Mobile terminal and key input method thereof

• US 8,116,824 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Jung-Eun
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Wen
• Application Number:
  US12/127,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575.3, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• 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 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A mobile terminal, method and computer program product for transferring a currently displayed first display from a first touchscreen of a first display unit on an outer surface of a first body of a device to a second display unit on an inner surface of the first body or on an inner surface of a second body of the device when the device is opened, and subsequently executing a predetermined function upon receiving a first touch input to the first touchscreen.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body having an outer and an inner surface;

a first display unit on the outer surface of the first body and including a first touchscreen;

a second display unit on the inner surface of the first body;

a second body;

one of a hinge or slide connection connecting the first and second body and configured to enable a user to open and close the mobile terminal; and

a controller operatively connected to the first and second display unit, the controller configured to detect when the mobile terminal is opened or closed, the controller further configured to transfer a currently displayed first display from the first display unit to the second display unit when the first body is opened, and to subsequently execute a predetermined function upon receiving a first touch input to the first touchscreen,

wherein the controller is further configured to display a different display on the first display unit when the controller transfers the first display from the first display unit to the second display unit,

wherein the controller is configured to subsequently display on the second display unit, in response to a user input, a simultaneously display of a screen from a first application program on a first display area of the second display unit and a screen from a second application program, separate from the first application program, on a second display area of the second display unit,

wherein the controller is configured to simultaneously display and control a first pointer and a second pointer on the second display unit in response to first and second touch inputs to corresponding first and second areas of the first touchscreen as the predetermined function, and

wherein the first application program on the first display area of the second display unit and the second application program on the second display area of the second display unit are performed respectively by using the first pointer and the second pointer on the second display unit.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the second display unit comprises:

a second touchscreen.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising one of:

an electro-mechanical key pad on the second body; and

a third display unit.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the third display unit comprises:

a third touchscreen.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to

display and control the first pointer having a predetermined shape on the second display unit as the predetermined function, and

execute another predetermined function on an item indicated on the second display unit by the first pointer upon receiving a second touch input to the first touchscreen.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio output device on at least one of side portions of the first display unit and side portions of the second display unit,

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio output device to selectively output audio data related to data displayed on one of the first and second display unit.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a control button located on the second body,

wherein the controller configured to

display and control the first pointer having a predetermined shape on the second display unit as the predetermined function, and

execute a second predetermined function on an item indicated on the second display unit by the first pointer upon receiving an input from the control button.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to execute the predetermined function upon receiving a single touch, a multiple touch, a swipe or a drag input as the first touch input to the first touchscreen.

9. A method of controlling a display on a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having a first body having an outer and an inner surface, a first display unit on the outer surface of the first body and including a first touchscreen, a second display unit on the inner surface of the first body, a second body, and one of a hinge or slide connection connecting the first and second body and configured to enable a user to open and close the mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting when the mobile terminal is opened or closed;

transferring a currently displayed first display from the first display unit to the second display unit when the first body is opened;

subsequently executing a predetermined function upon receiving a first touch input to the first touchscreen,

wherein a different display is displayed on the first display unit when the first display from the first display unit is transferred to the second display unit;

subsequently displaying, in response to a user input, on the second display unit a simultaneously display of a screen from a first application program on a first display area of the second display unit and a screen from a second application program, separate from the first application program, on a second display area of the second display unit; and

simultaneously displaying and controlling a first pointer and a second pointer on the second display unit in response to first and second touch inputs to corresponding first and second areas of the first touchscreen as the predetermined function,

wherein the first application program on the first display area of the second display unit and the second application program on the second display area of the second display unit are performed respectively by using the first pointer and the second pointer on the second display unit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying and controlling the first pointer having a predetermined shape on the second display unit as the predetermined function, and

executing another predetermined function on an item indicated on the second display unit by the first pointer upon receiving a second touch input to the first touchscreen.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a control button is located on the second body, the method comprising:

displaying and controlling the first pointer having a predetermined shape on the second display unit as the predetermined function, and

executing another predetermined function on an item indicated on the second display unit by the first pointer upon receiving an input from the control button.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

executing the predetermined function upon receiving a single touch, a multiple touch, a swipe or a drag input as the first touch input to the first touchscreen.