JP2002218030A - Folding portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To improve the operability of a foldable portable terminal. SOLUTION: In a foldable mobile phone having a main panel 2, an LCD panel 3, and a key panel 4, a foldable mobile phone is provided.
Even when both the CD panel 3 or the LCD panel 3 and the key panel 4 are closed, the sub LCD display section 9 and the search / confirm button 15 appear and are operable.
The display function and the operation function of the sub LCD display unit 9 and the search / confirmation button 15 are automatically switched between the state where the D panel 3 and the key panel 4 are closed and the state where the key panel 4 is opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable portable terminal including S and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a foldable portable terminal (excluding a flipper type), normally, a function operation and a screen operation cannot be performed when a housing is folded. In order to enable these operations in a state where the housing is folded, the following structure is conventionally employed.

[0003] For example, in order to allow a certain button to be operated even in a folded state, a structure is adopted in which a forming portion is provided so as to protrude from a housing, and another button is arranged there. Also, in order to be able to operate a button that is hidden inside the housing in the folded state, a hole or notch is formed in a part of the outer housing opposite to this button, so that the button can reach the outer surface of the housing. The structure is made to protrude. Further, a new button is formed on the outer surface of the housing so that the buttons inside the housing can be operated indirectly.

[0004]

However, in the above-described structure, the size of the housing must be increased in order to arrange the buttons. It is not preferable in terms of appearance, material cost, internal structure, and mounting area, such as the need to provide a button structure. Further, the required functions may be different between a state where the housing is expanded and a state where the housing is closed. However, such a function cannot be met.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems, and does not increase the shape and does not affect the internal structure of the housing, regardless of whether the housing is folded or unfolded. It is an object of the present invention to enable a predetermined function unit to function and to make at least some of the function units have different functions.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal comprising a plurality of housings, wherein information can be exchanged between the housings. Is foldable, a predetermined functional unit can function even when the plurality of housings are expanded or folded, and the predetermined functional unit is provided when the plurality of housings are expanded and folded. Are characterized in that at least some of them have different functions.

[0007] According to the portable terminal of the present invention, the predetermined functional unit can function even when the housing is expanded or folded. The functions of at least some of the predetermined function units are automatically switched with the opening and closing operation of the housing.

[0008] In the portable terminal device according to the present invention, in the above structure, the casings are joined to each other by a joining portion, and a predetermined functional portion is provided in a fixing portion of the joining portion. A predetermined functional unit is still present on the fixing unit.

Therefore, in order to secure the function of the predetermined functional unit, the size of the portable terminal itself may be increased,
There is no need to provide holes or cutouts in the housing, and the load on the internal structure of the housing and on the board mounting area can be minimized. In addition, the material cost has been reduced by simplifying the structure, etc.
Simplification of the structure is also achieved.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment in which a foldable portable terminal according to the present invention is applied to a portable telephone. The mobile phone according to the embodiment is a three-fold type mobile phone. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the front side with all housings opened, and FIG. 2 shows the mobile phone from the back side. The perspective appearance is shown. FIG. 3 shows a perspective external view from the front side with all the housings closed, and FIG. 4 shows a perspective external view from the rear side.

The portable telephone 1 has a main panel 2 and L
It is composed of three housings, a CD (liquid crystal display screen) panel 3 and a key panel 4. The LCD panel 3 is joined to the right side of the main panel 2 by a joint 5 so as to be foldable with respect to the main panel 2. Panel 4 is the main panel 2
Is joined to the main panel 2 by a joint 6 so as to be foldable.

The joining portion 5 is joined to the right side of the main panel 2 and joined to the LCD panel 3. The joining portion 5 is joined to both ends of the joining / fixing portion 7 and is rotatable with respect to the joining / fixing portion 7. And a rotating unit 8. Sub L
A CD display section 9 and a sounder section 10 are provided.

The joining portion 6 is joined to a bottom portion of the main panel 2 and is joined to both ends of the joining and fixing portion 11 integral with the key panel 4 and rotatable with respect to the joining and fixing portion 11. And part 12. An off-hook button 13 and an on-hook (power) button 14 are
And a search / confirmation button 15.

The main panel 2 is provided with an LCD display section 16, on which an earpiece 17 and a small camera 18 are incorporated, and on the back, an antenna 19 is incorporated as shown in FIG. ing. LCD panel 3 has L
A CD display unit 20 is incorporated. The key panel 4 incorporates a numeric keypad group 21 for numbers 1 to 9, 0, etc., a function key group 22 for manners, memos, and the like, and a transmitter 23.

The main panel 2 is provided with another casing LC.
When the D panel 3 and the key panel 4 are closed, as shown in FIG. 3, not only the receiver 17 and the small camera 18 of the main panel 2 but also the
D display part 9, sounder part 10, joint fixing part 1 of joint part 6
1, the off-hook button 13, the on-hook button 14,
The search / confirmation button 15 remains as an operable or displayable functional unit (shared unit).

The main panel 2, L, which is the above three housings
Functional units provided on the CD panel 3 and the key panel 4;
That is, the LCD display units 16 and 20, the various buttons 13 to 1
As can be seen from the functions 5, 21, and 22, electric signals can be exchanged between the housings.

FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and 5 (c) show the folding order of the three-fold type portable telephone and the use status at each stage.

FIG. 5A shows a state in which all the housings are opened as in FIGS. That is, the LCD panel 3 and the key panel 4 are open with respect to the main panel 2. In this state, the LCD display section 16 of the main panel 2
By using the LCD display unit 20 of the LCD panel 3, it is possible to display input and reception of mail transmission, browse the Internet, and capture an image by the small camera 18. Since two LCD displays 16 and 20 can be used,
You can display long sentences and information at once. At this time, information and the like can be supplementarily displayed on the sub LCD display section 9 between the two LCD display sections 16 and 20. The sub LCD display section 9 can be made non-use.

Of course, a normal voice call can be made with all the housings opened. In that case, the main panel 2
The user can search and confirm the memory dial with the search / confirmation button 15 on the joint fixing section 11 of the joint section 6 or directly input the dial with the numeric keypad group 21 while watching the LCD display section 16 of FIG. Outgoing call, call cut, power ON /
OFF can be operated by an off-hook button 13 and an on-hook button 14 on the joint fixing portion 11 of the joint 6.

FIG. 5B shows a state in which the LCD panel 3 is folded over the main panel 2 from the state shown in FIG. 5A. The key panel 4 remains open. The main use mode in this state is voice communication. In this state, while watching the sub LCD display section 9 on the joint fixing part 7 of the joint part 5, the joint fixing part 1 of the joint 6
The search / confirmation button 15 on 1 allows the user to search / confirm the memory dial or directly input a dial using the ten key group 21. That is, when all the housings shown in FIG. 5A are opened, the items displayed on the LCD display section 16 of the main panel 2 are displayed on the sub LCD display section 9. Outgoing call, call disconnection, power ON / OF
F is the off-hook button 1 on the joint fixing part 11 of the joint 6
3. Operable with the on-hook button 14.

FIG. 5C shows a state in which the key panel 4 is further folded on the LCD panel 3 folded on the main panel 2. This state is convenient for carrying because it is miniaturized. Since the main function of the voice call is on the joint fixing portions 7 and 11 of the joint portions 5 and 6, FIG.
Similar to the state shown in FIG.
Confirmation, outgoing call, call disconnection, power ON / OFF operation are possible.

When all the housings shown in FIG. 5 (c) are closed, voice communication such as an incoming number display, a memory dial display, a remaining battery level, and a current status display is performed on the sub LCD display unit 9. Perform the display that is deemed necessary at least. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when the housings are all opened, an Internet address display, a Japanese candidate display at the time of character input, and the like are displayed on the sub LCD display section 9, thereby displaying the sub LCD. Unit 9 to LCD display unit 1
It can serve 6, 20 sub-roles.

As described above, all the states, that is, the LCD
Panel 3 and key panel 4 open (FIG. 5
(A)), with the key panel 4 closed (FIG. 5 (b)),
The LCD panel 3 and the key panel 4 are closed (FIG. 5
In (c)), the function part (sub LCD display part 9, search /
Confirmation button 15 etc.) automatically switches its function / role according to the state, improving usability.
Operation efficiency can be improved. Such switching of the functional units is automatically performed with the opening and closing operations of the LCD panel 3 and the key panel 4.

As a similar use example, when the display direction (vertical writing / horizontal writing) on the LCD display units 16 and 20 is changed in accordance with the open / close state of a plurality of housings, the search and retrieval are performed accordingly.
By automatically switching the confirmation button 15 also in the vertical and horizontal directions, the user can operate without any discomfort.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a three-fold type mobile phone. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to a two-fold type mobile phone. Further, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, but can be applied to all foldable mobile terminals.

[0026]

As described above, according to the foldable portable terminal of the present invention, the foldable portable terminal comprises a plurality of housings,
And in a portable terminal capable of exchanging information between housings, the plurality of housings are foldable, and a predetermined functional unit can function even in a state where the plurality of housings are expanded or folded, and Since at least a part of the predetermined functional unit has a different function in a state where the plurality of housings are expanded and in a state where the plurality of housings are folded, the most suitable operability and display for the predetermined functional unit according to each state. Since a display or the like can be provided, and the function of the predetermined function unit is switched with the opening / closing operation of the housing, there is no need to provide a new button and to perform a new switching operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a foldable portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the foldable portable terminal shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the foldable portable terminal shown in FIG. 1 in a closed state viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a closed state of the foldable portable terminal shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing various states of the foldable portable terminal shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG.
(B) shows a state in which some housings are closed, and (c) shows a state in which all housings are closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Foldable mobile phone, 2: Main panel, 3: L
CD panel, 4: key panel, 5: joining section, 6: joining section, 7: joining fixing section, 8: joining rotating section, 9: sub LCD
Display unit, 10: sounder unit, 11: joint fixing unit, 12:
Joint rotation unit, 13: off-hook button, 14: on-hook button, 15: search (confirm) button, 16: LCD display unit, 20: LCD display unit,

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal comprising a plurality of housings and capable of exchanging information between the housings, wherein the plurality of housings are foldable, and the plurality of housings are folded even in an expanded state. A predetermined function unit can function even in a state, and at least a part of the predetermined function unit has a different function in a state where the plurality of housings are expanded and a state where the plurality of housings are folded. Mobile terminal.