Mobile computing devices having rotationally exposed user interface devices
View Patent ↗A mobile computing device includes a first housing that is rotationally coupled to a second housing, computing circuitry within the first housing and a display that is at least partially disposed within the first housing. The display is configured to visually display information from the computing circuitry to a user. A first user interface device and a second user interface device are at least partially disposed within the second housing. The second housing is configured to be rotated relative to the first housing between a closed position in which the first and second user interface devices are at least partially covered by the first housing, and a deployed position in which the first and second user interface devices are at least partially uncovered on opposite lateral sides of the first housing.
1. A mobile computing device comprising:
a first housing;
computing circuitry within the first housing;
a display that is configured to visually display information from the computing circuitry to a user, wherein the display is at least partially disposed within the first housing;
a second housing that is rotationally coupled to the first housing through an intermediate region of each of the first and second housings;
a first user interface device that is at least partially disposed within the second housing;
a second user interface device that is at least partially disposed within the second housing on an opposite side of the intermediate region of the second housing from the first user interface device, and wherein the second housing is configured to be rotated relative to the first housing between a closed position in which the first and second user interface devices are at least partially covered by the first housing and a deployed position in which the first and second user interface devices are at least partially uncovered on opposite lateral sides of the first housing from one another, wherein the computing circuitry is configured to format information according to a wireless communication protocol for communication with a wireless communications network;
a switch that is configured to sense whether the second housing is in the closed position relative to the first housing or in the deployed position relative to the first housing and to generate an indication of the sensed position; and
a speaker in the first housing, and wherein at least one of the first and second user interface devices in the second housing comprises a speaker, and wherein the computing circuitry is further configured to operate in a music mode in which music data from the wireless communications network is selectively provided to the speaker in the first housing responsive to the switch indicating that the second housing is in the closed position and to provide the music data to the at least one speaker in the second housing responsive to the switch indicating that the second housing is in the deployed position.
2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing is configured to cover an entire front surface of at least one of the first and second user interface devices in the closed position.
3. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second user interface devices are completely uncovered when the second housing is rotated to the deployed position.
4. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second user interface devices comprises a user input device that is configured to provide user input data to the computing circuitry.
5. The mobile computing device of claim 4 , wherein the user input device comprises a keyboard.
6. The mobile computing device of claim 4 , wherein the user input device comprises a touch sensitive pad.
7. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second user interface devices comprises a user input device that is enabled responsive to the switch indicating that the second housing is in the deployed position and is disabled responsive to the switch indicating that the second housing is in the closed position.
8. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to display information from the computing circuitry for establishing a wireless connection with the wireless communications network.
9. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing circuitry is further configured to operate in a wireless communication mode and a game mode, and is further configured to change between the wireless communication mode and the game mode responsive to the indication from the switch.
10. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing circuitry is further configured to operate in a voice communication mode and an internet communication mode, and is further configured to change between the voice communication mode and the internet communication mode responsive to the indication of the sensed position from the switch.
11. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second user interface devices is releaseably connected to the second housing.
12. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein in the deployed position opposite ends of the second housing each extend a first distance away from the opposite lateral sides of the first housing.
13. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein in the deployed position the first and second user interface devices are completely uncovered and are symmetrical relative to the opposite lateral sides of the first housing.
14. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second housing is rotationally coupled to the first housing through a central region of each of the first and second housings; and
the second user interface device is at least partially disposed within the second housing on an opposite side of the central region of the second housing from the first user interface device.