Multifunction mobile communications device with slidable display screen
View Patent ↗A text keyboard is provided for use with an electronic device. The keyboard in mounted on a surface on the body of the device. A panel slides over said recessed surface and the panel is constructed with a display screen for observation of the user. The panel is moved to an extended position in which the keyboard is exposed.
1. A combination of a personal digital assistant and a mobile telephone device for operation in multiple applications, comprising:
a body having upper and lower faces relative to usage and a longitudinal axis;
a text keyboard mounted for use on said upper face for use with said personal digital assistant;
a panel connected to the body of the device on said upper surface, said panel having a screen for presenting a display to the user for communicating information for each of said personal digital assistant and said mobile telephone, said panel slidably mounted above said text keyboard for movement, transverse to said longitudinal axis, between a first position aligned with said body in which said display is exposed for use with said mobile telephone and a second position extending outward from said body in which said display is used for said personal digital assistant, wherein said panel covers said text keyboard in the first position and said text keyboard is exposed in the second position, and further wherein said panel is connected to said body by means which allow said panel to be pivoted, when in the second position, in a full range of motion that enables said panel to be reversed so that said display faces said upper surface for protection; and
a pair of side decks constructed in the body on either side of said text keyboard, at least one of said side decks having a keypad for use with said mobile telephone.
2. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein said upper face of said body is constructed with a recessed surface with said keyboard mounted thereon and said panel is slidably mounted in said recess.
3. A device, as described in claim 2 , wherein said recessed surface is constructed intermediate between the ends of the body and said two side decks are constructed on either side of said recessed surface.
4. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein said text keyboard comprises a full function QWERTY key array.
5. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein said keypad for use with said mobile telephone is comprised of keys arranged in a circular pattern.
6. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein said keypad for use with said mobile telephone is arranged at a 45° angle.
7. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein the panel is connected to the body by means of pins which are supported by an intermediate sledge element for rotation, and said sledge element in turn being mounted on the body for sliding motion thereon.
8. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein a digital camera is mounted on one of said side decks.
9. A device, as described in claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the device is provided with an auxiliary display window to reveal a portion of the display.