Cellular phone

• US 7,346,376 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yoshitaka, Hamamura, Hiroyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D.
• Application Number:
  US10/681,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20040072589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.3, 455/90.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/3.06
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• 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 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• 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: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A plurality of operation portions are arranged at a surface on a sub-display side of a cellular phone with a camera so that various kinds of setting, selection and control can be performed without opening the cellular phone in its folded state, and the cellular phone can achieve improved operability and convenience. Cellular phone includes a first display portion at a surface of a first body opposed to a second body in the folded state, and includes a second display portion, an image taking portion and a plurality of operation portions arranged at a rear surface of the first body remote from the first display portion.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state; and

said cellular phone further comprising an incoming call record storing portion for storing incoming call records, wherein

said operation portion displays a first image on said second display portion based on a first incoming call record and said operation portion changes the image on the second display portion to a second image based on a second incoming call.

2. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state,

said cellular phone further comprising a control portion for displaying contents of a received mail on the second display portion, wherein

said operation portion selects and displays contents of another received mail on the second display portion.

3. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state; and

wherein

said operation portions include a menu item selecting portion and a control setting magnitude selecting portion.

4. The cellular phone according to claim 3, wherein said image taking portion, said second display portion and said plurality of operation portions are arranged at the rear surface of said first body remote from said first display portion, and are located in this order starting from a position near said coupling portion in a direction away from said coupling portion.

5. The cellular phone according to claim 3, wherein said second display portion visually displays a magnitude of a control setting changeable by a user.

6. The cellular phone according to claim 3, wherein said image taking portion, said second display portion and said plurality of operation portions are arranged at the rear surface of said first body remote from said first display portion, and are located in this order starting from a position near said coupling portion in a direction away from said coupling portion, and said second display portion visually displays a magnitude of a control setting changeable by a user.

7. The cellular phone according to claim 6, further comprising:

a control portion controlling a display function of said cellular phone, said control portion outputting an inversion control signal for turning an image upside down; and

an inversion processing portion to process image data based on the absence or presence of said inversion control signal to output the image data, wherein said inversion processing portion performs a half turn of the input image data if said inversion processing portion receives said inversion control signal, and said inversion processing portion outputs the image data without turning the image data if said inversion processing portion does not receive said inversion control signal.

8. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state;

wherein

said second display portion displays contents of a received mail, and

said plurality of operation portions include a scroll button for longitudinally or laterally scrolling the contents of the mail displayed on said second display portion, and a selector button for selecting and displaying contents of another received mail on said second display portion.

9. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state;

wherein

said second display portion visually displays a magnitude of a control setting, the magnitude being changeable by a user.

10. The cellular phone according to claim 9, further comprising:

a display control portion controlling a display function of said cellular phone, said display control portion outputting an inversion control signal for turning an image upside down; and

an inversion processing portion to process image data based on the absence or presence of said inversion control signal to output the image data, wherein said inversion processing portion performs a half turn of the input image data if said inversion processing portion receives said inversion control signal, and said inversion processing portion outputs the image data without turning the image data if said inversion processing portion does not receive said inversion control signal.

11. The cellular phone according to claim 10, further comprising:

a control portion controlling an operation of said cellular phone, said control portion including;

a detection portion detecting operation of any of said plurality of operation portions, and

a switching portion switching between said first mode and said second mode based on detection of the operation by said detection portion; and

an audio output portion outputting audio;

said control portion further including;

a shooting control portion causing said image taking portion to perform a shooting operation in said first mode, and

an audio output control portion controlling audio output from said audio output portion in said second mode.

12. The cellular phone according to claim 11, wherein said image taking portion, said second display portion and said plurality of operation portions are arranged at the rear surface of said first body remote from said first display portion, and are located in this order starting from a position near said coupling portion in a direction away from said coupling portion.

13. The cellular phone according to claim 12, further comprising:

an operation control portion controlling an operation of said cellular phone, said operation control portion including;

a detection portion detecting operation of any of said plurality of operation buttons, and

a switching portion switching between said first mode and said second mode based on detection of the operation by said detection portion; and

an audio output portion outputting audio, wherein said operation control portion further includes;

a shooting control portion causing said image taking portion to perform a shooting operation in said first mode, and

an audio output control portion controlling audio output from said audio output portion in said second mode.

14. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state;

wherein

said image taking portion, said second display portion and said plurality of operation portions are arranged at the rear surface of said first body remote from said first display portion, and are located in this order starting from a position near said coupling portion in a direction away from said coupling portion.

15. The cellular phone according to claim 14, wherein said second display portion visually displays a magnitude of a control setting changeable by a user.

16. The cellular phone according to claim 15, further comprising:

a display control portion controlling a display function of said cellular phone, said display control portion outputting an inversion control signal for turning an image upside down; and

an inversion processing portion to process image data based on the absence or presence of said inversion control signal to output the image data, wherein said inversion processing portion performs a half turn of the image data if said inversion processing portion receives said inversion control signal, and said inversion processing portion outputs the image data without turning the image data if said inversion processing portion does not receive said inversion control signal.

17. The cellular phone according to claim 16, further comprising:

a control portion controlling an operation of said cellular phone, said control portion including;

a detection portion detecting operation of any of said plurality of operation buttons, and

a switching portion switching between said first mode and said second mode based on detection of the operation by said detection portion; and

an audio output portion outputting audio;

wherein said control portion further includes;

a shooting control portion causing said image taking portion to perform a shooting operation in said first mode, and

an audio output control portion controlling audio output from said audio output portion in said second mode.

18. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state;

the cellular phone further comprising a control portion controlling an operation of said cellular phone, wherein said control portion includes;

a detection portion for detecting operation of any of said plurality of operation portions, and

a switching portion for switching between said first mode and said second mode based on detection of the operation by said detection portion.

19. The cellular phone according to claim 18, further comprising an audio output portion outputting audio, wherein said control portion further includes:

a shooting control portion for causing said image taking portion to perform a shooting operation in said first mode, and

an audio output control portion for controlling audio output from said audio output portion in said second mode.

20. The cellular phone according to claim 18, wherein said image taking portion, said second display portion and said plurality of operation portions are arranged at the rear surface of said first body remote from said first display portion, and are located in this order starting from a position near said coupling portion in a direction away from said coupling portion.

21. The cellular phone according to claim 18, wherein said second display portion visually displays a magnitude of a control setting changeable by a user.

22. The cellular phone according to claim 18, wherein said image taking portion, said second display portion and said plurality of operation portions are arranged at the rear surface of said first body remote from said first display portion, and are located in this order starting from a position near said coupling portion in a direction away from said coupling portion, and said second display portion visually displays a magnitude of a control setting changeable by a user.

23. A cellular phone comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a coupling portion coupling said first body and said second body together, said coupling portion allowing folding of said first body and said second body with respect to each other;

a first display portion arranged on a surface of said first body opposed to said second body in the folded state;

an image taking portion arranged on a rear surface of said first display portion of said first body and capable of shooting while said cellular phone is folded;

a second display portion arranged on said rear surface and displaying an image with the image'"'"'s top facing said coupling portion in the folded state;

a plurality of keys arranged on said second body'"'"'s surface and accepting input of numbers and letters, said plurality of keys facing said first display portion when said cellular phone is folded;

a shutter button usable in the folded state;

an audio data storage unit storing a plurality of audio data;

a sound playing unit playing sound based on said plurality of audio data; and

a plurality of operation portions arranged on said rear surface for use in the folded state of said cellular phone;

wherein

operation modes of said cellular phone include a first mode and a second mode,

in said first mode, said image taking portion is capable of shooting while said cellular phone is unfolded and folded, said second display portion displays an image shot by said image taking portion as a view finder in the folded state, and said image taking portion is capable of shooting by an operation to said shutter button,

in said second mode, each of said plurality of operation portions accepts operation instructions associated with playing of audio based on said audio data stored in said audio data storage portion in the folded state;

the cellular phone further comprising an inversion processing portion to process image data based on the absence or presence of an inversion control signal to output the image data, wherein said inversion processing portion performs a half turn of the input image data if

said inversion processing portion receives said inversion control signal, and said inversion processing portion outputs the input image data without turning the image input data if said inversion processing portion does not receive said inversion control signal.