Patent US6434404B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6434404B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detection of flip closure state of a flip phone
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 detection circuit that detects the open and close state of a flip cover of a communications device. The detection circuit includes a resistive network and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). When the flip cover is in the closed position, the circuit detects a unique resistive value through a set of contacts. This voltage level is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal via the ADC for input into a microprocessor. When the flip cover is in the open position, the contacts are broken, thus, disabling the detection of the unique resistive value. The resulting voltage level is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal via the ADC for input into a microprocessor. Software, programmed within the microprocessor, enables the communications device to operate in the appropriate mode according to the detection of the open/close state of the flip cover.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Claxton
- 👤 Richard Kerr
- 👤 Gajinder Vij
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0241; H04M1/0245; H04M1/60; H04M1/6033; H04M1/6041; H04M1/605; H04M1/0216; H04M1/0218; H04M1/04; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for detecting the open/close state of an electronic device, comprising: a first portion having a first set of electrical contacts and a resistive circuit coupled between said first set of electrical contacts; a second portion, movably coupled to said first portion, having a second set of electrical contacts, wherein an electrical connection between said first and second sets of contacts can be made or broken based on the open/close state of said first portion; and a processor for determining whether said electrical connection between said first and second sets of contacts is made or broken by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from said resistive circuit in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a first and second mode based on the said measurement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for detecting the open/close state of an electronic device, comprising: a first portion having a first set of electrical contacts and a resistive circuit coupled between said first set of electrical contacts; a second portion, movably coupled to said first portion, having a second set of electrical contacts, wherein an electrical connection between said first and second sets of contacts can be made or broken based on the open/close state of said first portion; and a processor for determining whether said electrical connection between said first and second sets of contacts is made or broken by determining whether said electrical connection is based on a voltage measurement from said resistive circuit in said first portion or a voltage measurement from said second portion, and enabling said system to operate in one of a first and second mode based on the 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
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said resistive circuit is a single resistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said first portion further comprises a keypad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein said resistive circuit is the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.
Claim 7
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 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said processor controls said switching circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said second set of contacts are spring loaded pogo pins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said system operates in a first mode if said first portion is in a closed state and said system operates in a second mode if said first portion is in an open state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said system operates in a first mode if said first portion is in an open state and said system operates in a second mode if said first portion is in a closed state.
Claim 12
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 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said flip cover includes a keypad.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said keypad is a resistive ladder circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein said system operates in KEYPAD mode when said first portion is in a closed state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein said system operates in SMARTPHONE mode when said first portion is in an open state.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for detecting the open/close state of a device, comprising the steps of: supplying power to a first portion of the device from a second portion of the device, said first portion having a first set of contacts and a resistive circuit coupled between said first set of electrical contacts and said second portion being rotatably coupled to said first portion and having a second set of contacts; determining whether an electrical connection between said first and second sets of contact has been made or broken based on the open/close state of said first portion; and enabling said device to operate in one of a first and second mode based on the open/close state of said first portion, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of determining whether said electrical connection is based on one of a voltage measurement from said resistive circuit in said first portion and a voltage measurement from said second portion and converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for detecting the open/close state of a device, comprising the steps of: supplying power to a first portion of the device from a second portion of the device, said first portion having a first set of contacts and a resistive circuit coupled between said first set of electrical contacts and said second portion being rotatably coupled to said first portion and having a second set of contacts; determining whether an electrical connection between said first and second sets of contact has been made or broken based on the open/close state of said first portion; and enabling said device to operate in one of a first and second mode based on the open/close state of said first portion, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of determining whether said electrical connection is based on one of a voltage measurement from said resistive circuit in said first portion and a voltage measurement from said second portion and converting said voltage measurement to a digital signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said resistive circuit is a single resistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said first portion further comprises a keypad.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said resistive circuit is the resistance associated with a key being pressed on said keypad.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said second set of contacts are spring loaded pogo pins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said device operates in a first mode if said first portion is in a closed state and said device operates in a second mode if said first portion is in an open state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said device operates in a first mode is said first portion is in an open state and said device operates in a second mode if said first portion is in a closed state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said first portion is a flip cover and said second portion is a personal digital assistant.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein said flip cover includes a keypad.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein said keypad is a resistive ladder circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said device operates in KEYPAD mode when said first portion is in a closed state.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said device operates in SMARTPHONE mode when said first portion is in an open state.
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 |