurement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal to be read by said processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein one of said plurality of resistive circuits is a single resistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein said system operates in a third mode when said voltage measurement from said first portion is from said single resistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein said third mode of operation is SPEAKERPHONE mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein an automatic volume level increase occurs to indicate that said system is operating in SPEAKERPHONE mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said first portion further comprises a keypad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein one of said plurality of resistive circuits is a resistive ladder circuit and said voltage measurement is based on the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein said system operates in a first mode when said voltage measurement from said first portion is from said resistive ladder circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein said first mode of operation is KEYPAD mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein one of said plurality of resistive circuits is a resistive ladder circuit in series with a bias resistor and said voltage measurement is based on the bias resistance and the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said system operates in a second mode when said voltage measurement from said first portion is from said bias resistor in series with said resistive ladder circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said second mode of operation is SMARTPHONE mode with keypad.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said second portion further comprises a switching circuit for controlling said first portion by turning power on and off.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said processor controls said switching circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said first portion is a flip cover and said second portion is a personal digital assistant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein said system operates in SMARTPHONE mode when said first portion is detached from said second portion.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising the steps of: supplying power from a second portion to a first portion, said first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said plurality of sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation, and said second portion being coupled to said first portion and having a set of contacts; determining whether an electrical connection between one of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion and said set of contacts from said second portion has been made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and enabling said device to operate in one of a plurality of modes based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portions, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of determining whether said electrical connection is based on one of a voltage measurement from said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion and a voltage measurement from said second portion, and converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for engaging different modes of operation of a device, comprising the steps of: supplying power from a second portion to a first portion, said first portion having a plurality of sets of electrical contacts and a plurality of resistive circuits coupled between said plurality of sets of electrical contacts, each set of electrical contacts representing a different mode of operation, and said second portion being coupled to said first portion and having a set of contacts; determining whether an electrical connection between one of said plurality of sets of electrical contacts from said first portion and said set of contacts from said second portion has been made or broken based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portion; and enabling said device to operate in one of a plurality of modes based on the relative position of said first portion to said second portions, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of determining whether said electrical connection is based on one of a voltage measurement from said plurality of resistive circuits in said first portion and a voltage measurement from said second portion, and converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said resistive circuit is a single resistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein said system operates in a third mode when said voltage measurement from said first portion is from said single resistor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said third mode of operation is SPEAKERPHONE mode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein an automatic volume level increase occurs to indicate that said system is operating in SPEAKERPHONE mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said first portion further comprises a keypad.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein one of said plurality of resistive circuits is a resistive ladder circuit and said voltage measurement is based on the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein said system operates in a first mode when said voltage measurement from said first portion is from said resistive ladder circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said first mode of operation is KEYPAD mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein one of said plurality of resistive circuits is a resistive ladder circuit in series with a bias resistor and said voltage measurement is based on the bias resistance and the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said system operates in a second mode when said voltage measurement from said first portion is from said bias resistor in series with said resistive ladder circuit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein said second mode of operation is SMARTPHONE mode with keypad.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said second portion further comprises a switching circuit for controlling said first portion by turning power on and off.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein said processor controls said switching circuit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said first portion is a flip cover and said second portion is a personal digital assistant.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said system operates in SMARTPHONE mode when said first portion is detached from said second portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-12 | 2006-02-11 | 2006-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-12 | 2010-02-11 | 2010-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-12 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |