Abstract: A folding mobile telephone includes a 2-axis hinge unit. The end portion of the 2-axis hinge unit is constantly exposed outside the mobile telephone. The exposed portion includes input elements. The input elements can be, for example, a pointing device. The pointing device can be operated regardless of the positions of the housings of the communications terminal. The telephone includes position detection elements for detecting the relative positions of the housings. The control unit can control the operation of the terminal based on the relative positions of the housings. The position detection elements includes a magnet and a magnetic sensor. The input elements can be a fingerprint sensor.

Abstract: A folding mobile communications apparatus comprises an upper unit 200, a lower unit 100, and a hinge 300 for connecting the units as rotatable in an open-and-close state. On a main surface 201a of the upper unit 200, a first speaker 203 is provided at one end of the unit, and a second speaker 230 having at least the function of a receiver is provided near the hinge 300. On the main surface 101a of the lower unit 100, a microphone 103 is provided at an end opposite the hinge 300. A control unit 117 controls the first speaker 203, the second speaker 230, and the microphone 103 such that any two of them can function as a set of a receiver and a transmitter based on a relative position of the two units detected by an attitude detection unit 113.

Abstract: A folding mobile telephone includes a 2-axis hinge unit. The end portion of the 2-axis hinge unit is constantly exposed outside the mobile telephone. The exposed portion includes input elements. The input elements can be, for example, a pointing device. The pointing device can be operated regardless of the positions of the housings of the communications terminal. The telephone includes position detection elements for detecting the relative positions of the housings. The control unit can control the operation of the terminal based on the relative positions of the housings. The position detection elements includes a magnet and a magnetic sensor. The input elements can be a fingerprint sensor.

Abstract: A folding mobile communications apparatus comprises an upper unit 200, a lower unit 100, and a hinge 300 for connecting the units as rotatable in an open-and-close state. On a main surface 201a of the upper unit 200, a first speaker 203 is provided at one end of the unit, and a second speaker 230 having at least the function of a receiver is provided near the hinge 300. On the main surface 101a of the lower unit 100, a microphone 103 is provided at an end opposite the hinge 300. A control unit 117 controls the first speaker 203, the second speaker 230, and the microphone 103 such that any two of them can function as a set of a receiver and a transmitter based on a relative position of the two units detected by an attitude detection unit 113.