U.S. patent application number 12/677796 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-29 for mobile communication terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kyocera Corporation. Invention is credited to Kayoko Sawada.
Application Number | 20100188350 12/677796 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40451916 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100188350 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sawada; Kayoko |
July 29, 2010 |
MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
Abstract
A mobile communication terminal which can indicate information
on a single display with a first housing and a second housing
closed, and moreover, maintain continuousness of an image displayed
over two display screens with the housings open. The portable
communication terminal according to the present invention comprises
the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 that are connected to
each other. A first display 11 is placed on the front face of the
first housing 1, a second display 21 is placed on the front face of
the second housing 2, and a second input touch panel 22 is placed
on the front face of the second display 21 to cover at least a part
of this front face. The first housing 1 and the second housing 2
are relatively movable between a closed position and an open
position. At the closed position, the rear face of the second
housing 2 is superposed on the front face of the first housing 1.
At the open position, the front face of the first display 11 and
the front face of the second display 21 are aligned flush with each
other and both the displays 11, 21 are set adjacent to each
other.
Inventors: |
Sawada; Kayoko; (Daito-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
12531 HIGH BLUFF DRIVE, SUITE 100
SAN DIEGO
CA
92130-2040
US
|
Assignee: |
Kyocera Corporation
Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
40451916 |
Appl. No.: |
12/677796 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 4, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/065945 |
371 Date: |
March 11, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 ;
345/1.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/0247 20130101;
H04M 2250/16 20130101; H05K 5/0017 20130101; H04M 2250/22 20130101;
H04M 1/0239 20130101; H04M 1/0237 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 ;
345/1.1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G09G 5/00 20060101 G09G005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2007 |
JP |
2007-237908 |
Claims
1. A mobile communication terminal comprising: a first housing and
a second housing connected to each other by a connecting mechanism
so as to be relatively movable; a first display placed on a front
face of the first housing; and a second display placed on a front
face of the second housing, the first housing and the second
housing being movable relative to each other between a closed
position where a front face of the first display is covered by the
second housing and a front face of the second display are exposed,
and an open position where the front face of the first display and
the front face of the second display are aligned substantially
flush with each other and the displays are set adjacent to each
other.
2. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein
a light-transmitting input touch panel is placed on the second
housing so as to cover at least a part of the front face of the
second display.
3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein
a light-transmitting first input touch panel is placed on the first
housing so as to cover a substantially entire front face of the
first display, and a light-transmitting second input touch panel is
placed on the second housing so as to cover a substantially entire
front face of the second display.
4. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein,
with the first housing and the second housing placed at the closed
position, on the second display of the second housing, an
indication regarding telecommunication function is performed, and
information regarding telecommunication function can be inputted by
operation of the second input touch panel.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein,
with the first housing and the second housing placed at the closed
position, on the second display of the second housing, an
indication regarding telecommunication function is performed, and
information regarding telecommunication function can be inputted by
operation of the second input touch panel.
9. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein
with the first housing and the second housing placed at the open
position, indication over the screens of the displays is performed
on the first display of the first housing and the second display of
the second housing.
10. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein
with the first housing and the second housing placed at the open
position, indication over the screens of the displays is performed
on the first display of the first housing and the second display of
the second housing.
11. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein
with the first housing and the second housing placed at the open
position, indication over the screens of the displays is performed
on the first display of the first housing and the second display of
the second housing.
12. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein
with the first housing and the second housing placed at the open
position, indication over the screens of the displays is performed
on the first display of the first housing and the second display of
the second housing.
13. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting piece connecting a
side face of the first housing and a side face of the second
housing to each other, a pair of pins projects from the connecting
piece, one pin is pivoted on one housing, and the other pin engages
the other housing slidably.
14. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting piece connecting a
side face of the first housing and a side face of the second
housing to each other, a pair of pins projects from the connecting
piece, one pin is pivoted on one housing, and the other pin engages
the other housing slidably.
15. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting piece connecting a
side face of the first housing and a side face of the second
housing to each other, a pair of pins projects from the connecting
piece, one pin is pivoted on one housing, and the other pin engages
the other housing slidably.
16. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting piece connecting a
side face of the first housing and a side face of the second
housing to each other, a pair of pins projects from the connecting
piece, one pin is pivoted on one housing, and the other pin engages
the other housing slidably.
17. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting piece connecting a
side face of the first housing and a side face of the second
housing to each other, a pair of pins projects from the connecting
piece, one pin is pivoted on one housing, and the other pin engages
the other housing slidably.
18. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises: a base holding the first
housing; a pin projecting from the side face of the first housing;
and a pin projecting from the side face of the second housing, the
pin of the first housing and the pin of the second housing engage a
guiding groove of the base, up and down movement of the first
housing with respect to the base is guided, reciprocation of the
second housing along the front face of the first housing is guided,
the first housing is urged by a spring on the base in an upper
direction, the second housing moves along the front face of the
first housing from a state where the first housing and the second
housing are placed at the closed position, thereafter the first
housing moves up, and the first housing and the second housing are
thereby placed at the open position.
19. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises: a base holding the first
housing; a pin projecting from the side face of the first housing;
and a pin projecting from the side face of the second housing, the
pin of the first housing and the pin of the second housing engage a
guiding groove of the base, up and down movement of the first
housing with respect to the base is guided, reciprocation of the
second housing along the front face of the first housing is guided,
the first housing is urged by a spring on the base in an upper
direction, the second housing moves along the front face of the
first housing from a state where the first housing and the second
housing are placed at the closed position, thereafter the first
housing moves up, and the first housing and the second housing are
thereby placed at the open position.
20. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises: a base holding the first
housing; a pin projecting from the side face of the first housing;
and a pin projecting from the side face of the second housing, the
pin of the first housing and the pin of the second housing engage a
guiding groove of the base, up and down movement of the first
housing with respect to the base is guided, reciprocation of the
second housing along the front face of the first housing is guided,
the first housing is urged by a spring on the base in an upper
direction, the second housing moves along the front face of the
first housing from a state where the first housing and the second
housing are placed at the closed position, thereafter the first
housing moves up, and the first housing and the second housing are
thereby placed at the open position.
21. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises: a base holding the first
housing; a pin projecting from the side face of the first housing;
and a pin projecting from the side face of the second housing, the
pin of the first housing and the pin of the second housing engage a
guiding groove of the base, up and down movement of the first
housing with respect to the base is guided, reciprocation of the
second housing along the front face of the first housing is guided,
the first housing is urged by a spring on the base in an upper
direction, the second housing moves along the front face of the
first housing from a state where the first housing and the second
housing are placed at the closed position, thereafter the first
housing moves up, and the first housing and the second housing are
thereby placed at the open position.
22. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein
the connecting mechanism comprises: a base holding the first
housing; a pin projecting from the side face of the first housing;
and a pin projecting from the side face of the second housing, the
pin of the first housing and the pin of the second housing engage a
guiding groove of the base, up and down movement of the first
housing with respect to the base is guided, reciprocation of the
second housing along the front face of the first housing is guided,
the first housing is urged by a spring on the base in an upper
direction, the second housing moves along the front face of the
first housing from a state where the first housing and the second
housing are placed at the closed position, thereafter the first
housing moves up, and the first housing and the second housing are
thereby placed at the open position.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile communication
terminal such as a portable telephone or the like, and particularly
to a dual screen mobile communication terminal comprising a first
housing and a second housing each including a display arranged
thereon.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In recent years, portable telephones have been
multi-functionalized more and more, and along with this,
information to be displayed on a display has become various.
Therefore, the size of a screen of the display has been increased.
However, since the size of the screen of the display is limited by
the size of the housing, the increase in the size of the display
has a limitation.
[0003] It has been proposed that in a display apparatus for a
mobile, two housings are foldably connected to each other, and each
of the housings includes a display arranged on an inner face
thereof so as to display more information with the two screens
(e.g., Japan Patent Laid-Open 11-167354).
[0004] Therefore, considered is a foldable portable telephone
comprising a first housing and a second housing foldably connected
to each other, having a configuration in which a display is
arranged on an inner face of each of the first housing and the
second housing, or a sliding portable telephone comprising a first
housing and a second housing slidably connected to each other,
having a configuration in which a display is arranged on a front
face of each of the first housing and the second housing.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in the foldable portable telephone comprising the
first housing and the second housing each provided with the display
on the inner face thereof, the two displays are hidden with both
the housings closed. Therefore, in order to enable information
display at the time of telephone communication with the housings
closed, it is necessary to further arrange a third display on the
front face exposed with the housings closed. Thus, there is a
problem of a complicated configuration.
[0006] In contrast, in the sliding portable telephone comprising
the first housing and the second housing each provided with the
display on the front face thereof, there is a step between the two
displays when the housings are open. Therefore, when an image is
displayed over the two display screens, since the image is greatly
divided into two, it could bring a feeling of strangeness
particularly in the case of a continuous image.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile
communication terminal comprising a first housing and a second
housing capable of information indication at the time of
communication without using a third display with the housings
closed, and moreover, capable of maintaining continuousness of an
image to prevent a feeling of strangeness when the image is
displayed over two display screens with the housings open.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0008] In a mobile communication terminal according to the present
invention, a first housing 1 and a second housing 2 are connected
to each other by a connecting mechanism 3 so as to be relatively
movable, a first display 11 is placed on a front face of the first
housing 1 and a second display 21 is placed on a front face of the
second housing 2.
[0009] The first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are movable
relative to each other between a closed position where a front face
of the first display 11 is covered and a front face of the second
display 21 are exposed, and an open position where the front face
of the first display 11 and the front face of the second display 21
are aligned substantially flush with each other and the displays
11, 21 are set adjacent to each other.
[0010] With the mobile communication terminal according to the
present invention described above, with the first housing 1 and the
second housing 2 closed, a rear face of the second housing 2 is
superposed on the front face of the first housing to hide the first
display 11. However, since the second display 21 arranged on the
front face of the second housing 2 is exposed, information can be
displayed at the time of communication by using the second display
21.
[0011] Also, with the first housing 1 and the second housing 2
open, the screen of the first display 11 and the screen of the
second display 21 are arranged on substantially the same plane, and
the screens of the displays 11, 21 are adjacent to each other.
Therefore, in the case where an image is displayed over two screens
of the displays, continuousness of the image can be maintained.
[0012] Also, in a mobile communication terminal in which a
light-transmitting input touch panel 22 is placed on the second
housing 2 so as to cover at least a part of the front face of the
second display 21, with the first housing 1 and the second housing
2 placed at the closed position, on the second display 21 of the
second housing 2, an indication regarding telecommunication
function is performed, and information regarding telecommunication
function can be inputted by operation of the second input touch
panel 22.
[0013] Also, with the first housing 1 and the second housing 2
placed at the open position, indication over the screens of the
displays 11, 21 is performed on the first display 11 of the first
housing 1 and the second display 21 of the second housing 2.
[0014] In a particular configuration, a first input touch panel 12
is placed on the first housing 1 so as to cover a substantially
entire front face of the first display 11, and a second input touch
panel 22 is placed on the second housing 2 so as to cover a
substantially entire front face of the second display 21.
[0015] According to this particular configuration, with the first
housing 1 and the second housing 2 open, the first input touch
panel 12 and the second input touch panel 22 are arranged on
substantially the same plane, and the first display 11 and the
second display 21 are adjacent to each other. Therefore, by
displaying an image of a plurality of input keys (full keyboard)
over the screens of the displays 11, 21, it is possible to input
information using the input touch panels 12, 22.
[0016] In another particular configuration, the connecting
mechanism 3 comprises a connecting piece 31 connecting a side face
of the first housing 1 and a side face of the second housing 2 to
each other. A pair of pins 33, 34 projects from the connecting
piece 31. One pin 33 is pivoted on one housing, and the other pin
34 engages the other housing slidably.
[0017] According to this particular configuration, from a state
where the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are at the
closed position, the other pin 34 slides along the other housing
and thereby the other housing moves along the front face of the one
housing, and thereafter the other housing rotates around the one
pin 33, whereby the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are
arranged at the open position.
[0018] Alternatively, the connecting mechanism 3 comprises a base 4
holding the first housing 1, a pin 43 projecting from the side face
of the first housing 1, and a pin 44 projecting from the side face
of the second housing 2. The pin 43 of the first housing 1 and the
pin 44 of the second housing 2 engage a guiding groove 42 of the
base 4, and up and down movement of the first housing 1 with
respect to the base 4 is guided and reciprocation of the second
housing 2 along the front face of the first housing 1 is guided.
The first housing 1 is urged by a spring 45 on the base 4 in an
upper direction.
[0019] According to this particular configuration, from a state
where the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are placed at
the closed position, the pin 43 of the second housing 2 moves along
the guiding groove 42 in a direction parallel to the front face of
the first housing 1, and thereby the second housing 2 reaches a
movement end of the open position side. Thereafter, the first
housing 1 is urged by a spring 45, and the pin 43 of the first
housing 1 moves along the guiding groove 42 in a direction
perpendicular to the front face of the first housing 1, whereby the
first housing 1 reaches a lifting end. As a result, the first
housing 1 and the second housing 2 are placed at the open
position.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0020] According to the mobile communication terminal according to
the present invention, with the first housing 1 and the second
housing 2 closed, information at the time of communication can be
indicated by the second display 21 of the second housing 2, and
moreover, with the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 open,
in the case where an image is displayed over the screens of the
displays 11, 21, continuousness of the image can be maintained to
prevent a feeling of strangeness regarding the image displayed over
two displays.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a series of perspective views showing an opening
operation of a portable telephone of a first embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a series of side views of same as above;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the portable
telephone;
[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the portable
telephone;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a series of perspective views showing an opening
operation of a portable telephone of a second embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the portable
telephone;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical
configuration employed in the first embodiment and the second
embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of displaying an
image in a closed state; and
[0029] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of displaying an
image in an open state.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0030] 1 first housing [0031] 11 first display [0032] 12 first
input touch panel [0033] 2 second housing [0034] 21 second display
[0035] 22 second input touch panel [0036] 3 connecting mechanism
[0037] 31 connecting piece [0038] 36 guiding groove [0039] 4 base
[0040] 42 guiding groove [0041] 62 speaker [0042] 63 microphone
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] An embodiment in which the present invention is implemented
in a portable telephone is to be described in detail below with
reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d), a portable telephone of a
first embodiment comprises a first housing 1 and a second housing 2
each having a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, which are
connected so as to be movable relative to each other by a
connecting mechanism 3.
[0045] A first display 11 comprising a liquid-crystal display panel
is placed on a front face of the first housing 1, and a transparent
first input touch panel 12 is placed so as to cover an entire front
face of the first display 11.
[0046] A second display 21 comprising a liquid-crystal display
panel is placed on a front face of the second housing 2, and a
transparent second input touch panel 22 is placed so as to cover an
entire front face of the second display 21.
[0047] Also, on the front face of the second housing 2, a speaker
62 is provided to one end part, and a microphone 63 is provided to
the other end part.
[0048] The connecting mechanism 3 is arranged on either side of the
first housing 1 and the second housing 2 as shown in FIG. 3. As
shown in FIG. 4, each connecting mechanism 3 comprises a connecting
piece 31 connecting a side face of the first housing 1 and a side
face of the second housing 2 to each other, and a pair of pins 33,
34 projects from a body 32 of the connecting piece 31. Also, the
side faces of the first housing 1 are each provided with a guiding
groove 36 extending along the front face of the first housing 1 in
a front and rear direction, and a pin hole 35 is provided in an end
part of either side face of the second housing 2.
[0049] One pin 33 of the connecting piece 31 engages the pin hole
35 of the second housing 2 so as to be rotatable relative to each
other, and the other pin 34 of the connecting mechanism 3 engages
the guiding groove 36 of the first housing 1 slidably.
[0050] With the employment of the connecting mechanism 3 described
above, from a closed position where a rear face of the second
housing 2 is superposed on the front face of the first housing 1 as
shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 2(a), the connecting piece 31 slides along
the guiding groove 36 as shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 2(b), whereby the
second housing 2 moves along the front face of the first housing 1,
and the second housing 2 reaches a position where a large part of
the first display 11 of the first housing 1 is exposed as shown in
FIGS. 1(c) and 2(c). Thereafter, the connecting piece 31 rotates,
and the second housing 2 rotates to the same height as the first
housing 1 as shown in FIGS. 1(d) and 2(d).
[0051] As a result, the front face of the first display 11 and the
front face of the second display 21 are aligned flush with each
other, and the displays 11, 21 are set the closest to each
other.
[0052] In order to avoid interference between the end part of the
second housing 2 and the end part of the first housing 1 in the
process of rotation of the second housing 2 from the state shown in
FIGS. 1(c) and 2(c) to the state shown in FIGS. 1(d) and 2(d), the
end parts of the housings 1, 2 are processed, or a rotation track
of the first housing 1 by the guide of the guiding groove 36 is
adjusted.
[0053] In the portable telephone described above, by moving either
housing relative to the other housing, the first housing 1 and the
second housing 2 can move from the closed position shown in FIG.
1(a) to the open position shown in FIG. 1(d), or can move from the
open position shown in FIG. 1(d) to the closed position shown in
FIG. 1(a).
[0054] FIG. 7 shows an electric configuration of the above
described portable telephone. To a control circuit 61 comprised of
a microcomputer or the like, connected are the above described
first display 11, the first input touch panel 12, the second
display 21 and the second input touch panel 22, as well as a
communication circuit 6 for telephone communication, the speaker 62
for receiving voice, and the microphone 63 for transmitting
voice.
[0055] Here, the electric connection between the first housing 1
and the second housing 2 is performed by a lead wire (not shown)
extending through inside of the connecting piece 31.
[0056] In the portable telephone described above, a telephone
communication mode is set with the first housing 1 and the second
housing 2 placed at the closed position as shown in FIG. 1(a), and
at the time of an incoming call, an image announcing the incoming
call is displayed on the second display 21 of the second housing 2
as shown in FIG. 8. And then, a touch operation on the second input
touch panel 22 at a position of an off hook key displayed on the
second display 21 enables a call using the speaker 62 and the
microphone 63.
[0057] Also, it may be a configuration to shift to an announcing
state, in the case of announcing the incoming call, by touching any
position on the touch panel which can be touched, or any position
which can be touched other than a particular position for a call
rejection key or the like, regardless of position displaying the
off hook key.
[0058] In contrast, with the first housing 1 and the second housing
2 placed at the open position as shown in FIG. 1(d), set are a TV
reception mode, a music playback mode, an Internet screen display
mode, a full keyboard display mode, and the like, so that an image
can be displayed on the first display 11 of the first housing 1 and
the second display 21 of the second housing 2 as shown in FIG.
9.
[0059] For example, in the case where one piece of continuous image
is displayed over two screens of the first display 11 and the
second display 21 as illustrated by an example in FIG. 9, the
screen of the first display 11 and the screen of the second display
21 are arranged on the same plane, and they are as adjacent as
possible to each other. Therefore, the continuousness of the image
is maintained.
[0060] Also, in the full keyboard display mode, the screen of the
first display 11 and the screen of the second display 21 are
arranged on the same plane, and they are adjacent to each other.
Therefore, it is possible to perform smoothly a key operation over
the first input touch panel 12 and the second input touch panel
22.
Second Embodiment
[0061] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d), a portable telephone of a
second embodiment comprises a first housing 1 and a second housing
2 each having a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, which are
placed on a base 4 and connected so as to be movable relative to
each other by a connecting mechanism 3.
[0062] A first display 11 comprising a liquid-crystal display panel
is placed on a front face of the first housing 1, and a transparent
first input touch panel 12 is placed so as to cover an entire front
face of the first display 11.
[0063] A second display 21 comprising a liquid-crystal display
panel is placed on a front face of the second housing 2, and a
transparent second input touch panel 22 is placed so as to cover an
entire front face of the second display 21.
[0064] Also, on the front face of the second housing 2, a speaker
62 is provided to one end part, and a microphone 63 is provided to
the other end part.
[0065] The connecting mechanism 3 is arranged on either side of the
first housing 1 and the second housing 2 with the base 4 serving as
a common element as shown in FIG. 6. The base 4 includes side walls
41, 41 on both sides thereof, and an inner face of each side wall
41 is provided with a guiding groove 42 including two horizontal
parts along the front face of the first housing 1 and two vertical
parts for connecting the horizontal parts to each other. Also, a
front and rear pair of pins 43, 43 projects from either side face
of the first housing 1, and a pin 44 projects from an end part of
either side face of the second housing 2.
[0066] The pins 43, 43 of the first housing 1 and the pin 44 of the
second housing 2 engage the guiding groove 42 of the base 4. Up and
down movement of the first housing 1 with respect to the base 4 is
guided and reciprocation of the second housing 2 along the front
face of the first housing 1 is guided. A plurality of springs 45
are attached to a bottom face of the base 4 to urge the first
housing 1 in an upper direction.
[0067] Also, in the first housing 1 and the second housing 2, a
pair of magnets 5, 51 having polarity attracting each other is
arranged at positions adjacent to each other.
[0068] With the employment of the connecting mechanism 3 described
above, from a closed position where a rear face of the second
housing 2 is superposed on the front face of the first housing 1 as
shown in FIG. 5(a), the second housing 2 slides along the
horizontal parts of the guiding groove 42 as shown in FIG. 5(b),
whereby the second housing 2 moves along the front face of the
first housing 1, and the second housing 2 reaches a position where
a large part of the first display 11 of the first housing 1 is
exposed as shown in FIG. 5(c). Thereafter, the first housing 1 is
urged by the springs 45 to slide along the vertical parts of the
guiding groove 42. The first housing 1 is thereby moved up to the
same height as the second housing 2 as shown in FIG. 5(d). At this
time, the pair of magnets 5, 51 attracts each other to make the
first housing 1 and the second housing 2 in close contact with each
other.
[0069] As a result, the front face of the first display 11 and the
front face of the second display 21 are aligned flush with each
other, and the displays 11, 21 are set the most adjacent to each
other.
[0070] In the portable telephone described above, it is possible to
shift to the open position shown in FIG. 5(d) by sliding the second
housing 2 from the closed position shown in FIG. 5(a) toward the
open position, and then moving up the first housing 1. Also, it is
possible to shift to the closed position shown in FIG. 5(a) by
moving down the first housing 1 from the open position shown in
FIG. 5(d), and then sliding the second housing 2 toward the closed
position.
[0071] The electric configuration of the above described portable
telephone is shown in FIG. 7. The mutual electric connection of the
base 4, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is performed
by a flexible lead (not shown).
[0072] In a similar way in the above described portable telephone,
a telephone communication mode is set with the first housing 1 and
the second housing 2 placed at the closed position as shown in FIG.
5(a), and at the time of an incoming call, an image announcing the
incoming call is displayed on the second display 21 of the second
housing 2 as shown in FIG. 8. And then, a call using the speaker 62
and the microphone 63 is enabled.
[0073] With the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are at the
open position as shown in FIG. 5(d), set are a TV reception mode, a
music playback mode, an Internet screen display mode, a full
keyboard display mode, and the like, so that an image can be
displayed over the first display 11 of the first housing 1 and the
second display 21 of the second housing 2 without losing its
continuousness as shown in FIG. 9.
[0074] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
embodiment in construction but can be modified variously within the
technical range set forth in the appended claims. For example,
instead of the configuration of performing the off hook operation
using the second input touch panel 22, it is also possible to
employ a configuration of providing an operation key on the side
face of the housing to perform the off hook operation using the
operation key.
[0075] Also, the connecting mechanism 3 may be formed using various
known connection mechanisms, not limited to the configuration
described above.
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