Beveled handheld communication device edge

Abstract

A handheld computing device can include a substantially rectangular first screen having a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the first screen and a substantially rectangular second screen rotatably connected to the first screen so that the device is foldable between an open position and a closed position, the second screen having a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the second screen. When the device is in the closed position, the first and second screens are positioned back-to-back and the beveled edges of the first and second screens angle inwardly toward the other respective screen to provide an angled surface configured to facilitate opening the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld computing device, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular first screen comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a magnet, and a beveled edge extending from the front surface of the first screen to the rear surface of the first screen;   a substantially rectangular second screen comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending from the front surface of the second screen to the rear surface of the second screen;   a processor;   a first Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent to the first screen; and   a second Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent to the second screen,   wherein the second screen is connected to the first screen via a hinge, wherein the device is foldable between an open position and a closed position,   wherein in the closed position, the first and second screens face away from a center of the device and the beveled edge of the first screen angles inwardly toward the rear surface of the second screen to provide an angled surface configured to facilitate opening the device,   wherein in the open position, the first screen and the second screen lie substantially within a plane,   wherein the processor receives a first signal from the first Hall effect sensor and a second signal from the second Hall effect sensor, wherein each of the first signal and the second signal is associated with a current position of the first screen relative to the second screen, wherein during a change between the closed position and the open position the processor determines the device is in a transitional state based on the first signal and the second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the front surfaces of the first and second screens each include a touch screen display. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein when the device is in the closed position, the front surface of the first screen and the front surface of the second screen are directed away from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled edge of the first screen is angled between about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to the front surface of the first screen. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled edge of the second screen is angled between about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to the front surface of the second screen. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein when the device is in the open position, the first and second screens are juxtaposed in the plane. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled edge of the first screen is formed in at least a portion of three sides of the first screen. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled edge of the second screen is formed in at least a portion of three sides of the second screen. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled edge of the first and second screens oppose each other when the device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A handheld computing device, comprising:
 a processor;   memory;   a first screen comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a magnet, and a beveled edge extending from the front surface of the first screen to the rear surface of the first screen;   a second screen comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending from the front surface of the second screen to the rear surface of the second screen;   a first Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent to the first screen; and   a second Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent to the second screen,   wherein the second screen is connected to the first screen via a hinge, wherein the device is foldable between an open position and a closed position,   wherein in the closed position, the first and second screens face away from a center of the device and the beveled edge of the first screen angles inwardly toward the rear surface of the second screen to provide an angled surface configured to facilitate opening the device,   wherein in the open position, the first screen and the second screen lie substantially within a plane,   wherein the processor is configured to receive a first signal from the first Hall effect sensor and a second signal from the second Hall effect sensor, wherein each of the first signal and the second signal is associated with a current position of the first screen relative to the second screen, wherein during a change between the closed position and the open position the processor is configured to determine the device is in a transitional state based on the first signal and the second signal.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the front surfaces of the first and second screens each include a display area. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein when the device is in the closed position, the front surfaces of the first and second screens are directed away from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one angled side of the first screen is angled between about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to the front surface of the first screen. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one angled side of the second screen is angled between about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to the front surface of the second screen. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein when the device is in the open position, the first and second screens are juxtaposed in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one angled side of the first screen comprises at least a portion of three sides of the first screen. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one angled side of the second screen comprises at least a portion of three sides of the second screen. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one angled side of the first and second screens oppose each other when the device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a handheld computing device, the method comprising:
 obtaining a substantially rectangular first screen having a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the first screen;   obtaining a substantially rectangular second screen having a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the second screen;   positioning a first Hall effect sensor adjacent to the first screen;   positioning a second Hall effect sensor adjacent to the second screen;   connecting the first screen to the second screen with a hinge, wherein the device is foldable between an open position and a closed position; and   receiving, with a processor, a first signal from the first Hall effect sensor and a second signal from the second Hall effect sensor, wherein each of the first signal and the second signal is associated with a current position of the first screen relative to the second screen, wherein during a change between the closed position and the open position the processor is configured to determine the device is in a transitional state based on the first signal and the second signal,   wherein in the closed position, the first and second screens face away from a center of the device and the beveled edge of the first screen angles inwardly toward the rear surface of the second screen to provide an angled surface configured to facilitate opening the device,   wherein in the open position, the first screen and the second screen lie substantially within a plane.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the front surface of the first screen and the front surface of the second screen each includes a touch screen display.