Patent US7155253B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7155253B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foldable cellular telephone having image pick up unit and external display operable in folded state
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 2003-06-20
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Granted: 2006-12-26
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Expires: 2023-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A cellular phone includes a first case and a second case, which are connected in a foldable manner through a hinge. When the cellular phone is in a folded state, a second display unit displays an image with the side (upper side) closer to the hinge as the upper side. Accordingly, the user can hold the second case of the cellular phone in his/her hand regardless of whether the cellular phone is in a folded state or in an open state. The user can easily switch between a folded state and an open state with respect to the first case and the second case.
Inventors
- 👤 Kohji Sawayama
- 👤 Satoshi Mizuno
- 👤 Yonosuke Amano
- 👤 Tamaki Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; A; A47; A47K; A47K7/00; A47K7/02; D; D04; D04B; D04B1/00; D04B1/14; D04B1/16; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1637; G06F1/1647; G06F1/165; G06F1/1662; G06F1/1671; G06F1/1675; G06F1/1677; G06F1/1683; G06F1/1684; G06F1/1686; G06F1/1688; G06F1/169; G06F1/1698; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0216; H04M1/0241; H04M1/0245; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/16; H04M2250/18; H04M2250/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first and second cases in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit and an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including a display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said second display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in a state where said cellular phone is in said folded state and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into an open state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first and second cases in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit and an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including a display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said second display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in a state where said cellular phone is in said folded state and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into an open state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
232 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including an image pick-up unit located at a position also allowing visual confirmation of said second display unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said second display unit adjacent to said coupling unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state and causing said first display unit to display said image picked up through said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is moved to an open state and suppressing display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into an open state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
232 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including an image pick-up unit located at a position also allowing visual confirmation of said second display unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said second display unit adjacent to said coupling unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state and causing said first display unit to display said image picked up through said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is moved to an open state and suppressing display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into an open state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The cellular phone according to claim 2 , wherein said display control unit causes said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at a lower side of said second display unit set away from said coupling unit when said cellular phone is moved to an open state after an image has been captured with said cellular phone in said closed state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit and an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, wherein said second case includes an antenna, said cellular phone including a display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is in a folded state, and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into an open state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit and an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, wherein said second case includes an antenna, said cellular phone including a display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is in a folded state, and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into an open state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
270 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, wherein said second case includes an antenna, said cellular phone including: an image pick-up unit located at a position also allowing visual confirmation of said second display unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a display control unit causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit, wherein said display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said second display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said state where said cellular phone attains said folded state, to causing said second display unit to display an image captured in said image pick-up unit such that a top of the captured image in an upright orientation is located at a lower side of said second display unit set away from said coupling unit in said state where said cellular phone is moved into said open state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
270 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, wherein said second case includes an antenna, said cellular phone including: an image pick-up unit located at a position also allowing visual confirmation of said second display unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a display control unit causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit, wherein said display control unit switching between causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side of said second display unit adjacent to said coupling unit in said state where said cellular phone attains said folded state, to causing said second display unit to display an image captured in said image pick-up unit such that a top of the captured image in an upright orientation is located at a lower side of said second display unit set away from said coupling unit in said state where said cellular phone is moved into said open state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including: an image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said second display unit, and a display control unit causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is in a folded state and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into said open state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including: an image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said second display unit, and a display control unit causing said second display unit to display an image picked up through said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is in a folded state and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into said open state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains an folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including: an image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said second display unit, and a display control unit causing said second display unit to display an image such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side adjacent to said coupling unit in said state where said cellular phone attains said folded state and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into said open state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains an folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, said cellular phone including: an image pick-up unit disposed between said coupling unit and said second display unit, and a display control unit causing said second display unit to display an image such that a top of the picked up image in an upright orientation is located at an upper side adjacent to said coupling unit in said state where said cellular phone attains said folded state and suppressing said display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved into said open state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
183 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit and an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, wherein said second case includes a shutter button to store an image picked up by said image pick-up unit, located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and an antenna, wherein said image pick-up unit is arranged between said coupling unit and said second display unit, said cellular phone including a display control unit suppressing a display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved from said folded state into said open state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
183 words
A cellular phone comprising: a first case, a second case, and a coupling unit coupling said first case and said second case in a foldable manner, wherein said cellular phone attains a folded state and an open state by said first and second cases pivoting about said coupling unit, and said first case includes a first display unit located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and a second display unit and an image pick-up unit located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, wherein said second case includes a shutter button to store an image picked up by said image pick-up unit, located at an inner side when said cellular phone is in said folded state, and an antenna, wherein said image pick-up unit is arranged between said coupling unit and said second display unit, said cellular phone including a display control unit suppressing a display of said picked up image by said second display unit when said cellular phone is moved from said folded state into said open state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cellular phone according to claim 8 , wherein said second case includes a shutter button to store an image picked up by said image pick-up unit, located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The cellular phone according to claim 8 , wherein said second case includes an operation unit to operate for display at said second display unit, located at an outer side when said cellular phone is in said folded state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cellular phone according to claim 8 , further comprising an operation control unit to rotate 180° an image picked up by said image pick-up unit when said cellular phone is in said folded state for storage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-12-25 | 2010-06-26 | 2010-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-12-25 | 2014-06-26 | 2014-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-12-25 | 2018-06-26 | 2018-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |