Portable communication apparatus having a game function

Abstract

A portable communication apparatus having a game function can be used in a speech mode or in a dedicated game mode according to rotation of a housing. The portable communication apparatus includes a first housing extending along a longitudinal direction; second and third housings positioned on both sides of the first housing while extending along the longitudinal direction and adapted to rotate about first and second hinge axes while facing both lateral surfaces of the first housing, respectively; and a center connection arm which is positioned on an end surface of the first housing, which provides the second hinge axis in the longitudinal direction, which extends along the second hinge axis, which is received in a reception space formed in the second housing to be held, and which connects the second housing to the first housing in such a manner that the second housing can rotate from the first housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

1 . A portable communication apparatus having a game function, comprising: 
 a first housing extending along a longitudinal direction;    second and third housings positioned on both sides of the first housing while extending along the longitudinal direction and adapted to rotate about first and second hinge axes while facing a lateral surface of the first housing; and    a center connection arm positioned on an end surface of the first housing and extending along the first hinge axis, the center connection arm being received in a reception space formed in the second housing, and connecting the second housing to the first housing in such a manner that the second housing can rotate in relation to the first housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.    
   
   
       2 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third hinge axis extends along the longitudinal direction from the other end surface of the first housing and the third housing is connected to the other end surface of the first housing in such a manner that it can rotate from the first housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       3 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center connection arm has at least one button unit positioned on the upper and lower surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing has a reception space formed at a center of an end surface thereof to hold the center connection arm.  
   
   
       5 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center connection arm has an inner space formed therein so that a flexible circuit can pass through to electrically connect the first and second housings.  
   
   
       6 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center connection arm has a curved edge so that the second housing can rotate with respect to the first housing.  
   
   
       7 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing has a first key array made up of a number of keys and a microphone device positioned on the upper surface thereof and a second key array made up of a number of dedicated game keys positioned on the lower surface thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third housing has a speaker device positioned on the upper surface thereof and a third key array made up of a number of dedicated game keys positioned on the lower surface thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing has a large LCD positioned on the upper surface thereof and a side key array made up of a number of keys positioned on an upper surface thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second housings are larger than the third housing and the second and third housings are positioned on left and right sides of the first housing, respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second key array comprises a four-way key and the dedicated game keys.  
   
   
       12 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the third key array is made up of an array of a number of dedicated game keys.  
   
   
       13 . The portable communication apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first key array and the microphone device of the second housing are positioned on the left side of the large LCD of the first housing and the speaker device of the third housing is positioned on the right side thereof side by side along the longitudinal direction in a speech mode and the second and third housings are rotated about the first and second hinge axes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a game mode so that the second and third key arrays made up of dedicated game keys of the second and third housings are positioned side by side along the longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       14 . A portable communication apparatus having a game function, comprising: 
 a first housing extending along a longitudinal direction;    a second housing coupled to an end of the first housing to rotate about a first hinge axis while facing a lateral surface of the first housing; and    a third housing coupled to the other end of the first housing to rotate about a second hinge axis while facing the other lateral surface of the first housing and adapted to be coaxially positioned side by side along the longitudinal direction of the first hinge axis.    
   
   
       15 . The portable communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the second housing has a first key array made up of a number of keys and a microphone device positioned on the upper surface thereof and a second key array made up of a number of dedicated game keys positioned on the lower surface thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The portable communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the third housing has a speaker device positioned on the upper surface thereof and a third key array made up of a number of dedicated game keys positioned on the lower surface thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The portable communication apparatus function as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first housing has a large LCD positioned on the upper surface thereof and a side key array made up of a number of keys positioned on a lower surface thereof.