Dual display folder type terminal

A dual display folder type terminal having a hinge includes a manipulation unit formed in the hinge, wherein the inventive implementation of the hinge provides various function commands without the need of an additional space in the terminal. As a result, the size of the terminal doesn't suffer when implementing the manipulation unit. Further, the dual display folder type terminal can operate different modes based on the opening angle of a folder relative to the other folder.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 18, 2010 and assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0114934, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dual display folder type terminal, and more particularly, to a dual display folder type terminal having an increased use of a hinge area thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Nowadays, a folder type terminal such as a mobile phone and a laptop computer that can be selectively folded using a hinge for carrying around.

In a conventional folder type terminal, a hinge is used for folding or sustaining the folder type terminal at an angle. In a dual display folder type terminal having screens formed at both sides thereof, it is difficult to place the manipulation unit while maximizing the display area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a dual display folder type terminal that can provide an additive usage of a hinge which in turns helps to and reduce a size of the terminal because addition space of a button is unnecessary. Also, the inventive folder type terminal can be used in various use forms according to an open angle of a folder.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a dual display folder type terminal having a hinge includes a manipulation unit formed in the hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. The views in the drawings are schematic views only, and are not intended to be to scale or correctly proportioned. For the purposes of clarity and simplicity, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, a dual display folder type terminal100according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first folder110, second folder120, and hinge130.

As shown, the first folder110has a screen111at an inner surface (surface positioned at the inside of the dual display folder type terminal100) and has a speaker112and a camera140for photographing a picture or a moving picture at one end of the inner surface. The second folder120has a screen121at an inner surface thereof and a microphone122. For illustrative purposes, the first folder110and the second folder120according to the present exemplary embodiment shows a vertical length larger than a horizontal length, as in a general mobile phone, but it should be noted that teachings of the present invention can be applied to other and different orientations of folders.

The hinge130is an element for rotatably connecting the first folder110and the second folder120. In the present exemplary embodiment, the hinge130may be a 360° gear hinge in which a gear axis (not shown) positioned at the other end of the first folder110and a gear axis (not shown) positioned at the other end of the second folder120. Thus, the first folder110and the second folder120rotate by around by 360°. A manipulation unit including a first outer manipulation unit160and a second outer manipulation unit (side manipulation unit)150is formed in the hinge130.

The first outer manipulation unit160is formed in a first outer surface positioned at the inside when the dual display folder type terminal100is opened from a closed state. The first outer manipulation unit160is formed with four touch keys for illustrative purposes, but may be formed as a button key or with a touch screen, as shown inFIG. 1. The side manipulation unit150is formed in a side surface of the hinge130, as shown inFIGS. 2,4, and5, and the side manipulation unit150is formed as a button key, but may be formed as a touch key or a touch screen.

When the dual display folder type terminal100is in a closed state, the side manipulation unit150is exposed to the outside, as shown inFIG. 2. Thus, the side manipulation unit150can be manipulated even when the dual display folder type terminal100is in a closed state. When the side manipulation unit150is formed as a touch screen, simple information can be checked using the side manipulation unit150.

When the dual display folder type terminal100is in an open state by 90° to 180°, the user can manipulate the dual display folder type terminal100by the first outer manipulation unit160disposed at the hinge130while performing communication or viewing multi-contents such as a moving picture, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring toFIG. 4, when the dual display folder type terminal100stands on a table surface with opened by 180° or more, the first outer manipulation unit160of the hinge130is exposed to the user or easily can be accessed by the user. Accordingly, the dual display folder type terminal100can be easily manipulated using the first outer manipulation unit160without manipulating the touching a screen while viewing the screen in this standing mode.

Referring toFIG. 5, when the dual display folder type terminal100is in an open state by 360°, the side manipulation unit150can be used, for example, as a self shooting button or as a function key corresponding to a touch phone.

FIG. 6is a perspective view illustrating a dual display folder type terminal according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 6, a dual display folder type terminal200according to the second exemplary embodiment has a general hinge structure of rotating a first folder210and a second folder220which is rotatably coupled by one hinge shaft233. The hinge230includes a first hinge guard231for connecting the hinge230and the first folder210, a second hinge guard232for connecting the hinge230and the second folder220, and a hinge shaft233. A hinge shaft manipulation unit270is formed at one end surface of the hinge shaft233, and a hinge guard manipulation unit280is formed at an outer surface of the second hinge guard232. In this embodiment, because the hinge shaft manipulation unit270is always exposed to the outside, the hinge shaft manipulation unit270can be manipulated regardless of an open angle of the dual display folder type terminal200. The second embodiment shown inFIG. 6also includes a manipulation unit (not shown) formed in a outer surface of hinge230positioned at the inside when the dual display folder type terminal200is opened from a closed state, and further provides different operation modes depending on the opening angle of the folders as in the first embodiment. The dual display folder type terminal200according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, except for the above-described configuration, thus discussion of same elements is omitted to avoid redundancy.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, a dual display folder type terminal300according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described.

As shown, the dual display folder type terminal300according to the third exemplary embodiment has a first folder310and a second folder320having a horizontal length larger than a vertical length, as in a laptop computer. A second outer manipulation unit390is formed in a second outer surface positioned opposite to a first outer surface of a hinge330. In this embodiment, because the second outer manipulation unit390is formed as a touch screen, the user can check and input simple information through the second outer manipulation unit390even when the dual display folder type terminal300is in a closed state. The third embodiment shown inFIG. 7also includes a first manipulation unit (360) formed in a outer surface of hinge330positioned at the inside when the dual display folder type terminal300is opened from a closed state, and further provides different operation modes depending on the opening angle of the folders as in the first embodiment. The dual display folder type terminal300according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first exemplary embodiment, except for the above-described configuration, thus discussion of same elements are omitted to avoid redundancy.

Referring toFIG. 9, a dual display folder type terminal400according to a fourth exemplary embodiment includes a separate hinge at both ends of the dual display folder type terminal400. A first outer manipulation unit460is formed in an outer surface of the hinge430. In the fourth embodiment, the first outer manipulation unit460is formed as a button key or a touch key. Further, because the first outer manipulation unit460is formed in the hinge430positioned at both sides of a horizontal direction of the dual display folder type terminal, a user can use a thumb to manipulate the first outer manipulation unit460while holding the dual display folder type terminal400with both hands. For example, the first outer manipulation unit460may be used as a previous/next button or a mode conversion key when reading a book or when listening to music.

As described above, in a dual display folder type terminal according to the present invention, as a manipulation unit is formed in a hinge, thus use of the hinge for command and/or control functions of the terminal is added. As such, an addition space for a button is unnecessary, and thus a size of the terminal can be reduced. Further, the dual display folder type terminal can be used in various use forms and mode of operation with the manipulation unit depending on the opening angle of a folder(s).

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fall within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.