Collapsible mobile terminal, its display method and its program

• US 7,190,977 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hikishima, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/232,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/566, 455/347, 455/351, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.13
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a collapsible mobile terminal provided with display device installed on the outside face of the collapsible body and display device installed on the inside face of the body, opening/closing detection device for detecting an open or closed state of the body is provided, information is displayed on the display device on the inside face in case the body is unfolded based upon the result of detection by the opening/closing detection device and information is displayed on the display device on the outside face in case the body is folded. The unused display device is powered off.

Claims

1. A collapsible mobile terminal comprising:

a first display means on the outside face of the collapsible body;

a second display means on the inside face of the body;

an opening/closing detection means for detecting an opened or closed state of the body;

a single controller at least controlling the display means on the outside face and the display means on the inside face based upon the result of detection by the opening/closing detection means and

a common display bus connecting the single controller and the display means on the outside face and the display means on the inside face,

the single controller controlling at least one function of said collapsible mobile terminal and at least one application resident on said collapsible mobile terminal,

execution of the at least one application being interrupted by activation of the at least one function at least after the opening/closing detection means detects the opened or closed state of the body.

2. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

an input means to which the display means on the outside face and the display means on the inside face are connected in common is at high impedance even if the input means is powered off.

3. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein:

when the opening/closing detection means detects that the body is being unfolded and the display means on the outside face displays information, the single controller halts processing on the display means on the outside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the outside face and data related to it in a memory, powers the display means on the outside face off and powers the display means on the inside face on.

4. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein:

in case the body is unfolded and then folded, the single controller resumes processing before a call using the information on the display means on the outside face and the related data which are respectively stored in the memory.

5. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection means that the body is being folded and the display means on the inside face displays information, the single controller halts display on the inside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display means on the inside face and powers on the display means on the outside face.

6. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

7. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

8. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection means that the body is being folded and the display means on the inside face displays information, the single controller halts display on the inside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display means on the inside face and powers on the display means on the outside face.

9. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

10. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

11. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection means that the body is being folded and the display means on the inside face displays information, the single controller halts display on the display means on the inside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display means on the inside face and powers on the display means on the outside face.

12. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

13. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

14. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

15. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

16. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

17. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

when the opening/closing detection means detects that the body is being unfolded and the display means on the outside face displays information, the single controller halts processing for the display means on the outside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the outside face and data related to it in a memory, powers the display means on the outside face off and powers the display means on the inside face on.

18. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein:

in case the body is unfolded and then folded, the single controller resumes processing before a call using the information on the display means on the outside face and the related data respectively stored in the memory.

19. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection means that the body is being folded and the display means on the inside face displays information, the single controller halts display on the display means on the inside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display means on the inside face and powers on the display means on the outside face.

20. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 19, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

21. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 19, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

22. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

23. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 22, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

24. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

25. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection means that the body is being folded and the display means on the inside face displays information, the single controller halts display on the display means on the inside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display means on the inside face and powers on the display means on the outside face.

26. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 25, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

27. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 25, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

28. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

29. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 28, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

30. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

31. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection means that the body is being folded and the display means on the inside face displays information, the single controller halts display on the display means on the inside face temporarily, stores the information on the display means on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display means on the inside face and powers on the display means on the outside face.

32. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 31, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

33. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 32, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

34. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 31, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

35. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the inside face when the terminal is in a closed state.

36. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 35, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

37. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

the single controller powers off the display means on the outside face when the terminal is in an opened state.

38. A collapsible mobile terminal comprising:

a display circuit on the outside face of the collapsible body;

a display circuit on the inside face of the body;

an opening/closing detection circuit for detecting an open or closed state of the body;

a single control circuit for at least controlling the display circuit on the outside face and the display circuit on the inside face based upon the result of detection by the opening/closing detection circuit; and

a common display bus connecting the single control circuit and the display circuits,

the single control circuit controlling at least one function of said collapsible mobile terminal and at least one application resident on said collapsible mobile terminal,

execution of the at least one application being interrupted by activation of the at least one function at least after the opening/closing detection circuit detects the open or closed state of the body.

39. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 38, wherein:

an input circuit to which the display circuit on the outside face and the display circuit on the inside face are connected in common is at high impedance even if the input circuit is powered off.

40. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is unfolded and the display circuit on the outside face displays information, the single control circuit halts the display on the outside face temporarily, stores the information on the display circuit on the outside face and data related to it in a memory, powers the display circuit on the outside face off and powers the display circuit on the inside face on.

41. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 40, wherein:

in case the body is unfolded and then folded, the single control circuit resumes processing before a conversation using the information on the display circuit on the outside face and the related data respectively stored in the memory.

42. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 41, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being folded and the display circuit on the inside face displays information, the single control circuit halts display on the inside face by the display circuit temporarily, stores the information on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display on the inside face and powers on the display on the outside face.

43. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 41, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

44. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 40, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being folded and the display circuit on the inside face displays information, the single control circuit halts display on the inside face by the display circuit temporarily, stores the information on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display on the inside face and powers on the display on the outside face.

45. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 40, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

46. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein:

p1 when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being folded and the display circuit on the inside face displays information, the single control circuit halts display on the inside face by the display circuit temporarily, stores the information on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display on the inside face and powers on the display on the outside face.

47. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 46, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

48. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

49. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 39, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

50. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 38, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being unfolded and the display circuit on the outside face displays information, the single control circuit halts the display of the information on the outside face temporarily, stores the information on the display circuit on the outside face and data related to it in a memory, powers the display circuit on the outside face off and powers the display circuit on the inside face on.

51. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 50, wherein:

in case the body is unfolded and then folded, the single control circuit resumes processing before a conversation using the information on the display circuit on the outside face and the related data which are respectively stored in the memory.

52. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 51, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being folded and the display circuit on the side face displays information, the single control circuit halts display on the inside face by the display circuit temporarily, stores the information on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display on the inside face and powers on the display on the outside face.

53. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 51, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

54. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 51, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

55. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 50, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being folded and the display circuit on the side face displays information, the single control circuit halts display on the inside face by the display circuit temporarily, stores the information on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display on the inside face and powers on the display on the outside face.

56. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 50, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

57. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 50, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

58. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 38, wherein:

when it is detected by the opening/closing detection circuit that the body is being folded the information and the display circuit on the side face displays information, the single control circuit halts display on the inside face by the display circuit temporarily, stores the information displayed on the inside face in a memory, powers off the display on the inside face and powers on the display on the outside face.

59. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 58, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

60. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 58, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

61. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 38, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the inside face when the body is in a closed state.

62. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 61, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

63. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 38, wherein:

the single control circuit powers off the display circuit on the outside face when the body is in an opened state.

64. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal in which a common display bus connects a display on the outside face of a folded body and a display on the inside face of the body to a single controller, the display method comprising:

an opening/closing detection process for detecting an opened or closed state of the body; and

a display control process for controlling the display on the outside face and the display on the inside face based upon the result of detection in the opening/closing detection process, wherein;

data is transmitted between the displays and the single controller on the common bus;

in the display control process, when the state of the body detected in the opening/closing detection process is a closed state, the display on the inside face is powered off; and

in the display control process, when the state of the body detected in the opening/closing detection process is an opened state, the display on the outside face is powered off,

the single controller controlling at least one function of said collapsible mobile terminal and at least one application resident on said collapsible mobile terminal,

execution of the at least one application being interrupted by activation of the at least one function at least after the opening/closing detection process detects the opened or closed state of the body.

65. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 64, wherein:

an input circuit to which the display on the outside face and the display on the inside face are connected in common is at high impedance even if the input circuit is powered off.

66. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 65, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being unfolded and the display on the outside face displays information, in the display control process, the display on the outside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the outside face is powered off and the display on the inside face is powered on.

67. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 65, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

68. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 64, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is unfolded and the display on the outside face displays information, in the display control process, display on the display on the outside face is temporarily halted and the display is stored in a memory, the display on the outside face is powered off and the display on the inside face is powered on.

69. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 68, wherein:

in case the body is unfolded and then folded, in the display control process, processing before unfolding is resumed using the information on the display on the outside face and data related to it respectively stored in the memory.

70. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 69, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

71. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 68, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

72. A display method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 64, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, the display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the display is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

73. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal in which a common display bus connects a display on the outside face of the collapsible body and a display on the inside face of the body to a single controller wherein:

an opening/closing detection process for detecting an opened or closed state of the body, a display control process for controlling the display on the outside face and the display on the inside face based upon the result of detection in the opening/closing detection process and a process for transmission of information between the display and the single controller are executed by a computer;

in the display control process, when the state of the body detected in the opening/closing detection process is a closed state, the display on the inside face is powered off; and

in the display control process, when the state of the body detected in the opening/closing detection process is an opened state, the display on the outside face is powered off,

the single controller controlling at least one function of said collapsible mobile terminal and at least one application resident on said collapsible mobile terminal,

execution of the at least one application being interrupted by activation of the at least one function at least after the opening/closing detection process detects the opened or closed state of the body.

74. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 73, wherein:

an input process controls an input circuit which the display on the outside face and the display on the inside face are connected in common to be at high impedance even if the input circuit is powered off.

75. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 74, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being unfolded and the display on the outside face displays information, the display control process halts the display on the outside face temporarily, stores the displayed information in a memory, powers the display on the outside face off and powers the display on the inside face on.

76. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 74, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, the display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

77. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 73, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being unfolded and the display on the outside face displays information, the display control process halts the display of the information on the display on the outside face temporarily, stores the displayed information in a memory, powers the display on the outside face off and powers the display on the inside face on.

78. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 77, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, the display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

79. A display control program of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 73, wherein:

when it is detected in the opening/closing detection process that the body is being folded and the display on the inside face displays information, display of the information on the display on the inside face is temporarily halted and the displayed information is stored in a memory, the display on the inside face is powered off and the display on the outside face is powered on.

80. A display control program method of a collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 79, wherein:

in case the body is unfolded and a conversation is made, processing before the conversation is resumed using the stored information on the display circuit on the outside face and data related to it respectively stored in the memory.

81. A collapsible mobile terminal, comprising:

a collapsible body;

a first display circuit on the outside face of the body;

a second display circuit on the inside face of the body;

a detection circuit configured to detect whether a state of the body is a folded state or an unfolded state; and

a single control circuit at least configured to halt a display on the first display circuit temporarily and to store data relating to the display on the first display circuit in a memory when the detection circuit detects a change in the state of the body from the folded state to the unfolded state,

the single control circuit controlling at least one function of said collapsible mobile terminal and at least one application resident on said collapsible mobile terminal,

execution of the at least one application being interrupted by activation of the at least one function at least after the detection circuit detects the folded state or the unfolded state of the body.

82. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 81, wherein the single control circuit resumes the halted display on the first display circuit using the data stored in the memory when the detection circuit detects a change in the state of the body from the unfolded state to the folded state after the halt of the display on the first display circuit.

83. A collapsible mobile terminal according to claim 82, further comprising

a common display bus configured to connect the control circuit and both the first display circuit and the second display circuit.