DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1C , 2 A through 2 D, and 3 , the description will proceed to a foldable portable telephone set 10 according to a first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1A is a side view showing a closed state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1B is an elevational view showing the closed state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1C is a side view showing an opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2A is an elevational view showing the opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2B is an elevational view showing the opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention when a display portion is put into an oblong state by rotating a display portion unit counterclockwise CCW by about 90 degrees. FIG. 2C is an elevational view showing the opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention when the display portion is put into the oblong state by rotating the display portion unit clockwise CW by about 90 degrees. FIG. 2D is a rear elevation of FIG. 2B . FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[0046] The illustrated foldable portable telephone set 10 mainly comprises, as shown in FIG. 3, a lower unit 20 having a console portion 12 , an upper unit 30 having a display portion 11 , and a hinge portion 13 for joining the lower unit 20 and the upper unit 30 so as to open and close and for electrically connecting both by a suitable connecting arrangement (not shown).

[0047] The lower unit 20 has a main surface (a console face) 20 a on which the console portion 12 and a fingerprint certifying portion 14 are disposed. The console portion 12 comprises a plurality of console keys for using functions of the foldable portable telephone set 10 . The fingerprint certifying portion 14 is for carrying out a reading of a fingerprint of a user. The console face 20 a has a tip part on which a transmitter (a microphone) 16 , namely, an opening of the microphone.

[0048] On the other hand, the upper unit 30 mainly comprises the display portion unit 32 and a supporting portion unit 34 . The display portion unit 32 and the supporting portion unit 34 are electrically and structurally connected to each other by a suitable rotating and sliding mechanism which will later be described.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B , and 4 C, the description will proceed to the rotating and sliding mechanism depicted at 40 . FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 1C . FIG. 4B is an elevational view showing the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 . In FIG. 4B, a rotating shaft 44 is omitted. FIG. 4C is an enlarged sectional view showing the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 enlarged.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4 A, the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 is disposed between the display portion unit 32 and the supporting portion unit 34 . As shown in FIG. 4 C, the display portion unit 32 has a rear face 32 b having a circular hole 32 b - 1 while the supporting portion unit 34 has a front face 34 b having a lengthwise oval hole 34 b - 1 . In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 C, the front face 34 b of the supporting portion unit 34 has an inner wall on which a slide plate 42 having a circular hole 42 - 1 is disposed. The slide plate 42 is slidably fitted to the inner wall of the front face 34 b of the supporting portion unit 34 up and down in a lengthwise groove 34 b - 2 formed therein, as shown in FIG. 4B . That is, the slide plate 41 has a front face (a slide face) 42 a which is slidably in contact with the inner wall of the front face 34 b of the supporting portion unit 34 .

[0051] The rotating and sliding mechanism 40 comprises the above-mentioned slide plate 42 and a hollow cylindrical rotation shaft 44 passing through the circular hole 32 b - 1 , the oval hole 34 b - 1 , and the circular hole 42 - 1 . The rotation shaft 44 has both ends 44 a and 44 b each of which is composed of a flange portion bent outwards in a radial direction, as shown in FIG. 4C . That is, one flange portion 44 a is rotatably in contact with an inner wall of the rear face 32 b of the display portion unit 32 while another flange portion 44 b is rotatably in contact with a rear face 42 b of the slide plate 42 .

[0052] With this structure, it is possible to shift from the display portion 11 put into the lengthwise state as shown in FIG. 2A to the display portion 11 put into the oblong state as shown in FIG. 2B by rotating the display portion unit 32 counterclockwise CCW by about 90 degrees and by sliding downwards S by the rotating and the sliding mechanism 40 . In addition, it is possible to shift from the display portion 11 put into the lengthwise state as shown in FIG. 2A to the display portion 11 put into the oblong state as shown in FIG. 2C by rotating the display portion unit 32 clockwise CW by about 90 degrees and by sliding downwards S by the rotating and the sliding mechanism 40 . In as much as the display portion unit 32 is not only rotated but also slid in a case of making the display portion 11 from the lengthwise state to the oblong state, the foldable portable telephone set is advantageous in that it is possible to compact the display portion in the oblong state and it is attractive.

[0053] Although a switching of the display portion 11 between the lengthwise state and the oblong state is carried out by the rotating and sliding the display portion unit 32 using the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 , such a switching may be merely carried out by rotating the display portion unit 32 using a rotating mechanism. Such a rotating mechanism may be easily implemented by omitting a sliding mechanism from the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 .

[0054] The rotation shaft 44 is hollow through which wiring for electrically connecting the display portion unit 32 with the supporting portion unit 34 passes.

[0055] The display portion unit 32 has a main surface (a display face) 32 a on which the display portion 11 having a substantially rectangular shape is disposed. In addition, the display face 32 has a tip part on which a receiver 15 (an opening portion of a speaker) is disposed. When the display portion 11 is put into the lengthwise state, a pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b is disposed on the display portion 11 up and down, as shown in FIG. 2A . When the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state by rotating and sliding the display portion unit 32 by the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 , the pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b is disposed on the display portion 11 right and left, as shown in FIG. 2B or FIG. 2C . The display portion unit 32 has another main surface (a rear face) 32 b on which a rear camera portion 18 is disposed, as shown in FIG. 2D . The supporting portion unit 34 has an opposite face (a rear face) 34 a , which is opposed to the display face, on which a small sub-display unit 19 is mounted.

[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 1A through 4 , description will be made as regards operation of the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[0057] According to the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention, it is possible to use as the display portion 11 put into the oblong state by rotating and sliding the display portion 11 by the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 as shown in FIG. 2B or FIG. 2C on stating an application such as a browser function for the Internet or the like, an electric mail function (mail creation, display of a received mail or the like), a function of a schedule management, and so on, on recording of voice or images, on reproducing (receiving) contents or the like. It is therefore possible to be easy to see display information comparison with a case where a display screen is put into the lengthwise state ( FIG. 2A ).

[0058] More specifically, on using a predetermined function with display, it is possible to the display portion 11 as an oblong display device by shifting the display portion unit 22 having the display portion 11 from a state illustrated in FIG. 2A to a state illustrated FIG. 2B or FIG. 2C by rotating and sliding the display portion unit 22 by the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 if a user desires. In this event, a control portion which will later be described detects that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state and displays on the display portion 11 display contents which are suitably converted so as to fit a direction of the display screen put into the oblong state.

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 5 , the description will proceed to an electric circuit portion corresponding to the above-mentioned mechanism in the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[0060] As shown in a circuit diagram of FIG. 5 , the illustrated foldable portable telephone set 10 comprises an antenna 104 , a radio frequency (RF) circuit 105 , a modem circuit 106 , a baseband processing circuit 107 , a codec circuit 108 , the control portion 109 , the microphone 16 , the console portion 12 , and first through third magnetic sensors (Hall elements) 111 a, 111 b, and 111 c for detecting a position of the display portion unit 32 . Those respective function portions are packed in the lower unit 20 .

[0061] The above-mentioned control portion 109 comprises a rotation angle detecting portion 112 , an opening and closing detecting portion 113 , a display control portion 114 , an image processing circuit 115 , and a camera input/output control circuit 116 . The rotation angle detecting portion 112 decides an rotation angle (a rotation position) of the display portion unit 32 on the basis of outputs of the first through the third magnetic sensors 111 a to 111 c to produce a rotation angle detected signal. The opening and closing detecting portion 113 detects an opening and closing state of the upper unit 30 including the display portion unit 32 with respect to the lower unit 20 . The display control portion 114 performs control for display of an image signal from the image processing circuit 115 . In addition, the display control portion 114 performs display switching of the display portion 11 and the sub-display unit 19 in response to an output of the opening and closing detecting portion 113 . The image processing circuit 115 performs an image processing in accordance with an rotation operation of the display portion unit 32 and a camera control operation. Connected to the front camera portions 17 a , 17 b and the rear camera portion 18 , the camera input/output control circuit 116 performs a camera input/output control in accordance with the rotation angle detected signal of the display portion unit 32 .

[0062] The RF circuit 105 comprises a receiving circuit, a transmitting circuit, and a frequency synthesizer which are not shown. The console portion 12 comprises a known transmission key, a conversion key for alphabet/kana (Japanese syllabary)/kanji (Chinese characters)/numeral, an on/off key for a power supply, a direction indication key (a scroll key) for carrying out cursor operation, a key for performing on/off of the camera, and so on.

[0063] The foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention further comprises the speaker 15 , the display portion (a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an electroluminescence (EL) element) 11 serving as a main screen, and the sub-display unit 19 .

[0064] Referring to FIG. 6 , description will be made as regards the above-mentioned first through third magnetic sensors 111 a to 111 c for detecting a posture (the rotation angle, the rotation position) of the display portion unit 32 according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a rear schematic view for use in describing an arrangement of the first through the third magnetic sensors 111 a to 111 c used in the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 6 , the display portion unit 32 has the rear face 32 b in which a magnet MG is disposed. On the other hand, the supporting portion unit 34 has the front face 34 b in which the first through the third magnetic sensors 111 a to 111 c are disposed.

[0066] It will be assumed that the display portion 11 is put into the lengthwise state ( FIG. 2A ). In this event, the magnet MG and the first magnetic sensor 111 a are opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 6 . That is, by detecting magnetism of the magnet MG by the first magnetic sensor 111 a , it is possible to detect that the display portion 11 is put into the lengthwise state.

[0067] It will be assumed that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state ( FIG. 2B ) by rotating and sliding the display portion unit 32 from the state shown in FIG. 6 counterclockwise CCW by about 90 degrees by the above-mentioned rotating and sliding mechanism 40 . Under the circumstances, the magnet MG and the second magnetic sensor 111 b are opposite to each other. That is, by detecting magnetism of the magnet MG by the second magnetic sensor 111 b , it is possible to detect that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state where the display portion 11 is rotated counterclockwise by about 90 degrees with respect to the lengthwise state.

[0068] It will be assumed that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state ( FIG. 2C ) by rotating and sliding the display portion unit 32 from the state shown in FIG. 6 clockwise CW by about 90 degrees by the above-mentioned rotating and sliding mechanism 40 . Under the circumstances, the magnet MG and the third magnetic sensor 111 c are opposite to each other. That is, by detecting magnetism of the magnet MG by the third magnetic sensor 111 c , it is possible to detect that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state where the display portion 11 is rotated clockwise by about 90 degrees with respect to the lengthwise state.

[0069] Although the rotation angle position of the display portion unit 32 is detected using the magnetic sensors in the first embodiment of this invention, of course, detection of the rotation angle portion may not be restricted them. For instance, other sensors such as reed switches, optical sensors, or the like may be used in lieu of the magnetic sensors.

[0070] In a folded state where the display face 32 a of the upper unit 30 is opposite to the lower unit 20 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the foldable portable telephone set 10 becomes compact so that the whole of the foldable portable telephone set 10 is convenient to carry with it in the similar manner in a folded state of a conventional foldable portable telephone set. In this event, by detecting opening and closing by the opening and closing detecting portion 113 , the display control portion 114 controls the display portion 11 and the sub-display unit 19 . More specifically, the display control portion 114 controls to display information on the display portion 11 when the upper unit 30 is opened with respect to the lower unit 20 . The display control portion 114 controls to display information having a minimum range on the sub-display unit 19 when the upper unit 30 is closed with respect to the lower unit 20 . When the upper unit 30 is opened with respect to the lower unit 20 , it is possible to speak over using the microphone 16 and the speaker 15 .

[0071] The display portion 11 is put into the oblong state when the display portion unit 32 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 2A counterclockwise CCW by about 90 degrees in the manner as shown in FIG. 2B . In addition, the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state when the display portion unit 32 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 2A clockwise CW by about 90 degrees in the manner as shown in FIG. 2C .

[0072] In a case where the display portion unit 32 is put into such a position relationship, the above-mentioned rotation angle detecting portion 112 detects this position relationship, the image processing circuit 115 generates the image signal suitable to the oblong screen in response to this detection, and the display control portion 114 displays display contents to be displayed on the display portion 11 in the oblong state (or display right and left of the display contents as a long side direction of the display portion 11 ). In this event, if there is a directivity in the console portion 12 for processing corresponding to operation such as the direction key (cursor key), corresponding processing contents are suitable to the display direction.

[0073] In the state of FIG. 2B or FIG. 2 C, confirmation of a large quantity of character information is easily carried out by the oblong display face and it is easy to see when an oblong image is displayed. In the manner which is described above, it is possible for the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention to see the display in the opened state with the display portion 11 put into the oblong state and to suitably operate as the need arises.

[0074] According to the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention, the pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b is disposed on the main surface (display face) 32 a of the display portion unit 32 . The pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b is disposed so at to position right and left when the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state by the rotating and sliding mechanism 40 of the display portion unit 32 . As a result, it is possible to easily carry out a deformation into a position suitable to 3D image processing (3D image pickup using the pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b disposed to right and left). The 3D image processing will later be described.

[0075] According to the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention, the rear camera portion 18 is disposed on the other main surface (the rear face) 32 b of the display portion unit 32 as shown in FIG. 2D . It is possible to easily carry out pickup of the oblong image using the rear camera portion 18 . Specifically, in prior art, it is necessary to pick up with the apparatus put into a oblong state in a case of carrying out the pickup of the oblong image (in this event, it is necessary to carry out operation with an oblong state). On the contrary, according to the first embodiment of this invention, it is possible to easily carry out the pickup of the oblong image by rotating the display portion unit 32 .

[0076] In addition, it is possible to suitably select the pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b and the rear camera portion 18 in accordance with a stop state (an arrangement state) of the display portion unit 32 by arbitrary setting of a user in the manner which will later be described. For example, it is possible to set by operating the console portion 12 so as to operate one front camera portion 17 a and the rear camera portion 18 in the state illustrated in FIG. 2A . It is possible to set by operating the console portion 12 so as to operate the pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b in the state illustrated in FIG. 2B . It is possible to set by operating the console portion 12 so as to operate only the rear camera portion 18 in the state illustrated in FIG. 2C . Therefore, it is possible to easily carry out to set a pickup mode (camera selection and allocation of key function accompanied by the camera selection).

[0077] Referring to FIG. 7 , description will be made as regards a switching operation of a display mode in accordance with detection of the rotation position of the display portion unit 32 by the rotation angle detecting portion 112 . In the example being illustrated, inasmuch as the foldable portable telephone set 10 is provided with the first through the third magnetic sensors 111 a - 111 c , it is possible to switch the display mode into three modes (a mode a, a mode b, and a mode c).

[0078] More specifically, it will be assumed that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state where the display portion 11 is rotated clockwise CW by 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 2C . The third magnetic sensor 111 c detects this state to produce a magnetic clockwise rotation detected signal which is supplied to the rotation angle detecting portion 112 . Responsive to the magnetic clockwise rotation directed signal, the rotation angle detecting portion 112 sends a clockwise rotation detected signal indicating that the display portion 11 is rotated clockwise to the image processing circuit 115 and the camera input/output control circuit 116 (Y in a step A 1 ). Responsive to the clockwise rotation detected signal, the image processing circuit 115 and the camera input/output control circuit 116 set the display mode into the mode a (a step S 2 ).

[0079] It will be assumed that the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state where the display portion 11 is rotated counterclockwise CCW by 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 2B . The second magnetic sensor 111 b detects this state to produce a magnetic counterclockwise rotation detected signal which is supplied to the rotation angle detecting portion 112 . Responsive to the magnetic counterclockwise rotation directed signal, the rotation angle detecting portion 112 sends a counterclockwise rotation detected signal indicating that the display portion 11 is rotated counterclockwise to the image processing circuit 115 and the camera input/output control circuit 116 (Y in a step A 3 ). Responsive to the counterclockwise rotation detected signal, the image processing circuit 115 and the camera input/output control circuit 116 set the display mode into the mode b (a step S 4 ).

[0080] It will be assumed that the display portion 11 is put into the lengthwise state where the display portion 11 is not rotated, as shown in FIG. 2A . The first magnetic sensor 111 c detects this state to produce a magnetic nonrotation detected signal which is supplied to the rotation angle detecting portion 112 . Responsive to the magnetic nonrotation directed signal, the rotation angle detecting portion 112 sends a nonrotation detected signal indicating that the display portion 11 is not rotated to the image processing circuit 115 and the camera input/output control circuit 116 (N in the step S 1 , N in the step S 3 ). Responsive to the nonrotation detected signal, the image processing circuit 115 and the camera input/output control circuit 116 set the display mode into the mode c (a step S 5 ).

[0081] Now, the description will proceed to examples of a switching of the camera portions where a user can set as the modes a-c and actual image displays in the display portion 11 in this event. It seems that there are, as the image displays, four image displays (camera modes, pickup modes) which will later be described. A first camera mode [1] is a mode for displaying a 3D image using the pair of front camera portions 17 a and 17 b . A second camera mode [2] is a mode for displaying a front image using only one of the front camera portions 17 a and 17 b . A third camera mode [3] is a mode for displaying a rear image using only the rear camera portion 18 . A fourth camera mode [4] is for dividedly displaying the front image and the rear image using one of the front camera portions 17 a and 17 b and the rear camera portion 18 . That is, the user operates the console portion 12 to selectively set the first through the fourth camera modes [1]-[4] to the modes a-c. It is noted that the second through the fourth camera modes [2]-[4] are allocated to any one of the modes a-c but only the first camera mode [1] is allocated to either the mode a or the mode b.

[0082] Now, the description will proceed to the 3D image processing. The description will be made by mentioning a case where the first camera mode [1] is selected and set as the mode b. In other words, it will be assumed that setting is made so as to display the 3-D image on the display portion 11 when the display portion 11 is put into the oblong state where the display portion 11 is rotated counterclockwise ( FIG. 2B ).

[0083] The 3D image processing may be implemented by using a technique described, for example, in the above-mentioned prior art document 4 (JP-A 9-116882). However, it is necessary to display the 3-D image and a normal image (2D image) by switching them in the first embodiment of this invention.

[0084] The display portion 11 comprises a screen (not shown) and a mask (not shown) disposed on a front face of the screen (i.e. between the screen and a user). The screen is divided into a plurality of longitudinal strip-like divided screens on which a left eye image and a right eye image are alternately displayed. The mask comprises a plurality of slits each having a width which corresponding to that of each divided screen.

[0085] With this structure, a left eye of a user sees the left eye image which is not covered by the mask while a right eye of the user sees the right eye image which is not covered by the mask. When the left eye image and the right eye image are an image obtained by picking up the same object and shift a little in angle, the user recognizes so as to see the 3-D image.

[0086] In the first embodiment of this invention, a liquid crystal shutter (a liquid crystal mask) is used at the mask. More specifically, in a case of displaying the 3-D image on the display portion 11 , the liquid crystal mask is controlled so that a plurality of slits are formed therein. In a case of displaying the normal image (the 2-D image) on the display portion 11 , the liquid crystal mask is controlled so that the liquid crystal mask becomes transparent. A mode switching of the liquid crystal mask is controlled by the display control portion 114 . It is therefore possible to selectively display the 3-D image and the 2-D image.

[0087] In addition, the above-mentioned 3-D image processing is called a parallax barrier (parallax stereogram) method in the art. That is, in the parallax barrier method, prior to an image where a pair of left eye image and right eye image is arranged in a strip fashion, a parallax barrier having slits corresponding to this image is disposed, a left eye and a right eye can observe the left eye image and the right eye image through the slits, respectively. That slits (thin film image splitter) are arranged in a liquid crystal panel is sold as a product.

[0088] In addition, a display device selectively displaying the 2-D image and the 3-D image on a single screen is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Tokkai Nos. Hei 10-232,366 or JP-A 10-232366 and Hei 10-221,646 or JP-A 10-221646, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,765, and so on.

[0089] Now, description will be made as regards operation of the foldable portable telephone set 10 in a case of carrying out transmission and reception of a speech signal using a function as a telephone set. The antenna 104 receives a signal from a base station and transmits a signal from the foldable portable telephone set 10 . Received by the antenna 104 , the signal from the base station is supplied to the receiving circuit of the RF circuit 105 . The receiving circuit selects a signal having a frequency indicated by the frequency synthesizer and detects whether or not an incoming call notification signal for its own is included in the selected signal (waiting reception).

[0090] When the receiving circuit detects the incoming call notification signal for its own, the receiving circuit notifies the control portion 109 that an incoming call is present. Responsive to notification where the incoming call is present in its own from the receiving circuit, the control portion 109 drives alert means (not shown) such as a call bell, a vibrator, or the like or the speaker 15 to notify a user that the incoming call is present in its own.

[0091] In the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention, when a replay is made by pushing a telephone call button with the upper unit 30 and the lower unit 20 opened on the incoming call, a radio circuit is connected, the speech signal transmitted from an outgoing caller is supplied to the modem circuit 106 through the RF circuit 105 .

[0092] Subsequently, the modem circuit 106 demodulates the speech signal transmitted from the outgoing caller to supply a demodulated signal to the baseband processing circuit 107 . The baseband processing circuit 107 extracts an original baseband signal from the demodulated signal to supply the original baseband signal to the codec circuit 108 . The codec circuit 108 performs an digital-to-analog conversion on a supplied baseband signal to supply a digital signal to the speaker (the receiver) 15 . As a result, a speech transmitted from the outgoing caller is generated from the speaker 15 . The codec circuit 108 carries out an analog-to-digital conversion processing on a speech signal converted by the microphone 16 to be transmitted from the foldable potable telephone set 10 . Therefore, the users can carry out telephone conversation.

[0093] An on-hook processing is carried out by carrying out an on-hook operation using a predetermined on-hook key by the user when the telephone conversation comes to end.

[0094] Now, description will be made as regards operation in a case of carrying out transmission and reception of character data or image data (a still image or a moving image) in the foldable portable telephone set 10 . The foldable portable telephone set 10 monitors (waits) whether or not a signal indicative of presence of transmission of the character data or the image data for its own is included in the selected signal. When the character data or the image data are transmitted to the foldable portable telephone set 10 for its own, information on the basis of received data from the baseband processing circuit 107 is temporarily stored in the image processing circuit 115 and is displayed on the display portion 11 through the display control portion 114 .

[0095] More specifically, transmitted from the outgoing caller, the character data or the image data are supplied to the modem circuit 106 through the RF circuit 105 . The modulated data are supplied the baseband processing circuit 107 . The baseband processing circuit 107 extracts transmitted data such as the character data from the supplied signal to supply extracted data to the control portion 109 .

[0096] The image processing circuit 115 of the control portion 109 comprises a CPU, an ROM, an RAM, and a VRAM although illustrate is not made. The ROM stores an execution program, data necessary for various types of processing or character font data. The RAM is used as a work area. The VRAM is for displaying information on the display portion 11 .

[0097] On the basis of the data supplied from the baseband processing circuit 107 , the image processing circuit 115 creates character information or an image signal to be displayed on the display portion 11 (or the sub-display unit 19 as the need arises) and displays them on the display portion 11 through the display control portion 114 .

[0098] In addition, the foldable portable telephone set 10 may create message data in its own to transmit them. More specifically, in the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to this embodiment, dial operation keys such as 0-9, *, # disposed in the console portion 12 are allocated with alphabetic characters or kana characters and the console portion 12 has the conversion key for alphabet/kana/kanji/numeral. By operating a group of the dial operation keys or the conversion key, it is possible to input the message data and to transmit them to the opposite party according to indication from the user.

[0099] The foldable portable telephone set 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 can carry out dual reception of the speech signal and the image signal so as to receive and display an image from the opposite party and to transmit its own image during the telephone conversation. As a result, the foldable portable telephone set 10 may use as a television portable telephone. Under the circumstance, it is possible to use one of the front camera portions 17 a and 17 b as a television telephone camera (for picking up image information). In this event, the user may operate the console portion 12 to arbitrarily select one of the front camera portions left and right in accordance with the opposite party of telephone from left and right picking up directions. In this event, it is possible to distinguish between a left-handed expression and a right-handed expression (i.e. a severe expression for business, a gentle expression for private, or the like).

[0100] Referring to FIGS. 8A through 8E , the description will proceed to a foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to a second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8A is a side view showing a closed state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8B is an elevational view showing the closed state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8C is a side view showing an opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8D is an elevational view showing the opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8E is an elevational view showing the opened state of the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention when a display portion is put into an oblong state.

[0101] The illustrated foldable portable telephone set 10 A mainly comprises a lower unit 20 A having the console portion 12 , an upper unit 30 A having the display portion 11 , and a hinge-type connector 13 A for joining the lower unit 20 A and the upper unit 30 A so as to open and close and for enable to connect the lower unit 20 A with the upper unit 30 A by changing a connection state of the upper unit 30 A with respect to the lower unit 20 A.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 8 E, three components 20 A, 30 A, and 13 A are removable one another. The hinge-type connector 13 A has an upper connecting portion 13 A a for connecting to the upper unit 30 A. In a state illustrated in FIG. 8 D, the upper unit 30 A has first and third upper open slits 30 A a, 30 A b, and 30 A c for inserting the upper connecting portion 13 A a of the hinge-type connector 13 A at a lower side, a left side, and a right side thereof, respectively. The lower unit 20 A has a lower open slit 20 A a for inserting the lower connecting portion 13 A b of the hinge-type connector 13 A at an upper side thereof.

[0103] Each of the first through the third upper open slits 30 A a, 30 A b, and 30 A c has a connector (not shown) for electrically connecting to the upper connecting portion 13 A a of the hinge-type connector 13 A at the inside thereof. The lower open slit 20 A a has a connector (not shown) for electrically connecting to the lower connecting portion 13 A b of the hinge-type connector 13 A at the inside thereof.

[0104] In the illustrated foldable portable telephone set 10 A, the rear camera portion 18 is disposed in a rear face of the hinge-type connector 13 A as shown in FIG. 8B .

[0105] Referring now to FIG. 9 , the description will proceed to an electric circuit portion of the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention. The illustrated foldable portable telephone set 10 A is similar in structure and operation to the foldable portable telephone set 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 except that the foldable portable telephone set 10 A includes a connector connection detecting portion 112 A in lieu of the rotation angle detecting portion 112 and the first through the magnetic sensors 111 a to 111 c are omitted. Components having functions similar to those illustrated in FIG. 5 are attached with the same reference symbols.

[0106] Specifically, inasmuch as the display portion unit 32 in the foldable portable telephone set 10 A according to the second embodiment of this invention, which is different from the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention, does not rotate, the first through the third magnetic sensors 111 a to 111 c are unnecessary although they are necessary in the foldable portable telephone set 10 according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[0107] Although the open slots and the connecting portion 13 A a are disposed in the display portion 11 side and the hinge-type connector 13 A side in the second embodiment, respectively, connection structure may be reversed.

[0108] While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with a few embodiments thereof, it will now be readily possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners.