Orientation dependent functionality of an electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a housing, a plurality of modules, a sensor and a selection mechanism. The housing has multiple segments, with each segment housing one of the plurality of modules. The sensor detects an orientation of the electronic device. The selection mechanism automatically selects at least one, but not all, of the plurality of modules to be active, based on the detected orientation of the electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 at least one sensor;   a display screen;   one or more processors; and   one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the portable electronic device to:
 detect, via the at least one sensor, a change in orientation of the portable electronic device; and 
 in response to detecting the change in orientation, deactivate the display screen and a first set of one or more buttons of the portable electronic device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the instructions cause the portable electronic device to deactivate at least one, but not all, of the first set of one or more buttons in response to detecting the change in orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a light detection sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope. 
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a microphone; and   at least one speaker.   
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the portable electronic device to activate a second set of one or more buttons of the portable electronic device in response to detecting the change in orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The portable electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the second set of one or more buttons, the microphone, and the at least one speaker comprise a phone module of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein execution of the instructions to detect the change in orientation causes the portable electronic device to detect a user gripping the portable electronic device to use the phone module. 
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the display screen and the first set of one or more buttons comprise a personal digital assistance module of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions to deactivate the display screen and the first set of one or more buttons causes the portable electronic device to initiate a sleep mode on the personal digital assistance module. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 detecting, via at least one sensor of the portable electronic device, a change in orientation of the portable electronic device; and   in response to detecting the change in orientation, deactivating a display screen and a first set of one or more buttons of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the deactivating comprises:
 deactivating at least one, but not all, of the first set of one or more buttons in response to detecting the change in orientation.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a light detection sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic device includes a microphone and at least one speaker. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a second set of one or more buttons, the method further comprising:
 activating the second set of one or more buttons in response to detecting the change in orientation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second set of one or more buttons, the microphone, and the at least one speaker comprise a phone module of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting the change in orientation comprises:
 detecting a user gripping the portable electronic device to use the phone module.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the display screen and the first set of one or more buttons comprise a personal digital assistance module of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein deactivating the display screen and the first set of one or more buttons comprises:
 initiating a sleep mode on the personal digital assistance module.