GB2320783A

GB2320783A - Portable electronic device adaptively reconfigured for right-handed or left-handed use

Info

Publication number: GB2320783A
Application number: GB9726201A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin D Kaschke
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1996-12-31
Filing date: 1997-12-11
Publication date: 1998-07-01
Also published as: JPH10214157A; GB9726201D0; BR9706498A

Abstract

A portable radiotelephone (26) has a pen-shaped housing (80) which carries an electronic display (32) visible to a user when the housing is hand-held by the user in a writing position. A controller adaptively reconfigures the display to present information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to first (84) and second (86) opposite sides of the display responsive to an indication (62) that the user is right-handed and left-handed, respectively. Alternatively, the user mechanically repositions the display 180{ with respect to the housing between first and second positions responsive to the user being right-handed and left-handed, respectively. The invention is also applicable to computers, pagers etc.

Description

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE ADAPTIVELY RECONFIGURED FOR RIGHT-HANDED OR LEFT-HANDED USE Field Of The Invention The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices, and more particularly to a portable electronic device adaptively reconfigured for right-handed or left-handed use.

In a preferred embodiment, the portable electronic device is a portable radiotelephone having a controller which adaptively reconfigures an electronic display, carried by the portable radiotelephone, to present information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by a user with reference to first and second opposite sides of the electronic display responsive to an indication that the user is right-handed and left-handed, respectively.

Background Of The Invention A portable electronic device include, for example, hand-held computers, personal organizers, personal notebooks, calculators, radiotelephones, pagers, tape recorders, compact disc players, AM/FM radios and the like. The continued advancement of electronics has enabled the portable electronic devices to be made smaller and lighter. The size and weight reduction of the portable electronic devices now permits these devices to be handled by user's in ways not previously possible. However, the devices do not always permit a user to use the same device with a user's right hand and a user's left hand. In some cases, significant problems can arise if a user cannot operate or use the device with either hand. In other cases, the user's operation or use of the device is cumbersome when used only by one hand.

US Patent No. 5,301,222 discloses a portable radiotelephone set comprising a telephone number generating apparatus and a telephone number transmitting apparatus which are preferably contained in a pencil shaped body. FIG. 1 of US Patent No. 5,301,222 is reproduced herein and illustrates a perspective view of a radiotelephone 10, having a housing in a shape of a writing instrument and being held by a user's right hand 12 in accordance with the prior art. The telephone generating means generates a telephone number signal by sensing the motion of a ball 14 provided at a lower end of the body 16. The ball is moved to draw a telephone number on a surface of an article. The telephone number is modulated in the telephone number transmitting apparatus to be transmitted into the air by an antenna 18 which is provided on an upper end of the body. The portable telephone set 10 also includes a microphone transducer 20 and an earpiece transducer 22.

FIG. 1 of US Patent No. 5,301,222 shows the user holding the body in a right hand of the user permitting the telephone number shown in a display 24 on the body to be read by the user from left to right. If another user were left-handed instead of right-handed, the body would be held in the user's left hand. However, if the body 16 is held in the user's left hand, the telephone number shown in the display on the body would be upside down when read by the user. Therefore, a disadvantage of the portable telephone set 10 disclosed in US Patent No. 5,301,222 is that information presented in the display is upside down when the telephone set is held in a user's left hand.

The display is in an upright orientation to be viewed by the user only when the body is held by the user's right hand.

Accordingly, there is a need for a portable electronic device, such as a radiotelephone for example, which is adaptively reconfigured for righthanded or left-handed use.

Brief Description Of The Drawings FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a radio telephone set having a housing in a shape of a writing instrument and being held by a user's right hand in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a radiotelephone having a housing in a shape of a writing instrument and being held by a user's left hand in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a portable electronic device having a touch screen display and being held by a user's right hand.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a portable electronic device having a touch screen display and being held by a user's left hand.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a portable electronic device.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments Referring to FIGs. 2-5 together, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a the portable electronic device 26, such as a radiotelephone, having a housing in a shape of a writing instrument and being held by a user's left hand 28 in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a portable electronic device 34 having a touch screen display 36 and being held by a user's right hand 12. FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a portable electronic device 34 having a touch screen display 36 and being held by a user's left hand 28. FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a portable electronic device 26 or 34.

Generally, the portable electronic device 26 comprises a user interface device 30 has a first configuration and a second configuration. A user of the portable electronic device 26 is permitted to adaptively reconfigure the user interface device 30 between the first configuration and the second configuration responsive to the user being right-handed (FIGs. 1 and 3) and left-handed (FIGs. 2 and 4), respectively. Particularly, the user interface device 30 may be an electrical component or a mechanical component. Generally, the user interface device 30 is any device which enables the user to electrically or mechanically interact with the portable electronic device 26.

In the first embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 is a portable telephone. Preferably, the portable telephone is adapted to transmit and receive signals in the radio frequency range. In the preferred embodiment, the portable telephone is a cellular radiotelephone. Alternatively, the portable telephone may be a cordless radiotelephone. The portable electronic device 26 may also include, for example but without limitation, to hand-held computers, personal organizers, personal notebooks, calculators, pagers, tape recorders, compact disc players, AM/FM radios and the like.

In accordance with a first embodiment, the user interface device 30 is an electrical component. The first configuration and the second configuration of the electrical component correspond to a first electrical mode and a second electrical mode, respectively, of the electrical component.

Generally, the electrical component may be any electrical component that provides an input to the portable electronic device 26 from the user or provides an output from the portable electronic device 26 to the user.

Electrical components within the scope of the present invention include, without limitation, an electronic display 32, at least one electronic indicator 46, an earpiece transducer 42, a microphone transducer 40, an alert transducer 50, a pdwer amplifier 58, at least one push button key 52, a hand-written character input system 54, and a memory unit 60. The application of each of these electrical components to the present invention will be discussed further hereinbelow.

In the first embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 further comprises an input device 62 and a controller 64. The input device 62 is coupled to receive an indication from the user of the portable electronic device 26 that the user is right-handed or left-handed. The controller 64 is operatively coupled to the input device 62 and the electrical component. The controller 64 operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode responsive to the indication that the user is right-handed and operates the electrical component in the second electrical mode responsive to the indication that the user is left-handed. The controller 64 is preferably a microprocessor. However, a digital signal processor or a dedicated controller 64 may alternatively be used.

In the first embodiment, the input device 62 is a switch which generates a first orientation control signal and a second orientation control signal responsive to receiving the indication from the user of the portable electronic device 26 that the user is right-handed and left-handed, respectively. The first orientation control signal causes the controller 64 to operate the electrical component in the first electrical mode. The second orientation control signal causes the controller 64 to operate the electrical component in the second electrical mode. Preferably, the switch is a two position switch located on the portable electronic device 26 which is manually operated by the user. The user causes the portable electronic device 26 to generate the first orientation control signal by moving the switch to a first position. The user causes the portable electronic device 26 to generate the second orientation control signal by moving the switch to a second position.

Alternatively, the switch may be incorporated into a voice recognition circuit and activated by the user's voice. Alternatively, the switch may be incorporated into the track ball system and activated by the user's movement of the portable electronic device 26 on a writing surface. Alternatively, the switch may be automatically activated, such as for example, based on the way the user physically holds the portable electronic device 26 in the user's hand.

In the first embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 further comprises an antenna 48, a transmitter 64 operably coupled to the antenna 48, and a receiver 66 operably coupled to the antenna 48. The transmitter 64 and the receiver 66 are operably coupled to the controller 64. The transmitter 64 transmits signals from the antenna 48 and the receiver 66 receives signals from the antenna 48 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode and the second electrical mode. The antenna 48, the transmitter 64 and the receiver 66 provide the necessary functions for the portable electronic device 26 to operate as a portable radiotelephone.

Therefore, the portable electronic device 26 advantageously provides a user with portable communications in a device which is adaptively reconfigured for right-handed or left-handed use.

In the first embodiment, the user interface device 30 is an electronic display 32 operatively coupled to the controller 64 and having a first side disposed opposite a second side. As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the first electrical made. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present the information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the second mode.

The electronic display 32 also includes a third side disposed opposite a fourth side. The desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side is when the information is loaded into the electronic display 32 from the third side and scrolls across the display towards the fourth side. In other words, the information moves across the display from the right side of the display to the left side of the display from the user's perspective when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12.

Likewise, the desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side is when the information is loaded into the electronic display 32 from the fourth side and scrolls across the display towards the third side.

In other words, the information moves across the display from the right side of the display to the left side of the display from the user's perspective when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's left hand 28. Therefore, the controller 64 redefines the character positions in a segmented or dot matrix display, for example, responsive to the indication that the user is righthanded or left handed. For example, the electronic display 32 in FIGs. 1 and 2 have eight character positions. In FIG. 1, characters 1, 2, 3, -, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are located in character positions 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively. Likewise, in FIG. 2, characters 1,2, 3, -, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are located in character positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

Controlling the electronic display 32 in this manner advantageously permits the portable electronic display 32 to present information to the user in an easy to read format when the user is holds the portable electronic device 26 in either the right hand 12 or the left hand 28. Therefore, the information presented in the electronic display 32 is not upside down or entering the display from the wrong side with respect to the user's viewing position when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's left hand 28.

The type of electronic display 32 technology includes, without limitation, liquid crystal displays, vacuum fluorescent displays, plasma displays, and light emitting diode displays. The format of the information in the electronic display 32 includes, without limitation, segments (e.g. 7, 14 or 16 segments), dot matrix (e.g. 5x7 dot matrix pattern) and graphics. The electronic display 32 may also have a touch screen disposed thereon to input information into the portable electronic device 26.

In the first embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 further comprises a housing 80 which is elongated and has a longitudinal axis. The housing 80 is adapted to be hand-held by the user. The electronic display 32 is elongated and has a longitudinal axis disposed essentially parallel to the first side and the second side of the electronic display 32, and wherein the electronic display 32 is carried by the housing 80 so that the longitudinal axis of the electronic display 32 is disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the housing 80.

In the first embodiment, the housing 80 has a shape representative of a writing instrument. The housing 80 is adapted to be hand-held by the user in a writing position. The electronic display 32 is carried by the housing 80 to permit the display to be viewed by the user when the housing 80 is hand-held by the user in the writing position. Preferably, the housing 80 has a track ball system incorporated therein at one end of the housing 80 to permit the user to enter digits and control characters by rolling the track ball 14 on a writing surface while holding the housing 80 in the writing position. A track ball system is taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,301,222 which is herein incorporated by reference. A housing 80 in the shape of a writing instrument is disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,969,180 and 5,301,222 which are herein incorporated by reference.

In an alternative to the first embodiment, the housing 82 has a rectangular shape including a first surface disposed opposite a second surface.

The housing 82 is adapted to be hand-held by the user to cause the first surface to be facing towards a palm of the user's hand and to cause the second surface to be facing away from the palm of the user's hand. The electronic display is carried by the second surface of the housing 82 to permit the display to be viewed by the user when the housing 82 is hand-held by the user. In this application, the electronic display 32 covers nearly the entire second surface of the housing 82. A portable communication device 34 having a display this large is adapted to be used as a notebook, a personal organizer, an internet interface, a facsimile, etc.

By adaptively reconfiguring the electronic display 32 on this housing 82, the user can advantageously use the portable electronic device 26 as a portable communication unit by holding the portable electronic device 26 against his head. When the user moves the portable electronic device 26 in front of himself so that the electronic display 32 is in front of the user, the electronic display 32 is essentially parallel and aligned with the user's forearm and wrist. Therefore, the movement of the user's hand from a position holding the portable electronic device 26 against the user's head to a position in front of the user for entering information with a stylus and reading information is smooth and comfortable. If the electronic display 32 could not be adaptively reconfigured between right-handed and left-handed use, the electronic display 32 would be essentially perpendicular with the user's forearm and wrist when the portable electronic device 26 is held in front of the user and held with the wrong hand. This position is very uncomfortable for the user's wrist and is awkward for the user to enter information with the stylus 56. The only way the user can remedy this uncomfortable and awkward position is to rotate the portable electronic device 26 1800 in the palm of his hand such that the end of the portable electronic device 26 which was near the user's thumb is not near the user's wrist. However, by attempting this 1800 rotation, the user may drop the portable electronic device 26 thereby causing damage to it. Further, the portable electronic device 26 is now in an improper upside down position for use as a portable communication device against the user's head. Therefore, in a situation where the user is in an active call with another party using the portable communication device, the user cannot conveniently talk for a short time, ask the other party to hold for one moment, write down or access information on the display and then quickly resume talking to the other party. Thus, the present invention advantageously permits the portable communication device to be use easily, comfortably and quickly with either the user's right hand 12 or the user's left hand 28.

In the first embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 further comprises a memory unit 60 operatively coupled to the controller 64 and the electronic display 32. The memory unit 60 stores a first predetermined set of information. The information set translator 74 is operatively coupled to the controller 64, the memory unit 60 and the electronic display 32. The information set translator 74 translates information from the first predetermined set of information to information representative of a second predetermined set of information. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present information from the first predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the electronic display 32 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present information from the second predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the electronic display 32 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the second electrical mode.

The predetermined set of information is typically addressed from the memory unit 60 using an upper four bit hexadecimal address and a lower four bit hexadecimal address. With this arrangement, the portable electronic device 26 advantageously only needs to store one predetermined set of information to minimize storage space in the memory unit 60. The information set translator 74 advantageously re-orientates or flips individual characters in the first predetermined set of information upside down with respect to information at the input of the information set translator 74 so that is can be properly viewed on the display from an opposite direction. For example, in a seven segment character, segment "a" is traditionally designated to be the segment on the top of the character and segment "d" is traditionally designated to be the segment on the bottom of the character.

When a character such as the number "7" from the first information set is processed through the information set translator 74, segment "a" forming the horizontal segment on the top of the number "7" is deactivated or turned off and segment "d" is activated or turned on. Likewise, segments "b" and "c" forming the two vertical segments in the number "7" are deactivated and segments "f" and-"e", respectively, are activated. Therefore, the number "7" is upside down at the output of the information set translator 74 with respect to number "7" at the input of the information set translator 74. In a dot matrix character example, such as a 5 x 7 dot matrix pattern, an on/off status of an upper right hand corner dot is exchanged with an on/off status of a lower left hand corner dot, an on/off status of an upper left hand corner dot is exchanged with an on/off status of a lower right hand corner dot, etc. until all dots are accounted for. Note that in this example, there is a dot in the center of the dot matrix pattern which is in a proper position for both the right side up and the upside down orientations. Translations can be implemented for other segmented and dot matrix pattern in a likewise manner by extension of and analogy with the above examples.

In an alternative to the first embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 further comprises a memory unit 60 operatively coupled to the controller 64 and the electronic display 32. The memory unit 60 stores a first predetermined set of information and a second predetermined set of information. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present the information from the first predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the electronic display 32 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present the information from the second predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the electronic display 32 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the second electrical mode. In this situation the memory unit 60 stores two complete predetermined sets of information which consumes more memory space but may reduce the time for information to be-displayed since the information set translator 74 is not used as described hereinabove. The first predetermined information set 76 stores each character in a right side up orientation. The second predetermined information set 78 stores each character in an upside down orientation with respect to the corresponding characters in the first predetermined information set 76. Therefore, the character information addressed comes out of the memory unit 60 in a proper orientation to be viewed by the user on the electronic display 32.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises at least one electronic indicator 46. The at least one electronic indicator 46 includes a first and a second electronic indicator. The controller 64 causes the first electronic indicator to be activated and the second electronic indicator to be inactivated when the controller 64 operates the first electronic indicator and the second electronic indicator in the first electrical mode and causes the first electronic indicator to be inactivated and the second electronic indicator to be activated when the controller 64 operates the first electronic indicator and the second electronic indicator in the second mode. This feature advantageously permits the electronic indicators to electrically "change positions" on the housing 82 or in an electronic display 32. For example, it may be desirable to have electronic indicators on the right side of the electronic display 32 when the portable electronic device 26 is held by the user's left hand 28 as shown in FIG.

4 and to have electronic indicators on the right side of the electronic display 32 when the portable electronic device 26 is held by the user's right hand 12 as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, it may be desirable to have electronic indicators on the right side of the electronic display 32 when the portable electronic device 26 is held by the user's left hand 28 as shown in FIG. 4 and to have electronic indicators in the same vertical order on the left side of the electronic display -32 when the portable electronic device 26 is held by the user's right hand 12 as shown in FIG. 3.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises an earpiece transducer 42. The controller 64 causes the earpiece transducer 42 to transmit audio signals from the earpiece transducer 42 at a first audio level when the controller 64 operates the audio amplifier 68 in the first electrical mode and causes the earpiece transducer 42 to transmit audio signals at a second audio level when the controller 64 operates the earpiece transducer 42 in the second mode. Preferably, the controller 64 would adjust the gain of an audio amplifier 68 to adjust the audio level transmitted by the earpiece speaker.

This feature advantageously compensates for a difference in hearing sensitivity between the user's right ear and the user's left ear when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28, respectively.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises a microphone transducer 40. The controller 64 causes the microphone transducer 40 to receive audio signals at a first sensitivity level when the controller 64 operates the microphone transducer 40 in the first electrical mode and causes the microphone transducer 40 to receive audio signals at a second sensitivity level when the controller 64 operates the microphone transducer 40 in the second mode. This feature advantageously compensates for a difference in the receive sensitivity of the microphone due to the physical location of microphone on housing 82 relative to the user's mouth when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises an alert transducer. The controller 64 causes the alert transducer 50 to transmit audio signals at a first audio level when the controller 64 operates the alert transducer 50 in the first electrical mode and causes the alert transducer 50 to produce transmit signals at a second audio level when the controller 64 operates the alert transducer 50 in the second mode. This feature advantageously compensates for a difference in hearing sensitivity between the user's right ear and the user's left ear when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28, respectively.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises a power amplifier 58. The controller 64 causes the power amplifier 58 to transmit signals from an antenna 48 at a first power level when the controller 64 operates the power amplifier 58 in the first electrical mode and causes the power amplifier 58 to transmit signals from the antenna 48 at a second power level when the controller 64 operates the power amplifier 58 in the second mode. This feature advantageously compensates for a difference in transmit power when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises at least one push button key. Preferably, the at least one push button key includes a first push button key and a second push button key. The controller 64 causes the first push button key to be activated and the second push button key to be inactivated when the controller 64 operates the first push button key and the second push button key in the first electrical mode and causes the first push button key to be inactivated and the second push button key to be activated when the controller 64 operates the first push button key and the second push button key in the second mode. This feature advantageously permits the user to change push button key locations on a touch screen keypad, for example, when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28.

Alternatively, the controller 64 causes the at least one push button key to represent a first input function when the controller 64 operates at least one push button key in the first electrical mode and causes the at least one push button key to represent a second input function when the controller 64 operates at least one push button key in the second mode. This feature advantageously permits the user to change push button key functions on a touch screen keypad, for example, when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28.

Alternatively, the electrical component further comprises a handwritten character input system 54. Hand-written character input systems are disclosed in Patent Nos. US 4,845,684, US 4,562,304, US 4,680,804, US 4,284,975, US 4,860,372, JP 63104571, JP 62269556, JP 63100860, JP 59023670, DE 3633226, EP 431,843, NL 7612895, SU 1411790, SU 1357986 which are all herein incorporated by reference. The controller 64 adapts the hand-written character input system 54 to receive characters written with the user's right hand 12 when the controller 64 operates the hand-written character input system 54 in the first electrical mode and adapts the hand-written character input system 54 to receive characters writt

In the alternative to the first embodiment, the hand-written character input system 54 farther comprises a touch screen display 36 having a first side disposed opposite a second side. The controller 64 causesvthe touch screen display 36 to receive information in a desirable arrangement for writing by the user's right hand 12 with reference to the first side when the controller 64 operates the touch screen display 36 in the first electrical mode and causes the touch screen receive to receive the information in a desirable arrangement for writing by the user's left hand 28 with reference to the second side when the controller 64 operates the touch screen display 36 in the second mode.

This feature advantageously permits the touch screen display 36 to properly receive information a when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or left hand 28.

In summary of the first embodiment of the present invention, the portable telephone comprises the housing 80, the electronic display 32, the input device 62, and the controller 64. The housing 80 has a elongated shape representative of a writing instrument to permit the housing 80 to be handheld by a user in a writing position. The electronic display 32 is carried by the housing 80 at a position on the housing 80 to permit the display to be viewed by the user when the housing 80 is hand-held by the user in the writing position. The electronic display 32 has a first side disposed opposite a second side. The first side and the second side are essentially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the housing 80. The input device 62 is carried by the housing 80 and coupled to receive an indication from the user of the portable telephone that the user is right-handed or left-handed. The controller 64 is operatively coupled to the input device 62 and the electronic display 32. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the electronic display 32 responsive to the indication that the user is righthanded and causes the electronic display 32 to present the information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the electronic display 32 responsive to the indication that the user is left-handed. Therefore, the electronic display 32 advantageously provides information to be presented to the user in a proper orientation when the portable electronic device 26 is held in the user's right hand 12 or the user's left hand 28.

Further, in summary of the first embodiment of the present invention, the memory unit 60 is operatively coupled to the controller 64 and the electronic display 32. The memory unit 60 stores a first predetermined set of information. The information set translator 74 operatively coupled to the controller 64, the memory unit 60 and the electronic display 32. The information set translator 74 translates information from the first predetermined set of information to information representative of a second predetermined set of information. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present information from the first predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the electronic display 32 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode. The controller 64 causes the electronic display 32 to present information from the second predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the electronic display 32 when the controller 64 operates the electrical component in the second electrical mode.Therefore, the storage space in the memory unit 60 is minimized.

In a second embodiment, the user interface device 30 is a mechanical component. The first configuration and the second configuration correspond to a first mechanical configuration and a second mechanical configuration of the mechanical component.

In the second embodiment, the portable electronic device 26 further comprises a housing 82 carrying the mechanical component. The mechanical component is adapted to be moved by the user between a first position relative to the housing 82 and a second position relative to the housing 82.

The portable electronic device 26 adopts the first mechanical configuration when the user moves the mechanical component to the first position relative to the housing 82. The portable electronic device 26 adopts the second mechanical configuration when the user moves the mechanical component to the second position relative to the housing 82.

In the second embodiment, the mechanical component further comprises an electronic display 32. The housing 80 has a first side disposed opposite a second side. The electronic display 32 presents information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the housing 80 when the user moves the electronic display 32 to the first position relative to the housing 80 and presents the information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the housing 80 when the user moves the electronic display 32 to the second position relative to the housing. In this situation, instead of the electronic display 32 being reconfigured electrically, it is physically rotated 1800 with respect to the housing to properly configure the electronic display 32 for right-handed or left-handed use.

Alternatively, the mechanical component further comprises, for example, without limitation, a hand-grip, at least one push button key of a keypad, an antenna 48, an earpiece transducer 42, a microphone transducer 40, and an alert transducer.

Note that all the configurations of the user interface device 30, including electrical components and mechanical components, discussed hereinabove which are adaptively reconfigured for right-handed or lefthanded use can be implemented alone or in any combination on a single portable electronic device 26. The portable electronic device 26 may be menu driven to enable the user to selectively decide which electronic component to reconfigure either individually or preset with the actuation of the switch.

The user can also decide which mechanical components to reconfigure.

Thus, the user can be provided with a variety of options on how to configure the portable electronic device 26 for right-handed or left-handed use. Further, a manufacturer of the portable electronic device 26 may choose to offer any combination of the abovementioned configurations on the portable electronic device 26.

Further, a portable electronic device 26 adaptively reconfigured for right-handed and left-handed users is advantageous for multiple users who share the user of one portable electronic device 26. By the user moving a switch, for example, as described hereinabove, the different users can quickly and easily adapt many electrical components of the portable electronic device 26 to their preference for right-handed or left-handed use. Then, by the user moving a few mechanical components, as described hereinabove, the different users can quickly and easily adapt several mechanical components of the portable electronic device 26 to their preference for right-handed or lefthanded use. Thus, different user's can reconfigure the same portable electronic device 26 for more comfortable use, better performance, user preference, etc.

What is claimed is:

Claims

Claims 1. A portable electronic device (26) comprising: a user interface device (30) having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein a user of the portable electronic device (26) is permitted to adaptively reconfigure the user interface device (30) between the first configuration and the second configuration responsive to the user being right-handed and left-handed, respectively.
2. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 1 wherein the user interface device (30) is an electrical component, and wherein the first configuration and the second configuration of the electrical component correspond to a first electrical mode and a second electrical mode, respectively, of the electrical component.
3. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 2 further comprising: an input device (62) coupled to receive an indication from the user of the portable electronic device (26) that the user is right-handed or left-handed; and a controller (64) operatively coupled to the input device (62) and the electrical component, wherein the controller (64) operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode responsive to the indication that the user is right-handed and operates the electrical component in the second electrical mode responsive to the indication that the user is left-handed.
4. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 3 wherein the input device (62) further comprises: a switch for generating a first orientation control signal and a second orientation control signal responsive to receiving the indication from the user of the portable electronic device (26) that the user is right-handed and left-handed, respectively, wherein the first orientation control signal causes the controller (64) to operate the electrical component in the first electrical mode, and wherein the second orientation control signal causes the controller (64) to operate the electrical component in the second electrical mode.
5. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 3 further comprising: an antenna (48); a transmitter (65) operably coupled to the antenna (48); and a receiver (66) operably coupled to the antenna (48), wherein the transmitter (65) and the receiver (66) are operably coupled to the controller (64), wherein the transmitter (65) transmits signals from the antenna (48) and the receiver (66) receives signals from the antenna (48) when the controller (64) operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode and the second electrical mode.
6. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 3 wherein the electrical component further comprises: an electronic display (32) operatively coupled to the controller (64) and having a first side disposed opposite a second side, and wherein the controller (64) causes the electronic display (32) to present information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side when the controller (64) operates the electrical component in the first electrical mode and causes the electronic display (32) to present the information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side when the controller (64) operates the electrical component in the second mode.
7. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 6 further comprising: a housing (80) being elongated and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the housing (80) is adapted to be hand-held by the user, wherein the electronic display (32) is elongated and has a longitudinal axis disposed essentially parallel to the first side and the second side of the electronic display (32), and wherein the electronic display (32) is carried by the housing (80) so that the longitudinal axis of the electronic display (32) is disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the housing (80).
8. A portable electronic device (26)according to claim 7 wherein the housing (80) has a shape representative of a writing instrument, wherein the housing (80) is adapted to be hand-held by the user in a writing position, and wherein the electronic display (32) is carried by the housing (80) to permit the electronic display (32) to be viewed by the user when the housing (80) is handheld by the user in the writing position.
9. A portable electronic device (26)according to claim 7 wherein the housing (80) has a rectangular shape including a first surface disposed opposite a second surface, and wherein the housing (80) is adapted to be handheld by the user to cause the first surface to be facing towards a palm of the user's hand and to cause the second surface to be facing away from the palm of the user's hand, and wherein the electronic display (32) is carried by the second surface of the housing (80) to permit the display to be viewed by the user when the housing (80) is hand-held by the user.
10. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 6 further comprising: a memory unit (60) operatively coupled to the controller (64) and the electronic display (32), wherein the memory unit (60) stores a first predetermined set of information and a second predetermined set of information, wherein the controller (64) causes the electronic display (32) to present the information from the first predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the electronic display (32) when the controller (64) operates the electronic display (32) in the first electrical mode, and wherein the controller (64) causes the electronic display (32) to present the information from the second predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the electronic display (32) when the controller (64) operates the electronic display (32) in the second electrical mode.
11. A portable electronic device (26) according to claim 6 further comprising: a memory unit (60) operatively coupled to the controller (64) and the electronic display (32), wherein the memory unit (60) stores a first predetermined set of information; and an information set translator (74) operatively coupled to the controller (64), the memory unit (60) and the electronic display (32), wherein the information set translator translates information from the first predetermined set of information to information representative of a second predetermined set of information, wherein the controller causes the electronic display to present information from the first predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the first side of the electronic display when the controller operates the electrical display in the first electrical mode, and wherein the controller causes the electronic display to present information from the second predetermined set of information in a desirable arrangement for viewing by the user with reference to the second side of the electronic display when the controller (64) operates the electronic display in the second electrical mode.
12. A portable electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the user interface device is a mechanical component, and wherein the first configuration and the second configuration correspond to a first mechanical configuration and a second mechanical configuration of the mechanical component.