Handheld computer having an adjustable length for selectively exposing a surface component

Abstract

A handheld computer is provided having a variable length and exposable surface component. The component is operable at a designated length of the handheld computer. A housing of the handheld computer may be adjusted to that the component is exposed or enclosed. When exposed, an application associated with the component may be launched by a processor of the handheld computer.

1 . A handheld computer comprising:
 a housing having a length that is adjustable between a minimum length and a maximum length;   a component at least partially disposed on a first surface of the housing and exposed when a length of the housing is a first length that is greater than the minimum length;   a processor configured to automatically launch an application associated with the component in response to the length of the handheld computer being greater than or equal to the first length, so as to enable the component to be operable on the handheld computer.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the component is a lens, and the application launched by the processor is an application for enabling a user to capture images with the handheld computer. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld computer of  claim 2 , further comprising an actuation mechanism that is actuatable by a user to cause the processor to use the lens to capture an image, the actuation mechanism being exposed when the length of the housing is the first length. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld computer of  claim 3 , wherein the actuation mechanism is on a second surface that is oriented in an opposite direction from the first surface. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld computer of  claim 4 , further comprising a display oriented in a same direction as the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is telescoping so as to extend between the minimum length and the maximum length. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld computer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first segment slideably connected to a second segment to move between the minimum length and the maximum length. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld computer of  claim 7 , wherein the component is located on a first interior surface of one of the first segment or the second segment, and an actuation mechanism for enabling a user to actuate the component is located on a second interior surface of the other one of the first segment or the second segment, the first interior surface and the second interior surface being exposed when the length of the handheld computer is greater than or equal to the first length. 
     
     
         9 . A handheld computer comprising:
 a first housing segment;   a second housing segment moveably coupled to the first housing segment to move between a contracted position and an extended position relative to the first housing segment;   a component at least partially disposed on one of the first housing segment or the second housing segment and positioned so as to be exposed and operable when the second housing segment is moved a distance away from the contracted position towards the extended position; and   a processor configured to, in response to the second housing segment being moved the distance away from the contracted position, automatically select an application associated with the component from a plurality of applications that are executable on the handheld computer, and to automatically launch the selected application.   
     
     
         10 . The handheld computer of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to operate in cooperation with a lens to capture images, the lens being disposed on one of the first housing segment or the second housing component. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld computer of  claim 10 , wherein the processor and lens are configured to operate in cooperation with the lens to capture a still image in a digital format. 
     
     
         12 . The handheld computer of  claim 10 , wherein the processor and lens are configured to operate in cooperation with the lens to capture a series of images in rapid succession so as to function as a video recorder. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld computer of  claim 9 , wherein the component communicates with one or more components of the handheld computer, including the processor, to record or playback sound. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld computer of  claim 9 , wherein the component is disposed on one of the first housing segment or the second housing so as to not be operable when the second housing segment has moved less than the distance away from the contracted position. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld computer of  claim 9 , further comprising an actuation mechanism positioned on a surface of the handheld computer that is exposed when the second segment is moved the distance, the actuation mechanism enabling user-input for operating the component. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld computer of  claim 10 , further comprising an actuation mechanism positioned on a surface of the handheld computer that is exposed when the second segment is moved the distance away from the contracted position, the actuation mechanism enabling a user to actuate the processor and lens to capture an image at an instant determined by the actuation mechanism being actuated. 
     
     
         17 . A handheld computer comprising:
 a first housing segment;   a second housing segment moveably coupled to the first housing segment to move between a contracted position and an extended position relative to the first housing segment;   a touch-sensitive display provided on a first face of at least one of the first housing segment and the second housing segment, the first face being oriented so as to have an intersecting orthogonal axis extending in a first direction, the display being configured to receive user-input for use in executing a plurality of applications and to display output from execution of one or more of the plurality of applications;   a component at least partially disposed on a second face of at least one of the first housing segment and the second housing segment, the component being exposed for operation after the second housing segment is moved a distance away from the contracted position towards the extended position, the second face being oriented so as to have an intersecting orthogonal axis extending in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction;   an actuation mechanism positioned on a surface of the handheld computer that is exposed when the second segment is moved the distance relative to the first segment, the actuation mechanism being actuatable to cause a first user-input for operating the component to be entered; and   a processor configured to execute the application using the first user-input.   
     
     
         18 . The handheld computer of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to launch the first application in response to the actuation mechanism being actuated. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld computer of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to launch the first application in response to the second segment being moved the distance away from the contracted position, and to subsequently execute the application using the first input. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld computer of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to receive input for operating the component through contact initiated by a user to the display.