Mobile terminal comprising a display rotable about a casing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9609097-B2
Application number	US-201314419687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2013
Priority date	Oct 17, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

There is provided a mobile terminal including a casing that includes an audio output unit that outputs audio, and a transmissive display unit provided rotatable about the casing. The transmissive display unit is disposable in a plane intersecting a principal face of the casing while the audio output unit is outputting audio.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal comprising:
a casing that includes audio output circuitry that outputs audio;
a transmissive display that is rotatable about the casing and is disposed, when the audio output circuitry outputs the audio, in a plane that intersects a front face of the casing; and
circuitry configured to:
acquire content data;
generate information related to the content data;
display, on the transmissive display, the information and a cover image of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is associated with the information; and
access the URL to acquire web information, wherein
the transmissive display includes:
a base rotatable about the casing,
a light guide, provided on a surface of the base, which guides light from an image display element to an exit when the light guide totally reflects the light, and
an air layer formed between the base and the light guide.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is further configured to make a phone call, and
the transmissive display is disposable in the plane that intersects the front face of the casing when the circuitry is on the phone call.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmissive display rotates about the casing between a closed state and an open state, and
a display face of the transmissive display, when the transmissive display is positioned in the closed state, is positioned on a same face as the front face of the casing.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmissive display rotates about the casing between a closed state and an open state, and
a display face of the transmissive display, when the transmissive display is positioned in the closed state, is parallel to the front face of the casing.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmissive display is disposable in the plane that intersects the front face when positioned in a first open state rotated in a first direction about the casing, or when positioned in a second rotated state rotated in a reverse direction of the first direction.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmissive display includes a non-transmissive second display.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6 , wherein
the second display displays date and time information when the transmissive display is positioned in a closed state with respect to the casing.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is further configured to:
detect a rotated state of the transmissive display; and
control display of the transmissive display, according to the rotated state.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is further configured to generate and display, on the transmissive display, a summary of the content data.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
make a phone call;
acquire action information related to an action by a person on a phone when the circuitry is on the phone call; and
generate and display, on the transmissive display, navigation information based on the action information.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 10 , wherein
the circuitry is further configured to:
acquire gesture information of the person on the phone as the action information, and
display, on the transmissive display, navigation information based on the gesture information.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 10 , wherein
the circuitry is further configured to:
acquire speech spoken by the person on the phone as the action information, and
display, on the transmissive display, navigation information based on the speech.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the light guide includes:
a first light guide provided on a first surface of the base, and
a second light guide provided on a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface of the base, and

the air layer includes:
a first air layer formed between the first surface of the base and the first light guide, and
a second air layer formed between the second surface of the base and the second light guide.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 13 , wherein
the base is positioned in a first open state rotated in a first direction about the casing, or a second open state rotated in a reverse direction of the first direction,
when the base is positioned in the first open state, the first light guide guides light from the image display element to an exit and the first light guide reflects the light, and
when the base is positioned in the second open state, the second light guide guides light from the image display element to an exit and the second light guide totally reflects the light.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
determine whether a user of the mobile terminal places a fingertip of the user over the cover image to select the cover image;
determine whether the fingertip, when the fingertip is placed over the cover image, and the cover image have been overlapping for a predetermined period;
when the fingertip and the cover image have been overlapping for the predetermined period, access the URL and acquire the web information therefrom; and
display, on the transmissive display, the web information.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein
the content data includes speech or an image.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Hosoda Yasuhide

Classifications

• H04M1/236

  including keys on side or rear faces · CPC title

• H04M1/0245

  using open/close detection · CPC title

• G06F1/1649

  the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title

• H04M2250/16

  including more than one display unit · CPC title