Electronic device

• US 7,194,085 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koyama, Jun, Yamazaki, Shunpei, Yamazaki, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/811,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.07, 345/81, 345/82, 345/87, 345/169, 455/566, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• 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 functioning as a telephone, comprising:

a display portion;

an audio input portion;

an audio output portion; and

operation keys;

wherein;

the display portion comprises at least one gate signal line, at least one source signal line crossing the at least one gate signal line, and at least one active element electrically connected to the at least one gate signal line and the at least one source signal line;

each of the operation keys comprises LEDs; and

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

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the active element comprises an EL or liquid crystals.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the EL elements each have an anode, a cathode, and an EL layer formed between the anode and the cathode; and

the external quantum efficiency of the EL layer is equal to or greater than 10%.

4. An electronic device according to any of claim 1, wherein the strength of light emiffed by the EL elements is equal to or greater than 251 m/W.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a CCD light receiving portion.

6. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein an image is taken in as electronic data in the CCD light receiving portion.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the display portion has a touch panel; and

an image written into the touch panel is read in as electronic data.

8. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein:

the EL elements each have an anode, a cathode, and an EL layer formed between the anode and the cathode; and

the external quantum efficiency of the EL layer is equal to or greater than 10%.

9. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the strength of light emitted by the EL elements is equal to or greater than 251 m/W.

10. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the strength of light emitted by the EL elements is equal to or greater than 251 m/W.

11. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the electronic device has a CCD light receiving portion.

12. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device has a CCD light receiving portion.

13. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the electronic device has a CCD light receiving portion.

14. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein:

the display portion has a touch panel; and

an image written into the touch panel is read in as electronic data.

15. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein:

the display portion has a touch panel; and

an image written into the touch panel is read in as electronic data.

16. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein:

the display portion has a touch panel; and

an image written into the touch panel is read in as electronic data.

17. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein:

the display portion has a touch panel; and

an image written into the touch panel is read in as electronic data.

18. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein:

the display portion has a touch panel; and

an image written into the touch panel is read in as electronic data.