Portable electronic terminal apparatus having a plurality of displays
A portable electronic terminal apparatus includes a main body, an information input mechanism, a plurality of displays, a communications mechanism, and a flip panel. The main body has a hollow section. The information input mechanism inputs various kinds of information including data and instructions. Each of the displays shows the various kinds of information input through the input mechanism. The communications mechanism transmits and receives the various kinds of information input through the input mechanism. The flip panel is movably mounted on the main body and is configured to rotate to open and close about a side edge portion of the flip panel. This flip panel is retracted in the hollow section of the main body when the flip panel is closed. In addition, one of the displays is mounted on the flip panel.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese patent application No. JPAP11-086099 filed on Mar. 29, 1999, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a portable electronic terminal apparatus, and more particularly to a portable electronic terminal apparatus which includes a flip panel and a plurality of displays.
2. Discussion of the Background
Recently, the amount of information for electronic apparatuses to exchange has greatly been increased through data communications verification because of rapid proliferation of portable communications equipment and an establishment of the corresponding infrastructure. In such a circumstance, portability as well as data communications capability has become more important, especially in a portable electronic apparatus (e.g., a cellular mobile phone, a personal assistant device, and the like).
In general, it is difficult to obtain both portability and visibility at the same time in a portable electronic apparatus. Such an apparatus needs to be lighter and smaller for increased portability. For instance, the area reserved for the display of a portable electronic apparatus can be reduced to increase portability. Typically, a portable electronic apparatus has a single display on which various kinds of information are selectively shown as user instructions; such as a screen scroll function, a function for switching over to another function, and so forth. In such a portable electronic apparatus, the user is usually required to perform complex manipulation of the display to finally read incoming mail and/or information received from information service providers.
As one example of the portable electronic apparatus, a mobile cellar phone, as illustrated in
The present invention provides a novel portable electronic terminal apparatus which includes a main body, an information input mechanism, a plurality of displays, a communications mechanism, and a flip panel. The main body has a hollow section. The information input mechanism enables input of information, including data and instructions. A plurality of displays display the information input through the input mechanism. The communications mechanism transmits and receives the input information. The flip panel is movably mounted on the main body and is configured to rotate to open and close about a side edge portion of the flip panel. This flip panel is retracted in the hollow section of the main body when closed. In addition, one of the plurality of displays is mounted on the side of the flip panel that is exposed when closed.
One of the plurality of the displays may be mounted on a surface of the hollow section of the main body.
Another display may be mounted on another side of the flip panel.
One of the displays operates when the flip panel is closed, and the other display operates when the flip panel is opened.
Each of the displays may be a polymer-film liquid crystal display.
The displays may selectively be used by a user instruction input through the information input mechanism.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to
In this exemplary embodiment, the main body 1 has a front surface divided into upper, middle, and lower regions to which the loudspeaker 3, the flip panel 4, and the data entry panel 6 are provided, respectively. The antenna 2 is mounted inside the main body 1 so as to protrude from the top surface of the main body 1. The microphone 7 is mounted on a portion of the lower region closer to the bottom surface of the main body 1, and the button 8 is provided to a side surface of the main body 1 near the upper region. The flip panel 4 has a left side edge portion which is movably mounted in the left side edge of the middle region of the main body 1 so that the flip panel 4 can rotate to open and close about the left side edge portion. The first display 5 is mounted on the front surface of the flip panel 4. The data entry panel 6 includes a ten-key pad, for example, and other instruction keys. In addition, the portable electronic terminal apparatus 100 further includes an open button 9 for opening the flip panel 4. The open button 9 is mounted on a side surface of the main body 1 close to the flip panel 4, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
When the open button 9 is pressed, the flip panel 4 is opened, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As illustrated in
Each of the first and second displays 5 and 10 may be a thinner display (i.e., a polymer-film liquid crystal display) so that the flip panel 4 can be made thinner.
Referring to
When the flip panel 4 is closed, the first display 5 is supplied with power but the second and third displays 10 and 11 are not supplied with power. That is, the second and third displays 10 and 11 can only be supplied with power when the flip panel 4 is opened. In addition, the user can set a condition in which the second and third displays 10 and 11 are not supplied with power through the data entry panel 6. Accordingly, the second and third displays 10 and 11 will not be supplied with power even when the flip panel 4 is accidentally opened. As a result, it becomes possible to avoid an increase of a power consumption by an accidental opening of the flip panel 4.
Referring to
To read incoming mails, the user opens the flip panel 4 so that the second and third displays 10 and 11 show up, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this case, the second display 10 shows a list of incoming mails and the third display 11 shows the contents of a selected incoming mail.
With the above-described structure, the portable electronic terminal apparatus 100 can conveniently display multiple pages of information. Moreover, it obviates the necessity for the user to enter the complex instructions through the data entry panel 6 to read incoming mails. Thus, the user can read incoming mails in much the similar way to read a book by turning pages.
Next, a first modification made to the portable electronic terminal apparatus 100 is explained with reference to
The flip panel 204 of
Next, a second modification made to the portable electronic terminal apparatus 100 is explained with reference to
Numerous additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
- a main body having a hollow section;
- an information input mechanism by which information including data and instructions can be input;
- a plurality of displays which display said input information on a plurality of display screens;
- a communications mechanism which transmits and receives said input information; and
- a flip panel movably mounted on said main body and configured to rotatably open and close about a side edge portion of said flip panel, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said main body when closed,
- wherein one of said plurality of displays is mounted on a side of said flip panel display screen that is exposed when closed.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein another one of said plurality of displays is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said main body.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein another one of said plurality of displays is mounted on another side of said flip panel.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, each of said plurality of displays is a polymer-film liquid crystal display.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input mechanism.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said one of said plurality of displays operates when said flip panel is closed, and said other one of said plurality of displays operates when said flip panel is opened.
7. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
- a main body having a hollow section;
- an information input mechanism by which information including data and instructions can be input;
- displays means for displaying a plurality of displays of said input information on a plurality of display screens;
- a communications mechanism which transmits and receives said input information; and
- flip panel means for movably mounted on said main body and for rotatably opening and closing about a side edge portion of a flip panel, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said main body when closed,
- wherein one of said plurality of display means is mounted on a side of said flip panel display screen that is exposed when closed.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein another one of said plurality of display means is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said main body.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein another one of said plurality of display means is mounted on another side of said flip panel.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, each of said plurality of display means is a polymer-film liquid crystal display.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said plurality of display means are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input mechanism.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said one of said plurality of display means operates when said flip panel is closed, and said other one of said plurality of display means operates when said flip panel is opened.
13. The portable electronic terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein,
- another one of said plurality of displays is mounted on another side of said flip panel, and
- power supplied to the one of said plurality of displays and to the another one of said plurality of displays can be reduced when the flip panel is open and also when the flip panel is closed.
14. The portable electronic terminal apparatus of claim 7, wherein,
- another one of said plurality of display means is mounted on another side of said flip panel, and
- power supplied to the one of said plurality of display means and to the another one of said plurality of display means can be reduced when the flip panel is open and when the flip panel is closed.
15. In a portable electronic communication device having a body, the improvement comprising:
- first and second display screens mounted on opposite sides of a panel, said panel movably attached to the body, the first display screen being arranged to face the body if the panel is closed, and an adjustable unit configured to be set to reduce power supplied to the first display screen if the panel is open and the portable electronic communication device is powered on.
16. The portable electronic communication device of claim 15, further comprising:
- a third display screen mounted on the body.
17. The portable electronic communication device of claim 15, wherein the second display screen is configured to display status information.
18. The portable electronic communication device of claim 15, wherein the second display screen is configured to display the status information when the panel is closed.
19. The portable electronic communication device of claim 15, wherein power supplied to the first and second display screens can be reduced when the panel is open and when the panel is closed.
20. The portable electronic communication device of claim 18, wherein the status information includes a combination of a strength of an electric field, a time of day, date information, and an indication of incoming electronic mail.
21. A portable electronic communication device, comprising:
- a data entry mechanism;
- a plurality of displays configured to indicate information including data entered through the data entry mechanism;
- a communications mechanism connected to the data entry mechanism and the plurality of displays; and
- a panel having a front side and a rear side, said panel configured to be openable and closable, wherein,
- at least one of the plurality of displays is disposed on each of the front and rear sides of the panel, and
- power supplied to a first one of the plurality of displays which is not viewable when the panel is closed can be reduced when the panel is open and when the portable electronic communication device is powered on.
22. The portable electronic communication device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of displays includes a first display screen and a second display screen, each simultaneously visible when the panel is rotated away from the first display screen.
23. The portable electronic communication device of claim 21, wherein the first one of the plurality of displays is powered off when the panel is open and the portable electronic communication device is powered on.
24. The portable electronic communication device of claim 21, wherein a second one of the plurality of displays which is viewable when the panel is closed is configured to display status information.
25. The portable electronic communication device of claim 21, wherein power supplied to the at least one of the plurality of displays disposed on each of the front and rear sides of the panel can be reduced when the panel is open and when the panel is closed.
26. The portable electronic communication device of claim 22, wherein the panel is hingedly attached along a lateral side of the first display screen.
27. The portable electronic communication device of claim 23, wherein the first one of the plurality of displays is powered off further when a predetermined condition has been set in the portable electronic communication device.
28. The portable electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the second one of the plurality of displays is configured to display the status information when the panel is closed.
29. The portable electronic communication device of claim 26, further comprising:
- a power supply operably connected to the first and second display screens by at least one switch.
30. The portable electronic communication device of claim 27, wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user.
31. The portable electronic communication device of claim 28, wherein the status information includes a strength of an electric field.
32. The portable electronic communication device of claim 28, wherein the status information includes date information.
33. The portable electronic communication device of claim 28, wherein the status information includes an indication of incoming electronic mail.
34. The portable electronic communication device of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first and second display screens comprise a scrollable screen.
35. The portable electronic communication device of claim 30, wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user to avoid an increase in power consumption by an accidental opening of the panel.
36. The portable electronic communication device of claim 31, wherein the status information includes a time of day.
37. A portable electronic communication device, comprising:
- a data entry mechanism;
- a plurality of displays configured to indicate information including data entered through the data entry mechanism;
- a communications mechanism connected to the data entry mechanism and the plurality of displays; and
- a panel configured to be openable and closable,
- wherein at least one of the plurality of displays is disposed on the panel and is configured to indicate at least one of an electronic field strength and a time,
- another one of the plurality of displays is disposed on the panel and is not viewable if the panel is closed, and
- the communication device comprises an adjustable unit configured to be set to reduce power supplied to the another one of the plurality of displays if the panel is open and the portable electronic communication device is powered on.
38. The portable electronic communication device of claim 37, wherein the plurality of displays includes a first display screen and a second display screen, each simultaneously visible when the panel is rotated away from the first display screen.
39. The portable electronic communication device of claim 37, wherein the another one of the plurality of displays is powered off when the panel is open, when the portable electronic communication device is powered on, and when a predetermined condition has been set in the portable electronic communication device.
40. The portable electronic communication device of claim 37, wherein power supplied to the at least one of the plurality of displays and to the another one of the plurality of displays can be reduced when the panel is open and when the panel is closed.
41. The portable electronic communication device of claim 38, wherein the panel is hingedly attached along a lateral side of the first display screen.
42. The portable electronic communication device of claim 39, wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user.
43. The portable electronic communication device of claim 39, wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user to avoid an increase in power consumption by an accident opening of the panel.
44. The portable electronic communication device of claim 39, wherein the at least one of the plurality of displays is configured to indicate at least one of an electric field strength and a time when the panel is closed.
45. The portable electronic communication device of claim 41, further comprising:
- a power supply operably connected to the first and second display screens by at least one switch.
46. The portable electronic communication device of claim 44, wherein the at least one of the plurality of displays is further configured to display at least one of date information and an indication of incoming electronic mail.
47. The portable electronic communication device of claim 45, wherein at least one of the first and second display screens comprise:
- a scrollable screen.
48. A method of controlling a communication device, comprising:
- moving a panel, which includes first and second display screens mounted thereon, to an open position relative to a body; and
- reducing power supplied to the first display screen when the panel is open and when the communication device is powered on.
49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising:
- moving the panel to a closed position in which the first display screen faces the body.
50. The method according to claim 48, wherein moving the panel comprises moving the panel that includes the first and second display screens mounted on opposite side of the panel.
51. The method according to claim 49, wherein moving the panel to the open position comprises rotating the panel about an axis.
52. A method of controlling operation of a communication device, comprising:
- moving a panel, which includes first and second displays, to a closed position such that the first display is covered and the second display is observed;
- moving the panel to an open position such that the first display is observed; and
- reducing power supplied to the first display when the panel is in the open position and the communication device is powered on.
53. The method according to claim 52, further comprising:
- indicating on one of the first and second displays information that is entered through a data entry mechanism.
54. The method according to claim 53, further comprising:
- indicating at least one of an electronic field strength and a time on the first or second display.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 2, 2003
Date of Patent: Apr 1, 2008
Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Tokyo)
Inventor: Katsuhisa Yamamoto (Shinagawa-ku)
Primary Examiner: Hung Van Duong
Attorney: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
Application Number: 10/677,170
International Classification: G06F 1/16 (20060101); H04M 11/10 (20060101);