Mobile station having a configurable grip
View Patent ↗A mobile communication station including a camera and having a grip for being gripped by a user during use of the communication station, the grip having a first compact configuration and a second configuration in which the grip is expanded relative to the first configuration to improve the grip of the user on the communication station when the grip is in the second expanded configuration.
1. A mobile communication station including a camera and having a body having a longest dimension along a first axis, the body comprising two portions which are mechanically coupled to each other by a linkage that permits rotation of one of the portions relative to the other about an axis substantially parallel to the said first axis and prevents rotation of each portion relative to the other about other axes, one of said portions having a grip for being gripped by a user during use of the communication station, the grip having a first compact configuration and a second configuration in which the grip is expanded relative to the first configuration to improve the grip of the user on the communication station when the grip is in the second expanded configuration; and wherein the grip has a core portion and at least one outer wall movable away from the core portion, and wherein said grip has a longest dimension along a second axis and wherein when moving from the first compact configuration to the second expanded configuration the at least one outer wall is moved linearly away from the core portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second axis.
2. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grip is movable with respect to the body of the mobile communication station.
3. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the body houses operational components of the communication station.
4. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the body includes the camera.
5. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 3 , wherein user input and/or output components of the communication station are exposed on the surface of the body.
6. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the grip is rotatable relative to the body.
7. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the grip is rotatable relative to the body about an axis substantially parallel to the direction in which the camera points, so as to project from the body.
8. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the grip is rotatable relative to the body about an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the camera points, so as to project from the body.
9. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 8 , wherein in at least one rotational position the grip extends continuously from the body in the direction of the axis of rotation of the grip.
10. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the grip is slidable relative to the body.
11. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the mobile communication station is capable of operating as a mobile telephone.
12. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 11 , the mobile communication station is capable of sensing relative motion of at least a part of the grip and another part of the mobile communication station, and in response switching from a first operating mode to a second operating mode.
13. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein user input and/or output components of the communication station are exposed on the surface of the grip.
14. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the grip is movable relative to the direction in which the camera points so as to be capable of adopting a position in which the user input and/or output components of the communication station are exposed on the surface of the grip face in substantially the opposite direction to that in which the camera points.
15. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein changing the configuration of the grip from the first compact configuration to the second expanded configuration makes available an additional user interface for controlling the operation of the mobile communication station.
16. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grip houses operational components of the mobile communication station.
17. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the grip is electrically connected to the main body of the mobile communication station.
18. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the portions includes a camera.
19. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the other of the portions includes a display.
20. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , including gaming or editing functions.
21. A mobile communication station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one outer wall is moveable away from the core portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
22. A method comprising: providing a mobile communication station including a camera and having a body having a longest dimension along a first axis, the body comprising two portions which are mechanically coupled to each other by a linkage that permits rotation of one of the portions relative to the other about an axis substantially parallel to the said first axis and prevents rotation of each portion relative to the other about other axes, one of said portions having a grip configured to be gripped by a user during use of the communication station, the grip having a first compact configuration and a second configuration in which the grip is expanded relative to the first configuration to improve the grip of the user on the communication station when the grip is in the expanded configuration; and wherein the grip has a core portion and at least one outer wall movable away from the core portion, wherein said grip has a longest dimension along a second axis and wherein when moving from the first compact configuration to the second expanded configuration the at least one outer wall is moved linearly away from the core portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second axis.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the at least one outer wall is moveable away from the core portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis.