HK1099165B - Portable phone - Google Patents

Description

Portable telephone set

The present application is a divisional application of the following applications:

the invention name is as follows: portable telephone "

The application date is: 10/2003

The application numbers are: 200310100636.5

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mobile phone having a photographing function.

Background

In recent years, mobile phones have been widely used. The shape thereof can be roughly classified into a single type, a flip type and a clam shell type 3. In which the demand is higher than the other 2 kinds because the clamshell type can realize the miniaturization based on the folding.

Recently, a cellular phone having a liquid crystal sub-display on the back surface of a liquid crystal display and a cellular phone having a camera function have been proposed.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a conventional clamshell-type portable telephone 100 with a camera (model name SH251i, manufactured by sharp corporation, sold 6 and 1/2002) in an opened state. The mobile phone 100 includes a first casing 101 and a second casing 102. The first casing 101 and the second casing 102 are connected by a hinge 103, and are configured to be foldable by being capable of angular displacement movement about the hinge 103. As shown in fig. 17, the mobile phone 100 includes a first display unit 104 in the first casing 101. The first display portion 104 is configured to be located inside when the portable telephone 100 is folded. The first display unit 104 (main display) is realized by a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like, and displays an image based on image data transmitted from the 1 st display driver unit provided in the housing. The mobile phone 100 includes an antenna portion 105 and a vertically movable screw portion 106 on the back surface of the first casing 101. The telephone includes a 2 nd shutter button 107 for a camera function on a side surface of the first housing 101. The telephone further includes a1 st speaker 108 used for a call on the upper portion of the first display unit 104.

The open/close detection unit 109 is a detection unit for detecting whether the mobile phone 100 is folded. The small projection 109a is formed near the hinge 103 at the lower portion of the first housing 101, and the small hole 109b is formed near the hinge 103 at the upper portion of the second housing 102. A detection switch (not shown) is provided inside the hole 109 b. The opening/closing detection unit 109 includes a projection 109a, a hole 109b, and a switch. When the mobile phone 100 is folded, the projection 109a of the first housing 101 enters the hole 109b of the second housing 102, and the detection switch (not shown) thereof is operated, so that the control unit provided in the housing determines that the mobile phone 100 is folded.

Next, the second casing 102 of the conventional portable telephone 100 will be explained. The input button group 110 includes keys for inputting numbers and letters. The function button group 111 is a button group for switching various settings and functions in the mobile phone. The electronic apparatus includes a power button 112 for switching ON/OFF of power, a1 st shutter button 113 for a camera function described later, a mail/guide button 114 for performing a mail function and a guide display, a start/speaker receiver button 115 for starting a call and receiving a speaker, and a multi-guide button 116 including 4 direction buttons and a decision button for selecting and deciding up, down, left, and right ON a function selection screen. The second casing 102 is provided with a microphone 117 at its lower portion.

In general, in the second casing 102 of the mobile phone 100, the hinge 103, the function button group 111, the input button group 110, and the microphone 117 are arranged in this order.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the mobile phone 100 shown in fig. 17 from the back side. Fig. 19 is an oblique view of the appearance of the folded mobile phone 100. Fig. 20 is an external side view of the same mobile phone 100 in a folded state. The first casing 101 includes a second display unit 120, a camera unit 121, an illumination unit 122, and the antenna unit 105 described above on the back surface thereof.

The second display portion 120 is configured to be located outside when the portable telephone 100 is folded. The second display portion 120 (sub-display) is implemented by a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like. The second display unit 120 displays an image based on the image data transmitted through the 2 nd display driver unit provided in the housing.

The camera section 121 includes an imaging lens, an imaging element such as a ccd (charge Coupled device) image sensor or a cmos (complementary Metal Oxide semiconductor) image sensor, and an RGB3 color filter. The camera section 121 reflects light reflected by an object and incident on the imaging lens, and the light passes through a color filter to become RGB3 color light. The RGB3 color lights are input to the image pickup elements. As shown in fig. 18, the camera section 121 is provided so as to be located outside when the mobile phone 100 is folded.

The illumination unit 122 is used as an auxiliary light source when the camera unit 121 captures an image. Although xenon tubes are generally used in many cases, a technique has recently been developed in which RGB LEDs are simultaneously caused to emit light and white light is emitted to be used as an auxiliary light source.

The second housing has a battery portion 123 for storing a battery and a 2 nd speaker 124 for emitting an incoming sound on the back surface thereof.

A method of using the conventional mobile phone 100 in camera shooting will be described with reference to fig. 21A and 21B. Fig. 21A shows a general usage method in the case where a photographer photographs a subject. The photographer opens the mobile phone 100, aligns the camera section 121 with the subject, and uses the first display section 104 as a viewfinder. Fig. 21B shows a general usage method when the photographer photographs the photographer himself. In this case, the photographer can take a picture while checking the taken picture by using the second display unit 120 as a viewfinder. In general, when an image is displayed on the second display unit 120, the image is often inverted left and right to produce a mirror display in order to eliminate an unnatural feeling in screen confirmation. As shown in fig. 21A, the photographer can use either the 1 st shutter button 113 or the 2 nd shutter button 107 disposed on the side surface of the first casing 101 as the shutter button. As shown in fig. 21B, the photographer takes a picture using the 2 nd shutter button 107 in the folded state of the mobile phone 100, but may take a picture in the opened state. In this case, the photographer can use the 2 nd shutter button 107 disposed on the side surface of the first casing 101.

Even in the clamshell-type portable telephone with a camera having the 2 display units, there is a problem of effective use of the sub-display by the user.

In the folded state, the clamshell-type portable telephone has no input unit for the user except for the shutter button 107 provided on the side surface of the first casing 101. In the camera mode, the sub-display 120 can be used only as a viewfinder. In the standby mode, the sub-display 120 displays a standby image, a clock, an arrival of mail, and the like, but the display can automatically display only contents preset by the user in a state where the mobile phone is turned on.

Therefore, for example, in the camera mode, the photographer must turn on the cellular phone and perform key operation of the second casing 102 while checking the adjustment amount displayed on the main display 104 in order to adjust the light amount of the illumination section 122 disposed on the side surface of the camera section 121. Similarly, in setting the standby image and the clock display, the photographer must turn on the mobile phone and perform setting while checking on main display 104. When sub-display 120 indicates that a mail has arrived, the photographer must open the mobile phone and check main display 104 to refer to the contents of the mail. In this way, although the display is provided on the outside in the folded state, the operation of opening the mobile phone is required to perform the display operation, which is troublesome for the user.

In addition, when the mobile phone is folded for use and when the mobile phone is unfolded for use, the directions of the mobile phone main body sides are opposite. For example, when a user changes from a state in which the mobile phone is folded for use to a state in which the mobile phone is unfolded for use, the user needs to change the holding posture in order to change the direction of the mobile phone.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a portable telephone set which can make the user easily use the sub-display effectively.

In summary, the present invention is a mobile phone including: a first housing; a second housing; a connecting part for connecting the first and second cases 1 and 2, the first and second cases being formed by the connecting part in a foldable manner,

includes a first display unit disposed on a surface of the first casing facing the second casing in a folded state,

the portable telephone includes a second display unit and an imaging unit disposed on the back surface of a first display unit of a first casing, and a plurality of operation units used in a state where the portable telephone is folded.

According to the present invention, the second display portion and the plurality of operation portions used in a state where the mobile phone is folded are provided on the outer side of the mobile phone when the mobile phone is folded. In this way, even in the folded state, the user can perform various kinds of switching such as switching of the photographing function and switching of the display of the second display unit, and change of various adjustment amounts.

In this way, the user can perform various functions such as camera activation, illumination lighting, and pictogram display switching, and change the adjustment amount such as illumination light amount and brightness adjustment by operating the plurality of operation units used in a state where the mobile phone is folded without opening the mobile phone. Therefore, when the user uses the mobile phone in the closed state, the user does not need to open the mobile phone when switching and changing the adjustment amount, and the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the second display unit displays a captured image captured by the imaging unit.

According to the present invention, since the second display portion can display the image photographed by the photographing portion, the photographing condition can be adjusted and the photographed image can be processed by operating the operation means. Therefore, the user can adjust the photographing conditions and process the photographed image in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Ideally, one of the operation units is a shutter button.

According to the present invention, since one of the operation portions is a shutter button, the user can perform a photographing operation by operating the shutter button. Therefore, the user can take a picture in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the operation unit is an adjustment knob for adjusting the photographing conditions.

According to the present invention, since the operation unit is an adjustment knob for adjusting the photographing conditions, the user can adjust the photographing conditions by operating the operation unit. Therefore, the user can adjust the photographing condition in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the operation unit is an operation knob for operating the display of the second display unit.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is an operation knob for operating the display of the second display portion, the user can operate the display of the second display portion by operating the operation portion. Therefore, the user can operate the display of the second display portion in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the operation portion serves as both an adjustment knob and an operation knob.

According to the present invention, since the operation unit is used as both the adjustment button and the operation button, the user can adjust the photographing condition and display the second display unit by operating the operation unit. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an adjustment button for adjusting the photographing condition and an operation button for performing the display operation of the second display unit on the back surface of the mobile phone, and a dual-purpose button can be provided.

By using the adjustment knob and the operation knob together, the size of the mobile phone can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of components. In addition, since the adjustment knob or the operation knob is generally used as a "+" knob (transmission knob) and a "-" knob (return knob), and the operation thereof is similar, the dual-purpose knob can be conveniently used by the user, and the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an illumination unit on the same surface as the imaging unit. The lighting unit emits light only during the pressing period after the operation unit is pressed down for a short time. After the operating portion is continuously pressed for longer than a predetermined time, the illumination portion is switched to continuous lighting.

According to the present invention, the illumination unit emits light only during the pressing period after the operation unit is pressed for a short time, and the illumination unit is switched to the continuous lighting after the operation unit is continuously pressed for a long time. Therefore, the user can use the light emitting state of the illumination unit by pressing the operation unit for a short time or for a long time, and the operability and convenience are improved. Further, by switching the control between the short-press and the long-press, it is possible to perform various controls without increasing the number of operation buttons, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to an increase in the size of the mobile phone and an increase in the number of components.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an illumination unit that can be changed to a plurality of emission colors on the same surface as the imaging unit. The light emission color is switched after the operation portion is pressed for a short time, and is switched to the continuous lighting after the operation portion is continuously pressed for longer than a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, the user switches the light emission color after pressing the operation portion for a short time, and switches to the continuous lighting after pressing the operation portion for a long time. Therefore, by pressing the operation portion for a short time or a long time, the emission color of the illumination portion and the ON/OFF switching of the illumination portion can be used, respectively, and the operability and convenience are improved. Further, by switching the control between the short-press and the long-press, it is possible to perform various controls without increasing the number of operation buttons, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to an increase in the size of the mobile phone and an increase in the number of components.

Preferably, the mobile phone includes an illumination unit; an illumination light amount adjusting section. The operation unit is a light amount adjustment knob for adjusting the light amount of the illumination unit.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is a light amount adjustment knob for adjusting the light amount of the illumination portion, the user can adjust the light amount by operating the light amount adjustment knob. Therefore, the user can adjust the light quantity of the illumination part in the folded state without opening the mobile phone, and the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an illumination unit configured from LEDs of a plurality of colors; and a light emission color changing unit for changing the light emitting LED of the illumination unit. The operation part is a luminous color changing button for changing the luminous color of the illumination part.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is the light emission color changing knob for changing the light emission color of the illumination portion, the user can change the light emission color by operating the light emission color changing knob. Therefore, the user can change the light emission color of the illumination unit in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes a telephone incoming call history storage unit that stores a telephone incoming call history. The operation unit switches the incoming call history displayed on the second display unit to another incoming call history.

According to the present invention, the user can switch the incoming call history displayed on the second display portion to another incoming call history through the operation portion. Therefore, even if the user does not open the cellular phone, the incoming call history displayed on the second display portion can be switched in the folded state, and operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes a control unit for displaying the received mail content on the second display unit. The operation unit switches the display to another received mail content.

According to the present invention, the content of the received mail displayed on the second display unit is switched to the content of another received mail by the operation unit. Therefore, even if the user does not open the mobile phone, the content of the received mail displayed on the second display portion can be switched in the folded state, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an antenna for receiving television broadcast waves; a television tuner; a television signal processing unit. The second display unit displays the video signal that has been signal-processed by the television signal processing unit. The operation unit is a channel switching button for changing the reception frequency of the television broadcast wave.

According to the present invention, the second display section displays the video signal subjected to the signal processing in the television signal processing section. The operation unit is a channel switching button for changing the reception frequency of the television broadcast wave. Therefore, the user can switch the receiving channel by operating the operation part.

In this way, when the user views the television through the second display unit, the user can change the channel in the folded state without opening the mobile phone and operating the mobile phone through the numeric buttons or the like. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an audio data storage unit for storing audio data; an audio reproducing unit for reproducing audio data. The operation section may perform a reproduction operation on the audio data in the audio data storage section.

According to the present invention, the operation section can perform a reproduction operation on the audio data in the audio data storage section. Therefore, the user can perform the reproduction operation of the audio data in the folded state without opening the cellular phone.

In this way, when the user listens to audio data with the mobile phone, the user can change the reproduction music in the folded state even if the user operates the digital buttons or the like without opening the mobile phone when changing the reproduction music, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes a speaker. The operation unit is a volume knob for adjusting the volume of the speaker.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is a volume knob for adjusting the volume of the speaker, the user can adjust the volume of the speaker by the operation portion. Therefore, the user can operate the volume adjustment in the folded state without opening the cellular phone.

In this way, when the user listens to audio data with the mobile phone, the user can change the volume in the folded state even if the user operates the digital buttons or the like without opening the mobile phone at the time of changing the volume, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, the plurality of operation units include an adjustment item selection unit; an adjustment amount selection unit.

According to the present invention, the portable telephone has a second display section on the outside when folded; an adjustment item selection unit; an adjustment amount selection unit. In this way, even in the folded state, the user can switch various items such as switching of the photographing function and switching of the display of the second display unit, and change various adjustment amounts.

Thus, even if the user does not turn on the mobile phone, the user can select an adjustment item such as adjustment of the illumination light amount and the brightness by operating the adjustment item selecting unit, and change the adjustment amount. Therefore, the function of changing the adjustment amount in the closed state makes it unnecessary for the user to open the mobile phone, and improves operability and convenience.

Desirably, the second display portion displays the contents of the received mail. The plurality of operation parts are provided with scroll buttons which can scroll the mail contents displayed on the second display part up and down or left and right; and a switching button for switching the display to other mail contents.

According to the present invention, the mobile phone includes a second display unit capable of displaying the contents of a received mail on the back surface of the first display unit of the first casing; an image pickup unit; a scroll button which can scroll the mail content displayed on the second display unit up and down or left and right; and a switching button for switching the display to other mail contents. Thus, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can display the mail on the second display unit, thereby scrolling the mail and switching the mail to another mail.

Thus, when a user views a mail text, the user can read the mail on the first display section without having to open the mobile phone and switch the reading of the mail by a numeric button or the like, and the mail can be confirmed and displayed while the mobile phone is still folded, thereby improving operability and convenience.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an antenna; a television tuner; and a television signal processing unit for displaying the television image on the second display unit. The multiple operation parts are provided with channel buttons which change the television signal waves displayed on the second display part; volume knob for adjusting volume.

According to the present invention, a mobile phone includes an antenna; a television tuner; a television signal processing unit having a second display unit capable of displaying a television image on a back surface of the first display unit of the first housing; an image pickup unit; a channel button for changing the television signal wave displayed on the second display unit; volume knob for adjusting volume. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is folded, the user can display the television image on the second display unit and change the channel and the volume by using the channel button and the volume button, thereby improving the operability and convenience.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes an audio data storage unit for storing audio data; a reproduction unit for reproducing audio data.

The plurality of operation units are provided with a reproduction operation unit for performing an audio data reproduction operation; volume knob for adjusting volume.

According to the present invention, a portable telephone is provided with an audio data storage unit for storing audio data; a reproduction unit for reproducing audio data, the reproduction unit including a second display unit on a back surface of the first display unit of the first casing; an image pickup unit; a reproduction operation section that performs an audio data reproduction operation; volume knob for adjusting volume. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can operate the reproduction operation unit and the volume adjustment unit to reproduce/record the audio data, thereby improving operability and convenience.

Preferably, the second display unit displays the adjustment amount changed by the user in a visual form.

According to the present invention, the second display unit displays the adjustment amount changed by the user in a visual form. Therefore, even if the user does not intentionally open the mobile phone, the user can visually confirm the adjustment amount displayed on the second display unit in the folded state and perform various adjustments, thereby improving operability and convenience.

Preferably, in the camera shooting mode, the plurality of operation units adjust shooting conditions.

According to the present invention, in the camera shooting mode, an adjustment mode is provided in which shooting conditions are adjusted by a plurality of operation units. Therefore, the user can perform the adjustment operation of the brightness and the adjustment operation of the illumination light amount/color while looking at the second display portion in the camera shooting mode in a state where the mobile phone is folded, and can shoot in a good state after the adjustment. Further, since the operation can be performed in a state where the mobile phone is folded, the operability and convenience are improved.

Preferably, in the camera shooting mode, the plurality of operation units are set as a processing mode, and processing of the image is performed before the captured image is saved.

According to the present invention, in the camera shooting mode, a processing mode is provided in which image processing is performed before a shot image is stored by using a plurality of operation units. Therefore, even when the user folds the mobile phone, the user can use the plurality of operation units while viewing the second display unit in the camera shooting mode to process the image before storing the shot image, thereby improving the operability and convenience.

Preferably, the plurality of operation portions include a1 st decision button, a 2 nd decision button, and a 3 rd decision button.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation portions include a1 st decision button, a 2 nd decision button, and a 3 rd decision button. Therefore, the user can switch the shooting function, switch the display of the second display unit, and change the adjustment amount by using 3 buttons.

Desirably, the plurality of operation portions include a decision button, a right button, and a left button.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation portions include a decision button, a right button, and a left button. Therefore, the user can switch the shooting function, switch the display of the 2 nd display unit, and change the adjustment amount by using these buttons.

Preferably, the plurality of operation portions include a1 st decision button, a 2 nd decision button, a 3 rd decision button, a 4 th decision button, and a 5 th decision button.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation portions include a1 st decision button, a 2 nd decision button, a 3 rd decision button, a 4 th decision button and a 5 th decision button. Therefore, the user can switch the photographing function, switch the display of the second display unit, and change the adjustment amount by using these 5 buttons.

Desirably, the plurality of operation portions include a decision button, an upper button, a lower button, a right button, and a left button.

Thus, the plurality of operation portions include a decision button, an upper button, a lower button, a left button, and a right button. Therefore, the user can switch the photographing function, switch the display of the second display unit, and change the adjustment amount by using these buttons.

Preferably, the imaging unit, the second display unit, and the plurality of operation units are arranged in this order from the connection unit side on the back surface of the first display unit of the first housing.

According to the present invention, since the second display unit is disposed between the imaging unit and the operation unit (for example, each button), a certain distance is secured between the imaging unit and each operation unit. This prevents the user from pressing, for example, the hand of the operation button to block the image pickup section when the user wants to take a picture. Therefore, the user can operate each button without paying attention to the position of the image pickup unit in various settings related to image pickup such as zoom operation. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved, and the damage and dust adhesion of the lens and other parts caused by the contact of the fingers of the user with the image pickup part can be prevented. As a result, the durability of the cellular phone is improved and the performance thereof is maintained.

Preferably, the mobile phone further includes a plurality of numeric buttons and operation buttons on a surface of the second casing facing the first casing in the folded state.

According to the present invention, the cellular phone includes a plurality of numeric buttons and operation buttons on a surface of the second casing facing the first casing in the folded state, and a second display unit, an imaging unit, and a plurality of operation units on a back surface of the first display unit of the first casing. Therefore, when the user folds the mobile phone, the plurality of numeric buttons, the operation buttons, and the plurality of operation units face in the same direction.

Thus, even when the user folds the mobile phone body and operates the mobile phone, the operation button surface on the body side faces the user side in the opened state, and the user can smoothly operate the mobile phone without changing the hand-held state of the mobile phone.

According to the present invention, the mobile phone includes the second display portion on the outer side thereof when the mobile phone is folded, and the plurality of operation portions used in a state where the mobile phone is folded. In this way, the user can switch a plurality of functions such as switching of the photographing function and switching of the display of the second display unit even in the folded state of the mobile phone.

In this way, the user can switch between various functions such as camera activation, illumination lighting, and pictogram display switching by using the operation unit without opening the mobile phone. Therefore, the function of switching in the state where the mobile phone is closed can be realized without opening the mobile phone. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the image photographed by the image pickup section can be displayed on the second display section, the user can adjust the photographing conditions or process the photographed image by operating the operation section. Therefore, the user can adjust the photographing conditions or process the photographed image in the folded state without opening the cellular phone. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, since one of the operation portions is a shutter button, the user can perform a photographing operation by operating the shutter button. Therefore, the user can take a picture in the folded state without opening the mobile phone. Since the second display unit and the shutter button are on the same surface, the user can easily operate the shutter button to perform photographing. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, since the operation unit is an adjustment button for adjusting the photographing conditions, the user can adjust the photographing conditions by operating the operation unit. Therefore, the user can adjust the photographing condition in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is an operation knob for operating the display of the second display portion, the user can operate the display of the second display portion by operating the operation portion. Therefore, the user can operate the display of the second display portion in the folded state without opening the cellular phone. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, since the operation unit is used as both the adjustment button and the operation button, the user can adjust the photographing condition and operate the display of the second display unit by operating the operation unit. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an adjustment button for adjusting the photographing condition and an operation button for performing the display operation of the second display unit on the back surface of the mobile phone, and a button used in combination can be provided.

By using the adjustment knob and the operation knob together, the size of the mobile phone can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of components. In addition, since the adjusting knob or the operation knob is generally used as a "+" knob (transmission knob) and a "-" knob (return knob), the operation thereof is similar. Therefore, the dual use of the button is more convenient for the user than the non-dual use. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, the illumination unit emits light only during the pressing period after the user has pressed the operation unit for a short time, and the illumination unit is switched to the continuous lighting after the operation unit is continuously pressed for a long time. Therefore, the user can use the light emitting state of the illumination unit by pressing the operation unit for a short time or for a long time. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved. Further, by switching the control based on the short press and the long press, it is possible to perform various controls without increasing the number of operation buttons. Therefore, the increase in cost due to the increase in size and the number of components of the mobile phone can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, the user switches the illumination unit and the emission color after pressing the operation unit for a short time. After the user presses the operation unit for a long time, the illumination unit is switched to the continuous lighting. Therefore, the user can use the light emission color of the illumination unit or ON/OFF switching by pressing the operation unit for a short time or for a long time. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved. Further, by switching the control based on the short press and the long press, it is possible to perform various controls without increasing the number of operation buttons. Therefore, the increase in the size of the mobile phone and the increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is a light amount adjustment knob for adjusting the light amount of the illumination portion, the user can adjust the light amount by operating the light amount adjustment knob. Therefore, the user can adjust the light quantity of the illumination portion in the folded state without opening the mobile phone. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is the light emission color changing knob for changing the light emission color of the illumination portion, the user can change the light emission color by operating the light emission color changing knob. Therefore, the user can change the light emission color of the illumination unit in the folded state without opening the cellular phone, and the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the incoming call history displayed on the second display portion is switched to another incoming call history by the operation portion. Therefore, even if the user does not open the cellular phone, the user can switch the incoming call history displayed on the second display unit in the folded state, and operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the content of the received mail displayed on the second display unit is switched to the content of another received mail by the operation unit. Therefore, the user can switch the contents of the received mail displayed on the second display unit in the folded state without opening the mobile phone, and operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the second display section displays the video signal subjected to the signal processing in the television signal processing section. The operation unit is a channel switching button for changing the reception frequency of the television broadcast wave. Therefore, the user can switch the receiving channel by operating the operation part.

In this way, when the user views the television through the second display unit, the user can change the channel in the folded state without opening the mobile phone to operate the numeric buttons or the like when changing the channel. As a result, the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the operation section can perform a reproduction operation on the audio data in the audio data storage section. Therefore, the user can perform the reproduction operation of the audio data in the folded state without opening the cellular phone.

In this way, when the user listens to audio data through the mobile phone, the user can change the reproduction music in the folded state without opening the mobile phone to operate the digital buttons or the like when changing the reproduction music, and thus operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, since the operation portion is a volume knob for adjusting the volume of the speaker, the user can adjust the volume of the speaker by the operation portion. Therefore, the user can operate the volume adjustment in the folded state without opening the cellular phone.

In this way, when the user listens to audio data through the mobile phone, the user can change the volume in the folded state without opening the mobile phone and operating the digital buttons or the like when changing the volume. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, the portable telephone has a second display section on the outside when it is folded; an adjustment item selection unit; an adjustment amount selection unit. In this way, even in the folded state of the mobile phone, the user can switch various items such as switching of the photographing function and switching of the display of the second display unit, and can change various adjustment amounts.

Thus, the user can select adjustment items such as the illumination light amount and the brightness adjustment by operating the adjustment item selection unit without opening the mobile phone, and can change the adjustment amount by operating the adjustment amount selection unit. By making the selection of the adjustment item independent of the selection of the adjustment amount, the user operation can be facilitated. In addition, the selection of the adjustment items and the change of the adjustment amount can be performed in a state where the mobile phone is closed, and the mobile phone does not need to be opened any more, so that the operability and convenience are improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the second display portion displays the image captured by the image capturing portion, the user can perform various adjustments while checking the image captured by the mobile phone on the second display portion. In this way, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can switch various adjustment items and change or process the adjustment amount of the photographed image photographed by the image pickup unit. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, the mobile phone includes a second display unit capable of displaying the contents of a received mail on the back surface of the first display unit of the first casing; an image pickup unit; a scroll button which can scroll the mail content displayed on the second display unit up and down or left and right; and a switching button for switching the display to other mail contents. Thus, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can display the mail on the second display unit, scroll the mail, and switch the display to another mail.

Thus, when viewing the mail text, the user can read the mail on the first display part without opening the mobile phone and switch the reading of the mail by using the number buttons or the like, and can confirm the mail or display the mail on the second display part while the mobile phone is still folded. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, a mobile phone includes an antenna; a television tuner; a television signal processing unit having a second display unit capable of displaying a television image on a back surface of the first display unit of the first housing; an image pickup unit; a channel button for changing the television signal wave displayed on the second display unit; volume knob for adjusting volume. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can cause the second display unit to display a television image and change the channel and volume using the channel button and volume button. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, a portable telephone is provided with an audio data storage unit for storing audio data; a reproduction unit for reproducing audio data, and a second display unit provided on the back of the first display unit of the first casing; an image pickup unit; a reproduction operation section that performs an audio data reproduction operation; volume knob for adjusting volume. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can operate the reproduction operation unit and the volume adjustment unit to reproduce/record the audio data. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the second display unit displays the adjustment amount changed by the user in a visual form. Therefore, even if the user does not intentionally open the mobile phone, various adjustments can be performed while visually checking the adjustment amount displayed on the second display unit in the folded state. In this way, by disposing the second display unit for visually displaying the adjustment amount on the same surface as the operation unit, the user can operate the portable telephone while viewing the adjustment amount in a state in which the portable telephone is folded, and thus operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the mobile phone includes an adjustment mode for adjusting the shooting conditions by using the plurality of operation units in the camera shooting mode. Therefore, in the folded state of the mobile phone, the user can photograph in a good state after adjustment by adjusting the brightness or adjusting the amount or color of illumination while looking at the second display unit in the camera photographing mode. Further, since the user can operate the mobile phone in a state where the mobile phone is folded, operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the mobile phone includes a processing mode in which the image processing is performed before the photographed image is stored by using the plurality of operation units in the camera photographing mode. Therefore, in the folded state of the mobile phone, the user can perform image processing before storing the photographed image by using the plurality of operation units while viewing the second display unit in the camera photographing mode.

In this way, the user can perform camera shooting and process an image while viewing the second display unit before storing the shot image, and the mobile phone can store the image adjusted and processed by the user. Therefore, when the user desires to adjust or process the photographed image immediately after photographing, the user does not need to read out the image once stored again to adjust or process the image, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation portions include a1 st decision button, a 2 nd decision button, and a 3 rd decision button. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can switch between a plurality of functions such as switching between the photographing function and switching between the display on the second display unit.

Thus, the user can switch the camera start, the illumination and the pictogram display by pressing the 1 st to 3 rd decision buttons without opening the mobile phone. Therefore, the function switched in the state that the mobile phone is closed does not need to be opened by the user, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation portions are composed of the decision button, the right button, and the left button. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is closed, the user can change the adjustment amount by using the right button and the left button in adjusting the photographing condition and setting the display on the second display unit.

Thus, the user can change the adjustment amount such as adjustment and setting by pressing the decision button, the right button, and the left button without opening the cellular phone. Therefore, the function of changing the adjustment amount in the closed state of the mobile phone makes it unnecessary for the user to open the mobile phone, thereby improving operability and convenience.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation units include the 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th decision buttons. Thus, even when the mobile phone is in a folded state, the user can switch between a plurality of functions such as switching between the photographing function and switching between the display of the 2 nd display unit.

Thus, the user can switch various functions such as menu mode, key lock, illumination ON/OFF, camera activation, illumination lighting, and pictogram display switching by pressing the 1 st to 5 th decision buttons without opening the mobile phone. Therefore, the function of switching the mobile phone in the closed state is not required to open the mobile phone, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

According to the present invention, the plurality of operation units include a decision button, an upper button, a lower button, a left button, and a right button. Therefore, even when the mobile phone is folded, the user can select the adjustment item by the upper button and the lower button, change the adjustment amount by the right button and the left button, and determine the change by the decision button in adjusting the photographing condition and setting the display on the second display unit.

In this way, the user can select items such as adjustment and setting by pressing the up button, the down button, the right button, the left button, and the decision button without opening the cellular phone, and the adjustment amount is changed to determine the change. Therefore, the function of changing the adjustment amount in the state where the mobile phone is closed eliminates the need for the user to open the mobile phone, and improves operability and convenience. Further, since the button for selecting the setting item is independent of the button for changing the adjustment amount, the setting operation by the user becomes easy.

According to the present invention, since the second display unit is disposed between the imaging unit and each of the buttons, a certain distance is secured between the imaging unit and each of the buttons. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user's hand pressing the operation button from covering the image pickup section when the user wants to take an image. Therefore, the user can operate each button without paying attention to the position of the image pickup unit in various settings related to image pickup such as zoom operation. Thereby improving operability and convenience. At the same time, the damage and dust adhesion of the components such as the lens due to the contact of the user's finger with the image pickup section can be prevented, and as a result, the durability of the cellular phone can be improved and the performance thereof can be maintained.

According to the present invention, the cellular phone includes a plurality of numeric buttons and operation buttons on a surface of the second casing facing the first casing in the folded state, and further includes a second display unit, an imaging unit, and a plurality of operation units on a back surface of the first display unit of the first casing. Therefore, when the mobile phone is folded, the plurality of numeric buttons, the operation buttons, and the plurality of operation units face in the same direction.

In this way, even in the opened state after the user has folded the mobile phone body and operated, the operation button surface on the body side faces the user side. The user can smoothly operate the portable telephone without changing the hand-held state of the portable telephone.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an external perspective view from the back side of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the folded mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 is an external side view of the folded mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 5A and 5B are explanatory views showing a method of using the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 7A and 7B are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view showing another example of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a button operation assignment table of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a pictogram display screen of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 11A and 11B are views showing an illumination light amount adjustment screen of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an illumination light amount adjustment procedure of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a mail confirmation procedure of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 14 is an external front view of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment in a folded state.

Fig. 15 is a button operation assignment table of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a button operation assignment table of another mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 17 is an external perspective view of a conventional portable telephone.

Fig. 18 is an external perspective view from the back side of a conventional mobile phone.

Fig. 19 is an external perspective view of a conventional portable telephone set in a folded state.

Fig. 20 is an external side view of a conventional portable telephone set in a folded state.

Fig. 21A and 21B are explanatory views showing a method of using a conventional mobile phone.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a clamshell-type portable telephone 1 with a camera as one of the present embodiments in an opened state. The mobile phone 1 includes a first casing 2 and a second casing 3. The first casing 2 and the second casing 3 are connected by a hinge 4. The first casing 2 and the second casing 3 are configured to be foldable as shown in fig. 3 by being movable in an angular displacement manner about a hinge 4.

Referring to fig. 1, the mobile phone 1 includes a first display unit 5 in a first casing 2. The first display portion 5 is arranged to be located inside when the portable telephone 1 is folded. The first display portion 5 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, an el (electro luminescence) display, or the like. The first display unit 5 displays an image based on image data supplied through a1 st display driver unit 43 described later. The first display unit 5 includes a1 st speaker 6 in an upper part thereof for use in a call or the like.

Next, the second casing 3 of the mobile phone 1, which is one of the present embodiments, will be described. The second casing 3 includes, in a user-operable form, an input button group 7 including keys for inputting numbers and characters, a function button group 8 for switching various settings and functions in the mobile phone 1, a power button 9 for switching ON/OFF of power, a1 st shutter button 10 operated to activate the shutter function, a mail/guide button 11 for performing a mail function and a guide display, a start/speaker reception button 12 for starting a call and receiving a speaker, and a multi-guide button 13 including a 4-way button and a decision button for performing selection and decision of up, down, left, and right ON a function selection screen. The second casing 3 is provided with a microphone 14 for telephone communication at the lower part thereof.

Generally, the hinge 4, the function button group 8, the input button group 7, and the microphone 14 are disposed in this order in the second casing 3 of the mobile phone 1. But the configuration is not limited to the above configuration.

As shown in fig. 2 or 3, the camera portion 21 and the illumination portion 22 are disposed on the back surface of the first display portion 5 of the first housing 2 in this order from the hinge 4 side. The second display unit 20, the 2 nd shutter button 23, and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b are arranged next.

The second display portion 20 is configured to be located outside the housing when the portable telephone 1 is folded. The second display unit 20 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL display, and the like. Here, the displayable area of the second display portion 20 is smaller than the area of the 1 st display area 5, but may be larger than it or equal thereto. The second display unit 20 displays images based on image data obtained by photographing and provided by a later-described 2 nd display driver unit 44, and character image data for notifying time, radio wave intensity, mail reception, and the like.

In this way, the first display unit 5 and the second display unit 20 are disposed on the exposed surface of the first casing 2 or the second casing 3 in the open state, respectively, so that the display screen faces outward. In particular, the second display unit 20 is disposed on a surface of the first casing 2 or the second casing 3 exposed in the folded state such that the display screen faces the outside.

When displaying these images, the image based on the image data transmitted from the 2 nd display driver section 44 to the second display section 20 is displayed with the hinge 4 directed upward. Since the second display unit 20 displays an image by orienting the hinge 4 upward, the user can use the mobile phone 1 with the hinge oriented upward, and thus the user does not need to change the orientation of the second casing 3 in the state of opening or closing the mobile phone 1. In other words, it is not necessary to change the orientation or holding posture of the mobile phone 1 each time the user opens or closes the mobile phone 1. As a result, the operability and convenience are improved. The image displayed on the second display unit 20 also includes a captured image. Therefore, when the user views the captured image, it is not necessary to change the orientation or holding posture of the mobile phone 1. As a result, the operability and convenience are improved.

As will be described later, the antenna is moved from the back surface of the first housing 2 to another portion. Thus, there is no longer a restriction on the back surface of the first housing 2, and the second display section 20 can be designed to be larger than a conventional size. Therefore, a large amount of information of the text and the captured image can be displayed. Further, since the mobile phone 1 is provided with the 2 nd operation button group 24, even when the user closes the mobile phone 1, various images such as confirmation of the contents of mail, address book reference, and sequential display of a plurality of images can be displayed on the second display unit 20. The image displayed on the second display unit 20 also includes a captured image. Therefore, even when the mobile phone 1 is in the folded state, the user can confirm the photographed image on the large screen of the second display unit 20. Therefore, even when the user views the captured image, the user does not need to open or close the mobile phone 1, and operability and convenience are improved.

The camera section 21 includes an imaging lens, an imaging element such as a ccd (charge Coupled device) image sensor or a cmos (complementary Metal Oxide semiconductor) image sensor, and an RGB3 color filter. For simplicity of explanation, the camera unit 21 includes a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, simply referred to as a CCD)29 as an image pickup device. The camera unit 21 converts light reflected by an object and incident on the photographing lens into RGB3 color light through a color filter, and the RGB3 color light is incident on the CCD 29. As shown in fig. 3, the camera portion 21 is provided so as to be located on the back surface of the first display portion 5 when the mobile phone 1 is folded, and is located between the hinge 4 and the second display portion 20. When a user photographs with the camera section 21 in a state where the mobile phone 1 is opened, the user holds the second casing 3 with his hand to photograph.

As a result of the above configuration, the camera portion 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the hinge 4. Since the user holds the periphery of the camera section 21 while holding the first casing 2, the influence of the shake of the arm based on the user at the time of photographing can be reduced. And a large second display portion 20 can be configured since the antenna is removed from the back surface of the first housing 2. When a user takes a picture of a subject, the user can easily confirm the image of the subject with less arm shake on a large screen.

The illumination unit 22 is used as an auxiliary light source when the camera unit 21 captures an image. Although a xenon tube is generally used as an auxiliary light source, recently, RGB LEDs (light emitting diodes) are used, and the mobile phone 1 can obtain white light illumination by simultaneously emitting light from these LEDs.

The 2 nd shutter button 23 is disposed at the center of the back surface of the first display portion 5 of the first casing 2, and as shown in fig. 3, is disposed below the second display portion 20 when the mobile phone 1 is folded. By arranging the 2 nd shutter button 23 at this position, the user can easily confirm the position of the shutter button 23 in the folded state of the mobile phone 1, and the shutter operation can be easily performed.

Further, since the user no longer has to search for a shutter button that is provided to a side surface of the first housing or the like to be small and difficult to confirm as in the conventional machine, operability and convenience are improved.

The 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b for setting or operating various data while confirming the display information of the second display unit 20 are provided on both sides of the 2 nd shutter button 23. By arranging the 2 nd operation button group 24 at this position, the user can easily confirm the positions of the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b in the folded state of the mobile phone 1, and can easily operate the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24 b.

The 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b are also used as operation buttons that are operated by the user to perform ON/OFF of various functions and to determine the specification/termination of a specific operation. In the mobile phone 1 as one embodiment of the present invention, these buttons are used for lighting, lighting ON/OFF, menu screen switching, pictogram display ON/OFF, camera activation, key lock ON/OFF, selection determination, display termination, mail text display, adjustment item switching, MP3 reproduction/stop, illumination color change, and the like.

The 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b can also be used as adjustment buttons for changing the adjustment amount of various functions (up/down, transmission/return, etc.) by the user's operation. In the mobile phone 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the buttons 24a and 24b can be used for selection of forward/reverse transmission on a menu screen, forward/reverse transmission of various display images, dimming/brightening of the amount of illumination light, forward/reverse transmission of illumination color change, forward/reverse transmission of an audio incoming call history and a mail receiving history, up/down of a TV channel, return/fast forward and previous/next tracks at the time of MP3 reproduction, up/down of sound volume, zoom-in/zoom-out of zoom adjustment, and the like. The 2 nd operation knobs 24a and 24b mainly function as a reduction knob and an increase knob for each adjustment amount as adjustment knobs. In the present embodiment, the 2 nd shutter button 23 is not used as the adjustment button, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the 2 nd shutter button 23 may be similarly used.

Thus, the user can start the camera, turn on the illumination, switch between various functions such as pictogram display switching, and change the adjustment amount by using the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b without opening the mobile phone 1. Therefore, by executing the switching function in the state where the mobile phone 1 is closed, it is not necessary to open the mobile phone 1, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Further, since the second display unit 20 can display the image photographed by the camera unit 21, the photographing conditions can be adjusted and the photographed image can be processed by the user operating the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24 b. Therefore, the user can adjust the photographing conditions and process the photographed image in the folded state without opening the mobile phone 1, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Further, by using the operation knob and the adjustment knob in combination, it is possible to reduce the size of the mobile phone 1 and reduce the cost due to the reduction in the number of components. In addition, since the adjustment knob or the operation knob is generally used as a "+" knob (transmission knob) and a "-" knob (return knob) and the operation thereof is similar, it is preferable to use the operation knob in combination. Thus, the user can easily use the mobile phone 1, and operability and convenience are improved.

The second housing 3 includes an antenna portion 25, a screw portion 26 which can be raised and lowered, a battery portion 27 for storing a battery, and a 2 nd speaker 28 for emitting an incoming sound, on the back surface of the input button group 7 and the function button group 8.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the first casing 2 is mechanically connected to the second casing 3 by a hinge 4. A flexible substrate (not shown) for electrically connecting the first casing 2 and the second casing 3 is provided in the hinge 4. A connector for connecting a flexible substrate and a cable to various substrates provided in the first housing 2 is arranged in the vicinity of the hinge of the first housing 2, and the thickness of the connector has the greatest influence on the thickness of the first housing 2. On the other hand, since the thickness of the camera portion 21 is thinner than that of the connector, even if the camera portion 21 is disposed near the connector, the thickness of the first housing 2 is not affected. Therefore, in the conventional portable telephone, since the camera section is disposed in the vicinity of the front end of the first casing 2 (the vicinity of the lower side in fig. 3), the thickness of the camera section in the vicinity of the front end of the first casing 2 other than the antenna section is determined by the thickness of the camera section. However, since the camera section is disposed between the antenna section 25 and the second display section 20, that is, in the vicinity of the hinge 4, the thickness of the second display section 20 can be secured in the central portion of the first housing 2, and the first housing 2 can be further thinned/downsized in the vicinity of the front end thereof. As shown in fig. 4, the thickness of the first housing 2 is reduced from the center portion to the front end portion in a curved shape. Since the vicinity of the front end of the first casing 2 corresponding to the lower part of the mobile phone 1 in the folded state is formed into a thin shape, the user can easily put the mobile phone 1 in a pocket of a business suit or the like, and convenience is improved.

By disposing the second display section between the camera section 21 and the 2 nd shutter button 23 or the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b, the distance between the camera section 21 and the 2 nd shutter button 23 or the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b can be kept stable. Thus, when the user operates the 2 nd shutter button 23 or the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b, it is possible to prevent the user's finger from erroneously operating to touch the camera section 21 or block the visual field of the camera section 21. The durability of the cellular phone is improved and the performance thereof is maintained as a result of preventing the damage and dust adhesion of the members such as the lens due to the contact of the user's finger with the camera portion 21.

Further, the folded mobile phone 1 is held by a user with the hinge 4 side at the upper portion in the folded state, so that the camera unit 21 is not hidden by the user's hand. Therefore, the user can hold the mobile phone 1 without paying attention to the position of the camera portion 21.

A method of use in the case of performing camera shooting with the mobile phone 1, which is one embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to fig. 5A and B. In general, when photographing an object 30 shown in fig. 5A, a user turns on the mobile phone 1 and photographs the object 30 with the camera portion 21 aligned therewith. The user uses the first display section 5 as a viewfinder. The user uses the 1 st shutter button 10 for the shutter operation, but may use the 2 nd shutter button 23 disposed on the rear surface of the first housing 2. Fig. 5B shows a general use method when the user takes a picture of the user himself with the camera unit 21. In this case, the user confirms the image of the user himself taken by using the second display unit 20 as a viewfinder, and can execute the shutter operation by pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23.

In general, when an image is displayed on the second display unit 20, the image is often displayed in a manner similar to the image reflected on a mirror surface by reversing the left and right sides of the image in order to eliminate an unnatural feeling in screen confirmation. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The mobile phone 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention can photograph the user himself in the folded state, and is therefore convenient to use. The photographing of the user is not limited to the photographing by the folded mobile phone 1, and the user may photograph the user in a state where the mobile phone 1 is opened.

The operation knob is disposed on the same surface of the first casing 2 and the second casing 3 in a state where the mobile phone 1 is folded. Therefore, when the user operates the mobile phone 1 in the folded state and then performs the opening operation, or vice versa, the user can perform the input operation by the operation button by holding the second casing 3 and opening/closing the first casing 2. That is, the user can operate the mobile phone 1 smoothly without changing the hand-held state.

Next, the antenna section 25 of the mobile phone 1, which is one embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the second casing 3 of the mobile phone 1. The whip portion 30 of the antenna portion 25 is configured to be retractable to the left end side in the second housing 3. The spiral portion 26 is exposed outside the housing. The whip 30 and the screw 26 can be pulled out from the second housing 3 according to the radio wave intensity during a call. The antenna portion 25 is not necessarily limited to the configuration including the whip portion 30 and the spiral portion 26. For example, as shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the inverted-F internal antenna 32 may be disposed near the upper portion of the hinge 4 of the second housing 3 (fig. 7A) or near the upper portion of the first housing 2 (fig. 7B).

Next, the internal configuration of the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to fig. 8 as an internal block diagram. The mobile phone 1 includes a first display unit 5 and a second display unit 20; the 1 st shutter button 10 and the 2 nd shutter button 23; a camera portion 21; an illumination unit 22 having a red LED22R, a green LED22G, and a blue LED 22B; an antenna section 25; a speaker 28; a wireless unit 50; a communication control unit 51; the 1 st memory 42; a 2 nd memory 48; a 3 rd memory 52; the 1 st display driver 43 and the 2 nd display driver 44; a1 st backlight 45 and a 2 nd backlight 46; a control unit 40 including an audio reproduction unit 40A, an illumination light amount adjustment unit 40B, and a luminescent color change unit 40C for controlling the functions of the respective units; an image processing unit 41; an inversion processing unit 41A; the 1 st operation button group 47 and the 2 nd operation button group 24; an open/close detection unit 49.

The control section 40 controls functions of the respective sections, such as a shutter operation function, a backlight function, an auxiliary light source function, a display function, and the like. The image processing unit 41 includes an amplification unit (not shown), an a/D (analog/digital) conversion unit, a signal processing unit, and an inversion processing unit 41A. The amplifier section amplifies the electric signals corresponding to RGB input from the camera section 21 and outputs the signals to the a/D conversion section. The a/D converter converts the electric signals (analog) corresponding to RGB converted by the amplifier into digital signals, and outputs the image data to the signal processor. The signal processing unit performs signal processing such as pixel interpolation processing on the image data input from the a/D conversion unit, and supplies the image data to the inversion processing unit 41A. When the image data is input and the inversion control signal 55 is supplied from the control unit 44, the inversion processing unit 41A performs 180-degree rotation processing to rotate an image corresponding to the input image data by 180 degrees and outputs the image. However, when the inversion control signal 55 is not supplied, the inversion processing section 41A outputs the input image data as it is. The image data output from the inversion processing section 41A is supplied to the 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48.

The camera section 21 and the image processing section 41 are image pickup sections for receiving the reflected light from the subject 30, converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, and outputting the signal as image data in units of frames. The 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48 temporarily store the continuously supplied multi-frame image data under the control of the control unit 40. For example, when newly supplied image data is input and stored, image data that has been stored for a long time among the plurality of image data stored in the 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48 is deleted or rewritten with the newly input image data.

The control unit 40 transmits a control signal to the 1 st display driver unit 43 and the 2 nd display driver unit 44, reads the image data stored in the 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48, and supplies the respective data to the 1 st display driver unit 43 and the 2 nd display driver unit 44. The 1 st display driver unit 43 and the 2 nd display driver unit 44 apply a driving voltage to each pixel electrode of the first display unit 5 and the second display unit 20 based on data to be displayed on the first display unit 5 and the second display unit 20, that is, based on data read from the 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48.

The 1 st backlight 45 and the 2 nd backlight 46 include light emitting diodes or the like as light emitting elements, and irradiate the first display unit 5 and the second display unit 20 with light to increase the luminance of a display image. The control of turning on and off the 1 st backlight 45 and the 2 nd backlight 46, the control of adjusting the brightness, and the like are performed by the control unit 40. The 1 st backlight 45 and the 2 nd backlight 46 can be controlled independently of each other. When an image is displayed on the first display unit 5, the 1 st backlight 45 is controlled to be turned on. When the display is displayed on the second display unit 20, the 2 nd backlight 46 is controlled to be turned on. The 1 st backlight 45 and the 2 nd backlight 46 may be configured to be turned on until a predetermined operation for turning off is performed by the user, or may be configured to be turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the turning on.

The 1 st operation button group 47 includes the input button group 7 and the function button group 8 of the second housing 3. The 2 nd operation button group 24 includes operation buttons 24a and 24b provided in the first housing 2.

The 1 st and 2 nd shutter buttons 10 and 23 are pressed for performing a shutter operation. When the 1 st (2 nd) shutter button 10(23) is pressed, a shutter instruction 56(57) is given to the control unit 40. Upon receiving the shutter instruction 56(57), the control unit 40 reads image data that is desired to be saved among the plurality of image data that are successively written into the 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48 and temporarily stored, and writes the image data into the 3 rd memory 52. The image data desired by the user is thus stored in the 3 rd memory 52. For simplicity of explanation, the latest image data stored in the 1 st memory 42 and the 2 nd memory 48 is read out and stored in the 3 rd memory 52.

The open/close detection unit 49 detects whether the mobile phone 1 is folded. A detection switch (not shown) is provided inside the hinge 4 to detect the open/close state. A detection signal 53 corresponding to the detected state (either the open state or the closed state) is output to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 can determine whether the mobile phone 1 is in the folded state (closed state) or in the opened state based on the detection signal 53 input from the detection switch.

The antenna unit 25, the wireless unit 50, and the communication control unit 51 transmit and receive audio data, character data, image data, and the like under the control of the control unit 40 when performing wireless communication with a base station (not shown) by radio waves. The received data is registered in the 3 rd memory 52 by the control section 40.

The mobile phone 1 shown in fig. 8, which is one embodiment of the present invention, can also receive television signals. The mobile phone 1 includes a branching filter 58 for separating the radio wave received by the antenna unit 25 from the radio communication radio wave and the television broadcast signal wave. The demultiplexer 58 transmits radio waves for radio communication to the radio unit 50, and transmits television signal broadcast waves to the tuner 59. The tuner 59 that has received the television signal broadcast wave outputs a signal of the received channel to the signal processing circuit 60. The signal processing circuit 60 separates a signal input from the tuner 59 into a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal is output to the first display unit 5 or the second display unit 20 under the control of the control unit 40. The audio signal is output to the 1 st speaker 6 or the 2 nd speaker 28 according to the control thereof.

The user can change the receiving channel to a desired channel by operating the 1 st operation button group 47 or the 2 nd operation button group 24. The control unit transmits a control signal for controlling the change of the reception channel to the tuner 59 based on the operation of the 1 st operation button group 47 or the 2 nd operation button group 24. The tuner 59 switches channels based on the signal.

The control unit 40 switches the display unit for displaying the image based on the image data temporarily stored in the 1 st memory based on the detection result of the open/close detection unit 49. When the open/close detection unit 49 detects that the mobile phone 1 is folded, the control unit 40 outputs the image data from the 1 st memory 42 to the 2 nd display driver unit 44 to display the image on the second display unit 20. When the open/close detection unit 49 detects that the mobile phone 1 is not folded (i.e., opened), the control unit 40 outputs the image data from the 1 st memory 42 to the 1 st display driver unit 43 to cause the first display unit 5 to display an image.

As described above, the camera section 21 is configured such that the photographing direction thereof is directed outward when the portable telephone 1 is folded. When the user of the mobile phone 1 picks up an image of an object other than the user himself, the user directs the camera section 21 to the object 30 side on the opposite side of the user with the mobile phone 1 opened, and picks up an image of the object 30, as shown in fig. 5A. In this state, an image based on the image data output from the camera section 21 is displayed on the first display section 5. In this way, the user can use the first display unit 5 as a viewfinder during image capturing.

On the other hand, when the user takes an image of the user himself as a subject, the user takes an image with the camera section 21 directed to the user himself in a state where the mobile phone 1 is folded, as shown in fig. 5B. In this state, an image based on the image data output from the camera section 21 is displayed on the second display section 20. In this way, the user can use the second display unit 20 as a viewfinder during shooting.

In the mobile phone 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the user can take an image by appropriately switching the display units 5 and 20 used as a finder at the time of image taking by fixing the second casing 3 of the mobile phone 1 and folding or unfolding the first casing 2. Therefore, the user does not have to change the holding state of the second casing 3 when switching the object, as in the case of a conventional portable telephone. As a result, the user can be saved from the trouble of switching the object, and operability and convenience are improved.

The control of the 1 st backlight 45 and the 2 nd backlight 46 will be described below.

The control unit 40 switches the lighting and the extinguishing of the 1 st backlight 45 and the 2 nd backlight 46 based on the detection result of the open/close detection unit 49. When the open/close detection unit 49 detects that the mobile phone 1 is folded, the control unit 40 turns on the 2 nd backlight 46 to increase the brightness of the second display unit 20. When the open/close detection unit 49 detects that the mobile phone 1 is open, the control unit 40 turns on the 1 st backlight 45 to increase the brightness of the first display unit 5.

As described above, when the user takes an image of an object other than the user himself as a subject, the first display unit 5 is used as a finder, and the image data acquired from the camera unit 21 is displayed on the first display unit 5. At this time, the 1 st backlight 45 is turned on to increase the luminance of the first display unit 5.

On the other hand, when the user takes an image of the subject as the user himself, the second display unit 20 is used as a viewfinder, and the image data taken in from the camera unit 21 is displayed on the second display unit 20. At this time, the 2 nd backlight 46 is turned on, and the luminance of the second display unit 20 is increased.

In this way, since the backlight for supplying light to the display portion used as the finder is turned on after the mobile phone 1 is folded or unfolded, the displayed image is easy to see, and visibility is improved.

The control unit 40 further includes an audio reproduction unit 40A for reproducing the MP3 data. MP3 data acquired by downloading or by a cable connecting a personal computer or the like to a mobile phone can be stored in the 3 rd memory 52, reproduced by the audio reproducing unit 40A, and output from the speaker 28. The user can perform a desired operation by operating the 1 st operation button group 47 or the 2 nd operation button group 24 in relation to the operations of volume adjustment, reproduction/stop, and music transmission/music return of MP3 data reproduction. The control unit 40 and the audio reproduction unit 40A change the volume and the reproduction state based on the operation of the 1 st operation button group 47 or the 2 nd operation button group 24.

The control unit 40 further includes an illumination light amount adjustment unit 40B that adjusts the light amount of the illumination unit 22, and a light emission color change unit 40C that changes the light emission color of the illumination unit 22. The illumination light amount adjustment section 40B can manually adjust the light amount of the illumination section by the user operating the 1 st operation button group 47 or the 2 nd operation button group 24. The illumination light amount adjusting unit 40B may determine the ambient brightness based on a signal from the camera unit 21, and automatically increase or decrease the light amount. The emission color changing unit 40C generates emission colors such as red, green, blue, yellow, violet, and light blue other than white light by the combination of the light emissions of the LEDs 22R, 22G, and 22B. The light emission color can be changed to a desired color by operating the light emission according to the operation of the 1 st operation button group 47 or the 2 nd operation button group 24 by the user.

Fig. 9 is a table showing function assignment of the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24 b. The mobile phone 1 has 2 modes, i.e., a normal mode and a camera mode. When the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned on, the mobile phone 1 operates in the normal mode. When taking a picture with a camera, the mobile phone 1 needs to switch to a camera mode in order to activate the camera function and use the display unit as a viewfinder.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to allocate the change of the switching and adjustment amounts of all the functions shown in fig. 9 to the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24 b. For example, the manufacturer of the mobile phone 1 may assign several switching/changing operations to the operation buttons as necessary. Fig. 9 shows that the buttons corresponding to the shaded portions are used as determination buttons for switching functions, and the buttons corresponding to the unshaded portions are used as direction buttons for changing the adjustment amount.

The state in which an incoming call is not made after the power is turned on is generally referred to as a standby state. The second display unit 20 displays a standby image and a clock standby screen set by the user. The second display unit 20 can perform the pictogram display shown in fig. 10 together with the standby screen. The user can switch the display/non-display of the pictogram by pressing the 2 nd operation button 24 a.

The user can lock the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b by pressing the 2 nd operation button 24a1 for more than a second. Since the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b are provided on surfaces exposed even in the folded state of the portable telephone 1, these buttons may be pressed by any inadvertent contact by the user. Therefore, by putting these buttons in the locked state, even if the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b are pressed, the pressing can be invalidated. The lock is released by the user pressing the 2 nd operation button 24a1 for more than a second.

When the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24b, the illumination unit 22 is turned on only during the pressing, and the illumination unit 22 is switched to the continuous lighting by pressing for 1 second or more. When the lighting is continued, the user can turn off the lighting unit 22 by pressing the button for 1 second or more. With the above setting, the user can manually turn on the illumination unit 22 or continuously turn on the illumination unit as in a flashlight, thereby using the light emission state of the illumination unit 22, and thus the operability and convenience are improved. Further, by switching the control between the short-press and the long-press, it is possible to perform various controls without increasing the number of operation buttons, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to an increase in size and the number of components of the mobile phone.

In the standby state, when the user presses the 2 nd shutter button 23, the second display unit 20 sequentially displays a left arrow display, a selection item, and a right arrow display in its lowermost region. Here, the 2 nd operation button 24b is a forward-feed selection button, and each time the 2 nd operation button 24b is pressed, in the selection item area sandwiched in the arrow key display of the second display portion 20, wallpaper setting → image confirmation → illumination light amount → illumination color → audio call-in → mail arrival → display end → wallpaper setting selection item is displayed in order. The 2 nd operation button 24a is a selection button for reverse sending, and switches the display of the selection items in the order of arrival of a mail → call in audio → illumination color → illumination light amount → image confirmation → wallpaper setting → end of display → arrival of a mail. When the user selects an item through the 2 nd operation button 24a or 24b, the mobile phone shifts to the operation of selecting the item by the user when the 2 nd shutter button 23 functioning as a decision key is pressed.

The wallpaper setting mode is a mode for setting a standby image to be displayed on the second display unit 20. Here, image files such as wallpaper images and photographed images, a clock function, animation display, and display of JAVA (registered trademark) application stored in the 3 rd memory 52 of the mobile phone 1 can be selectively set. The display contents of the second display unit 20 are switched every time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a or 24b, and the setting is ended by pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23 functioning as a decision key, and the state is returned to the standby state.

The image confirmation mode is a mode for confirming and displaying an image photographed by the camera portion 21 and stored in the 3 rd memory 52. The photographed images are sequentially displayed on the second display unit 20 every time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (forward) or 24b (reverse). As a method for displaying only photographed images separately from other images, it is previously set that photographed images are stored in a predetermined folder in the 3 rd memory of the mobile phone 1, and the images stored in the folder are sequentially displayed. Alternatively, when storing an image photographed by the camera section 21, a method may be employed in which a mark is created for the image file and only the image file created with the mark is displayed.

The illumination light amount mode is a mode for adjusting the light amount of the illumination section 22. As shown in fig. 11A, in the illumination light amount mode, left and right arrows and an indicator indicating the current light amount are displayed in the screen horizontal direction in the lowermost region of the second display unit 20. The length of the indicator is shortened or lengthened each time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (bright) or 24b (dark), and the amount of light of the illumination section 22 is also changed in conjunction with this. When the user presses the left button (2 nd operation button 24b) for a long press of 1 second or more, the illumination section 22 terminates illumination light emission. In this way, the user can adjust the light amount of the illumination unit 22 in the folded state by operating the 2 nd operation knob 24a or 24b without opening the cellular phone, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Next, a procedure of adjusting the light amount of the illumination section 22 by the knobs 23, 24a, and 24b provided on the back surface of the first housing 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 12. Here, the following description will be made of a state in which an illumination light amount adjustment mode is selected from the menu screen of the second display unit 20 through a predetermined operation and the illumination light amount adjustment mode is entered.

First, when the lighting light amount adjustment mode is entered, the control unit 40 reads out the light amount data LX from the 3 rd memory 52 and lights the lighting by the light amount based on the light amount data LX (step S10). At this time, when the lighting unit 22 is already lit, there is substantially no change. Next, the control unit 40 detects whether the user has pressed the buttons 23, 24a, and 24b provided on the back surface (S11). When the button is pressed, the control unit 40 detects which button the user has pressed, and stores the identification number of the button in the memory (S12). Next, to determine whether the user presses the button for a standard time (short press) or presses it for a long time (long press), the counter value I is set to 0 (S13). The counter value I is incremented by 1 after 10msec (S14). While the user is pressing the button, the counter value I is incremented by 1 every 10msec (S15), and when the user releases the button (YES in S15), the process proceeds to the process corresponding to the pressed button (S16).

When the user presses the right button, the control unit 40 detects the time (counter value I) for pressing the button (S17), and when I is greater than 100, the control unit 40 determines that the button is pressed as "long press". In this case, since the long press of the right button is not specified, the process proceeds to S21 via S27. When I is 100 or less, the control unit 40 determines whether the light amount LX is less than the maximum value LX by 10 (S18). In the case where the light amount LX is larger than 10 (NO in S18), since it cannot be increased more than the light amount any more, the process proceeds to S21 through S27. When the light amount LX is less than 10 (YES in S18), the control unit 40 increases the value of the light amount LX by 1(S19), displays a light bar having a length corresponding to the value of the light amount LX on the second display unit, and lights the illumination at the light amount LX (S20).

When the user presses the decision button, the control unit 40 detects the time (counter value I) for pressing the button (S22), and when I is greater than 100, the control unit 40 determines that the button is pressed as "long press". In this case, since the long press of the decision button is not specified, the process proceeds to S21 via S27. When I is 100 or less (NO in S22), since it means that the user has finished adjusting the illumination light amount, the control unit 40 ends the illumination light amount adjustment mode in a state where the current light amount LX is present.

When the user presses the left button, the control unit 40 detects the time (counter value I) for which the button is pressed (S23), and when I is greater than 100 (YES in S23), the control unit 40 determines that the button is pressed as "long press". In this case, since the long press of the left button means OFF of the illumination, the light amount LX is set to 0 (S26). When I is 100 or less (NO in S23), the control unit 40 determines whether or not the light amount LX is greater than 1 (S24). When the light amount LX is 0, the light amount cannot be decreased to or below the light amount, and therefore the light returns to LOOP through S27 and enters (S21). When the light amount LX is larger than 1 (YES in S24), the control unit 40 decreases the value of the light amount LX by 1(S25), displays a light bar having a length corresponding to the value of the light amount LX on the second display unit, and lights the illumination at the light amount LX (S20).

When the process proceeds to S21, the process proceeds to S28 again, and the illumination light amount adjustment is repeated again.

Fig. 11B shows an example of displaying a light bar (S20) having a length corresponding to the value of the light amount LX. Each time the light amount LX increases by 1, the block images are displayed one by one from the left side, and when the maximum light amount LX becomes 10, all the block images are displayed. Fig. 11A shows an example of the display actually displayed on the second display unit. In this way, by disposing the second display unit 22 for visually displaying the adjustment amount on the same surface of the mobile phone 1 as the adjustment knob, the user can operate the mobile phone 1 while viewing the adjustment amount, and thus the operability and convenience are improved. In addition, since the light bar is also displayed in the same manner in the various adjustment modes described below, the user can operate the mobile phone 1 while viewing the adjustment amount.

The illumination color mode is a mode for changing the emission color of the illumination unit 22. The lighting unit 22 includes a red LED22R, a green LED22G, and a blue LED 22B. Therefore, the combination of the light emission of the LEDs can emit, for example, red, green, blue, yellow, purple, or light blue light in addition to the white light. The lighting section 22 switches the color of light emitted once every time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (forward) or 24b (reverse). When the user presses the left button (the 2 nd operation button 24b) for 1 second or more, that is, when the user presses the button for "long press", the illumination unit 22 ends the light emission. In this way, by operating the 2 nd operation knob 24a or 24b, the user can change the light emission color of the illumination section 22 in the folded state without opening the mobile phone 1, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

The audio incoming call history pattern is a pattern for representing an audio incoming call history. Since the incoming call history is stored in the 3 rd memory 52, it is possible to display when and by whom the call was made after there is an audio incoming call in the portable telephone set 1. The second display unit 20 displays the time of the incoming call and the telephone number or name of the caller, and the incoming call history of the second display unit 20 is switched every time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (new incoming call) or 24b (old incoming call). In this way, even if the user does not open the mobile phone 1, the user can operate the 2 nd operation button 24a or 24b in the folded state to switch the incoming call history displayed on the second display portion 22, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

The mail display mode is a mode for viewing a mail received by the mobile phone. The second display unit 20 displays the mail name and the sender, and displays the mail text each time the user presses the 2 nd shutter button 23. Further, every time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (new mail) or 24b (old mail), the incoming history of the second display section 20 is switched. To end the mail display mode, the user presses the 2 nd shutter button 23 for a long time to end. In this way, even if the user does not open the mobile phone 1, the user can operate the 2 nd operation button 24a or 24b in the folded state to switch the contents of the received mail displayed on the second display unit 20, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Next, a description will be given of a procedure for displaying mail contents on the second display unit 20 by using the buttons 23, 24a, and 24b provided on the back surface of the first casing 2, based on the flowchart of fig. 13. Here, the following description will be made of a state in which a mail content display mode is selected from the menu screen of the second display unit 20 through a predetermined operation and the mail content display mode is entered. In addition to the selection from the menu screen, the user may enter the mail content display mode after pressing the button within 5 seconds when the mobile phone 1 receives the mail.

First, when the mobile phone 1 enters the mail content display mode, the control unit 40 reads the first mail from the 3 rd memory 52, and displays the sender and the title of the first mail on the second display unit 20. In the mailboxes in the memory, the values MX displaying the mail numbers in order from the first mail are assigned in order. In this case, the mail number MX is set to 1 (S30). The control unit 40 then detects whether or not the user presses the buttons 23, 24a, and 24b provided on the back surface (S31). When the button is pressed, the control unit 40 detects which button the user has pressed, and stores the identification information of the detected button in the memory (S32). Next, to determine whether the user presses the button for a standard time (i.e., short press) or longer than the standard time, the counter value I is set to 0 (S33). The counter value I is incremented by 1 after 10mces (S34). While the user is pressing the button, the counter value I is incremented by 1 every 10mces (S35), and when the user finishes pressing the button, the process shifts to a process corresponding to the pressed button (S36).

When the user presses the right button, the control unit 40 detects the time (counter value I) for pressing the button (S37), and when the value of I is greater than 100, the control unit 40 determines that the pressing is "long press". In this case, since the long press of the right button is not specified, the process proceeds to S41 via S47. When the value of I is 100 or less, the control section 40 determines whether the mail number MX is smaller than the maximum number of mail pieces to be stored (S38). When the mail number MX is larger than the maximum number of stored mails, the process proceeds to S41 through S47 because there is no next mail. When the mail number MX is smaller than the maximum number of stored mails, the control section 40 increments the value of the mail number MX by 1(S39), and the control section 40 writes data for display in the display memory so that the second display section 20 displays the mail sender and the title of the mail number MX (S40).

When the user presses the decision button, the control unit 40 detects the time (counter value I) for pressing the button (S42), and when the value of I is greater than 100, the control unit 40 determines that the pressing is "long press". In this case, the long press of the decision button means that the user ends the mail display, and therefore the control unit 40 ends the mail display mode. When the value of I is less than 100, the control section 40 causes the second display section 20 to display the mail text of the mail number MX (S43), and the process goes through S47 to S41.

When the user presses the left button, the control unit 40 detects the time (counter value I) for pressing the button (S44), and when the value of I is greater than 100, the control unit 40 determines that the pressing is "long press". In this case, since the long press of the left button is not specified, the process proceeds to S41 through S47. When the value of I is 100 or less, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the mail number MX is greater than 1 (S45). When the mail number MX is 1 or less, the mail having the number is the first mail, and the process goes to S41 through S47. When the mail number MX is larger than 1, the control section 40 decreases the value of the mail number MX by 1 (S46). The control unit 40 writes the data for display in the display memory so that the second display unit 20 displays the mail sender and the title of the mail number MX (S40). The process proceeds to S41 and S48, and the controller 40 repeats the process for displaying the mail again.

Thus, the user can perform the sending/returning of the mail sender and the title display, the text display, and the ending operation of the mail display mode by using the 3 buttons.

The shift to the audio incoming call history mode and the mail display mode may be performed by the user pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23 when an audio incoming call or a mail is received, in addition to the operation of entering the mode by selecting a selection item from the standby state. When there is an incoming audio call or mail reception, the second display unit 20 displays a specific display only for a predetermined time from that time. Only when the specific display appears, the mobile phone 1 may enter the audio incoming history mode or the mail display mode without displaying the above selection items after the user presses the 2 nd shutter button 23.

Since the mobile phone 1 includes the television tuner 59, the second display unit 20 can display a television image. When displaying the tv image, the user can switch channels or adjust the volume by operating the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24 b. The switching of the channel switching and the volume adjustment can be arbitrarily switched by the user pressing the shutter button 23. In this way, even when the user views the television through the second display unit 22, the channel can be changed by operating the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b in the folded state without opening the mobile phone 1 and operating the buttons such as the numeric buttons at the time of changing the channel, and thus the operability and convenience are improved. In addition, when the user listens to the audio through the mobile phone 1, the user can operate the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b to change the volume in the folded state without opening the mobile phone 1 and without operating the digital buttons or the like at the time of changing the volume, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

The user can operate the reproduction of the MP3 data stored in the 3 rd memory of the mobile phone 1 by the shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24 b. In this way, when the user listens to the audio data through the mobile phone 1, even if the user does not open the mobile phone 1 and operates the digital buttons or the like at the time of changing the reproduced music, the user can operate the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b to change the reproduced music in the folded state, and thus the operability and convenience are improved.

Next, the operation of the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation buttons 24a and 24b in the camera mode will be described. When the mobile phone 1 is in the standby state, the user pushes the 2 nd shutter button 23 for a long time to start the camera unit 21, and the camera mode is entered. The user performs a shutter operation by pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23 in the camera mode.

Further, the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24b, and the illumination portion 22 changes the light emission color (white → red → green → blue → yellow → purple → light blue → white) once, and turns on only during the pressing, and by pressing for 1 second or more, the illumination portion 22 is switched to the continuous lighting by pressing the light emission color at that time. When the lighting is continued, the lighting unit 22 can be turned off by pressing for 1 second or more. By pressing the 2 nd operation knob 24b short or long in this way, the light emission color of the illumination unit 22 and the ON/OFF switching of the illumination unit 22 can be used, respectively, and operability and convenience are improved. Further, by switching the control between the short-press and the long-press, various controls can be performed without increasing the number of operation buttons, and an increase in cost due to an increase in size and the number of components of the mobile phone 1 can be suppressed.

Further, the user can set the camera mode by pressing the 2 nd operation button 24 a. In the example of fig. 8, the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a once, then displays the text "zoom" in the lowermost area of the second display unit 20, and then presses the 2 nd shutter button 23, which functions as the decision button, and then shifts to the zoom adjustment mode. If the user continues to press the 2 nd operation button 24a without pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23, switching is made in accordance with zoom adjustment → brightness adjustment → the illumination light amount mode → the illumination color mode → the end of adjustment. When a desired adjustment item is displayed, the user presses the 2 nd shutter button 23 functioning as a decision key to enter each adjustment mode.

The zoom adjustment mode is a mode for adjusting the zoom at the time of camera shooting. In the same manner as in the above-described illumination light amount mode, in the lowermost region of the second display unit 20, a left-right arrow display and an indicator indicating the current zoom state are displayed in the screen horizontal direction. Each time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (zoom-in) or 24b (zoom-out), the length of the indicator is shortened or lengthened, and the zoom thereof is adjusted in conjunction therewith. After the zoom adjustment, the adjustment mode is ended by pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23, and the shutter operation becomes possible after pressing the 2 nd shutter button 23.

The brightness adjustment mode is a mode for adjusting the brightness of the captured image. In the same manner as in the above-described illumination light amount pattern, left and right arrows and an indicator indicating the current brightness are displayed in the screen horizontal direction in the lowermost region of the second display unit 20. Each time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (bright) or 24b (dark), the length of the indicator is shortened or lengthened, and in conjunction therewith, the brightness of the display image is adjusted by the control unit 40.

Here, the luminance adjustment is performed at a stage before the shutter operation, but the adjustment timing is not limited thereto. For example, a user confirmation screen indicating whether the captured image is to be adjusted in brightness after the image capture or stored as an original image may be displayed on the second display unit, and the user may enter the brightness adjustment mode when the user desires to adjust the brightness. In this case, after the user has finished the brightness adjustment, the adjusted image may be saved to the 3 rd memory 52. If the image adjustment is performed before the image is stored after the photographing, the 2 nd shutter button 23 and the 2 nd operation button 24 can be used to set the tone and style of the image and the image decoration such as the frame, in addition to the brightness adjustment of the photographed image. In this way, by performing camera shooting and processing an image while viewing the second display unit 20 before storing the shot image, the user can store the image after image adjustment and processing. Therefore, the user desires to adjust and process the photographed image immediately after photographing, and does not need to read out the image once stored again to adjust and process the image, so that the operability and convenience are improved.

The illumination light amount mode is a mode for adjusting the light amount of the illumination section 22. In the illumination light amount mode, left and right arrows and an indicator indicating the current light amount are displayed in the screen horizontal direction in the lowermost region of the second display unit 20. Each time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (bright) or 24b (dark), the length of the indicator is shortened or lengthened, and the light amount of the illumination portion 22 is also changed in conjunction therewith.

The illumination color mode is a mode for changing the emission color of the illumination unit 22. Since the illumination unit 22 includes the red LED22R, the green LED22G, and the blue LED22B, red, green, blue, yellow, purple, and light blue, for example, other than white light can be emitted by the combination of the light emission of the respective LEDs. The lighting section 22 switches the light emission color once every time the user presses the 2 nd operation button 24a (forward) or 24b (reverse).

Next, fig. 14 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the cellular phone 70 shown in fig. 14, the camera portion 21 and the illumination portion 22 are arranged in parallel in this order from the hinge 4 on the back surface of the first housing 71, and then the second display portion 20 is arranged. Next, the second display unit 20 is provided with a multi-button 72 that is a feature of the mobile phone 70. The multi-knob 72 integrates 5 knobs, i.e., a shutter/decision knob 72a, an up-direction knob 72b, a down-direction knob 72c, a right-direction knob 72d, and a left-direction knob 72 e. The same components as those of the mobile phone 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Fig. 15 is a table showing function assignment of the multi-buttons 72. The mobile phone 70 has 2 modes, i.e., a normal mode and a camera mode. When the power of the mobile phone 70 is turned on, the normal mode is established, and the user needs to start the camera function and switch to the camera mode using the display portion as a viewfinder to perform camera shooting.

In the multi-knob 72, the user can select various adjustment items by pressing the up-direction knob 72b and the down-direction knob 72c, and can change the adjustment amount in various setting modes selected by the up-direction knob 72b and the down-direction knob 72c by pressing the left-direction knob 72e and the right-direction knob 72 d. For example, in the standby state of the normal mode, the user presses down direction button 72c 1 time to set the illumination ON/OFF, and then presses down direction button 2 times to set the image confirmation mode. When the right button 72d is pressed in the image confirmation mode, the image photographed by the camera portion 21 and stored in the 3 rd memory 52 is displayed in the second display portion 20 in a forward manner. Conversely, by pressing the left button 72e, the image is displayed on the second display unit 20 in a reverse manner.

In this way, even if the user does not turn ON the mobile phone, the user can select adjustment items such as the illumination ON/OFF and the image confirmation mode by operating the up button 72b and the down button 72c, and can change the adjustment amount by operating the right button 72d and the left button 72 e. Further, by making the selection of the adjustment item independent of the selection of the adjustment amount, the user's operation can be facilitated. In addition, the adjustment items can be selected and the adjustment amount can be changed in the closed state, so that the mobile phone does not need to be opened, and the operability and convenience are improved. The second display unit 20 displays a photographed image photographed by the camera unit 21. Therefore, the user can switch various adjustment items, change the adjustment amount, process, and the like for the photographed image photographed by the camera portion 21 in a state where the mobile phone 70 is folded. As a result, the operability and convenience are improved.

In the present embodiment, the up-direction button 72b and the down-direction button 72c are described as buttons for changing the adjustment items, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and for example, all the buttons (72a to 72e) in the multi-button 72 may have functions of a determination button such as ON/OFF switching and key locking, illumination ON/OFF, and the like, which are displayed as pictograms.

Fig. 16 is a table showing the operation assignment of the multi-button 72 changed based on fig. 15. The operation modes in setting the mobile phone 70 may be a normal mode and a camera mode, and a mail display mode, a TV mode, and an MP3 playback mode may be set independently.

The portable telephone 70 can enter the mail display mode after receiving the mail or by a specific operation based on the user (such as double-clicking the decision button 72 a). When the user presses the decision button 72a in the mail display mode, the latest mail text is displayed on the second display section 20. When the second display unit 20 cannot display the entire text because the mail text is too long, the second display unit 20 displays a part of the text. By pressing the down direction button 72c, the user can scroll down the screen of the second display unit 20 to display the following part of the mail. Further, by pressing the up button 72b, the user can scroll the screen of the second display unit 20 upward to display the top of the mail. The user can display the old mail 1 before the currently displayed mail by pressing the left button 72 e. The user can cause the second display section 20 to display new mails 1 after the mail currently displayed by pressing the right button 72 d. When the user causes the mobile phone 70 to end the mail display mode, the mobile phone 70 returns to the standby mode by double-clicking the decision button 72a, and the standby image is displayed on the second display unit 20. In this way, the user can display the mail on the second display unit 22 in a state where the mobile phone 70 is folded, scroll the mail, and switch to another mail display. Thus, when the user views the mail text, the user reads the mail on the first display unit 5 without having to open the mobile phone 70 and switches the reading of the mail by a numeric button or the like. In the folded cellular phone, the user can switch the displayed mail by the right button 72d and the left button 72e, and scroll the mail display by the up button 72b and the down button 72 c. Thereby improving operability and convenience.

After the user performs a specific operation, mobile phone 70 can enter a TV mode. In the function assignment of the multi-knob 72 described in fig. 15, the right-hand knob 72d and the left-hand knob 72e are used for both reception channel switching and volume adjustment. By pressing the decision button 72a, switching of the reception channel and volume adjustment are switched. Here, the right button 72d and the left button 72e are assigned to reception channel switching, and the upper button 72b and the lower button 72c are assigned to volume adjustment, and the operation thereof becomes simple. In this way, the user can cause the second display unit 20 to display a television image in a state where the mobile phone 70 is folded. The user can use the channel button and the volume button to operate the change of the channel and the volume. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

After the user performs a specific operation, the portable telephone 70 may enter the MP3 reproduction mode. In the function assignment of the multi-knob 72 described in fig. 15, the right-hand knob 72d and the left-hand knob 72e are used for both the reproduction operation and the volume adjustment. By pressing the decision button 72a, the user can switch the reproduction operation and the volume adjustment. Here, the right direction button 72d and the left direction button 72e are assigned to the reproduction operation, and the upper direction button 72b and the lower direction button 72c are assigned to the volume adjustment, and the operation is simplified. In this way, the user can reproduce or record audio data by operating the right button 72d and the left button 72 as the reproduction operation section and the up button 72b and the down button 72c as the volume adjustment section in a state where the mobile phone 70 is folded. Therefore, the operability and convenience are improved.

As described above, by providing the mobile phone 1(70) with the determination buttons or the direction buttons as the plurality of operation portions, various adjustments, settings, and switching can be performed even in the state where the mobile phone 1(70) is folded, and there is no need to perform an operation of opening the mobile phone 1 (70). In addition, since the mobile phone 1(70) can be used for various purposes in a compact state in which it is folded, convenience is improved. Further, by optimizing the button configuration, operability for the user is improved.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the spirit and scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

1. A mobile phone (1) is characterized by comprising:

a first housing (2);

a second housing (3); and

a connecting part (4) for connecting the first housing and the second housing,

the first case and the second case are formed by the connecting portion in a foldable manner,

the mobile phone further includes:

a first display unit (5) disposed on a surface of the first housing facing the second housing in a folded state;

an imaging unit (21) which is disposed on the back surface of the first display unit of the first housing and which can take an image when the mobile phone is folded;

a second display unit (20) which is disposed on the rear surface and displays an image such that the connection unit is positioned at an upper portion thereof in a folded state;

a key (7) disposed on a surface of the second housing facing the first housing in a folded state, for receiving input of numerals and characters;

a plurality of operation parts (24) which are arranged on the back surface and used in a state that the mobile phone is folded,

the operation modes of the above-mentioned portable telephone set include a camera mode and a normal mode,

in the camera mode, the image pickup unit is capable of taking an image in an unfolded state and a folded state of the mobile phone, and a function for adjusting the image taking by the image pickup unit is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units, and in the folded state, the second display unit displays an image taken by the image pickup unit,

in the normal mode, in the folded state, functions other than the function assigned to the camera mode are assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation portions.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are connected to each other,

the function assigned to the above-described camera mode is a function for performing zoom adjustment.

3. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are connected to each other,

the function assigned to the above-described camera mode is a function for performing brightness adjustment.

4. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are connected to each other,

the function assigned to the normal mode is a function for adjusting the volume when audio data is reproduced.

5. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are connected to each other,

the function assigned to the above-described normal mode is a function for performing a reproduction operation at the time of audio data reproduction.

6. A mobile phone (1) is characterized by comprising:

a first housing (2);

a second housing (3); and

a connecting part (4) for connecting the first housing and the second housing,

the first case and the second case are formed by the connecting portion in a foldable manner,

the mobile phone further includes:

a first display unit (5) disposed on a surface of the first housing facing the second housing in a folded state;

an imaging unit (21) which is disposed on the back surface of the first display unit of the first housing and which can take an image when the mobile phone is folded;

a second display unit (20) which is disposed on the rear surface and displays an image such that the connection unit is positioned at an upper portion thereof in a folded state;

a key (7) disposed on a surface of the second housing facing the first housing in a folded state, for receiving input of numerals and characters;

a plurality of operation parts (24) which are arranged on the back surface and used in a state that the mobile phone is folded,

the operation modes of the above-mentioned portable telephone set include a camera mode and an MP3 data reproduction mode,

in the camera mode, the image pickup unit is capable of taking an image in an unfolded state and a folded state of the mobile phone, and a function for performing zoom adjustment based on the image pickup unit is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units, and in the folded state, the second display unit displays an image taken by the image pickup unit,

in the MP3 data reproduction mode, the function of adjusting the volume of audio data is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units in the folded state.

7. A mobile phone (1) is characterized by comprising:

a first housing (2);

a second housing (3); and

a connecting part (4) for connecting the first housing and the second housing,

the first case and the second case are formed by the connecting portion in a foldable manner,

the mobile phone further includes:

a first display unit (5) disposed on a surface of the first housing facing the second housing in a folded state;

an imaging unit (21) which is disposed on the back surface of the first display unit of the first housing and which can take an image when the mobile phone is folded;

a second display unit (20) which is disposed on the rear surface and displays an image such that the connection unit is positioned at an upper portion thereof in a folded state;

a key (7) disposed on a surface of the second housing facing the first housing in a folded state, for receiving input of numerals and characters;

a plurality of operation parts (24) which are arranged on the back surface and used in a state that the mobile phone is folded,

the operation modes of the above-mentioned portable telephone set include a camera mode and an MP3 data reproduction mode,

in the camera mode, the image pickup unit is capable of taking an image in an unfolded state and a folded state of the mobile phone, and a function for adjusting brightness based on the image taken by the image pickup unit is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units, and in the folded state, the second display unit displays an image taken by the image pickup unit,

in the MP3 data reproduction mode, the function of adjusting the volume of audio data is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units in the folded state.

8. A mobile phone (1) is characterized by comprising:

a first housing (2);

a second housing (3); and

a connecting part (4) for connecting the first housing and the second housing,

the first case and the second case are formed by the connecting portion in a foldable manner,

the mobile phone further includes:

a first display unit (5) disposed on a surface of the first housing facing the second housing in a folded state;

an imaging unit (21) which is disposed on the back surface of the first display unit of the first housing and which can take an image when the mobile phone is folded;

a second display unit (20) which is disposed on the rear surface and displays an image such that the connection unit is positioned at an upper portion thereof in a folded state;

a key (7) disposed on a surface of the second housing facing the first housing in a folded state, for receiving input of numerals and characters;

a plurality of operation parts (24) which are arranged on the back surface and used in a state that the mobile phone is folded,

the operation modes of the above-mentioned portable telephone set include a camera mode and an MP3 data reproduction mode,

in the camera mode, the image pickup unit is capable of taking an image in an unfolded state and a folded state of the mobile phone, and a function for performing zoom adjustment based on the image pickup unit is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units, and in the folded state, the second display unit displays an image taken by the image pickup unit,

in the MP3 data reproduction mode, the function of the audio data reproduction operation is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units in the folded state.

9. A mobile phone (1) is characterized by comprising:

a first housing (2);

a second housing (3); and

a connecting part (4) for connecting the first housing and the second housing,

the first case and the second case are formed by the connecting portion in a foldable manner,

the mobile phone further includes:

a first display unit (5) disposed on a surface of the first housing facing the second housing in a folded state;

an imaging unit (21) which is disposed on the back surface of the first display unit of the first housing and which can take an image when the mobile phone is folded;

a second display unit (20) which is disposed on the rear surface and displays an image such that the connection unit is positioned at an upper portion thereof in a folded state;

a key (7) disposed on a surface of the second housing facing the first housing in a folded state, for receiving input of numerals and characters;

a plurality of operation parts (24) which are arranged on the back surface and used in a state that the mobile phone is folded,

the operation modes of the above-mentioned portable telephone set include a camera mode and an MP3 data reproduction mode,

in the camera mode, the image pickup unit is capable of taking an image in an unfolded state and a folded state of the mobile phone, and a function for adjusting brightness based on the image taken by the image pickup unit is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation units, and in the folded state, the second display unit displays an image taken by the image pickup unit,

in the MP3 data reproduction mode, the function of the reproduction operation of the audio data is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operation sections in the folded state.