Electronic device having pixels displaying an image and pixels displaying an operation key

• US 8,155,305 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei, Koyama, Jun, Yamazaki, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): HONG, HARRY S
• Application Number:
  US12/367,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 345/81, 345/82, 345/87, 345/92, 345/169, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.07, 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 comprising:

a first plurality of pixels displaying an image;

a second plurality of pixels displaying an operation key; and

a touch panel provided adjacent to the first plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the first plurality of pixels comprises;

a first thin film transistor comprising a first gate electrically connected to a first gate signal line, a first source and a first drain;

a second thin film transistor comprising a second gate electrically connected to a second gate signal line, one of a second source and a second drain electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain, and the other one of the second source and the second drain electrically connected to a third line;

a third thin film transistor comprising a third gate electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain and one of the second source and the second drain, a third source and a third drain; and

a light emitting element electrically connected to one of the third source and the third drain, and

wherein each of directions of the image and the operation key is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed an EL element or liquid crystal.

9. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation key is displayed by an EL element, liquid crystal or an LED.

13. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is a same.

17. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is different from each other.

21. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel has light transmitting characteristics.

28. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of pixels are provided in a display panel, and the second plurality of pixels are provided in an operation panel.

32. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the third line is a power source supply line.

2. An electronic device comprising:

a first plurality of pixels displaying an image;

a second plurality of pixels displaying an operation key;

a touch panel provided adjacent to the first plurality of pixels, and comprising;

a first plurality of strip shape films; and

a second plurality of strip shape films provided over and crossing the first plurality of strip shape films;

an audio input portion; and

an audio output portion;

wherein each of the first plurality of pixels comprises;

a first thin film transistor comprising a first gate electrically connected to a first gate signal line, a first source and a first drain;

a second thin film transistor comprising a second gate electrically connected to a second gate signal line, one of a second source and a second drain electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain, and the other one of the second source and the second drain electrically connected to a third line;

a third thin film transistor comprising a third gate electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain and one of the second source and the second drain, a third source and a third drain; and

a light emitting element electrically connected to one of the third source and the third drain, and

wherein each of directions of the image and the operation key is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

6. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the image is displayed an EL element or liquid crystal.

10. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the operation key is displayed by an EL element, liquid crystal or an LED.

14. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is a same.

18. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is different from each other.

22. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the touch panel has light transmitting characteristics.

25. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein each of the first plurality of strip shape films and the second plurality of strip shape films comprises ITO.

29. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the first plurality of pixels are provided in a display panel, and the second plurality of pixels are provided in an operation panel.

33. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the third line is a power source supply line.

3. An electronic device comprising:

a first plurality of pixels displaying an image;

a second plurality of pixels displaying an operation key;

a touch panel provided adjacent to the first plurality of pixels, and comprising;

a first plurality of strip shape films; and

a second plurality of strip shape films provided over and crossing the first plurality of strip shape films;

a CCD light receiving portion,

wherein each of the first plurality of pixels comprises;

a first thin film transistor comprising a first gate electrically connected to a first gate signal line, a first source and a first drain;

a second thin film transistor comprising a second gate electrically connected to a second gate signal line, one of a second source and a second drain electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain, and the other one of the second source and the second drain electrically connected to a third line;

a third thin film transistor comprising a third gate electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain and one of the second source and the second drain, a third source and a third drain; and

a light emitting element electrically connected to one of the third source and the third drain, and

wherein each of directions of the image and the operation key is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

7. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the image is displayed by an EL element or liquid crystal.

11. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the operation key is displayed by an EL element, liquid crystal or an LED.

15. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is a same.

19. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is different from each other.

23. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the touch panel has light transmitting characteristics.

26. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein each of the first plurality of strip shape films and the second plurality of strip shape films comprises ITO.

30. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the first plurality of pixels are provided in a display panel, and the second plurality of pixels are provided in an operation panel.

34. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the third line is a power source supply line.

4. An electronic device comprising:

a first plurality of pixels displaying an image;

a second plurality of pixels displaying an operation key;

a touch panel provided adjacent to the first plurality of pixels, and comprising;

a first plurality of strip shape films; and

a second plurality of strip shape films provided over and crossing the first plurality of strip shape films;

wherein each of the first plurality of pixels comprises;

a first thin film transistor comprising a first gate electrically connected to a first gate signal line, a first source and a first drain;

a second thin film transistor comprising a second gate electrically connected to a second gate signal line, one of a second source and a second drain electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain, and the other one of the second source and the second drain electrically connected to a third line;

a third thin film transistor comprising a third gate electrically connected to one of the first source and the first drain and one of the second source and the second drain, a third source and a third drain; and

a light emitting element electrically connected to one of the third source and the third drain, and

wherein each of directions of the image and the operation key is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation.

8. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the image is displayed an EL element or liquid crystal.

12. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the operation key is displayed by an EL element, liquid crystal or an LED.

16. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is a same.

20. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the direction of the image and the direction of the operation key is different from each other.

24. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the touch panel has light transmitting characteristics.

27. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein each of the first plurality of strip shape films and the second plurality of strip shape films comprises ITO.

31. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the first plurality of pixels are provided in a display panel, and the second plurality of pixels are provided in an operation panel.

35. An electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the third line is a power source supply line.