Portable information device

• US 20040047244A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Iino, Shoichi, Urano, Nobutaka
• Application Number:
  US10/621,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20040047244A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/276
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/08 the radio signal being broadcast from a long-wave call sign, e.g. DCF77, JJY40, JJY60, MSF60 or WWVB
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Watches of cellular telephones lack high-quality and fashionable appearance. According to the present invention, a cellular telephone includes a flip casing divided in two pieces by a hinge, a display and a speaker on the side of a display, an operation panel and a microphone on an operating side, and an analog quartz watch on an outer surface with the casing closed. This adds high-quality or fashionable appearance like a mechanical analog watch.

Claims

1. A flip portable information device, comprising:

a foldable casing; and

a mechanical time-watch on a side of the casing facing an exterior when the casing is closed.

3. The flip portable information device having a foldable casing according to claim 1, further including a display on a side of the casing facing an interior when the casing is closed, the mechanical time-watch being mounted on a back of the display, which faces the exterior when the casing is closed.

4. The portable information device according to claim 3, time indication by the mechanical time-watch being made in synchronization with time indication on the display.

5. The portable information device according to claim 1, the mechanical time-watch being a radio controlled watch that automatically corrects time.

2. A flip portable information device, comprising:

a foldable casing; and

an analog watch on a side of the casing facing an exterior when the casing is closed.

6. A flip portable information device, comprising:

a foldable casing; and

at least one of an analog watch and a mechanical time-watch on a side of the casing facing an exterior when the casing is closed, the at least one of the analog watch and the mechanical time-watch indicating functional information of the portable information device with hand or mechanically, in addition to time indication.

7. The portable information device according to claim 6, the at least one of the analog watch and the mechanical time-watch including a dial plate that includes an area to indicate the functional information of the portable information device with hand or mechanically, separately from the time indication.

8. The portable information device according to claim 6, the watch indicating the information on an incoming e-mail or an incoming answerphone with hand or mechanically.

9. The portable information device according to claim 6, the watch providing stepwise remaining-power indication with hand or mechanically depending on the remaining power.

10. The portable information device according to claim 6, the watch providing stepwise receiving-sensitivity indication with hand or mechanically depending on the receiving sensitivity of the communication function.

11. A flip portable information device, comprising:

a foldable casing; and

at least one of a mechanical time-watch and an analog watch on a side of the casing facing an exterior when the casing is closed, the at least one of the mechanical time-watch and the analog watch and the portable information device having a common power source.

12. The portable information device according to claim 11, further including a solar battery usable as an auxiliary power source.

13. The portable information device according to claim 11, further including a self-generation device to convert rotation of an oscillating weight to electricity.

14. The portable information device according to claim 13, electricity generated by the self-generating device being supplied to a circuit of a telephone.