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(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2005/0020325 Al
Enger et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 27,2005
(54) MULTI-CONFIGURATION PORTABLE
ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR
OPERATING THE SAME
(75) Inventors: Todd M. Enger, Chicago, IL (US);
Shimon Goldstein, Coral Springs, FL
(US); James L. Tracy, Coral Springs,
FL (US); Hung Q. Vuong, Margate, FL
(US)
Correspondence Address:
FLEIT, KAIN, GIBBONS, GUTMAN,
BONGINI
& BIANCO PL.
551 N.W. 77TH STREET, SUITE 111
BOCA RATON, FL 33487 (US)
(73) Assignee: MOTOROLA, INC., SCHAUMBURG, IL
(21) Appl. No.: 10/626,239
(22) Filed: Jul. 24, 2003
Publication Classification (51) Int. CI.7 I HUM 1 00
(52) U.S. CI 455 575.3
(57) ABSTRACT
A multi-configuration portable electronic device is provided. The device includes at least one processor, a first body element including at least one input, and a second body element including a display. The second body element is pivotally coupled to the first body element such that the device can be positioned into a plurality of physical configurations. In response to a change in the physical configuration of the device, there is a change in at least two of a mode of operation of the input device, a mode of operation of the display, and an active software application being executed by the processor. In a preferred embodiment, the physical configurations of the device include a portrait configuration in which the device functions as a wireless phone, and a landscape configuration in which the device functions as a text messaging pager, PDA, handheld computer, electronic organizer, or media player. Also provided is a method of operating a portable electronic device having a plurality of physical configurations.
