KR20020061249A - Folder type portable telephone with two displays - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A folder type mobile phone with two display units is provided to allow a user to know a state of a mobile phone through an auxiliary LCD even with the folder closed and extend a main LCD by taking the auxiliary main LCD as having an auxiliary function for the main LCD. CONSTITUTION: An auxiliary LCD(17) is provided at a front surface of a hinge unit(20) so that it can be placed at the same position of a body regardless of opening and closing an upper folder. In addition, since the auxiliary LCD is exposed outwardly, a user can check a displayed content. A main LCD(16) exists inside the upper folder(300) and exposed only when the folder is opened. The main LCD(16) is not physically folded or collides with the auxiliary LCD(17). An empty space(19) is prepared at a lower portion of the upper folder(300). Only left and right end portions at the lower side of the upper folder(300) are connected to the hinge unit(20) and the empty space(19) exists between the lower left and right end portions. The empty space(19) renders the auxiliary LCD(17) prepared at the hinge unit(20) to be exposed outwardly when the folder is closed. The hinge unit(20) is a bit protruded from the plane where the button of the body(310) is positioned so that the upper surface of the auxiliary LCD(17) and an outer surface of the closed upper folder can be level when the folder is closed.

Description

Folder type portable telephone with two displays}

The present invention relates to a folder-type mobile phone using ID LCD and a message checking method thereof, and more particularly, to provide a method and apparatus for installing a dual display unit on a folder-type mobile phone to check whether a message is received at one of the display units. It's about doing.

Mobile phones are becoming an indispensable necessity in the daily life of the general public. Mobile phones are always carried around, so you need to reduce their size. Therefore, products that can be reduced in size, such as flip type or folding type, have emerged. However, as the size of mobile phones has decreased, the screen of the display has also become smaller.

On the other hand, with the advent of the wireless internet, text information and image information are increasingly searched by a mobile phone. Thus, consumers have also preferred large screens.

As described above, in order to increase the size of the display while keeping the size of the mobile phone small, a folding mobile phone is widely used. However, a disadvantage of clamshell phones is that you cannot see the contents of the display when you close the folder.

In order to solve this problem, a so-called dual LCD folder (Dual LCDfolder) in the form of providing a separate auxiliary LCD 17a on the outside of the folder as shown in Figures 1a and 1b has appeared.

In brief, the auxiliary LCD 17a and the main LCD 16a as the main display unit for the status mode showing the reception or the state of the mobile phone are respectively located before and after the upper folder of the mobile phone. In this way, even when the folder is closed, various information such as the current time, the intensity of the received radio wave, the amount of battery remaining, etc. can be checked through the auxiliary LCD 17a.

On the other hand, since the LCD is disposed on one cover in a double, not only a lot of manufacturing labor is required but also the upper folder becomes heavy, and the hinge portion can be easily loosened or broken. In addition, since the auxiliary LCD 17a is located at the back of the upper folder, the auxiliary LCD 17a is not visible to the user when the folder is opened to use the mobile phone. This is because the user must close the cover again or use another method to see it.

In order to solve this method, a method of arranging the auxiliary LCD 17b in the body of the mobile phone as shown in FIG. 2 has been proposed. In this way, when the folder is closed, the auxiliary LCD 17b can be seen through the transparent window 18, and even when the folder is opened, the auxiliary LCD 17b can be seen together with the main LCD 17a.

However, for this purpose, since the transparent window 18 needs to be provided inside the upper folder, the size of the main LCD 16b is severely restricted. Therefore, a wider screen cannot be provided to the mobile phone user.

In addition, since the auxiliary LCD 17b must be viewed through the transparent window 18, it may not only give a feeling of frustration, but also if the transparent window 18 is slightly dirty or the transparent window 18 is damaged, the auxiliary LCD 17b may be damaged. ) Has the disadvantage of being very uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a method for receiving a message and checking the state of a mobile phone without opening a folder in a folder-type mobile phone.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone which can always see the auxiliary screen when the folder is opened or closed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the display area of the main screen as wide as possible.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone that can clearly see the auxiliary screen even when the folder is closed.

1 is an external view of a conventional folding cellular phone.

2 is an external view of another conventional cellular phone of the present invention.

3 is an external view of a folding cellular phone of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the mobile phone of the present invention.

5 is an example of a screen when the folder is closed, FIG. 5A is an example of a general screen when the folder is closed, and FIG. 5B is an example of a screen in which the mobile phone displays the caller's telephone number when receiving a call.

6 is a view showing a screen example of a mobile phone according to the present invention and a screen example of a conventional mobile phone. FIG. 6A is a screen example of a mobile phone according to the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a screen example of a conventional mobile phone.

****** Description of Major Drawings ******

16. Main LCD 17. Secondary LCD

16a. Main LCD 17a. Secondary LCD

300. Top folder 310.Body

In the present invention, the main LCD is disposed inside the upper folder of the clamshell mobile phone, and the auxiliary LCD is disposed at the hinge portion. Through this, the mobile phone user can check whether the message is received or the status of the mobile phone through the status mode displayed on the auxiliary LCD without having to open the upper folder. In addition, when viewing the auxiliary LCD can be seen without going through the transparent window.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is an external view of a folding cellular phone showing the present invention.

Figure 3a is a view showing a state when the upper folder 300 and the body 310 is closed, Figure 3b is a view showing a state when the upper folder is opened.

As can be seen from the figure, since the auxiliary LCD 17 is provided on the front side of the hinge portion 20, it is positioned at the same position of the body regardless of opening and closing of the upper folder, and is exposed to the outside, so that the user You can check the display.

The main LCD 16 is located inside the upper folder 300 and is exposed to the outside only in the case of FIG. 3B, which is opened by folding a folder, and does not physically contact or conflict with the auxiliary LCD 17.

To this end, an empty space 19 is provided at the lower end of the upper folder 300. That is, in the upper folder 300, only the lower left and right ends 21a and 21b are connected to the hinge portion 20, and an empty space 19 exists between the lower left and right ends 21a and 21b. The empty space 19 allows the auxiliary LCD 17 provided in the hinge portion 20 to be exposed outward when the folder is closed.

In addition, the hinge portion 20 protrudes slightly above the plane on which the buttons of the body 310 are positioned so that the upper surface of the auxiliary LCD 17 and the outer surface of the closed upper folder are flush with each other when the folder is closed. have. By doing so, when the folder is closed as shown in Fig. 3A, the outer surface of the auxiliary LCD 17 and the upper folder 300 are present on the same plane. Of course, when the folder is closed, it is also possible to design the auxiliary LCD 17 to be lower than the outer surface of the upper folder 300 or to protrude more than the outer surface.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit of the mobile phone of the present invention.

The mobile phone according to the present invention includes a control unit 10, a wireless circuit unit 11, a baseband unit 12, an audio processing unit 13, a handset 14, an input unit 15, and a main LCD 16 and an auxiliary LCD 17. ).

The controller 10 processes a user's command through an input unit 15 such as a keypad or receives a signal through the wireless circuit unit 11 to process the main LCD 16 or the auxiliary LCD 17 or the audio processor ( It is in charge of the control role to send command to 13).

The input unit 15 mainly refers to a keypad, and as shown in FIG. 6A, a direction key for up / down a menu of a screen, a menu key for bringing up a menu, an end key for terminating execution, a shortcut key for a speed dial, a number and Numeric keys for character input are arranged. The user can perform various commands through the keypad as an input unit.

The radio circuit unit 11 transmits data processed by the controller 10 to another system through an antenna or receives data from another system and transmits the data to the controller.

The baseband unit 12 performs digital signal processing such as source coding, channel coding, or the like before sending the signal from the control unit 10 or the audio processing unit 13 to the radio circuit unit or the radio circuit unit ( Decodes the signal from 11 and transmits it to the audio processor 13 or the controller 10.

The audio processor 13 plays a role of generating, amplifying, and filtering an electric signal such as a transmission / reception voice or a melody.

The handset 14 serves to convert sound into an electrical signal or to convert an electrical signal into a sound.

5 is an example of a screen when the folder is closed, FIG. 5A is an example of a general screen when the folder is closed, and FIG. 5B is an example of a screen in which the mobile phone displays the caller's telephone number when receiving a call.

When the folder is closed as described above in FIG. 3A, the auxiliary LCD 17 that provides the screen in the status mode is the same as in FIG. 5A. As shown in the figure, general contents such as date, current time, battery status, volume, and mail status are shown. Of course, the screen of FIG. 5A is exemplary and may be configured to display other contents as necessary.

In this state, when a telephone call is made, the caller's telephone number may appear on the auxiliary LCD 17 screen as shown in FIG. 5B. Accordingly, the user can check who the caller is through the auxiliary LCD 17 without having to open the upper folder 300. Of course, if the caller ID number is not present or is inactive, it may only display a message that a call is coming.

In addition, when the text message or the voice message arrives, the auxiliary LCD 17 may display that the text message or the voice message has arrived.

6 is a view showing a screen example of a mobile phone according to the present invention and a screen example of a conventional mobile phone. FIG. 6A is a screen example of a mobile phone according to the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a screen example of a conventional mobile phone.

In FIG. 6A, all of the guides for the status display and the variable button, namely, the battery capacity display, the volume display, the "selection", the "move", and the "cancel", etc., which were conventionally displayed on the main screen, are arranged on the auxiliary LCD 17. Only the menu is displayed on the main LCD 16.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 6B, it is possible to confirm that the number of menus is small by simultaneously displaying a status display, a guide for a variable button, and a menu screen on one screen 16a. Therefore, to view more menus, the corresponding key buttons must be further operated. In addition, several kinds of displays appear on one screen, which gives a more complex feeling.

In contrast, FIG. 6A is a screen that a user of a mobile phone can see when the upper folder 300 is completely opened. The main LCD screen 16 is placed on the upper side of the sub-LCD, which provides a status mode screen directly below the main LCD. By placing 17, the screen looks bigger and more effective even with the naked eye. That is, even when using the LCD of the same size it can be seen that the menu of the main screen 16 of the mobile phone of the present invention is more than the number of menus of the main screen 16a provided by the existing mobile phone.

In addition, since the display for each function of the variable button 22 appears immediately above the variable button 22 that can be used as various function buttons depending on the situation, it can be conveniently referred to when using the variable button. Variable buttons have different functions assigned to each button according to the situation, so the user needs to check what function each button currently has when using the variable button. However, in the related art, the display of the present function of the variable button is displayed on the main LCD 16 so that it is far from the variable button 22. Therefore, in the related art, when the variable button 22 is pressed, it is inconvenient to check the main LCD 16, but according to the present invention, the present invention of the variable button on the auxiliary LCD 17 directly above the variable button 22 is present. The display of the function appears so that you can check it conveniently at the time of button operation.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 6A, the status display and the contents of the variable button are displayed on the auxiliary LCD 17, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the status display and the contents of the variable button are displayed on the main LCD 16 as in the prior art, and the auxiliary LCD 17 displays the current time, the phone number of the other party, and the address of the website which is currently connected. Alternatively, it is possible to continuously update and display the stock information, news information, etc. set by the user.

In addition, it is also possible to explain the screen displayed on the main LCD 16 on the auxiliary LCD 17 while the folder is open. For example, when a moving picture or the like is displayed on the main LCD 16, a title or a control method using the variable button 22 for the moving picture may be displayed on the auxiliary LCD 17. FIG. In addition, when the text message or the voice message is received, the main LCD 16 may display the contents thereof, and the auxiliary LCD 17 may display the sender information of the corresponding message or a control method using the variable button 22.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with drawing and Example, this invention is not limited to a specific Example, The person of ordinary skill in the art, many corrections and a change without departing from the scope of this invention. I will understand this possible. In addition, the protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the appended claims.

According to the present invention, not only the state of the mobile phone can be seen through the subsidiary LCD even when the folder is closed, and when the folder is opened, the main LCD and the subsidiary LCD can be simultaneously viewed. Display the title of the document or picture that appears on the main LCD, how to control the main LCD, information to increase the usability of the mobile phone, etc.), thereby extending the main LCD.

In addition, by installing the auxiliary LCD on the hinge (hinge) of the existing folder-type mobile phone, there is no need to add additional transparent windows, such as an additional folder, there is a cost saving effect.

In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a transparent window in the upper folder, there is no fear that the size of the main LCD provided in the upper folder is limited by the transparent window.

In addition, since the auxiliary LCD is located at the top of the body, in particular, the existing hinge portion, the problem of the existing method, that is, the inconvenience of seeing the auxiliary LCD of the body through the transparent window installed in the upper folder, the sense of depth, etc. When the upper folder is opened, the two LCDs are placed in a close position structurally so that the user can feel psychological stability.

By installing the auxiliary LCD on the hinge part of the existing clamshell cell phone, the hinge part, which was recognized as unnecessary space from the existing user's point of view, serves as an output tool, thereby increasing the physical space utilization of the cell phone.

Claims (7)

In the clamshell mobile phone having an upper folder provided with a main LCD and a body connected to the upper folder through a hinge and provided with a button therein, A clamshell mobile phone, further comprising: an auxiliary LCD on a front surface of the hinge portion. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein only the left and right sides of the upper folder are connected to the hinge portion, and an empty space is provided between the lower left and right sides. The clamshell cellular phone of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary LCD protrudes from a plane where a button of the body exists. The clamshell cellular phone according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary LCD displays a state of a radio wave reception, a battery level, and the like. The method of claim 1, A clamshell mobile phone characterized by displaying the caller's phone number on the secondary LCD when a call is received. The method of claim 1, Folder-type mobile phone, characterized in that the current function of the variable button is displayed on the secondary LCD when the folder is open. The method of claim 1, A clamshell mobile phone characterized by displaying a title, a control method, and the like that describe the screen displayed on the main LCD on the sub LCD while the folder is open.