WO2000024177A1

WO2000024177A1 - Transportable communication and/or image recording device

Info

Publication number: WO2000024177A1
Application number: PCT/DE1999/003342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boris Wildermann; Pierre-Marcel Karge
Original assignee: Boris Wildermann; Karge Pierre Marcel
Priority date: 1998-10-20
Filing date: 1999-10-18
Publication date: 2000-04-27
Also published as: EP1123615A1; AU1768400A; DE19848224A1; DE19848224C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable communication and/or image recording device (1) comprising a housing (2), whereby said housing (2) has a front side (2a) and a rear side (2b) and the device (1) can basically be held, transported or manipulated by a user using a single hand. The device is easier to handle by virtue of the fact that the housing (2) has at least one opening (3) that can be gripped by at least one human finger (4).

Description

"TRANSPORTABLE COMMUNICATION AND / OR IMAGE RECORDING DEVICE"

The invention relates to a portable communication and / or image recording device with a housing, the housing having a front and a back and the device essentially with one hand

Is tangible, transportable and / or manageable.

For the general background, the following may be carried out first:

Today's society is an information society, particularly as a result of the shift in focus from the industrial to the service society. The new communication technologies have changed life in the public and private sectors in business, culture and politics. Workers are involved in the production, collection, processing and distribution of information, which has taken on the status of a valuable "raw material". The relationship between space and time has changed, the separation of workplace and

Living begins to dissolve, the apartment serves as a central space and electronic home. You orient yourself globally and locally at the same time. The spectrum of "multimedia" is broad and ranges from a morning conversation with the coffee machine to the open management system (OMS). The new experience and multimedia age is taking shape. For example, "multimedia" increases the static catalog images become live video images. Travel is increasingly presented via travel videos, CD-Roms and slide shows. As a result, various communication and / or image recording devices will be developed in the future which are based on these novel information systems, communication technologies and information services, are consequently multifunctional and at the same time will be portable, that is to say portable and light.

When using the various communication and information technologies, the GPS (Global Positioning System), the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), the OMS (Open Management System) and the standards GSM, AMPS, PDC as network standards for communication play an important role.

The GPS is a navigation system based on satellites, which guarantees worldwide coverage regardless of the weather. The current position is determined from the signals from several satellites by appropriate measurement of the signals. A corresponding GPS receiver can calculate its own position using satellite signals with a theoretical accuracy of approx. 20 m. Application examples for the GPS can be found, for example, in telematics (for checking or route planning in the auto industry) or in outdoor sports.

The UMTS is a mobile communication and information system that enables the user to make wireless, high-quality connections to existing networks, such as the cellular GSM network for cell phones or multimedia services that are not yet defined. The UMTS

Technology has only recently been developed, the data transfer rates of which are 2 million bits / s and enables high-quality and very fast transmission and reception of corresponding data, for example also “sound” and “video” data. The first UMTS system in Japan is scheduled to go into operation in 2002. From 2007, the first multimedia services and products will be available to the general public in Europe.

The OMS is a communication and information system based on UMTS, GPS and / or GSM, AMPS, PDC technology. By commissioning an OMS device, the user is dialed into the operating system of the local OMS base and thus has access to information and services from various areas. The closest OMS station is located by the position coordinate (which is calculated by GPS). Due to the subdivision of the OMS into the areas "Travel", "Home" and "Business", this is an especially important aspect for the travel sector. The commonality of the three areas lies in the server structure that is defined in the service platform. The service platform of the OMS, administrative body, provides all information and communication services for a specific local area. For example, service or information services such as cultural information or the weather are possible.

Consequently, several transportable communication and / or image recording devices will be developed in the future ("travel tools"), which both enable corresponding communication (in particular telecommunications or information communication, in particular with a focus on tourism or tourism information service) and possibly further active

Contain segments, such as video camera elements.

In the prior art, from which the invention is based, differently designed portable or transportable communication and / or image recording devices are known.

For example, various large telecommunications companies sell so-called "pagers". A pager is primarily designed as a receiving device, has a display and can in particular receive corresponding messages or information.

Furthermore, there are, in particular, hand-held telephones based on the GSM system, so-called “cell phones”, some with already installed screens, that is to say also cell phones that are designed as umbrella telephones. With the aid of these cell phones, the user can communicate with other subscribers independently of a fixed network access communicate.

In addition, so-called "organizers" are known, which mostly have a "touch screen" and serve as address, appointment and note storage. Such organizers mostly have a corresponding interface to enable communication with other computers. In addition, combination sets are offered in the trade, which contain an organizer on the one hand, and a cell phone on the other, so that the user is offered all the options. But there are also organizers with an integrated cell phone. Here, the housing has a fold-out screen and an operating keyboard with corresponding function keys. When open, ie with the screen open, this device can be used as a kind of mini-laptop, and when closed, ie with the screen closed, the device can be used as a cell phone.

After all, there are still cameras or video cameras based on digital technology, which are integrated in a device that also functions as

Organizer with the possibility of mobile communication can be used.

All of the aforementioned devices have the elements corresponding to the implementation of their technical functions, such as, for example, keyboards, color screens, antennas, energy stores, interface interfaces, corresponding electronic components, data stores, transmitters, microphones or loudspeakers or the like.

All of the portable communication and / or image recording devices known in the prior art have in common that they have a housing, the housing having a front side and a rear side and the device being essentially graspable, transportable and / or manageable with one hand of a user. For this purpose, the user grips the corresponding device, namely the housing of the device, in particular the back of the device resting on the palm of the hand and the fingers of the user gripping the side walls of the device in order to ensure a secure support of the device in the palm of the hand .

In some cases, the devices known in the prior art can be operated with one hand, but in some cases the corresponding device can also be gripped with the user's first hand and operated with the user's remaining second hand. This is dependent on the above written different devices, depending on the type and type of device used by the user differently.

Nevertheless, the devices known in the prior art and described above are not optimally designed. The housing usually has a rectangular shape with a spatial depth that varies depending on the device type. The devices described above are mostly elongated in accordance with the rectangular shape, and must or can usually only be operated with the help of both hands of the user, and because of the rectangular shape of the housing of the respective device, this is also difficult for the user to grasp or handle is. In order to prevent the device from falling down when it is in one hand of the user or from slipping out of the hand, the fingers of the corresponding hand of the user must encompass the housing of the device accordingly, the housing when the device is not parked must be kept for the duration of the transport. Practice has shown that in frequent applications, which in particular extend over longer periods of time, the hand or finger posture required for the transport or manageability of the device is extremely complex and not always pleasant for the user. Furthermore, the user often drops such devices or the devices slip out of the palm of the hand so that they hit the floor and are mostly destroyed in the process.

The invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing the portable communication and / or image recording device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that its handling is simplified for the user.

The aforementioned object is now achieved in that the housing has at least one engagement opening for the engagement of at least one human finger. As a result, the handling of the device for the user is considerably simplified. The back of the device can now rest on the palm of the hand of a user and the user can advises to "fix" in the palm of the hand accordingly by inserting a finger into the provided opening on the housing. This ensures that the device is securely held in the palm of the hand, so that the "convulsive" outline known in the prior art - "of the housing and slipping out of the device from the palm of the hand can be avoided. As a result, its manageability is also significantly optimized, since, for example, corresponding other fingers of the hand no longer have to be used to hold the device, but rather corresponding function keys, for example are provided at the appropriate points, can then operate, so that the functions of the device can also be carried out with one hand - at least partially - and the other hand of the user is correspondingly free.

There are now a multitude of possibilities for designing and developing the portable communication and / or image recording device according to the invention in an advantageous manner. At this point, the

Claim 1 subordinate claims are referred. In addition, a preferred embodiment of the portable communication and / or image recording device according to the invention will now be explained in more detail. The drawing shows:

1 shows the device according to the invention in a schematic representation from the front,

2 shows the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in a schematic representation from behind,

Fig. 3 shows the inventive device shown in Fig. 1 according to the arrow shown in Fig. 1 in a schematic representation of the

Page, 4 shows the device according to the invention, partly in section, in a schematic representation as it is held by the hand of a user,

5 shows the device according to the invention in a schematic illustration, held by the hand of a user when the image recording part of the device is active,

Fig. 6 shows the device according to the invention in a schematic representation from the side, as it can be used as a "free-standing device", and

7 shows the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in a schematic perspective illustration.

1 to 7 show a transportable communication and / or image recording device 1 with a housing 2. The housing 2 has a front side 2a and a rear side 2b. The device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 can be gripped, transported and / or handled essentially with one hand of a user, which is indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and will be explained in more detail below.

The device 2 shown here can be a communication device (for example a cell phone or a receiving device) or an image recording device (for example a camera or video camera) or an organizer or the like, or a combination of all of the above, as will be explained in more detail below will be.

It is crucial that the handling for the user is simplified in that the housing 2 has at least one engagement opening 3 for the engagement of at least one human finger 4. As a result, the user can "fix" the device 1 on the palm of his hand accordingly or hold the device 1 without slipping without slipping if he namely puts the finger 4, here the thumb 4a, into the corresponding engagement opening 3. It is conceivable, for example, that the engagement opening 3 for the corresponding finger 4 is only provided on the rear side 2b of the housing 2. In this case, for example, a plurality of engagement openings 3 for a plurality of fingers 4 (for example index finger and middle finger) can be provided on the back 2b or on a corresponding side wall of the device 1, if present. In the preferred embodiment, however, only one engagement opening 3 is provided, which extends continuously from the rear 2b of the housing 2 to the front 2a of the housing 2.

The engagement opening 3 provided on the rear 2b can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, it also being apparent from FIG. 1 that this inlet opening 3 is designed as a through opening which extends to the front 2a of the housing 2. The housing 2 is here vzw. made of plastic and can be formed in two parts.

In the preferred embodiment shown here, the engagement opening 3 is designed for the engagement of a human thumb 4a. To one

To ensure support or appropriate contact of the thumb 4a, a contact surface 5 for the thumb 4a is pressed against the engagement opening 3. The bearing surface 5 is designed as the bottom of a recess 6 provided on the front side 2a. Since, due to the different thumb sizes of the different users, the area of the intervention opening 3 should be individually adapted for the corresponding user, a heat-sensitive plasma cushion, not shown here, in particular a silicone cushion or a lava gel cushion, is provided in the region of the intervention opening 3, so that the size of the intervention opening 3 can be individually adapted to the corresponding individual thumb circumference based on the body heat (thumb warmth) of the user.

The device 1 shown here in FIGS. 1 to 7 is designed as a multi-communication device and video camera or camera. In other words, with the aid of the device 1 shown here, various technical African functions executable, which will be explained in more detail below.

First, the device 1 shown here is designed as a communication device, namely as a cell phone. For this purpose, a microphone 7 and a loudspeaker 8 are provided within the housing 2. 3 shows namely the openings 7a for the

Microphone 7 and the openings 8a for the loudspeaker 8 on the side edge 2c of the housing 2. For example, the device 1 can then be gripped with the corresponding hand position shown in FIG. 4 and can be opened with the openings 7a on the mouth and the openings 8a on the ear of the respective person Be brought to the user.

Furthermore, the device 1 is designed for reacting video recordings and / or photographs, that is to say as an image recording device. For this purpose, a lens 9 is provided in the upper region of the side edge 2c. The corresponding camera position or camera position for the device 1 can be seen in FIG. 5, which will be discussed in more detail below. The microphone 7 is also suitable for sound recordings during video recordings.

Furthermore, the device 1 has a plurality of function keys, namely at least one on / off switch button 10 and a plurality of control buttons 11 on the front side 2a of the housing 1. In addition, on the front end of the support surface 5, a further control element 12, which can be seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4, is provided. is designed as a kind of mouse ball, track ball or touch pad. In particular, the arrangement of this control element 12 provided on the support surface 5 further simplifies the manageability of the device 1, since the thumb 4a, which, among other things, ensures the holding of the device 1 and is a component of the hand 13 shown in FIG. 4, at the same time can operate the control element 12 located on the support surface 5.

Furthermore, the device 1 has a screen 14. The screen 14 is vzw. executed as a "touch screen" and can be 15 operated accordingly. The contact pin 15 is - as can be seen from FIG. 1 - inserted at the rear edge of the screen 14 in a recess, not shown here. As shown in particular in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the screen 14 is articulated on the housing 2. The articulation of the screen 14 on the housing 2 is vzw. with the help of a ball joint 16, so that the screen 14 can be rotated or folded in its various functional positions in order to implement the individual functions of the communication and / or image recording device 1. For this purpose, the screen is designed to be rotatable or foldable in the x, y and z directions shown in FIG. 3. For example, Fig. 5 shows that the screen 14 has been folded up and slightly rotated so that the function of the video camera in combination with the handle position shown here can be realized accordingly. That is, the user films the motifs with the lens 9 and sees the images on the front of the screen 14, the pivoting screen 14 vzw. is designed as a multi-color LCD screen.

Fig. 6 shows that the device 1 can also be used as a standing device, namely a fold-out holding element 17 is provided on the rear 2b.

It is crucial - as mentioned at the outset - that the communication and / or image recording device 1 shown here is extremely easy to handle for the user, since the user's thumb 4a can reach through the engagement opening 3 and can be conveniently placed on the support surface 5 for contact with or Edition is coming. The rear side 2b of the housing 2 has a holding area 2d for resting the fingers 4 of the hand 13 shown in FIG. 4, with the exception of the thumb 4a. It is particularly advantageous that the holding area 2d is designed in such a way that the fingers 4 come to rest accordingly, regardless of whether the device 1 is now gripped with the left hand or with the right hand of a user. In other words, the device 1 shown here can be used by hand, both on the right and on the left. The illustration in FIG. 3 makes it clear that the housing 2 has a corresponding volume for accommodating various technical components so that the corresponding technical functions of the device 1 can be implemented. 3 shows that the rear 2b of the device 1 is “humped” (with the exception of the part of the rear that forms the holding area 2d)

2 B). The housing 2 houses in particular batteries, data memories, transmitters and corresponding other electronic components. Furthermore, what is not shown here, a hardware interface connection is also provided, vzw. an infrared interface, so that the device 1 shown here with the appropriate hardware or one running on the hardware

Software program is connectable.

Since the device 1 shown here is designed as a combination of a communication device, an image recording device and an "organizer" or "pager", its functionality is combined with hooves of the GPS, UMTS, OMS, GSM, AMPS and / or PDC technology.

For example, a camera axis 18 is provided on the upper edge of the screen 14, the antenna 19 also being arranged on the edge of the screen 14. Appropriate loudspeakers 20 are provided on the edge of the screen 14 for transmitting acoustic signals to the user.

In summary, it should be noted once again that what is shown here

Device 1 can be carried and handled as easily as possible by the user, since the ergonomic shape of device 1 melts into a unit with the user's hand. This is achieved by the possibility of engagement of the thumb 4a through the engagement opening 3 and the holding area 2d on the back 2b of the housing 2 intended for the rest of the remaining fingers 4. Furthermore, the device 1 can be used as a cell phone, organizer, video camera or camera or digital travel companion and is particularly easy to transport for the user. It is conceivable that the device can offer game functions in particular as a pastime for the user when traveling. One of the visually dominating elements is the screen 14, through which the corresponding functions of the device 1 can be implemented particularly easily with the aid of the contact pin 15, in particular possibly with the aid of the control element 12.

It is particularly advantageous that the device 1 in a total of 5 different

Positions is manageable. The basic posture is basically reacted with the right hand of the user, the thumb 4a operating the control element 12. Thus, the device 1 is easy to handle, grasp and transport. At the same time, the user can use his / her hand to touch the touch-sensitive screen 14 or other function keys, i.e. Control buttons 11, other technical functions react. Controlling the functions of the device 1 by human language is also conceivable. The positioning of the video camera is created by turning the right hand towards the hnks, the left hand adjusting the freely movable screen 14 accordingly in view, i.e. twisted or works accordingly. The index finger of the right

Hand serves as a trigger for the video and photo camera, namely by pressing the control buttons 11. Furthermore, from the basic position of the device 1, the arm leads the device 1 to the ear and enables one-handed telephoning. A great advantage is that the device 1 can also be used in all functions with left-handed use, especially if, for example, a

Right-handers would like to write something on the screen 14 using the contact pin 15. To this end, it is conceivable that the screen 14 changes the format, for example from a landscape format to a longitudinal format, by means of a corresponding software control. Finally, the device 1 can also be used as a standing device with the aid of the fold-out holding element 17.

As a result, a device 1 is created which is easy to grasp, handle and transport for the user.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1. Transportable communication and / or image recording device (1) with a housing (2), the housing (2) having a front (2a) and a back (2b) and the device (1) essentially with one hand a user can grasp, transport and / or handle, characterized in that the housing (2) has at least one engagement opening (3) for the engagement of at least one human finger (4).

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the engagement opening (3) on the back (2b) of the housing (2) is provided.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engagement opening (3) extends continuously from the rear (2b) to the front (2a).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engagement opening (3) for the intervention of a human

Thumb (4a) is formed.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a contact surface (5) for the thumb (4a) adjoins the engagement opening (3).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing surface (5) is designed as the bottom of a recess (6) provided on the front side (2a).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heat-sensitive plasma cushion, in particular a silicone cushion or a lava gel cushion is provided in the region of the engagement opening (3), so that the size of the engagement opening (3) individually due to the body heat of the user is adaptable to the corresponding thumb circumference.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) is designed as a multi-communication device and / or video camera or camera.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a microphone (7) and a loudspeaker (8) are provided within the housing (2).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings (7a, 8a) for the microphone (7) and speakers (8) on the side edge (2c) of the housing (2) are provided.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lens (9) for reacting video recordings and / or photographs is provided.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an on / off switch button (10) and a plurality of control buttons (11) on the front (2a) are arranged.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control element (12) is provided on the front end of the bearing surface (5).

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (12) as a kind of mouse ball, track ball or

Touch pad is running.

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a screen (14) is provided.

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (14) is designed as a kind of "touch screen" and a contact pin (15) is provided for operation.

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (14) on the housing (2) is articulated.

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (14) is articulated with the aid of a ball joint (16) on the housing (2), so that the screen (14) in different functional positions, in particular in x-, y and z directions, is rotatable or foldable.

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fold-out holding element (17) is provided on the back (2b), so that the device (1) can additionally be used as a standing device.

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back (2b) has a holding area (2d) for resting the - with the exception of the thumb (4a) - remaining fingers (4) of the hand.

21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the essential remaining technical components, in particular

Accumulators, electronic components or the like, are essentially provided within the housing (2).

22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the function thereof can be reacted to using GPS, UMTS, OMS, GSM, AMPS and / or PDC technology.

23. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the camera sleeve (18) is provided on the upper edge of the screen (14).

24. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (19) is arranged on the edge of the screen (14).

25. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one loudspeaker (20) is provided for the transmission of acoustic signals at the edge of the screen (14).