Mobile radio apparatus with auxiliary display screen

• US 6,327,482 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Miyashita, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/320,540
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/90, 455/575, 455/349, 455/556, 379/433, 379/434, 345/102, 345/30, 345/5, 345/90, 345/108, 345/156, 345/173, 345/169, 345/784-787, 345/835, 345/902, 345/903, 345/864
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/902 Menu display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display

Abstract

A mobile radio apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body having a connector portion at one side thereof. A main display is mounted on the apparatus body. An auxiliary display includes a terminal portion and is removably connected to the side of the apparatus body with the terminal portion mating with the connector portion of the apparatus body. The auxiliary display connected to the apparatus body assists the main display in displaying data at the time of, e.g., transmission or receipt. When the apparatus is carried by the user, the auxiliary display is dismounted from the apparatus body. The apparatus therefore achieves a great display capacity without being increased in size.

Claims

1. A mobile radio apparatus including an apparatus body, comprising:

a main display mounted on a front of said apparatus body for displaying various kinds of data; and

an auxiliary display cantilevered from said apparatus body adjacent to said main display for assisting said main display in displaying the data such that when said data is read from left to right, a line of said data is contiguously displayed from said main display to said auxiliary display.

2. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary display includes a terminal portion connectable to a connector portion included in said apparatus body.

3. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary display is hinged to said apparatus body to be unfoldable away from said apparatus body.

4. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary display has a first and a second screen on a front and a rear thereof, respectively, said second screen displaying, when said auxiliary display is folded, the data expected to appear on said main display.

5. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus body is formed with a storing section at a side thereof for accommodating said auxiliary display, said auxiliary display being electrically connected to said apparatus body when pulled out of said storing section to a preselected position.

6. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary display includes a screen having a raster contiguous with a raster of a screen of said main display.

7. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a screen of said main display overflows, said auxiliary display displays remaining data.

8. A mobile radio apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary display displays data different from the data to be displayed on said main display.

9. A portable radio device having a display capability, comprising:

a main body having a main display for displaying text and a control pad section for entering data into said portable radio device; and

an auxiliary display for displaying text connectably positioned adjacent to said main display and cantilevered from said main body such that said main display and said auxiliary display form a single horizontally long screen.

10. A portable radio device having a display capability as recited in claim 9 wherein said auxiliary screen plugs into a port in a side of said main body.

11. A portable radio device having a display capability as recited in claim 10 wherein said auxiliary display slides into an opening in a side of said main body in a closed position.

12. A portable radio device having a display capability as recited in claim 9 wherein said auxiliary display is hinged to said main body and in a closed position closes on top of said main display.