A pair of patents released by LG seems to have some people worried about the impact they will have on future versions of the iPhone.

The first patent describes a “Mobile Communications Terminal Having multiple displays.” Basically, you would have a clamshell device, only instead of the top containing a screen, and the bottom a keypad, the lower keypad is replaced by a touchscreen.

The second patent is for a “Mobile terminal providing graphic user interface.” So on the touchscreen mentioned above, you would be able to select, or tap on an icon and have it react to your input.

I don't really see this affecting the future of the iPhone, the first one especially. The second one might be cool to see on a future iPhone. But what is amazing is how LG managed to get these patents in the first place. I already have a mobile communications device that is exactly what these patents describe. It has a clamshell form-factor, has two screens and one them is a touchscreen where the things I touch or tap react visually. It's called a Nintendo DS.

LG patents may tread on future iPhone [via macnn]