Cellular telephone with improved mechanical design
View Patent ↗A portable telephone ( 100, 700 ) such as a flip type cellular telephone is provided with a pivoting head ( 112, 710 ), that includes a multipurpose auxiliary display ( 118, 720 ), and a camera ( 122, 716 ). The pivoting head facilitates using the camera to capture pictures of the user of the cellular telephone, or of a scene that the user is observing.
1. A cellular telephone comprising:
a first part having a longitudinal axis substantially in the center of the first part, the first part including a display;
a second part coupled to the first part by a pivot mechanism that includes a pivot axis that makes an angle of less than ninety degrees with the longitudinal axis of the first part, whereby the second part can be oriented to face different azimuthal angles about the longitudinal axis of the first part, the second part including a camera; and
a third part connected to the first part by a hinge that includes a hinge axis, the third part including a keypad.
2. The cellular telephone according to claim 1 wherein:
the hinge axis is normal to the pivot axis.
3. The cellular telephone according to claim 1 wherein:
the pivot axis makes an angle of less than 20 degrees with the longitudinal axis.
4. The cellular telephone according to claim 3 wherein:
the pivot axis makes an angle of less than 15 degrees with the longitudinal axis.
5. The cellular telephone according to claim 1 wherein:
the first part comprises a first surface;
the second part comprises a second surface located adjacent the first surface of the first part; and
the pivot mechanism comprises:
a pinion extending from one of the first and second surfaces; and
a hole formed in another of the first and second surfaces, wherein the pinion extends into the hole.
6. The cellular telephone according to claim 5 further comprising:
a spring seat located in one of the first and second parts, around the hole;
a spring retainer attached to the pinion; and
a coil spring located around the pinion between the spring seat and the spring retainer.
7. The cellular telephone according to claim 5 further comprising:
an annular, axially acting cam disposed on one of the first and second surfaces; and
an annular, axially engaging follower disposed on another of the first and second surfaces, and positioned to engage the axially acting cam.
8. The cellular telephone according to claim 7 wherein:
the annular axially acting cam is concentric to the pinion; and
the annular axially engaging follower is concentric to the hole.
9. The cellular telephone according to claim 1 wherein:
the second part comprises an second display.
10. The cellular telephone according to claim 1 wherein:
the second part comprises a camera.
11. The cellular telephone according to claim 10 wherein:
the second part comprises a display, wherein the display and the camera face in opposite directions.
12. The cellular telephone according to claim 1 further comprising:
a stop mechanism for limiting rotation of the first part relative to the second part.
13. A flip type portable telephone comprising:
a first section including a keypad; and
a flip second section connected to the first section by a hinge, wherein the flip section comprises:
a first part that is directly connected to the hinge, the first part comprising a first display; and
a pivoting head coupled to the first part by a pivot and further coupled to the first section via the first part, wherein the pivot allows the pivoting head to be oriented to face different directions, and wherein the pivoting head includes a camera.
14. The flip type portable telephone according to claim 13 wherein:
the pivoting head comprises a camera and a display that face in opposite directions.
15. The flip type portable telephone according to claim 14 wherein:
the pivoting head further comprises an earpiece speaker.
16. A cellular telephone comprising:
a first pan having a longitudinal axis, the first part including a display; and
a second part coupled to the first part by a pivot mechanism that includes a pivot axis that makes an angle of less than ninety degrees with the longitudinal axis of the first part, whereby the second part can be oriented to face different azimuthal angles about the longitudinal axis of the first part,
wherein
the second part comprises a first surface and a second surface;
the pivot axis is tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis by an angle of alpha; and
the first surface and the second surface are tilted in opposite directions with respect to the pivot axis by the angle alpha.
17. The cellular telephone according to claim 16 wherein:
the first part comprises a third surface and a first display located at the third surface; and
the second part comprises a second display that is disposed at the first surface of the second part.
18. The cellular telephone according to claim 16 further comprising:
a third part coupled to the first part by a hinge, that includes a hinge axis, wherein the hinge axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.