Portable electronic terminal apparatus having a plurality of displays

Abstract

A portable electronic terminal apparatus includes a main body, an information input mechanism, a plurality of displays, a communications mechanism, and a flip panel. The main body has a hollow section. The information input mechanism inputs various kinds of information including data and instructions. Each of the displays shows the various kinds of information input through the input mechanism. The communications mechanism transmits and receives the various kinds of information input through the input mechanism. The flip panel is movably mounted on the main body and is configured to rotate to open and close about a side edge portion of the flip panel. This flip panel is retracted in the hollow section of the main body when the flip panel is closed. In addition, one of the displays is mounted on the flip panel.

1. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
 a main body having a hollow section;  
 an information input mechanism by which information including data and instructions can be input;  
 a plurality of displays which display said input information on a plurality of display screens;  
 a communications mechanism which transmits and receives said input information; and  
 a flip panel movably mounted on said main body and configured to rotatably open and close about a side edge portion of said flip panel, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said main body when closed,  
 wherein one of said plurality of displays is mounted on a side of said flip panel display screen that is exposed when closed.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein another one of said plurality of displays is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said main body. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein another one of said plurality of displays is mounted on another side of said flip panel. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , each of said plurality of displays is a polymer-film liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said one of said plurality of displays operates when said flip panel is closed, and said other one of said plurality of displays operates when said flip panel is opened. 
     
     
       7. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
 a main body having a hollow section;  
 an information input mechanism by which information including data and instructions can be input;  
 displays means for displaying a plurality of displays of said input information on a plurality of display screens;  
 a communications mechanism which transmits and receives said input information; and  
 flip panel means for movably mounted on said main body and for rotatably opening and closing about a side edge portion of a flip panel, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said main body when closed,  
 wherein one of said plurality of display means is mounted on a side of said flip panel display screen that is exposed when closed.  
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein another one of said plurality of display means is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said main body. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein another one of said plurality of display means is mounted on another side of said flip panel. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , each of said plurality of display means is a polymer-film liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of display means are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input mechanism. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said one of said plurality of display means operates when said flip panel is closed, and said other one of said plurality of display means operates when said flip panel is opened. 
     
     
       13. The portable electronic terminal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein,
   another one of said plurality of displays is mounted on another side of said flip panel, and        power supplied to the one of said plurality of displays and to the another one of said plurality of displays can be reduced when the flip panel is open and also when the flip panel is closed.     
     
     
       14. The portable electronic terminal apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein,
   another one of said plurality of display means is mounted on another side of said flip panel, and        power supplied to the one of said plurality of display means and to the another one of said plurality of display means can be reduced when the flip panel is open and when the flip panel is closed.     
     
     
       15. In a portable electronic communication device having a body, the improvement comprising:
   first and second display screens mounted on opposite sides of a panel, said panel movably attached to the body, the first display screen being arranged to face the body if the panel is closed, and an adjustable unit configured to be set to reduce power supplied to the first display screen if the panel is open and the portable electronic communication device is powered on.     
     
     
       16. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
   a third display screen mounted on the body.     
     
     
       17. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 15 , wherein the second display screen is configured to display status information. 
     
     
       18. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 15 , wherein the second display screen is configured to display the status information when the panel is closed. 
     
     
       19. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 15 , wherein power supplied to the first and second display screens can be reduced when the panel is open and when the panel is closed. 
     
     
       20. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 18 , wherein the status information includes a combination of a strength of an electric field, a time of day, date information, and an indication of incoming electronic mail. 
     
     
       21. A portable electronic communication device, comprising:
   a data entry mechanism;        a plurality of displays configured to indicate information including data entered through the data entry mechanism;        a communications mechanism connected to the data entry mechanism and the plurality of displays; and        a panel having a front side and a rear side, said panel configured to be openable and closable, wherein,        at least one of the plurality of displays is disposed on each of the front and rear sides of the panel, and        power supplied to a first one of the plurality of displays which is not viewable when the panel is closed can be reduced when the panel is open and when the portable electronic communication device is powered on.     
     
     
       22. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of displays includes a first display screen and a second display screen, each simultaneously visible when the panel is rotated away from the first display screen. 
     
     
       23. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 21 , wherein the first one of the plurality of displays is powered off when the panel is open and the portable electronic communication device is powered on. 
     
     
       24. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 21 , wherein a second one of the plurality of displays which is viewable when the panel is closed is configured to display status information. 
     
     
       25. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 21 , wherein power supplied to the at least one of the plurality of displays disposed on each of the front and rear sides of the panel can be reduced when the panel is open and when the panel is closed. 
     
     
       26. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 22 , wherein the panel is hingedly attached along a lateral side of the first display screen. 
     
     
       27. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 23 , wherein the first one of the plurality of displays is powered off further when a predetermined condition has been set in the portable electronic communication device. 
     
     
       28. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 24 , wherein the second one of the plurality of displays is configured to display the status information when the panel is closed. 
     
     
       29. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
   a power supply operably connected to the first and second display screens by at least one switch.     
     
     
       30. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user. 
     
     
       31. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 28 , wherein the status information includes a strength of an electric field. 
     
     
       32. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 28 , wherein the status information includes date information. 
     
     
       33. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 28 , wherein the status information includes an indication of incoming electronic mail. 
     
     
       34. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the first and second display screens comprise a scrollable screen. 
     
     
       35. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user to avoid an increase in power consumption by an accidental opening of the panel. 
     
     
       36. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 31 , wherein the status information includes a time of day. 
     
     
       37. A portable electronic communication device, comprising:
   a data entry mechanism;        a plurality of displays configured to indicate information including data entered through the data entry mechanism;        a communications mechanism connected to the data entry mechanism and the plurality of displays; and        a panel configured to be openable and closable,        wherein at least one of the plurality of displays is disposed on the panel and is configured to indicate at least one of an electronic field strength and a time,        another one of the plurality of displays is disposed on the panel and is not viewable if the panel is closed, and        the communication device comprises an adjustable unit configured to be set to reduce power supplied to the another one of the plurality of displays if the panel is open and the portable electronic communication device is powered on.     
     
     
       38. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of displays includes a first display screen and a second display screen, each simultaneously visible when the panel is rotated away from the first display screen. 
     
     
       39. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 37 , wherein the another one of the plurality of displays is powered off when the panel is open, when the portable electronic communication device is powered on, and when a predetermined condition has been set in the portable electronic communication device. 
     
     
       40. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 37 , wherein power supplied to the at least one of the plurality of displays and to the another one of the plurality of displays can be reduced when the panel is open and when the panel is closed. 
     
     
       41. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 38 , wherein the panel is hingedly attached along a lateral side of the first display screen. 
     
     
       42. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 39 , wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user. 
     
     
       43. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 39 , wherein the predetermined condition is set by a user to avoid an increase in power consumption by an accident opening of the panel. 
     
     
       44. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of displays is configured to indicate at least one of an electric field strength and a time when the panel is closed. 
     
     
       45. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 41 , further comprising:
   a power supply operably connected to the first and second display screens by at least one switch.     
     
     
       46. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of displays is further configured to display at least one of date information and an indication of incoming electronic mail. 
     
     
       47. The portable electronic communication device of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of the first and second display screens comprise:
   a scrollable screen.     
     
     
       48. A method of controlling a communication device, comprising:
   moving a panel, which includes first and second display screens mounted thereon, to an open position relative to a body; and        reducing power supplied to the first display screen when the panel is open and when the communication device is powered on.     
     
     
       49. The method according to  claim 48 , further comprising:
   moving the panel to a closed position in which the first display screen faces the body.     
     
     
       50. The method according to  claim 48 , wherein moving the panel comprises moving the panel that includes the first and second display screens mounted on opposite side of the panel. 
     
     
       51. The method according to  claim 49 , wherein moving the panel to the open position comprises rotating the panel about an axis. 
     
     
       52. A method of controlling operation of a communication device, comprising:
   moving a panel, which includes first and second displays, to a closed position such that the first display is covered and the second display is observed;        moving the panel to an open position such that the first display is observed; and        reducing power supplied to the first display when the panel is in the open position and the communication device is powered on.     
     
     
       53. The method according to  claim 52 , further comprising:
   indicating on one of the first and second displays information that is entered through a data entry mechanism.     
     
     
       54. The method according to  claim 53 , further comprising:
   indicating at least one of an electronic field strength and a time on the first or second display.