Portable terminal

Abstract

A portable terminal comprising: a first body having a keypad containing a plurality of keys arranged thereon and a display disposed in one direction for displaying information inputted via the keypad; and a second body slidably connected to the first body in a direction perpendicular to the one direction and having a touch screen configured to be exposed to the outside when the portable terminal is converted from a closed state into an open state, wherein the touch screen is activated in the open state to display visual information related to information to be displayed on the display, whereby a portable terminal having a convenient user interface environment and also a new design can be provided.

1 . A portable terminal comprising:
 a first body having a keypad containing a plurality of keys arranged thereon and a display disposed in one direction for displaying information inputted via the keypad; and   a second body slidably connected to the first body in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and having a touch screen configured to be exposed to the outside when the portable terminal is converted from a closed state into an open state,   wherein the touch screen is activated in the open state to display visual information related to information to be displayed on the display.   
   
   
       2 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the keys contain numbers or characters thereon to allow the input of phone numbers or text messages in the closed state of the portable terminal. 
   
   
       3 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen displays first visual information which is able to be inputted in a touch-sensitive manner when the portable terminal is converted from the closed into the open state. 
   
   
       4 . The terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the display displays second visual information related to the first visual information when touching the first visual information for input. 
   
   
       5 . The terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the first visual information includes a menu or list containing at least one selectable item, and the second visual information includes detailed information related to the at least one item. 
   
   
       6 . The terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the first visual information includes at least one icon for executing an operation mode of the portable terminal, and the second visual information includes a working image of the operation mode. 
   
   
       7 . The terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the first visual information includes at least ones of character keys, number keys and functional keys to be inputted, and the second visual information includes a text output screen representing text corresponding to the key input. 
   
   
       8 . The terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the first visual information further includes a text output window representing text corresponding to the key input. 
   
   
       9 . The terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the first visual information includes at least one content of music, broadcast and video, and the second visual information includes information related to the content. 
   
   
       10 . The terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the first visual information includes image information having one touchable region, and the second visual information includes an enlarged image of the one region. 
   
   
       11 . The terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second visual information are controlled to have the same output direction. 
   
   
       12 . The terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second bodies intermittently relatively move with each other by a plurality of steps according to an exposed area of the touch screen when the portable terminal is converted from the closed state into the open state, and the touch screen displays different information for each step. 
   
   
       13 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the first visual information is outputted as much as an amount corresponding to the exposed area of the touch screen for each step. 
   
   
       14 . The terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the first visual information includes a list containing a plurality of columns, and at least one of the columns is optionally outputted according to the steps. 
   
   
       15 . The terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the display further includes a touch-sensitive input unit for allowing an information input in a touch-sensitive manner, and displaying third visual information to control the first visual information by the touching manner. 
   
   
       16 . The terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the first visual information includes a movable pointer or cursor, and the third visual information includes control image for controlling the movement of the pointer or cursor. 
   
   
       17 . The terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the first visual information includes playback image for reproducing video or music, and the third visual information includes an icon for controlling the reproduction of the video or music. 
   
   
       18 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the first body includes a wiper configured to wash up a screen of the touch screen in response to the relative movement between the first and second bodies.