Folding portable telephone apparatus

• US 6,807,275 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Mamoru, Nanmoku, Teruo, Kubo, Tetsuya, Nagasawa, Naokazu, Kaiwa, Ryouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/703,778
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.13, 455/90.3, 455/575.7, 455/566
• US Class Current: 379/433.04
• 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 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

First display (4) comprising a liquid crystal display is provided on the external surface of the first case body (1). In the near proximity of the first display (4), a non-voice radio communications service start button (5), scroll buttons (6a), (6b), and a selection/decision button (7) are provided. On the internal surface of the first case body (1), the second display 8, on the side of which is provided an antenna 9 retractable slantwise, is provided. In the first case body (1) is embedded a magnet (18) and in the second case body (2) is embedded a lead switch (19). When the main unit is folded to bring the magnet (18) in close proximity to the lead switch (19), the lead switch is turned ON. When the main unit is unfolded to place the magnet (18) apart from the lead switch (19), the lead switch is turned OFF. This allows detection of folding/unfolding of the case body.

Claims

1. A folding portable telephone apparatus comprising:

a folding main unit comprising a first case body and a second case body;

a first display which displays received non-voice information and which is provided on an external surface of said first case body of said main unit; and

a second display provided on an internal surface of said main unit;

wherein the received information is displayed on said first display if said main unit is folded, and received information is displayed on said second display if said main unit is unfolded,

wherein when a folding/unfolding state of the main unit is changed, the received information is switched corresponding to the new folding/unfolding state in the main unit,

wherein when the received information is switched from said first display to said second display, the received information displayed on said first display is deleted, and predetermined information is displayed on said first display while the received information is displayed on the second display.

2. A folding portable telephone apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna provided on the side surface of said main unit and retractable slantwise in the direction of width of the main unit.

3. A folding portable telephone apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said main unit has a first case body having said displays and second case body,

wherein said antenna is provided on the side surface of the second case body.

4. A folding portable telephone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein internal surfaces of the first case body and second case body face each other when said main body is folded,

wherein said second display is provided on the internal surface of the first case body.

5. A folding portable telephone apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operator for operating at least one of starting and terminating of non-voice radio communications.