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.
Latest Ricoh Company, Ltd. Patents:
- Data processing apparatus, data processing system, and data processing method
- Information display system, information display method, and non-transitory recording medium
- Power conversion device, image forming apparatus, and power conversion control method
- Software service integration in a central software platform
- Display device
Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,945. The reissue applications are application Ser. No. 10/677,170 (Parent reissue application), filed Oct. 2, 2003, divisional reissue application Ser. No. 11/877,458 now abandoned, and present continuation reissue application Ser. No. 12/911,350.
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/877,458, filed Oct. 23, 2007 now abandoned which is a divisional of Ser. No. 10/677,170, filed Oct. 2, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. Re. 40,204 which is a REISSUE of Ser. No. 09/537,265, filed Mar. 29, 2000 now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,945.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis 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
When the open button 9 is pressed, the flip panel 4 is opened, 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
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;
- display 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. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
- a body having a hollow section;
- an information input unit configured to input data and instructions;
- a plurality of displays which display said input information on a plurality of display screens;
- a communications unit configured to transmit and receive said input information; and
- a flip panel movably mounted on said body and configured to rotatably open and close about an edge portion of said flip panel, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said body if the flip panel is closed,
- wherein a first display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a first side of said flip panel that is exposed if the flip panel is closed.
14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the information input unit is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said body.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein a second display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a second side of said flip panel that is hidden if the flip panel is closed.
16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, each of said plurality of displays is a polymerfilm liquid crystal display.
17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input unit.
18. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein first display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is closed, and said second display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is opened.
19. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the second display faces the information input unit if the flip panel is closed.
20. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the flip panel rotates around a side edge of the body.
21. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the hollow section in the body is bounded by an end wall.
22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the end wall of the hollow section is adjacent to a hinge side of the flip panel.
23. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising:
- an adjustment unit configured to reduce power supplied to the first display if the flip panel is open and the apparatus is powered on.
24. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
- a body having a hollow section;
- an information input unit configured to input data and instructions;
- display means for displaying a plurality of displays of said input information on a plurality of display screens;
- a communications unit configured to transmit and receive said input information; and
- flip panel means for rotatably opening and closing a flip panel about an edge portion of the body, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said body if the flip panel is closed,
- wherein a first display of said plurality of display means is mounted on a side of said flip panel that is exposed if the flip panel is closed.
25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the information input unit is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said body.
26. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein a second display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a second side of said flip panel that is hidden if the flip panel is closed.
27. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, each of said plurality of displays is a polymerfilm liquid crystal display.
28. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input unit.
29. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein first display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is closed, and said second display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is opened.
30. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein the second display faces the information input unit if the flip panel is closed.
31. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the flip panel means is located on a side edge of the body.
32. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the hollow section in the body is bounded by an end wall.
33. The apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the end wall of the hollow section is adjacent to the flip panel means.
34. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, further comprising:
- adjustment means for reducing power supplied to the first display if the flip panel is open and the apparatus is powered on.
35. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- an information input unit configured to input data and instructions;
- a plurality of displays which display said input information on a plurality of display screens;
- a communications unit configured to transmit and receive said input information; and
- a flip panel movably mounted on said body and configured to rotatably open and close about an edge portion of said flip panel, an outer surface of said flip panel being flush with an outer surface of said body if the flip panel is closed,
- wherein a first display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a first side of said flip panel that is exposed if the flip panel is closed.
36. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the information input unit is mounted on a surface in a hollow section of said body.
37. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein a second display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a second side of said flip panel that is hidden if the flip panel is closed.
38. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, each of said plurality of displays is a polymerfilm liquid crystal display.
39. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input unit.
40. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein first display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is closed, and said second display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is opened.
41. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein the second display faces the information input unit if the flip panel is closed.
42. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the flip panel rotates around a side edge of the body.
43. The apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein the hollow section in the body is bounded by an end wall.
44. The apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein the end wall of the hollow section is adjacent to a hinge side of the flip panel.
45. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, further comprising:
- an adjustment unit configured to reduce power supplied to the first display if the flip panel is open and the apparatus is powered on.
5138590 | August 11, 1992 | Masuda et al. |
5508720 | April 16, 1996 | DiSanto et al. |
5646649 | July 8, 1997 | Iwata et al. |
5673170 | September 30, 1997 | Register |
6125286 | September 26, 2000 | Jahagirdar et al. |
6134103 | October 17, 2000 | Ghanma |
6445574 | September 3, 2002 | Saw et al. |
20060256033 | November 16, 2006 | Chan et al. |
20110169754 | July 14, 2011 | Miyazawa et al. |
20110188176 | August 4, 2011 | Kim |
6-292195 | October 1994 | JP |
07-050711 | February 1995 | JP |
9-181801 | July 1997 | JP |
09-261750 | October 1997 | JP |
10-198291 | July 1998 | JP |
10-224288 | August 1998 | JP |
11-4301 | January 1999 | JP |
11-017579 | January 1999 | JP |
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 25, 2010
Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Tokyo)
Inventor: Katsuhisa Yamamoto (Tokyo)
Primary Examiner: Hung Duong
Attorney: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Application Number: 12/911,350
International Classification: G06F 1/16 (20060101);