Device and method for using a rotating key and controlling a display in a mobile terminal

• US 7,856,251 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jin-Woo, Choi, In-Kyu, Lee, Seog-Geun, Lee, Jong-Kerl
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/831,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.1, 455/56, 455/556.26
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A device and method for using a rotating key on a mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a plurality of dome switches which can detect a contact signal when pressed and a plurality of contact surfaces which can detect the position of the rotating key in each direction of rotation. The device and method comprises a folder opening/closing sensor for detecting whether a folder of the mobile terminal is opened or closed; first and second display sections for displaying menus or data according to the operation of the rotating key; and a control section for controlling the mobile terminal to display a menu or data selected by the operation of the rotating key on the first display section or the second display section according to an output from the folder opening/closing sensor.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal, which comprises first and second display sections for displaying data, said device comprising:

a direction detecting section for detecting a direction in which a folder of the mobile terminal is turned and generating one of first, second, third and fourth direction signals according to the detected direction; and

a control section for outputting picture data on the first display section in a direction corresponding to the generated direction signal automatically only if an automatic display change mode is set, and terminating power supplied to the second display section in response to the generated direction signal according to whether the detected direction is pre-selected to have the power terminated.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first display section displays picture data in an upright direction when a first direction detecting signal is generated, in a direction turned 90°

counter-clockwise when a second direction detecting signal is generated, in a direction turned 180°

when a third direction detecting signal is generated, or in a direction turned 270°

counter-clockwise when a fourth direction detecting signal is generated.

3. A method for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal, which comprises first and second display sections, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting one of first, second, third and fourth direction signals generated according to a direction in which a folder of the mobile terminal is turned;

displaying picture data on the first display section in a direction corresponding to the detected direction signal automatically only if an automatic display change mode is set; and

terminating power supplied to the second display section during the display of the picture data on the first display section in response to the detected direction signal according to whether the detected direction is pre-selected to have the power terminated.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

when the power cut-off for the second display section is cancelled, displaying corresponding data on the second display section while displaying the picture data on the first display section.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of displaying picture data on the first display section further comprising:

displaying picture data in an upright direction when a first direction detecting signal is generated, in a direction turned 90°

counter-clockwise when a second direction detecting signal is generated, in a direction turned 180°

when a third direction detecting signal is generated, or in a direction turned 270°

counter-clockwise when a fourth direction detecting signal is generated.