Electronic Device

• US 20070063985A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koyama, Jun, Yamazaki, Yu, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/02 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/037 using organic materials, e.g. organic LED
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals

Abstract

An easy to use electronic device is provided. The electronic device functions as a telephone and has a display portion, an audio input portion, an audio output portion, and operation keys. The display portion has a passive element, and the operation keys have LEDs. The direction of an image displayed by the LEDs is switchable.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a thin film transistor; and

operation keys each comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein the direction of images displayed by each of the operation keys is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display portion has EL elements or liquid crystals.

11. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the input keys has EL elements, liquid crystals or LEDs.

16. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the direction of an image displayed in the display portion and that of the image displayed in each of the input keys are the same at all times.

21. An electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a first memory and a second memory, wherein the first memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the first orientation;

and

wherein the second memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the second orientation.

2. An electronic device comprising:

a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a thin film transistor;

audio input portion;

audio output portion; and

operation keys each comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein the direction of images displayed by each of the operation keys is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

7. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the display portion has EL elements or liquid crystals.

12. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein each of the input keys has EL elements, liquid crystals or LEDs.

17. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the direction of an image displayed in the display portion and that of the image displayed in each of the input keys are the same at all times.

22. A telephone according to claim 2, further comprising a first memory and a second memory, wherein the first memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the first orientation;

and

wherein the second memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the second orientation.

3. An electronic device comprising:

a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a thin film transistor;

a CCD light receiving portion; and

operation keys each comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein the direction of images displayed by each of the operation keys is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

8. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the display portion has EL elements or liquid crystals.

13. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein each of the input keys has EL elements, liquid crystals or LEDs.

18. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the direction of an image displayed in the display portion and that of the image displayed in each of the input keys are the same at all times.

23. An electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a first memory and a second memory, wherein the first memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the first orientation;

and

wherein the second memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the second orientation.

4. An electronic device comprising:

a first panel having a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a thin film transistor; and

a second panel having operation keys each comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein the direction of images displayed by each of the operation keys is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation in accordance with the angle between the first panel and the second panel.

9. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the display portion has EL elements or liquid crystals.

14. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein each of the input keys has EL elements, liquid crystals or LEDs.

19. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the direction of an image displayed in the display portion and that of the image displayed in each of the input keys are the same at all times.

24. An electronic device according to claim 4, further comprising a first memory and a second memory,

wherein the first memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the first orientation;

and

wherein the second memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the second orientation.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a thin film transistor and a photodiode; and

operation keys each comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein the direction of images displayed by each of the operation keys is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

10. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the display portion has EL elements or liquid crystals.

15. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein each of the input keys has EL elements, liquid crystals or LEDs.

20. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the direction of an image displayed in the display portion and that of the image displayed in each of the input keys are the same at all times.

25. An electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising a first memory and a second memory,

wherein the first memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the first orientation;

and

wherein the second memory is stored a display data of the operation keys corresponding to the second orientation.