Radio telephone
View Patent ↗A radio telephone with a sliding cover that moves between positions concealing and revealing a plurality of keys. Predetermined functions are performed in response to respective sequences of actuations of the plurality of keys. The exposed keys are utilisable for a range of positions of the slide.
1. A radio handset comprising:
a first body portion;
a second body portion moveable between a first position, a second position and a third position relative to the first body portion;
a first key group accessible when the second body portion is in the first position for selecting first functions;
a second key group accessible when the second body portion is in the second position for selecting second functions; and
a third key group accessible when the second body portion is in the third position for selecting third functions,
wherein the first key group and the second key group are accessible when the second body portion is in the second position, the first key group and the third key group are accessible when the second body portion is in the third position and the second key group and third key group are inaccessible when the second body portion is in the first position.
2. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first key group is accessible for each of the first, second and third positions of the second body portion.
3. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first key group comprises one key positioned on the first body portion.
4. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first body portion is arranged to hold the second body portion in each of the first, second and third positions.
5. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first functions comprise adjusting the volume of the handset and answering an incoming call.
6. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the third key group comprises numerical keys.
7. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first position is a closed position.
8. A radio handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the displacement of the second body portion between the first position and the second position is less than the displacement of the second body portion between the first position and the third position.
9. A method of controlling a radio handset comprising a first body portion and a second body portion moveable between a first position, a second position and a third position relative to the first body portion, the method comprising;
detecting the position of the second body portion as the first position and enabling selection of first functions via a first key group;
detecting the position of the second body portion as the second position and enabling selection of second functions via a second key group; and
detecting the position of the second body portion as the third position and enabling selection of third functions via a third key group,
wherein the first key group and the second key group are accessible when the second body portion is in the second position, the first key group and the third key group are accessible when the second body portion is in the third position and the second key group and third key group are inaccessible when the second body portion is in the first position.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first key group is accessible for each of the first, second and third positions of the second body portion.
11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first key group comprises one key positioned on the first body portion.
12. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first body portion is arranged to hold the second body portion in each of the first, second and third positions.
13. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first functions comprise adjusting the volume of the handset and answering an incoming call.
14. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the third key group comprises numerical keys.
15. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first position is a closed position.
16. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the displacement of the second body portion between the first position and the second position is less than the displacement of the second body portion between the first position and the third position.