JP2001298514A FOLDABLE PORTABLE COMMUNICATION MACHINE
`
`The EPO does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from authorities other than the
`EPO, nor does it guarantee that such data is complete, up-to-date or fit for specific purposes.
`
`The wording below is an initial machine translation of the original publication. To apply more advanced
`translation technology, use Patent Translate.
`
`Applicants
`NEC SAITAMA LTD
`
`Inventors
`TOBA MASATO
`
`Classifications
`IPC
`H04M1/02; H05K5/02; (IPC1-7): H04M1/02; H05K5/02;
`
`Priorities
`JP2000110660A·2000-04-12
`
`Application
`JP2000110660A·2000-04-12
`
`Publication
`JP2001298514A·2001-10-26
`
`Published as
`JP2001298514A
`
`FOLDABLE PORTABLE COMMUNICATION MACHINE
`
`Abstract
`PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability, to make a design to be clean-cut, to improve the strength
`of a casing case and to improve the formability of the casing. SOLUTION: A first easing 1, a second casing 2, a
`rocking axis 7 connecting the first easing 1 and the second easing 2 so that they can rock and a key 4 arranged
`on the rocking axis 7 are installed. A first face 8 that the first casing 1 has and a second face 9 that the second
`casing 2 has can be folded so that they are almost matched. The key 4 can be turned with a turning axis 13 as a
`center and the key 4 outputs a rotating direction. The number of keys arranged on the surface of the casing is
`reduced and the area of the opening part of the casing becomes small. The turning axis 13 is almost matched
`with the rocking axis 7. The key 4 can move in parallel to a direction 15 vertical to the turning axis 13 and it
`outputs on or off based on parallel movement. In the folded state, the key 4 is exposed to an outer part and a user
`can operate the key 4. A display part 19 is included in a third face 18 exposed to the outer part. When the key 4
`is operated in the folded state, an operation situation is displayed on the display part 19.
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`Lenovo EX-1041, Page 001
`IPR2021-00822 (Lenovo Inc. v. LiTL LLC.)
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foldable
`portable communication device, and more particularly to a foldable portable communication device that has
`good operability and can further improve the strength and formability of a housing case.
`
`2. Description of the Related Art A portable communication device is required to be downsized in order to
`enhance its portability. A foldable portable communication device that can be folded by connecting it with a
`hinge so that it can be folded when it is not in use, it is easy to operate when using it, and the display is easy to
`see. Is being developed.
`
`In addition, the number of key buttons in the mobile communication device increases as the number of functions
`increases, and the design becomes complicated. Menu selection is used for the operation in order to reduce the
`number of key buttons. Scroll keys are useful for selecting menus. The scroll key is also used for scrolling the
`information displayed on the display unit of the mobile communication device.
`
`In the known folding portable communication device shown in FIG. 5, a display side casing 101 having a
`display unit 105 and a button side casing 102 having a key button 106 and a button type scroll key 104 can be
`folded by a hinge portion 103. Are linked to. In such a button type scroll key 104, the user must press the key
`many times in order to scroll the items displayed on the display unit 105. Further, in such a button side casing
`102, the area of the opening portion in which the button type scroll key 104 is accommodated is large. Due to
`such an opening, the strength of the housing is weakened, and the fluidity of the material is poor and the
`moldability is poor when the case of the housing, which is a mold-molded product, is molded.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable
`communication device having good operability and a clean design. Another object of the present invention is to
`provide a foldable portable communication device in which the housing case has high strength. Yet another
`object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable communication device having a good casing
`case formability.
`
`[Means for Solving the Problem] Means for solving the problem is expressed as follows. The technical matters
`appearing in the expression are accompanied by parentheses () and added with numbers, symbols and the like.
`The numbers, symbols and the like are technical matters constituting at least one embodiment or a plurality of
`examples of the embodiments or a plurality of examples of the present invention, particularly the embodiment or
`the examples. It corresponds to the reference numbers, reference symbols, etc. attached to the technical matters
`expressed in the drawings corresponding to. Such reference numbers and reference symbols clarify
`correspondences and bridges between the technical matters described in the claims and the technical matters of
`the embodiments or examples. Such correspondence/bridging does not mean that the technical matters described
`in the claims are interpreted as being limited to the technical matters of the embodiments or examples.
`
`A foldable portable communication device according to the present invention includes a first housing (1), a
`second housing (2), and a first housing (1) and a second housing (2) which are swingably connected. Including a
`swing shaft (7) and a key (4) arranged on the swing shaft (7), the first surface (8) of the first housing (1), and the
`second housing ( The second surface (9) of 2) can be folded so as to substantially coincide with the second
`surface (9), and the key (4) has a rotation axis (13), and the rotation axis (13) is the center. It is rotatable and
`outputs the direction in which the key (4) rotates. By arranging the keys (4) as described above, the number of
`key buttons arranged on the surface of the housing is reduced, and the area of the opening of the housing case is
`reduced. The key (4) outputs two values depending on its rotation direction (14).
`
`The pivot axis (13) preferably substantially coincides with the swing axis (7). The key (4) outputs the angle at
`which the key (4) rotates. Since the rotation angle corresponds to the number of outputs, usability is improved.
`
`The key (4) is movable in parallel in a direction (15) perpendicular to the rotation axis (13), and outputs ON or
`OFF based on the parallel movement. With such a function, the number of key buttons arranged on the housing
`can be further reduced.
`
`In a state where the first surface (8) and the second surface (9) are folded so as to substantially coincide with
`each other, the key (4) is exposed to the outside. In the folded state, the user can operate the key (4).
`Furthermore, in the state where the first surface (8) and the second surface (9) are substantially aligned with
`each other, including the display portion (19) arranged on the third surface (18) of the first housing (1), The
`third surface (18) is exposed to the outside. When the user operates the key (4) in the folded state, the operation
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`Lenovo EX-1041, Page 002
`IPR2021-00822 (Lenovo Inc. v. LiTL LLC.)
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`status of the foldable portable communication device (10) is displayed on the display unit (19). Such a display
`further improves usability.
`
`The display unit (19) is preferably a light emitting diode. The display unit (19) is more preferably a liquid
`crystal display device.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Corresponding to the drawings, an embodiment of a
`foldable portable communication device according to the present invention is formed of a display side casing
`and a button side casing, and is rotated by a hinge portion connecting them. A scroll key is provided. The
`display-side casing 1 has a display side surface 8 and a display unit 5 on the display side surface 8, as shown in
`FIG. The button-side housing 2 has a button side surface 9 and a plurality of key buttons 6 on the button side
`surface 9. The display-side casing 1 is connected to the button-side casing 2 so as to be swingable around a shaft
`7 included in the hinge portion 3. The mobile communication device 10 can be folded such that the display side
`surface 8 of the display side housing 1 and the button side surface 9 of the button side housing 2 are
`substantially overlapped with each other. The rotary scroll key 4 is arranged on the hinge portion 3.
`
`FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the mobile communication device 10. The display-side casing 1 has a printed
`circuit board 11 inside. The button-side housing 2 has a printed circuit board 12 inside. The printed circuit board
`11 and the printed circuit board 12 are electrically connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit board or
`a cable (not shown) in order to perform the function of the mobile communication device 10.
`
`The rotary scroll key 4 has a rotation shaft 13 and can rotate in two rotation directions 14 about the rotation shaft
`13. The rotating shaft 13 substantially coincides with the shaft 7 of the hinge portion 3. The rotary scroll key 4 is
`electrically connected to the printed board 11 or the printed board 12. The rotary scroll key 4 outputs the
`rotation direction and the rotation angle rotated by the user to the printed circuit board 11 or the printed circuit
`board 12. The rotary scroll key 4 has a switch unit 16. The rotary scroll key 4 can be pressed in a direction 15
`substantially perpendicular to the rotary shaft 8 and substantially perpendicular to the display side surface 8 or
`the button side surface 9. The switch unit 16 outputs ON or OFF based on whether or not the rotary scroll key 4
`is pressed in the direction 15.
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`By providing the rotary scroll key 4 on the hinge portion 3, the number of key buttons 6 arranged on the button
`side surface 9 of the button side body 2 is reduced. The reduction in the number of key buttons 6 makes the
`design of the portable communication device 10 cleaner and reduces the opening of the case of the button side
`body 2. The reduction of the case opening improves the strength of the case. The case is manufactured by
`molding. The reduction of the opening of the case further improves the moldability by improving the fluidity of
`the material during the molding of the case.
`
`The function of the foldable communication device 10 is executed by menu selection using the rotary scroll key
`4. A list of a plurality of items corresponding to the function of the foldable communication device 10 is
`displayed on the display unit 5, and one of the items is selected and displayed so as to be distinguishable from
`other items. When the rotary scroll key 4 is rotated, the selected and displayed item changes according to the
`rotation angle. By pressing the rotary scroll key 4 in the direction 15, the selected and displayed item is decided,
`and the function corresponding to the decided item is executed.
`
`The rotary scroll key 4 is further used when scrolling the information displayed on the display unit 11. Examples
`of the information include telephone numbers and address books. When the rotary scroll key 4 is rotated, the
`displayed information is scrolled according to the rotation angle.
`
`Button-type scroll keys require the user to press the key multiple times in order to change the item. The rotary
`scroll key 4 allows the user to select an item simply by rotating it with his/her finger, which is convenient.
`
`In another embodiment of the folding portable communication device according to the present invention, a
`rotary scroll key can be used in a folded state. As shown in FIG. 3, when the folding portable communication
`device 10 is folded, the rotary scroll key 4 is exposed to the outside. An LED 19 is provided on the surface 18 of
`the display-side housing 1. The surface 18 is a surface opposite to the display side surface 8 of the display-side
`housing 1.
`
`When the rotary scroll key 4 is rotated while the foldable portable communication device 10 is folded, the
`foldable portable communication device 10 performs necessary functions such as adjusting the incoming call
`volume and adjusting the sensitivity in the folded state. .. The LED 13 emits light based on this operation, and
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`Lenovo EX-1041, Page 003
`IPR2021-00822 (Lenovo Inc. v. LiTL LLC.)
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`notifies the user of the operating status of the function by changing the blinking interval, color tone, or
`illumination brightness. A liquid crystal display screen may be provided instead of the LED 19. In this case, the
`liquid crystal display screen displays the function in the folded state, and the function is executed by the menu
`selection.
`
`In still another embodiment of the folding portable communication device according to the present invention, a
`sliding scroll key is provided on the hinge portion. The slide scroll key 21 has a rotary shaft 23, and the rotary
`shaft 23 is substantially aligned with the shaft 7 of the hinge portion 3. The slide scroll key 21 can swing in two
`rotation directions 24 about a rotation shaft 23, and does not rotate more than a predetermined angle from the
`initial angle. When the user swings the slide scroll key 21 and stops the swing, the slide scroll key 21 returns to
`the initial angle. The slide scroll key 21 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 11 or the printed
`circuit board 12. The sliding scroll key 21 outputs the rotation direction rotated by the user to the printed circuit
`board 11 or the printed circuit board 12.
`
`The slide scroll key 21 has a switch unit 26. The slide scroll key 21 can be pressed in a direction 25 that is
`substantially perpendicular to the rotary shaft 23 and substantially perpendicular to the display side surface 8 or
`the button side surface 9. The switch unit 26 outputs ON or OFF based on whether or not the slide scroll key 21
`is pressed in the direction 25.
`
`In menu selection, the slide-type scroll key 21 is swung to change the selected and displayed item. When the
`sliding scroll key 21 does not return to the initial angle, the items selected and displayed continuously change.
`When the sliding scroll key 21 returns to the initial angle, the item change ends. When the slide scroll key 21 is
`pressed in the direction 25, the item that is selected and displayed is decided, and the function corresponding to
`the decided item is executed.
`
`In the folding portable communication device according to the present invention, the scroll keys are arranged in
`the hinge portion, and the number of key buttons arranged on the surface of the housing is reduced. The
`reduction in the number of key buttons makes the design cleaner and reduces the opening of the housing case.
`The reduction of the opening of the case improves the strength of the case, improves the fluidity of the material
`during the molding of the case, and improves the moldability.
`
`Lenovo EX-1041, Page 004
`IPR2021-00822 (Lenovo Inc. v. LiTL LLC.)
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