Foldable cellular telephone

• US 7,835,775 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• 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: Mizuno, Satoshi, Nakamura, Tamaki, Sawayama, Kohji, Amano, Yonosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/203,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20090023473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/344, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/556.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/211.2, 439/13
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• 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 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard 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 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

A cellular phone includes a first case and a second case, which are connected in a foldable manner through a hinge. When the cellular phone is in a folded state, a second display unit displays an image with the side (upper side) closer to the hinge as the upper side. Accordingly, the user can hold the second case of the cellular phone in his/her hand regardless of whether the cellular phone is in a folded state or in an open state. The user can easily switch between a folded state and an open state with respect to the first case and the second case.

Claims

1. A mobile apparatus comprising:

a first case;

a second case;

a coupling unit for coupling said first and second cases in a foldable manner, wherein

said mobile apparatus attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and

said first case includes

a main display unit located at an inner side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, and

an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, wherein said image pick-up unit is capable of picking-up image data in both said folded and open states;

said mobile apparatus further comprising

a detector for detecting whether said mobile apparatus is in said folded state or said open state;

a first memory for storing said image data picked up through said image pick-up unit; and

a display control unit for controlling display operations of said main display unit, wherein

said display control unit to store rotating 180°

the image picked up by said image pick-up unit in said folded state to image picked up by said image pick-up unit in said open state and store said rotated image, wherein

said first case further includes a sub display unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, wherein

said image pick-up unit located at a position also allowing visual confirmation of said sub display unit when said mobile apparatus is in folded state.

2. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first case includes an operation unit to operate for display at said sub display unit, located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state.

3. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mobile apparatus further comprises a second memory for storing text data,

said display control unit causes said sub display unit to display the text corresponding to said text data stored in said second memory such that a top of the text in an upright orientation is located at said upper side of said sub display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said folded state.

4. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said sub display unit.

5. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first case further includes a sub display unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state,

said display control unit controls display operations of said main and sub display units based on the detected state by said detector, and causes said sub display unit to display the image corresponding to said image data stored in said first memory such that a top of the image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said sub display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said folded state and causes said main display unit to display the image such that a bottom of the image in an upright orientation is located at an lower side of said main display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said open state.

6. A mobile apparatus comprising:

a first case;

a second case;

a coupling unit for coupling said first and second cases in a foldable manner, wherein

said mobile apparatus attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and

said first case includes

a main display unit located at an inner side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, and

an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, wherein said image pick-up unit is capable of picking-up image data in both said folded and open states;

said mobile apparatus further comprising

a detector for detecting whether said mobile apparatus is in said folded state or said open state;

a first memory for storing said image data picked up through said image pick-up unit; and

a display control unit for controlling display operations of said main display unit, wherein

said display control unit to store rotating 180°

the image picked up by said image pick-up unit in said folded state to image picked up by said image pick-up unit in said open state and store said rotated image, wherein

said first case further includes a sub display unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, wherein

said first case includes an operation unit to operate for display at said sub display unit, located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state.

7. The mobile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said mobile apparatus further comprises a second memory for storing text data,

said display control unit causes said sub display unit to display the text corresponding to said text data stored in said second memory such that a top of the text in an upright orientation is located at said upper side of said sub display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said folded state.

8. The mobile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said sub display unit.

9. The mobile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said first case further includes a sub display unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state,

said display control unit controls display operations of said main and sub display units based on the detected state by said detector, and causes said sub display unit to display the image corresponding to said image data stored in said first memory such that a top of the image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said sub display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said folded state and causes said main display unit to display the image such that a bottom of the image in an upright orientation is located at an lower side of said main display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said open state.

10. A mobile apparatus comprising:

a first case;

a second case;

a coupling unit for coupling said first and second cases in a foldable manner, wherein said mobile apparatus attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and

said first case includes

a main display unit located at an inner side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, and

an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, wherein said image pick-up unit is capable of picking-up image data in both said folded and open states;

said mobile apparatus further comprising

a detector for detecting whether said mobile apparatus is in said folded state or said open state;

a first memory for storing said image data picked up through said image pick-up unit; and

a display control unit for controlling display operations of said main display unit, wherein

said display control unit to store rotating 180°

the image picked up by said image pick-up unit in said folded state to image picked up by said image pick-up unit in said open state and store said rotated image, wherein

said first case further includes a sub display unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state, wherein said image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said sub display unit.

11. The mobile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said mobile apparatus further comprises a second memory for storing text data,

said display control unit causes said sub display unit to display the text corresponding to said text data stored in said second memory such that a top of the text in an upright orientation is located at said upper side of said sub display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said folded state.

12. The mobile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said first case further includes a sub display unit located at an outer side when said mobile apparatus is in said folded state,

said display control unit controls display operations of said main and sub display units based on the detected state by said detector, and causes said sub display unit to display the image corresponding to said image data stored in said first memory such that a top of the image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said sub display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said folded state and causes said main display unit to display the image such that a bottom of the image in an upright orientation is located at an lower side of said main display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said open state.