Electronic device and method of usage thereof

• US 9,112,963 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei, Koyama, Jun, Osada, Mai
• Primary Examiner(s): Mishler, Robin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M
• Application Number:
  US11/680,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,093 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173, 345 76- 77, 345/87, 345/92, 341/20, 341/22, 341/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

The number of operation keys is normally on the order of 12 to 20, corresponding to numeral keys and specialized keys, even for a portable telephone device capable of sending signals to, and receiving signals from, the Internet. In order to input Japanese language characters, including kanji, and specialized characters as data, a complex operation is necessary for switching the input mode. With the present invention, display devices are formed in operation keys for inputting information to electronic devices such as portable information terminals, typically portable telephone devices, and information terminals, typically personal computer or stationary telephone devices. A user is able to recognize the operation keys by characters, symbols, and numerals displayed in the operation keys by the display devices. The user is able to recognize the operation keys even in a dark location in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first frame;

a first printed substrate over the first frame, the first printed substrate comprising a circuit;

a second printed substrate over the first printed substrate, the second printed substrate comprising a wiring thereover;

a second frame over the second printed substrate;

a first transparent button passing through the second frame;

a first display device between the wiring and the first transparent button, the first display device being connected to the wiring;

a second transparent button passing through the second frame;

a second display device between the wiring and the second transparent button, the second display device being connected to the wiring;

a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm which are located between the first printed substrate and the second printed substrate and overlap with the first display device and the second display device, respectively;

a flexible printed circuit connecting the circuit with the wiring,

wherein the first display device is spaced from the second display device,

wherein the first transparent button is configured to move simultaneously with the first display device,

wherein the second transparent button is configured to move simultaneously with the second display device,

wherein the first transparent button and the first display device are configured to move independently from the second transparent button and the second display device, and

wherein the flexible printed circuit is interposed between the first frame and the second frame.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a telephone.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first display device and the second display device comprises a plurality of pixels comprising EL elements.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the EL elements contain triplet excitation compounds.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller and a memory,

wherein information of a signal input to the electronic device by the first transparent button and the second transparent button is read out from the memory in accordance with the controller, and

wherein the first display device and the second display device are configured to switch an orientation of the information displayed.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller and a memory,

wherein two types of information, in which an orientation of the information displayed differs, are stored in the memory;

and

wherein the first display device and the second display device are configured to switch the orientation of the information displayed by reading out the two types of information from the memory in accordance with the controller.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to switch an orientation of information displayed in the first display device and the second display device in response to an orientation of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm each are conductive.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first display device and the second display device each are spaced from the second frame.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first transparent button and the second transparent button are in contact with the first display device and the second display device, respectively.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet which is interposed between the second printed substrate and the first diaphragm and between the second printed substrate and the second diaphragm.