Patent ID: 8042231
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: G06F,H04M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A portable terminal comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a hinge apparatus coupling the first housing and the second housing together so that the second housing can be unfolded from and folded onto the first housing, the hinge apparatus including a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis perpendicular to the first hinge axis; a first hinge arm coupled to an upper end of the first housing; and a second hinge arm coupled to a first end of the first hinge arm, the second hinge arm rotating about the first hinge axis, wherein the hinge apparatus is disposed within the first hinge arm and is coupled to the second housing via the second hinge arm, wherein, from a folded state in which the second housing is folded onto the first housing, the second housing is operable to rotate about the first hinge axis to be located at an upper side of the first housing, is operable to rotate about the second hinge axis to be located at a first side of the first housing, and is operable to rotate about the first hinge axis to be unfolded at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the first housing and then, with no intervening rotations, rotate about the second hinge axis so that an inner face of the second housing is oriented in a same direction in which the first side of the portable terminal faces, and wherein the second housing is operable to rotate about the first hinge axis together with the second hinge arm, and is operable to rotate about the second hinge axis relative to the second hinge arm.