The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP 2004-052702 filed on Feb. 27, 2004, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
The present invention relates to a slide type portable data unit composed of a plurality of casings which are slidably connected to one another so that the portable data unit can have a compact configuration when the casings are retracted into one another, but have a length adjusted to an ear and a mouth of a user when they are extended from one another.
These years, mobile telephones incorporating a camera function, have been prosperously used. Most of these mobile phones have such a deformable configuration that it is compact during carrying by a user but it has a length adjusted to an ear and the mouth of the user during telephone conversation. Most of these conventional examples have been a foldable type, that is, two casings are folded through the intermediary of a connection therebetween. However, these years, there have been proposed those having various configurations.
As an example of these variable configurations, two thin casings which are slidably connected to each other, are superposed with one another during carrying or image pick-up, but are extended from each other so as to obtain a predetermined length during telephone conversation (Refer to, for example, JP-A-2003-3235 and JP-A-2003-110675).
In the above-mentioned conventional example, the thin two casings are slidably coupled to each other, there has been such a severe task that components are appropriately arranged in these casings. That is, for example, should the interior components be not efficiently arranged, the configuration would become large-sized, resulting in deterioration of portability. In particular, the higher the optical telescopic function, the larger the size of the cameral mechanism portion, thus, it has been apprehensive to use the camera function for this configuration in which the two casings are slidable.
Further, should the two casings be slid with no care in this mobile telephone, the mobile telephone would accidentally falls down during telephone conversation, or fingers which hold the casings with a posture during telephone conversion would touch the cheek of the user, causing a posture effective for telephone conversation to be unable to be taken.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a slide type portable data unit incorporating a configuration which has a satisfactory internal mounting efficiency and which is compact.
To the end, according to the present invention, there is provided a portable data unit comprising a first casing, a second casing and a slide mechanism portion for connecting these two casings, slidably in one direction, wherein the slide mechanism portion connects the two casings so as to take a fist condition in which the first casing is superposed with the second casing, the second casing being positioned behind the first casing so that the first and second casings have a fore-and-aft relationship, and a second condition in which the two casings are slid from each other in the one direction, and the first casing has a portion in which one end part thereof in one direction is not superposed with the second casing in the first condition, and in which a camera portion is rotatably incorporated.
With this configuration, a slide type portable data unit having a configuration which has a satisfactory internal mounting efficiency and which is compact.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from descriptions which will be made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
a to 1d are perspective views illustrating a portable data unit (mobile telephone) in accordance with the present invention;
a to 3d are external views illustrating the data unit (mobile telephone) having its casings are retracted to each other;
a to 4c are external views illustrating data unit (mobile telephone) having its casings which are extended from each other;
a to 7b are views for explaining a posture for image pick-up by a camera with the casings of the portable data unit (mobile telephone) according to the present invention, being retracted to each other;
a to 8c are perspective views illustrating a portable data unit (mobile telephone) in a second embodiment of the present invention;
a to 9b are perspective views illustrating a mobile telephone in a third embodiment of the present invention;
a to 10d are external views illustrating a mobile telephone in the third embodiment of the present invention;
a to 11b are external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the third embodiment of the present invention;
a to 12c are external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the third embodiment of the present invention;
a to 14c are partly broken external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the third embodiment of the present invention;
a to 15e are external views illustrating a mobile telephone in a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
a to 16c are external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
a to 17e are external views illustrating a mobile telephone in a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
a to 18d are partly broken external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the fifth embodiment of the present invention;
a to 19e are partly broken external views illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
a to 20c are external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the sixth embodiment of the present invention;
a to 21e are external views illustrating a mobile telephone in a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
a to 22c are external views illustrating the mobile telephone in the seventh embodiment of the present invention:
a to 23e are external views illustrating an eight embodiment of the present invention; and
a to 24c are external views illustrating the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
a to 7b show a portable data unit (mobile telephone) in a first embodiment of the present invention, among which
At first, explanation will be made of the mobile telephone in the first embodiment with reference to
The mobile telephone in this embodiment incorporates functions of reproducing images and sounds received from TV broadcastings and the like, and further, serving as a data unit, in addition to the function of telephone conversation. The mobile telephone which is generally indicated by a reference numeral 1, comprises a first casing 100, a second casing 200 and a slide mechanism portion 300 (Refer to
Further, in this embodiment, the housing is bisected laterally with respect to the width W, obliquely as viewed from the above, so that the two casings have a fore-and-aft relationship along the bisected line. That is, in this embodiment, the bisected part of each of the two casings 100, 200 has a thickness which is small and smaller in a widthwise direction from the one side to the other side, as viewed from the above.
Further, the first casing and the second casings are superposed with each other with their one thicker end side 101 and the other thinner end side 201 being located fore-and-aft, and a plane where these two casings make contact with each other defines a slide plane 301 so as to have a configuration in which the casings are slid in the widthwise W direction of the housing 10. Thus, as shown in
Accordingly, the housing can have a shape which is compact and excellent in portability in the first condition, and further, in the second condition in which the casings are extended from each other, it can be deformed into a shape capable of having a length adjusted to an ear and the mouth of a user and having satisfactory holding ability if the extended housing is set in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof (widthwise W direction) is set to be vertical.
Further, in this embodiment, in the first condition, a part 204 of the second casing 200 can be arranged on one side of a board surface (front surface) 103 of the first casing 100. This part 204 of the second casing 200 is always located on one side of the broad surface 103 of the first casing 100. That is, even though two casings are extended from each other, the part 204 of the second casing 200 can be located on one side of the first casing 100 in the widthwise W direction.
In this configuration, even in the first and second conditions, a second speaker portion 205 is arranged in the part 204 of the second casing 200 located on one side of the broad surface 103 of the first casing 100, and a second speaker portion 105 is arranged on one side of the first casing 100, which is opposed to the part 204 of the second casing 200 (thicker end side 101). Further, a display portion 110 is arranged in the broad surface 103 of the first casing 100, between the speaker portions 105, 205. Accordingly, even in the first and second conditions, the speaker portions 105, 205 in a pair can be located on opposite sides of the display portion 110. Thus, with the use of the positional relationship among the display part 110 and the speaker portions 105, 205, various images such as images from TV broad castings or reproduced images can be displayed on the display portion 110 while stereophonic sounds can be produced from the speaker portions 105, 205 in a pair located on the opposite sides of the display portion 110. Further, in this embodiment, a function key board 111 is located in the first casing 100 between the display portion 110 and the second speaker portion 205. This function key board 111 includes a plurality of manipulation switches which are frequently used in this mobile telephone 1. Thus, in this embodiment, the function key board 111 is always exposed outside even in the first and second conditions, the mobile telephone can be operated in various modes by means of the function key board 111.
Further, in this embodiment, a receiver portion which is not shown is located on the one side of the first casing 100 (thicker one end side 101), and a microphone portion 210 is located in the part 204 of the second housing 200. With this configuration, in the second condition in which the housing 10 is extended, the receiver portion which is located on one end side of the housing 10 in the longitudinal direction (widthwise W direction) an the microphone portion 210 which is located on the other end side thereof are located at positions respectively adjusted to an ear and the mouth of the user. Meanwhile, the microphone portion 210 is exposed outside even in the first condition, and accordingly, it can be used for sound recording even in the first condition.
Further, in this embodiment, in the first condition, the rear surface side of the first housing 10 also allows the portion 104 of the first casing 100 to be located on one side (the other thinner end side 202) of the second casing 200, similar to the front side as stated above. The part 104 of the first casing 100 is configured so as to be always exposed to the outer surface of the housing 10 even in the first and second conditions. In this embodiment, an image pick-up window 112 for a camera device is formed in the part 104 of the first casing 100. Thus, in this embodiment, even in any one of the first and the second conditions, an image pick-up by a camera can be made with the used of the image pick-up window 112 for the camera device.
Further, in one of the essential features of this embodiment, the camera device can be arranged in rear of the image pick-up window 112, that is, in a deepest part of the first casing 100 (on the thicker one end side 101). Accordingly, it can be cope with a large-sized camera device while an increase in the size of the housing 10 is restrained. That is, a mobile telephone having a conventional slide structure has in general such a configuration that two casings which are bisected in the depthwise D direction are slid in a direction orthogonal to the depthwide D direction. Should a camera device be arranged in this conventional structure, the camera device would be arranged in one of the casings which are bisected in the depthwise direction. Thus, it would cause such a problem that the size of the housing becomes larger as the size of the camera device is inevitably increased. On the contrary, with the configuration of this embodiment, since the camera device can be arranged in the depthwise thick portion of the first casing 100 which corresponds to the depthwise D direction of the housing 10, it can accept therein a large-sized camera device while an increase in the size of the housing 10 is restrained.
Meanwhile, since the function key board 111 is arranged on the one end side of the first casing 100 having a small depth (on the other thin end side 102), a planar manipulation board can be arranged in this thin depth part. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a dead space can be reduced.
It is noted that a battery portion which occupies a large space is arranged in a thick depth part of the second casing 200 (on the one end side 201 having a large thickness) (Refer to
Further, in this embodiment, a character and numeric input board 212 which is used by the user in the second condition in which a posture for inputting characters and numeric values are taken, is arranged on the slide surface 301a which is exposed outside in the second condition. Accordingly, manipulation keys that are not used in the second condition in which the mobile telephone takes a stowing posture or an image pick-up posture are concealed, and on the contrary, manipulation keys which are used in the second condition can be exposed through the change over from the first condition into the second condition, thereby it is possible to enhance the operability thereof.
Further, a shutter switch 213 and a mode change-over switch 214 are arranged on the thick depth side of the second casing 200 defining an upper surface in the first condition. With this configuration, in the case of image pick-up by the camera in the first condition, the user can manipulate the above-mentioned switches provided in the upper surface while he holds the housing 10 with his right hand. Further, in this embodiment, since the mobile telephone takes a posture in which its longitudinal direction (widthwise W direction) extends laterally, the user can carry out the image pick-up while he holds the laterally opposite end parts of the mobile telephone with his both hands, thereby it is possible to prevent the camera from shaking (blurring). Further, in this embodiment, since the speaker portions 105, 205 are arranged on the opposite end parts, the spaces in which the speaker portions are arranged can be used as grip parts. Thus, it is possible to restrain the hands holding the opposite end parts, from covering the display portion 110 which displays thereon an image to be picked up (Refer to
Meanwhile, in this embodiment, in the second condition, the image pick-up can be made while the extended end parts are set up and down. In this image pick-up posture, an image pick-up switch is allocated to a specific key in the function key board 111. Thus, the user can carry out the image pick-up with the use of his thumb which holds the second casing 200 while he supports the second casing 200 by his one hand (Refer to
Thus, in this embodiment, each of the first and second casings has a wedge-like shape having a depth which is decreased gradually from one end to the other end, and accordingly, the first casing 100 defines the front surface and one of opposite side surfaces of the housing 10 while the second casing 200 defines the rear surface and the other of the side surfaces of the housing 10. Further, in this embodiment, since the two casings have the wedge-like shape, one end side part of each of the casings in the longitudinal direction (widthwise W direction) has a thick depth while the other end side can have a sharpened end part. With this configuration, an internal mounting space having an extra space in the depthwise D direction can be ensured in the inside of the above-mentioned thicker side part. With the use of this extra inner mounting space, interior components having thick depths can be accommodated. In particular, since these years, portable mobile data units incorporate camera devices having increased sizes, a large-sized cameral device corresponding to the depth D of the housing 10 can be mounted.
Meanwhile, the sharpened end side part can define a space for arranging an operation board or a control board having a relative small thickness, and further, a height of a step part which is defined between the first casing 200 and the second casing 200 when the first casing 100 and second caring 200 are extended from each other in the widthwise W direction can be reduced.
Further, in a condition in which the wedge-like two casings are extended from each other, there may be obtained in a satisfactory posture of telephone conversation in which the opposite end parts in the longitudinal direction (the widthwise W direction) are thick (the depth D is large) while the center part is thin.
Referring to
Detailed explanation will be made of the portable telephone in this embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7b. It is noted that
At first, referring to
The inner cover 120 of the first casing 100 incorporates the slide surface 310a and the part 104 of the first casing 100 adapted to always exposed to the rear surface side of the housing 10. Meanwhile, the outer cover 121 of the first casing 100 covers the front surface side of the first casing 100 in its entirety, and is arranged in its front surface with the function key board 111, the display portion 110 and the first speaker portion 105. The inner cover 120 and the outer cover 121 are connected by means of a partition groove formed in the peripheral side surfaces (upper and lower surfaces, and a left side surface) of the first casing 100, and are fixed together with screws which are not shown. Further, the outer cover 121 is composed of a base casing 122 serving as a base for the outer cover 121, and a transparent decorative cover 123 which is formed so as to separate a part of the base casing 122, that is, the display part 110 and the first speaker portion 105 from other exteriors. It is noted that the decorative cover 123 is transparent in a part corresponding to the display part 110, and is internally coated with paint in the other peripheral part so as to enhance the aesthetic appearance.
Further, in the second casing 200, similar to the first casing 100, the inner cover 220 incorporates the slide surface 301b and the part 204 of the casing 200 which is always exposed to the front surface side of the housing 10, and the outer cover 221 of the second casing 200 is composed of a base casing 222 serving as a base for the outer cover 221, and a battery cover 223 removably attached to the base casing 222 so as to cover a part of the latter.
In this embodiment, in order to efficiently arrange interior components in the space having a substantially triangular sectional shape, a corner part of the front surface side or the rear surface side of the broad surfaces 101, 201 of the first casing 100 is chamfered so as to have a gentle rounded shape. Further, it has a continuous shape from the other thin end side 102, 201 to the parts 104, 204 of the two casings which are connected by gentle curved surfaces. Meanwhile, as shown in
Thus, this mobile telephone 1 has the housing 10 having its external shape whch is like to a piece of soap having rounded four corners, and accordingly, it can be held being substantially set within a hand when it is gripped by the hand, thereby it is possible to have a configuration which is compact and excellent in the holdability. In particular, in this embodiment, the mobile telephone can be held being snuggly fitted in the hand even though one end side of the housing 10 is held by one hand or the opposite end sides are held by both hands so as to carry out image pick-up in a posture in which the longitudinal direction (widthwise W direction) is extended laterally. Further, with such a configuration that is rounded and compact, it can be easily stowed in a pocket. Further, since the corner parts where the accommodation of interior components is difficult are chamfered, it is possible to provide a configuration which is excellent in portability without deteriorating the interior mounting efficiency.
Further, in this embodiment, as shown in
Further, referring to
Accordingly, in the first condition shown in
Further, in this embodiment, in the first condition as shown in
The above-mentioned function key board 111 is composed of a cursor determination key 111a located in the center part thereof and a pair of selection keys 111b, 111c formed on opposite sides of the former. The cursor key determination key 111a has a rectangular key shape so as to have four sides, Thus by depressing one of the four sides of the key 111a, a cursor displayed on the display portion 111 can be moved in the depressed direction, and further by depressing the center of the key 111a, one of functions which are allocated to the various icons and the function keys can be performed through the selection by the cursor.
Meanwhile, by depressing the upper or lower parts of one of the pair of selection keys 111b, 111c around the center as a fulcrum, one of various functions can be selected. For example, by depressing one of the upper and lower parts of the selection key 111b, a function which is set in accordance with a function key displayed on the adjacent display portion 111 can be selected while a network key and a mail key are allocated to the upper and lower parts of the selection key 111c upon initial setting.
Referring to
Further, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The slide channels 311 are formed by a long length in the widthwise W direction, and further, the slide protrusions 310 fitted in these slide channels 311 are also formed by a long length in the widthwise W direction. With this configuration, two casings can slide in the widthwise W direction, but cannot be displaced in other directions. Further, the corresponding to a variation from the condition shown in
Referring to
Naturally, also in this condition, image pick-up by the camera device 134 can be made. In order to carry out the image pick-up by the camera device, by manipulating the cursor determination key 111a, the menu screen is displayed, and then by selecting a camera pick-up mode, the pair of the selection keys 111b are set to the camera image-up function keys. Accordingly, by manipulating these keys, the image pick-up by the camera device can be carried out.
Referring to
That is, in this embodiment, since the first speaker portion 105 rises up toward the user (upward of the figure), with respect to the extension P from the slide plane 301 in which the microphone portion 210 is located, the plane in which the microphone portion 210 and the first speaker portion 105 are arranged can be extended toward the user, with respect to the longitudinal center, similar to the conventional one. Further, since the function key board 111 and the character and numeric input board 212 are assembled in the form of a group of keys lined-up in the center part so as to enhance the operability since the other thin end side 102 of the first casing 100 is continuous to the extension P with a reduced step height.
Meanwhile, the part in which the microphone portion 210 is arranged is extended, being opposite to the user (downward of the figure). That is, in this embodiment, since the rear part of the microphone portion 210 rises up being opposite to the user (downward of the figure), with respect to the extension P of the slide plane 310 in which the image pick-up window 112 is formed, the rear part of the microphone portion 210 and the surface where the image pick-up window 112 is formed can be extended toward the user, with respect to the longitudinal center. Further, since, in the center part, the other thin end side 202 of the second casing 200 is continuous to the extension P with a reduced step height, the rear surface of the second casing 200 can define a continuous holding surface, the posture of telephone conversation and the posture of mail input can have effective holdability.
Next, referring to FIGS. 6 to 7b, explanation will be made of the manner of using the mobile telephone in this embodiment. At first, referring to
In the second condition in which the power source is turned on, the mobile telephone 1 is held with the posture as shown in
In the condition shown in
Next, referring to
In this embodiment, the housing 10 can be surely held with the middle fingers of both hands being located below the rear surface of the housing 10, the forefingers on the upper surface side thereof and the thumbs thereof on the front surface side. Further, with this holding posture, the function key board 111 can be manipulated by the thumb of the right hand while the shutter switch 213 and the mode change-over switch 214 can be manipulated by the forefinger of the right hand. Further, with the holding posture shown in
a to 8b are external views which show a portable data unit (mobile telephone) in a second embodiment of the present invention, among which
Referring to
Thus, in this embodiment, each of the first and second casings has a thickness which is gradually decreased from one side to the other side in the widthwise W direction of the housing 10, and the first and second casings are superposed with each other so their thick end sides 101, 201 and the other thin end sides 102, 201 are located fore and aft, and are slid from each other along a slide plane 301 where two casings are made into contact with each other. Accordingly, in a first condition in which the two casings are superposed with each other, the housing 10 has a thin flattened box-like shape while in a second condition in which the two casings are extended from each other in the widthwise direction, the widthwise opposite ends have a thick depth but the center part where both casings are overlapped with each other has a thin depth.
Thus, the housing 10 has a shape excellent in portability in the first condition, and further, in the second condition in which the casings are extended from each other, the housing can be deformed into such a shape that the housing which has been extended can have a length adjusted to an ear and the mouth of a user by holding the housing with its longitudinal direction up and down and is excellent in holdability.
Further, in this embodiment, a display portion 110 is incorporated in the center part of a broad surface 103 (front surface) of the first casing 100, and a first speaker portion 105 and a receiver portion (which is not shown) are arranged in its end side having a thick depth while a function key board 111 is arranged on its tapered end side.
Further, an image pick-up window 112 or a cutout part for a camera is formed in a wide surface 203 (rear surface) of the second casing 200 in the tapered side end part (the other thin end side) thereof. Further, a character and numeric key board 212 and a microphone portion 210 are arranged in a slide surface 301a of the second casing 200 which is exposed outside when the two casings are extended from each other while a lens portion 113 of a camera device 134 is arranged in a slide surface 301a of the first casing 100. This lens portion enables image pick-up even in the first condition since it is superposed with the image pick-up window or the cutout for the camera.
Further, a shutter switch 213 is arranged in a surface of the second casing 200 which defines the upper surface in the first condition, on the thick depth side thereof. With this condition, if image pick-up is made in the first condition, the shutter switch 213 arranged in the upper surface can be manipulated while the housing is held by the right hand.
Thus, in this embodiment, the first casing 100 defines the front surface and one side surface of the housing 10 while the second casing 200 defines the rear surface and the other side surface of the housing 10 as the each of two casings has a wedge-like shape having a depth which is tapered from one end to the other end. Further, in this embodiment, each of the casings having a wedge-like shape has such a configuration that its one end in the longitudinal direction thereof has a thick depth while the other end has a tapered tip end. With this configuration, an internal mounting space having an extra depth can be ensured in the inside on the thick depth side, and accordingly, interior components having a thick depth can be mounted with the use of this internal mounting space.
Meanwhile, a space for arranging an operation board and a control board having a relatively small thickness can be ensured on the tapered tip end side. Further, a step height which is defined between the first and second casings when they are extended from each other in the widthwise direction can be reduced.
Further, in the condition in which the wedge-like two casings are extended from each other, the housing 10 has a configuration which can give such a satisfactory posture of telephone conversation that its longitudinal opposite ends are thick (having a thick depth) while its center is thin.
Next, explanation will be made of a mobile telephone in a third embodiment of the present invention with reference to
Explanation will be made of the general configuration of this embodiment with reference to
That is, the mobile telephone which is generally denoted by reference numeral 5 incorporates a first casing 100 and a second casing 200 and a slide mechanism portion 300 for slidably connecting these two casings. In this embodiment, a housing 10 consisting of the two casings basically has a thin flattened parallelepiped body which is vertically long and which has its width W greater than its depth D and its height H greater than the height W.
In this embodiment, the second casing 200 is superposed with the first casing 100, in rear of the first casing 200. These two casings are shifted from each other up and down, that is, the upper end 101 of the first casing 100 is projected upward from the upper end 202 of the casing 200 while the lower end 201 of the second casing 200 is projected from the lower end 102 of the first casing 100. The parts of the two casings which are overlapped with each other define a slide plane 301 where the slide mechanism portion 300 is provided. Thus, the two casings are slid from each other in the height H wise direction through the intermediary of the slide mechanism portion 300.
Accordingly, in the configuration of the embodiment, as shown in
Further, as one of the essential features of this embodiment, the camera device 134 and an antenna 236 can be accommodated in the vertically projected parts of the two casings which are not overlapped with each other. The camera device 134 can be prevented from being blocked by the second casing 200 even though the image pick-up window 112 for the camera device 134 is formed in the rear part of the part 101 of the first casing 100 which is projected upward, and the antenna 236 can be prevented from being shielded from radio waves to be received by the first casing 10, thereby it is possible to enhance the efficiency of transmission.
In addition, as shown in
As one of the features of this embodiment, the lower end 102 of the first casing 100 adjacent to the downward projected part 201 of the second casing 200 defines an inclined surface 124. With this configuration, if the user holds with his one hand in the first condition, he can facilitate such a push-up motion that the thumb of the one hand holding the mobile telephone is pressed against the inclined surface 124 in order to push up the same, and accordingly, the mobile telephone can be changed from the first condition into the second condition by his one hand.
Further, one of the essential features of this embodiment is the provision of the interior arrangement in which circuit boards (a first circuit board 131 and a second circuit board 230) incorporated in the first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are arranged in parallel with the slide plane 301. With this configuration, various switches attached to the circuit boards are arranged in bumper parts 125, 224 of the two casings (Refer to
Additional explanation will be made with reference to
Referring to
The display portion 110 is arranged at the center of the broad surface (front surface) 103 of the above-mentioned first casing 100, and the first speaker portion 105 is arranged above the display portion 110 while the function key board 111 is arranged in the inclined surface 124 defined below the display portion 110. Meanwhile, the image pick-up window 112 and a photographic illumination flush 114 are provided in the part 104 of the first casing 100 which is always exposed outside on the rear surface side of the housing 10.
Various switches are arranged in the bumper part 125 formed around the first casing 100. The above-mentioned bumper 125 is formed so as to be continuously extended from the inclined surface 124 to the opposite side surfaces and the upper surface of the first casing so as to surround the display portion 110, and accordingly, it is distinguished, as a manipulation zone from the display zone. A pair of second speakers 106 for listening music are arranged in the upper parts of the opposite side surfaces, and a memory card insertion part 115 defined in an openable cover is provided in the left side surface while a manner mode setting key 215 is provided in the right side surface. The above-mentioned function key board 111 is composed a circular cursor determination key 111a arranged at the center thereof, and a pair of selection keys 111b, 111c arranged on the opposite sides of the cursor determination key 111a.
Meanwhile, the above-mentioned second casing 200 is provided with a mode change-over switch 214 and a pair of setting keys 218 in the right side surface of the above-mentioned bumper part 224, and is also provided with an external connection terminal cover 216 for covering external connection terminals in the left side surface of the bumper part 224. A shutter key and a zoom key are set to the above-mentioned setting keys 218 in the image pick-up mode. Further, a microphone portion 210 is arranged in the part 204 of the second casing 200 which is always exposed outside on one side of the broad surface (front surface) 103 of the first casing 100.
Referring to
Next, explanation will be made of the arrangement configuration of an internally mounted mechanism with reference to
Referring to these figures, as stated above, similar to the first embodiment, the two casings have a wedge-like shape. Accordingly, as shown in
In particular, the above-mentioned antenna 236 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the antenna 236 is extended along the widthwise W direction, and accordingly, the antennal 236 is always projected outward, irrespective of the first or second condition, thereby it is possible to enhance the transmission efficiency.
Meanwhile, the first circuit board 131 as a main circuit board and the second circuit board 230 are arranged in parallel with the slide plane 301. With this configuration, several switches attached to the first and second circuit boards are provided in the bumper parts so as to surround the above-mentioned slide plane 301, thereby it is possible to facilitate the manipulation of the switches and to enhance the aesthetic appearance and the assembling ability.
Further, in this embodiment, with the use of a clearance defined between the above-mentioned first circuit board 131 and the liquid crystal device 130, the memory card 115a is inserted therein, thereby it is possible to directly mount the same to the first circuit board 131.
Further, in this embodiment, since the two casings are displaced from each other along the slide plane 301, wiring to the above-mentioned two circuit boards can be facilitated if the two circuit boards are arranged in parallel to each other. That is, as shown in
Further, as shown in
Further, the pair of speaker portions 106 are arranged on opposite sides of the camera device 134. In this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, image pick-up by a camera, enjoyment of images through the display portion 110 and listening of music from the second speaker portions 106 can be made with such a posture that the longitudinal direction of the housing 10 is extended in a horizontal direction in which the housing 10 is basically faced upward in
Next, referring to
In the configuration of this embodiment, similar to the third embodiment, the first casing 100 and the second casing 200 are superposed with each other with the second casing 200 being located on the rear side of the first casing 100 so that the first casing 100 and the second casing 200 have a fore-and-after relationship. Thereby it is possible to obtain technical effects and advantages similar to those of the third embodiment.
Further, as one of main features of this embodiment, the width W1 of the parts which are always superposed with each other in the first condition is set to be larger than the width W2 of the other parts thereof as viewed in the widthwise W direction. That is, the width W1 of the lower part of the housing 10 is greater than the width W2 of the center part of the housing 10. In the configuration of this embodiment, as shown in
With the mobile telephone 6 having the above-mentioned configuration, as shown in
With this configuration, the user can hold the mobile telephone 6 by nipping the parts (around P3) having a narrow width with the root of a thumb and other fingers. Thus, the mobile telephone 6 can be surely held by one hand through the intermediary of the upward and downward projected parts in the second condition, thereby it is possible to reduce the probability of risk of falling of the mobile telephone 6. Further, with this holding posture, the above-mentioned function key board 111 can be manipulated with the use of the thumb while the housing 10 is surely held.
In addition, the mobile telephone 6 can be stowed in the palm by means of the opposite side projected portions (around P) even in the first condition, thereby it is possible to reduce the risk of falling of the mobile telephone. In addition, in the first condition, the lower part of the housing 10 has a sharpened shape, it can be easily inserted into a pocket.
Next, explanation will be hereinbelow made of fifth to eigth embodiments with reference to
At first, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
Referring to
This mobile telephone 5 incorporates the camera device 134 in the part 101 of the first casing 100 which is not overlapped with the second casing 200 even in either the first condition or the second condition, and this cameral device 134 is provided so as to be rotatable around a rotary shaft P which is extended in a direction the same as the widthwise W direction of the housing 10.
d is a sectional view illustrating the camera device 134, in this configuration, the user can pick up an image while he monitors the image to be picked up through the above-mentioned display portion 110, and accordingly, an image of his self-portrait can be picked with no erroneous operation. Meanwhile, by rotating the camera device 134 in the direction of the arrow in
Thus, in this embodiment, since the camera device 134 is arranged in the part where the two casings are not overlapped with each other even in either the first condition or the second condition, and which can have a large depth D, an image of the self-portrait of the user or an object on the other side can be picked up while the image is monitored through the display portion 110.
It is noted that recesses 134 for receiving finger tips are provided around the cameral device 134 in order to improve slipping during rotation of the camera device 134.
Explanation will be made of a sixth embodiment of the present invention with reference to
Referring to
In this mobile telephone 8, the above-mentioned function key board 111 is composed of a cursor determination key 111a located in the center part having a reverse trapezoidal shape and pairs of selection keys 111b, 111c, 111d located on opposite sides of the former. The cursor determination key 111a has a circular key shape, and by depressing one of ring-like four sides thereof, a cursor displayed on the display portion 110 can be displaced in the depressing direction. Further, by depressing the center thereof, a function allocated to the selected one of various icons and function keys can be carried out.
Meanwhile, the pair of selection keys 111b are for determining functions displayed on the display portion 110, the keys 111c are a menu key and a clear key while the keys 111d are a communication starting key and a communication ending key.
Explanation will be made of a seventh embodiment of the present invention with reference to
Referring to
In this mobile telephone 9, the above-mentioned function key board 111 is composed of a cursor determination key 111a located in the center, and pairs of selection keys 111b, 111c, 111d formed on opposite sides of the former. The cursor determination key 111a has a circular key shape, and accordingly, by depressing one of ring-like four sides thereof, a cursor displayed on the display portion 110 can be displaced in the depressing direction. Further, by depressing the center thereof, a function allocated to the selected one of various icons and function keys can be carried out.
Meanwhile, each of the above-mentioned selection keys 111b, 111c, 111d has such a configuration that it is coupled to a manipulation board at its center side while it has, on its opposite sides, opened and free ends, and accordingly, by depressing free ends so that the free ends are made into contact with the manipulation circuit board or are returned therefrom with its resiliency, the manipulation can be carried out. It is noted that the function of the mobile telephone in this embodiment is similar to that of the sixth embodiment.
Explanation will be made of an eighth embodiment of the present invention with reference to
Referring to
In this mobile telephone 16, the display portion 110 is arranged in at the center of the broad surface (front surface) 103 of the first casing 100, and the function key board 111 is arranged in the inclined surface 124 formed below the display portion 110.
This function key board 111 is composed of a circular cursor determination key 111a located in the center, and pairs of selection keys 111b, 111c around the former.
The cursor determination key 111a has a circular key shape, and accordingly, by depressing one of ring-like four sides thereof, a cursor displayed on the display portion 110 can be displaced in the depressing direction. Further, by depressing one of ring-like four sides thereof, a function selecting screen such as a menu screen can be displayed on the display portion 110. Moreover, by further depressing one of the ring-like four sides thereof, a cursor displayed on the function selecting screen can be displaced in the depressing direction, and further by depressing the center thereof, a function highlighted by the cursor can be carried out.
Meanwhile, functions for carrying out various functions such as an internet function and a mail function are set to the selection keys 11b, 111c, and accordingly, by selecting optional one of the selection keys 111b, 111c, 111d, 111e, a desired function can be carried out.
(Variant Forms)
Although the explanation has been made such that the part 104 and the part 204 of the casings are left on the front surface side and the rear surface side, a part of another casing may be left on only one of the rear surface side and the front surface side.
It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2004-052702 | Feb 2004 | JP | national |