# US 5,710,576 A · Portable electronic apparatus having partial display function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,710,576 A - Document ID: US5710576A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/423,857 - Filed: 1995-04-18 - Granted: 1998-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 1994-04-18 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Toshiro Nishiyama; Yasuhiro Kobayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710576A ## CPC - H04B 1/3827: Portable transceivers - G08B 3/1058: {Pager holders or housings (casings for electric apparatus H05K5/00)} - H04M 1/0214: {Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235)} - H04M 1/0245: {using open/close detection} - Y10S 345/901: Electronic book with display - Y10S 345/905: Display device with housing structure - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A portable electronic device has a construction in which a first housing and a second housing are capable of being opened and closed and a display is mounted on an inner side of the first housing. A partial display area of the display is in a visible state even if the second housing is closed, and the full display area becomes in a visible state when the second housing is opened. An open/close state of the housings is detected by an open/close detector mounted on the first housing or the second housing. It may be detected by a user operating a predetermined key. According to the detected open/close state, a displaying area of the information is changed between the partial display area and the full display area. At the open state, the information is displayed in the full display area. At the closed state, the information is displayed in the partial display area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for displaying data on a display having a predetermined display area in a portable electronic apparatus which comprises a first housing provided with the display in an inner side of the first housing and a second housing connected to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are opened and closed, the method comprising the steps of: determining a partial display area of the predetermined display area which is visible in a closed state of the first housing and the second housing; and switching a display area of the display between the predetermined display area and the partial display area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of switching performed according to a housing state which is one of an open state and the closed state of the first housing and the second housing. ### Claim 3 A method for displaying data on a display having a predetermined display area in a portable electronic apparatus which comprises a first housing provided with the display in an inner side of the first housing and a second housing connected to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are opened and closed, the method comprising the steps of: determining a partial display area of the predetermined display area which is visible in a closed state of the first housing and the second housing; detecting a housing state which is one of an open state and the closed state of the first housing and the second housing; and controlling the display according to the housing state such that the data is displayed in the predetermined display area at the open state and the data is displayed in only the partial display area at the closed state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the partial display area is determined by a number of characters which are to be displayed on the display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein: the predetermined display area is capable of containing a first number of characters; the partial display area is capable of containing a second number of characters smaller than the first number of characters; and the data is displayed on the display by the first number of characters at the open state and the data is displayed on the display by the second number of characters at the closed state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the housing state is detected by a switch for switching on and off depending on the housing state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the housing state is detected by a predetermined key mounted on an inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 8 A portable radio apparatus comprising a radio receiver and a display having a predetermined display area, the portable radio apparatus comprising: a first housing provided with the display in an inner side of the first housing; a second housing connected to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are opened and closed, the second housing having a transparent portion through which a partial display area of the predetermined display area is visible in a closed state of the first housing and the second housing; storage means for storing a message received by the radio receiver; switch control means for controlling the storage means and the displays such that a display area of the display switches between the predetermined display area and the partial display area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the switch control means comprises: detecting means for detecting a housing state which is one of an open state and the closed state of the first housing and the second housing; and control means for controlling the storage means and the display according to the housing state such that the message is read out from the storage means to be displayed in the predetermined display area at the open state and the message is read out from the storage means to be displayed in only the partial display area at the closed state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detecting means comprises a switch for switching on and off according to the housing state, the switch being mounted on one of the inner side of the first housing and an inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detecting means comprises a key mounted on an inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the portable radio apparatus is a selective calling receiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the portable radio apparatus is a pager. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the partial display area is determined by a number of characters which are to be displayed on the display. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: the predetermined display area is capable of containing a first number of characters; the partial display area is capable of containing a second number of characters smaller than the first number of characters; and the control means performs a read control such that the message is read from the storage means and is transferred to the display by the first number of characters at the open state and the message is read from the storage means and is transferred to the display by the second number of characters at the closed state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the first housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the second housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the second housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the second housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area; and the second housing is further provided with a plurality of function keys in an inner side of the second housing, the function keys comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the predetermined display area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the detecting means comprises a key included in the function keys mounted on the inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transparent portion of the second housing is a window. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the window comprises a transparent plate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the window comprises an opening. ### Claim 23 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transparent portion of the second housing is formed by the second housing which is smaller than the first housing in size. ### Claim 24 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the portable radio apparatus is a selective calling receiver. ### Claim 25 (depends on 8) The portable radio apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the portable radio apparatus is a pager. ### Claim 26 An apparatus for displaying data on a display having a predetermined display area, the apparatus comprising: a first housing provided with the display; a second housing connected to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are opened and closed, the second housing having a transparent portion through which a partial display area of the predetermined display area is visible in a closed state of the first housing and the second housing; and switching means for switching a display area of the display between the predetermined display area and the partial display area. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the switching means switches the display area of the display between the predetermined display area and the partial display area according to a housing state which is one of an open state and the closed state of the first housing and the second housing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the first housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area. ### Claim 29 The apparatus according to 26, wherein the second housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the second housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein: the second housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the second housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area; and the second housing is further provided with a plurality of function keys in an inner side of the second housing, the function keys comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the predetermined display area. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the transparent portion of the second housing is a window. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the window comprises a transparent plate. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the window comprises an opening. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the transparent portion of the second housing is formed by the second housing which is smaller than the first housing in size. ### Claim 35 An apparatus for displaying data on a display having a predetermined display area, the apparatus comprising: a first housing provided with the display; a second housing connected to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are opened and closed, the second housing having a transparent portion through which a partial display area of the predetermined display area is visible in a closed state of the first housing and the second housing; detecting means for detecting a housing state which is one of an open state and the closed state of the first housing and the second housing; and display control means for controlling the display according to the housing state such that the data is displayed in the predetermined display area at the open state and the data is displayed in only the partial display area at the closed state. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the first housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the second housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the second housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein: the second housing is provided with at least one basic function key in an outer side of the second housing, the basic function key comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the partial display area; and the second housing is further provided with a plurality of function keys in an inner side of the second housing, the function keys comprising a display operation key for displaying the data in the predetermined display area. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the detecting means comprises a key included in the function keys mounted on the inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the detecting means comprises a switch for switching on and off according to the housing state, the switch being mounted on one of an inner side of the first housing and an inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the detecting means comprises a first electrode provided on the first housing and a second electrode provided on the second housing, the first electrode and the second electrode being to come in contact with each other in the closed state. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the detecting means comprises a key mounted on an inner side of the second housing. ### Claim 43 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the transparent portion of the second housing is a window. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the window comprises a transparent plate. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the window comprises an opening. ### Claim 46 (depends on 35) The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the transparent portion of the second housing is formed by the second housing which is smaller than the first housing in size.