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;   display 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. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a hollow section;   an information input unit configured to input data and instructions;   a plurality of displays which display said input information on a plurality of display screens;   a communications unit configured to transmit and receive said input information; and   a flip panel movably mounted on said body and configured to rotatably open and close about an edge portion of said flip panel, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said body if the flip panel is closed,   wherein a first display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a first side of said flip panel that is exposed if the flip panel is closed.    
     
     
       14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the information input unit is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said body.  
     
     
       15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein a second display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a second side of said flip panel that is hidden if the flip panel is closed.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, each of said plurality of displays is a polymerfilm liquid crystal display.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input unit.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein first display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is closed, and said second display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is opened.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the second display faces the information input unit if the flip panel is closed.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the flip panel rotates around a side edge of the body.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the hollow section in the body is bounded by an end wall.  
     
     
       22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the end wall of the hollow section is adjacent to a hinge side of the flip panel.  
     
     
       23. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising:
 an adjustment unit configured to reduce power supplied to the first display if the flip panel is open and the apparatus is powered on.    
     
     
       24. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a hollow section;   an information input unit configured to input data and instructions;   display means for displaying a plurality of displays of said input information on a plurality of display screens;   a communications unit configured to transmit and receive said input information; and   flip panel means for rotatably opening and closing a flip panel about an edge portion of the body, said flip panel being retracted into said hollow section of said body if the flip panel is closed,   wherein a first display of said plurality of display means is mounted on a side of said flip panel that is exposed if the flip panel is closed.    
     
     
       25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the information input unit is mounted on a surface in said hollow section of said body.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein a second display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a second side of said flip panel that is hidden if the flip panel is closed.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, each of said plurality of displays is a polymerfilm liquid crystal display.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input unit.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein first display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is closed, and said second display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is opened.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein the second display faces the information input unit if the flip panel is closed.  
     
     
       31. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the flip panel means is located on a side edge of the body.  
     
     
       32. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the hollow section in the body is bounded by an end wall.  
     
     
       33. The apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the end wall of the hollow section is adjacent to the flip panel means.  
     
     
       34. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, further comprising:
 adjustment means for reducing power supplied to the first display if the flip panel is open and the apparatus is powered on.    
     
     
       35. A portable electronic terminal apparatus, comprising:
 a body;   an information input unit configured to input data and instructions;   a plurality of displays which display said input information on a plurality of display screens;   a communications unit configured to transmit and receive said input information; and   a flip panel movably mounted on said body and configured to rotatably open and close about an edge portion of said flip panel, an outer surface of said flip panel being flush with an outer surface of said body if the flip panel is closed,   wherein a first display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a first side of said flip panel that is exposed if the flip panel is closed.    
     
     
       36. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the information input unit is mounted on a surface in a hollow section of said body.  
     
     
       37. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein a second display of said plurality of displays is mounted on a second side of said flip panel that is hidden if the flip panel is closed.  
     
     
       38. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, each of said plurality of displays is a polymerfilm liquid crystal display.  
     
     
       39. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said plurality of displays are selectively used by a user instruction input through said information input unit.  
     
     
       40. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein first display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is closed, and said second display of said plurality of displays operates if said flip panel is opened.  
     
     
       41. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein the second display faces the information input unit if the flip panel is closed.  
     
     
       42. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the flip panel rotates around a side edge of the body.  
     
     
       43. The apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein the hollow section in the body is bounded by an end wall.  
     
     
       44. The apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein the end wall of the hollow section is adjacent to a hinge side of the flip panel.  
     
     
       45. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, further comprising:
 an adjustment unit configured to reduce power supplied to the first display if the flip panel is open and the apparatus is powered on.