Abstract:
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&#39;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.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    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 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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 
       [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a dual display folder type terminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a closed state of the dual display folder type terminal of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the dual display folder type terminal of  FIG. 1  is opened by 180°. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a standing state of the dual display folder type terminal of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the dual display folder type terminal of  FIG. 1  is opened by 360°; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a dual display folder type terminal according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a dual display folder type terminal according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a closed state of the dual display folder type terminal of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating a dual display folder type terminal according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a dual display folder type terminal  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first folder  110 , second folder  120 , and hinge  130 . 
         [0021]    As shown, the first folder  110  has a screen  111  at an inner surface (surface positioned at the inside of the dual display folder type terminal  100 ) and has a speaker  112  and a camera  140  for photographing a picture or a moving picture at one end of the inner surface. The second folder  120  has a screen  121  at an inner surface thereof and a microphone  122 . For illustrative purposes, the first folder  110  and the second folder  120  according 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. 
         [0022]    The hinge  130  is an element for rotatably connecting the first folder  110  and the second folder  120 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the hinge  130  may be a 360° gear hinge in which a gear axis (not shown) positioned at the other end of the first folder  110  and a gear axis (not shown) positioned at the other end of the second folder  120 . Thus, the first folder  110  and the second folder  120  rotate by around by 360°. A manipulation unit including a first outer manipulation unit  160  and a second outer manipulation unit (side manipulation unit)  150  is formed in the hinge  130 . 
         [0023]    The first outer manipulation unit  160  is formed in a first outer surface positioned at the inside when the dual display folder type terminal  100  is opened from a closed state. The first outer manipulation unit  160  is formed with four touch keys for illustrative purposes, but may be formed as a button key or with a touch screen, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The side manipulation unit  150  is formed in a side surface of the hinge  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 , and the side manipulation unit  150  is formed as a button key, but may be formed as a touch key or a touch screen. 
         [0024]    When the dual display folder type terminal  100  is in a closed state, the side manipulation unit  150  is exposed to the outside, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the side manipulation unit  150  can be manipulated even when the dual display folder type terminal  100  is in a closed state. When the side manipulation unit  150  is formed as a touch screen, simple information can be checked using the side manipulation unit  150 . 
         [0025]    When the dual display folder type terminal  100  is in an open state by 90° to 180°, the user can manipulate the dual display folder type terminal  100  by the first outer manipulation unit  160  disposed at the hinge  130  while performing communication or viewing multi-contents such as a moving picture, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , when the dual display folder type terminal  100  stands on a table surface with opened by 180° or more, the first outer manipulation unit  160  of the hinge  130  is exposed to the user or easily can be accessed by the user. Accordingly, the dual display folder type terminal  100  can be easily manipulated using the first outer manipulation unit  160  without manipulating the touching a screen while viewing the screen in this standing mode. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the dual display folder type terminal  100  is in an open state by 360°, the side manipulation unit  150  can be used, for example, as a self shooting button or as a function key corresponding to a touch phone. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a dual display folder type terminal according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a dual display folder type terminal  200  according to the second exemplary embodiment has a general hinge structure of rotating a first folder  210  and a second folder  220  which is rotatably coupled by one hinge shaft  233 . The hinge  230  includes a first hinge guard  231  for connecting the hinge  230  and the first folder  210 , a second hinge guard  232  for connecting the hinge  230  and the second folder  220 , and a hinge shaft  233 . A hinge shaft manipulation unit  270  is formed at one end surface of the hinge shaft  233 , and a hinge guard manipulation unit  280  is formed at an outer surface of the second hinge guard  232 . In this embodiment, because the hinge shaft manipulation unit  270  is always exposed to the outside, the hinge shaft manipulation unit  270  can be manipulated regardless of an open angle of the dual display folder type terminal  200 . The second embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  also includes a manipulation unit (not shown) formed in a outer surface of hinge  230  positioned at the inside when the dual display folder type terminal  200  is 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 terminal  200  according 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. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a dual display folder type terminal  300  according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described. 
         [0031]    As shown, the dual display folder type terminal  300  according to the third exemplary embodiment has a first folder  310  and a second folder  320  having a horizontal length larger than a vertical length, as in a laptop computer. A second outer manipulation unit  390  is formed in a second outer surface positioned opposite to a first outer surface of a hinge  330 . In this embodiment, because the second outer manipulation unit  390  is formed as a touch screen, the user can check and input simple information through the second outer manipulation unit  390  even when the dual display folder type terminal  300  is in a closed state. The third embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  also includes a first manipulation unit ( 360 ) formed in a outer surface of hinge  330  positioned at the inside when the dual display folder type terminal  300  is 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 terminal  300  according 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. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a dual display folder type terminal  400  according to a fourth exemplary embodiment includes a separate hinge at both ends of the dual display folder type terminal  400 . A first outer manipulation unit  460  is formed in an outer surface of the hinge  430 . In the fourth embodiment, the first outer manipulation unit  460  is formed as a button key or a touch key. Further, because the first outer manipulation unit  460  is formed in the hinge  430  positioned 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 unit  460  while holding the dual display folder type terminal  400  with both hands. For example, the first outer manipulation unit  460  may be used as a previous/next button or a mode conversion key when reading a book or when listening to music. 
         [0033]    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). 
         [0034]    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.