Moveable housing of a mobile communications device

摘要

Mobile communications devices having moveable housings are described. In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a first housing that includes a display device; and a second housing that includes a keyboard. At least one of the first or second housings are moveable between a first configuration in which the first housing substantially covers the second housing so the keyboard is covered and the display device is viewable and a second configuration in which the keyboard is exposed and positioned such that an outer plane of the keyboard is positioned in a substantially similar plane to that of an outer surface of the display device.

主权项

1. A mobile communications device comprising:
a first housing that includes a display device; a second housing that includes a keyboard; a third housing movably attached to the first housing and the second housing by a first linkage, the first linkage attached to the first housing via at least a channel and attached to the second housing via a first fixed pivot, the third housing further movably attached to the second housing by a second linkage, the second linkage attached to the second housing via a second fixed pivot; and at least one of the first or second housings are moveable between:
a first configuration in which:
the first housing substantially covers the second housing so the keyboard is covered and the display device is viewable; andthe third housing is on a separate plane than the first housing and the second housing;a second configuration in which the keyboard is exposed and positioned by:
pivoting the first housing in relation to the third housing by sliding the first linkage along the channel in the first housing;pivoting the second housing in relation to the third housing by rotating the first and second linkages about the first and second fixed pivots, respectively, such that an outer plane of the keyboard is positioned along a matching plane to that of an outer surface of the display device; andmaintaining a position of the third housing on the separate plane; andwhen moving between the second configuration and the first configuration, the second housing moves faster than the first housing to enable the first housing to slide over the second housing.