Non-binding Sliding Display for a Handheld Electronic Device

Abstract

A handheld electronic device having a slidable display is provided. A display unit is slidably connected to a body unit at two (or more) sliding joints. A mechanical linkage constrains motion at all of the sliding joints to be substantially equal. In this manner, binding of the slidable display is avoided, since binding occurs as a result of unequal motion at sliding joints. In one embodiment, the linkage includes a gear-axle-gear assembly disposed in a recess in the body unit and constrained to rotate as a unit about the axis of the axle. The gears of this assembly are engaged with linear gear racks on the display unit.

1 . A handheld electronic device comprising: 
 a body unit having a keyboard;    a display unit comprising a displaying facing away from said keyboard, wherein said display unit is slidably coupled to said body unit at a first sliding joint and at a second sliding joint, wherein said first sliding joint comprises a hook attached to said body unit and engaged with a slot in said display unit, wherein said display unit can be moved between a first position exposing said keyboard and a second position covering part or all of said keyboard; and    a mechanical linkage coupled to said first and second sliding joints, wherein said linkage constrains motion at said first and second sliding joints to be substantially equal.    
     
     
         2 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said slot is an external slot.  
     
     
         3 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said slot is an external slot.  
     
     
         4 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage comprises: 
 a first linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said display unit;    a second linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said display unit;    a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack;    a second gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack; and    an axle connected to said first and second gears, wherein said axle and said first and second gears are capable of rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle, wherein said axle is disposed in a recess within said body unit such that motion of said axle other than said rotation is substantially inhibited.    
     
     
         5 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage comprises: 
 a first linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said body unit;    a second linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said body unit;    a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack;    a second gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack; and    an axle connected to said first and second gears, wherein said axle and said first and second gears are capable of rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle, wherein said axle is disposed in a recess within said display unit such that motion of said axle other than said rotation is substantially inhibited.    
     
     
         6 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage comprises: 
 a first linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said body unit;    a second linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said body unit;    a third linear gear rack at said first sliding joint and on said display unit;    a fourth linear gear rack at said second sliding joint and on said display unit;    a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack and with said third linear gear rack;    a second gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack and with said fourth linear gear rack; and    an axle connected to said first and second gears, wherein said axle and said first and second gears are capable of rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle.    
     
     
         7 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical linkage comprises: 
 a first rail at said first sliding joint and including a first linear gear rack facing said display unit and a second linear gear rack facing said body unit;    a second rail at said second sliding joint and including a third linear gear rack facing said display unit and a fourth linear gear rack facing said body unit;    a first gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said first linear gear rack;    a second gear at said first sliding joint and engaged with said second linear gear rack;    a third gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said third linear gear rack;    a fourth gear at said second sliding joint and engaged with said fourth linear gear rack;    a display axle connected to said first and third gears, wherein said display axle and said first and third gears are capable of a first rotation as a unit about an axis of said axle, wherein said display axle is disposed in a recess within said display unit such that motion of said display axle other than said first rotation is substantially inhibited; and    a body axle connected to said second and fourth gears, wherein said body axle and said second and fourth gears are capable of a second rotation as a unit about an axis of said body axle, wherein said body axle is disposed in a recess within said body unit such that motion of said body axle other than said second rotation is substantially inhibited.    
     
     
         8 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said first sliding joint comprises a first body slidable joint between said first rail and said body unit and a first display slidable joint between said first rail and said display unit.  
     
     
         9 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said display unit further comprises a pen-based input interface.  
     
     
         10 . The handheld electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said handheld electronic device is usable when said display unit is in said second position.