JP2001242845A - Portable information terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To change an image display direction to a direction desired by an operator only by changing a holding direction of a portable information terminal or a display surface direction of an image display device. . SOLUTION: The portable information terminal provided with an image display device and a gravity detection device, wherein the gravity detection device uses a magnetic sensor, and a holding direction of the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device; Alternatively, the display direction of an image to be displayed on the image display device is changed according to the display surface direction accompanying the upper and lower surfaces of the image display device. Further, a first image display device having a touch panel as an input device, a second image display device connected to the first image display device and having a touch panel as an input device, a gravity detection device,
A portable information terminal that displays a key arrangement on any of the first and second image display devices, and according to a holding direction of the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device,
Changing the display direction of the image and the key arrangement displayed on the first and second image display devices to the direction directly facing the operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a technology for changing the display direction of an image in an information device which can be carried and used, that is, a portable information terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional portable information terminals include a type having a keyboard as an input device and a type having a touch panel overlaid on the surface of an image display device as an input device. It can be said that the former is superior from the viewpoint of operability of.

A conventional portable information terminal displays only an image in a certain direction on a rectangular image display device. However, depending on the image to be displayed and the software used, display in the portrait orientation may be appropriate or display in the landscape orientation may be appropriate.For conventional portable information terminals that only display images in a fixed orientation, the display content is I felt it was hard to see. In addition, when the information content is turned upside down to show the display contents to a facing person, the display is turned upside down, so the portable information terminal body must be rotated 180 degrees, which is inconvenient.

[0004] Some portable information terminals having a touch panel have a function of detecting the holding direction of the terminal and changing the display direction based on the output. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A-10-30
No. 1695.

[0005]

In the prior art, the display direction of the image display device is changed by the output of the device for detecting the holding direction of the information terminal, thereby improving the usability of the operator. No consideration has been given from the viewpoint of operability at the time of inputting a sentence, or no consideration has been given to the display direction with respect to the change of the display surface direction for a person facing the image display device.

Therefore, the present invention can change the display direction to the direction desired by the operator only by changing the holding direction of the portable information terminal or the display surface direction of the image display device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal capable of handling a keyboard with good operability.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention mainly employs the following configuration.

[0008] A portable information terminal provided with an image display device and a gravity detection device, wherein the gravity detection device uses a magnetic sensor and holds the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device. A portable information terminal that changes a display direction of an image displayed on the image display device to a direction directly facing an operator according to a direction.

A portable information terminal provided with an image display device and a gravity detection device, wherein the image display device is connected to the image display device in accordance with the display surface direction detected by the gravity detection device when the upper and lower surfaces of the image display device are inverted. A portable information terminal that changes the vertical display direction of an image to be displayed.

A first image display device having a touch panel as an input device, a second image display device connected to the first image display device and having a touch panel as an input device, and a gravity detection device are provided. A portable information terminal that displays a key array on any of the first and second image display devices, wherein the second information display device displays the key arrangement in accordance with a holding direction of the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device. A portable information terminal for changing a display direction of an image and a key arrangement displayed on first and second image display devices to a direction directly facing an operator.

A first image display device having a touch panel as an input device, a second image display device connected to the first image display device and having a touch panel as an input device, and a gravity detection device are provided. A portable information terminal that displays a key array on any of the first and second image display devices, wherein the display surface direction is associated with the upper and lower surfaces of the image display device detected by the gravity detection device. Therefore, a portable information terminal that changes the image displayed on the image display device and the vertical display direction of the key arrangement.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 110 is a CPU, 120 is a memory, 130 is a bus, 140 is a gravity detection device, 150 is an interrupt signal, 160 is a display control device, 170 is a display memory, 180 is an image display device, and 190 is a touch panel. . The touch panel 190 is constituted by a resistive film having electrodes at both ends of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, and is an input device that outputs a voltage value divided at a pressed position when the surface is pressed with a finger or a pen. . The detection of the position coordinates is performed by the CPU 110 reading the divided voltage value. Functionally, a touch panel is an input device that operates a computer by pressing a menu displayed on a panel, for example, with a finger or a pen.

The operation of the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 is as follows. The CPU 110 stores data relating to an image to be displayed on the image display device 180 (hereinafter referred to as “normal image data”) in the memory 120, and transfers the data to the bus 1.
The data is sent to the display control device 160 via the display 30 and further written into the display memory 170. The display control device 160 sends the normal image data in the display memory 170 to the image display device 180 at regular intervals. The image display device 180 displays the received image.

When the holding direction of the portable information terminal or the display surface direction of the image display device is changed (specifically, for example, the holding direction of the horizontally installed information terminal of FIG. 2 is changed to the vertically installed one). Or, the upper and lower surfaces of the information terminal are turned over so that the display contents of the information terminal of FIG. 2 can be seen by a facing person, and the display surface direction is changed upside down.) To detect. The CPU 110 detects that the direction of gravity has been changed by the interrupt signal 150, and checks the direction of gravity via the bus 130. CPU1
10 reads out the normal image data corresponding to the state of the image display device in the confirmed gravity direction from the memory 120 that senses this interrupt, sends this data to the display control device 160 via the bus 130, and further displays the display memory. 1
Write to 70.

The display control device 160 includes a display memory 170.
The normal image data in the image display device 180
Send to The image display device 180 displays the received image. Further, the display controller 160 receives the current gravity direction from the CPU 110 via the bus 130 from the CPU 110, and adjusts the normal image data in the display memory 170 to the scanning direction of the image display device in the current gravity direction. The image may be displayed by converting the image data into an image and sending the image to the image display device 180 at regular intervals.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the operator finds it difficult to see the display content of the image display device by the displayed image or the software to be used, the operator only changes the holding direction of the portable information terminal. Can change the display direction of the image display device. Further, when the operator shows the display content to the facing person, the display direction of the image display device can be changed upside down simply by turning the display surface of the image display device toward the facing person.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram when the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is held in a horizontal direction, and FIG. 3 is a vertical view showing the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a state diagram at the time of holding in the direction. 2 and FIG.
Denotes a main body of the portable information terminal, and the functions of the devices denoted by the same numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG. The portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention has
A control circuit board having the functions of the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 is provided, and an image display device integrated with an input device in which a touch panel 190 is superposed on the surface of the image display device 180 is provided on the upper surface thereof.

Next, the gravity detecting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The gravity detection device according to the present invention includes a sensor unit and a detection unit. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a gravity detection device sensor unit in the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a configuration example of the gravity detection device sensor unit in the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a gravity detection device in the present invention. It is.

4 to 6, reference numeral 410 denotes a case forming the main body of the sensor unit of the gravity detection device, reference numerals 421 to 424 denote magnetic sensors attached to the side surfaces of the case 410 and capable of sensing magnetic energy, and reference numerals 431 to 434 ( 434
Are not shown in the figure) are magnets paired with 421 to 424 and attached to the opposite side of the case 410, 440 is a sphere that can freely move inside the case 410,
Reference numeral 610 denotes a sensor of the gravity detection device shown in FIGS.
20 is a gravity detecting device detecting unit, 630 is a magnetic sensor 421
424 are signal lines for transmitting electromotive force. The functions of the blocks denoted by the same numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG.

A Hall element can be used as an example of the magnetic sensor. A Hall element is a semiconductor that generates an electromotive force proportional to both the applied current and the magnetic energy in a direction perpendicular to the applied current and magnetic energy when the current and the magnetic energy are applied to the element so as to be perpendicular to each other.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the gravity detecting device using the Hall element is as follows. When the case 410 is tilted, the ball 440 receives gravity and the case 410
Inside the case 410 and stops at any one of the four corners of the case 410. Hall element 4 is provided on the four corners of case 410.
21 to 424 are mounted, and magnets 431 to 434 are mounted on the opposite side surface of the case 410 so as to be paired with the Hall elements 421 to 424. At this time, the ball 440 separates the Hall element and the magnet. Stop in such a state. At the place where the ball 440 stops, the magnetic energy applied to the Hall element changes by the ball 440, so that the electromotive force also changes in proportion to the magnetic energy.

Each of the four Hall elements 421 to 424 is connected to the detection unit 620 via a signal line 630, and the electromotive force of the Hall element is always observed in the detection unit 620. When the electromotive force of any of the Hall elements changes, the detection unit 620 generates the interrupt signal 150, detects the element whose electromotive force has changed, and outputs that this element is on the lower side. Therefore, this output is transmitted via bus 130 to CP
The direction of gravity can be confirmed by reading by U110.

In the configuration examples shown in FIGS.
Since the magnetic energy applied to 3 changes, the gravity detection device outputs that the magnetic sensor 423 is on the lower side. The gravity detector according to the present invention is characterized by high reliability because there is no mechanical fulcrum or electrical contact. It is also possible to use a magnetic sensor other than the configuration example described above.

The holding direction of the portable information terminal is changed by rotating the main body (for example, by rotating the horizontal setting in FIG. 2 to the vertical setting in FIG. 3). However, when the main body is rotated, if the gravity detector is moved on an arc based on the rotation center in addition to the rotation, even if the operator simply tilts the main body, the influence of the movement may cause the case to be moved inside the case. May move, and the gravity detection device may output a change in the holding direction. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to arrange the gravity detecting device at the position where the movement on the arc is the least. The position where the movement on the arc is the least is the central part of the portable information terminal. Therefore, if the gravity detection device is arranged near the center of the portable information terminal, the output of the gravity detection device will be most stable, and its reliability will be improved. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the gravity detection device is arranged near the center of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, 18
Reference numerals 1 and 182 denote image display devices having the same or pseudo structure, and reference numerals 191 and 192 denote touch panels having the same or pseudo structure. The functions of the blocks denoted by the same numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG. The operation of the block diagram shown in FIG. 7 is as follows. CPU 110 is a memory 12
0 stores data relating to normal image data and data relating to a keyboard image to be displayed on the image display device (hereinafter referred to as “key arrangement data”), and sends these data to the display control device 160 via the bus 130 to further display the data. Memory 17
Write to 0. The display control device 160 includes the display memory 17.
The normal image data and the key array data in 0 are sent to the image display devices 181 and 182 at regular intervals. Image display device 18
1, 182 displays the received image.

When the direction of holding the portable information terminal or the direction of the display surface due to the reversal of the upper and lower surfaces of the image display device is changed, the gravity detector 140 detects the direction of gravity. CPU110
Detects that the direction of gravity has been changed by the interrupt signal 150, and confirms the direction of gravity via the bus 130. C
When the PU 110 senses this interrupt, it reads out the normal image data and the key array data corresponding to the state of the image display device in the confirmed gravity direction from the memory 120,
These data are transmitted via the bus 130 to the display control device 16.
0, and further writes to the display memory 170.

The display control unit 160 includes a display memory 170.
Are transmitted to the image display devices 181 and 182 at regular intervals. Image display device 18
1, 182 displays the received image. Further, the display controller 160 receives the current gravity direction from the CPU 110 via the bus 130 from the CPU 110 and converts the normal image data and the key array data in the display memory 170 into the scanning direction of the image display device in the current gravity direction. The image may be displayed by converting the data into a format conforming to the above and sending the data to the image display devices 181 and 182 at regular intervals.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, even when the holding direction is changed, the operator can operate the portable information terminal using the keyboard directly facing the user.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention is held in a horizontal direction, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention is vertically arranged. It is a state diagram at the time of holding in the direction. 8 and FIG.
Denotes a portable information terminal main body cover, and 212 denotes a portable information terminal main body. The functions of the devices denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 are the same as those in FIG.

In the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the rear edges of the main body cover 211 and the main body 212 are connected by a foldable hinge (not shown in the figure) and can be opened and closed freely. It has a structure. The main body cover 211 is provided with a first touch panel 191 on the surface of the first image display device 181.
And a built-in image display device integrated with an input device. The main unit 212 includes a control circuit board having the function of the block diagram shown in FIG. 7, and has an input device integrated image in which a second touch panel 192 is superimposed on a surface of a second image display device 182 on the upper surface thereof. The display has a built-in structure.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the main body cover 211 is set up on the rear edge of the main body 212, and normal image data is displayed on the first image display device 181, and key arrangement data is displayed on the second image display device 182. Is shown. FIG. 9 shows that the main body cover 211 is opened 180 degrees from the main body 212, the first image display device 181 displays normal image data, and the second image display device 1
Reference numeral 82 shows a usage example in a state where the key array data is displayed.

When the direction of holding the portable information terminal or the direction of the display surface of the image display device is changed, the key arrangement data is displayed on one of the image display devices. However, displaying the key array data on one of the fixed image display devices may be difficult to handle depending on the holding direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the holding direction or the display surface direction of the image display device is changed, an image display device that displays key array data can be selected.
As an example of the selection method, an item for selecting right-handed / left-handed is provided at the time of initial setting of the portable information terminal, and when the portable information terminal is held in the vertical direction, a key arrangement is always provided on the image display device on the dominant arm side. It is conceivable to display data, and to display the key arrangement data on the image display device on the near side whenever the portable information terminal is held in the horizontal direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the key arrangement data can be hidden, and the display area can be expanded by displaying the normal image data on the first and second image display devices.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, 1
010 is a mode change switch. The functions of the blocks denoted by the same numerals as those in FIG. 7 are the same as those in FIG. FIG.
The operation of the block diagram shown in FIG. When the mode change switch 1010 is off (OFF), the gravity detection device 140 outputs the interrupt signal 1 even if the holding direction of the portable information terminal or the display surface direction of the image display device is changed.
50 is not generated, and the direction of gravity is not output.

Therefore, images are always displayed on the image display devices 181 and 182 in the display direction immediately before the mode change switch 1010 is turned off. Mode change switch 10
In a state where 10 is on (ON), the gravity detection device 140 generates an interrupt signal 150 and outputs the gravity direction when the holding direction of the portable information terminal or the display surface direction of the image display device is changed. Therefore, the image facing the operator is displayed on the image display devices 181 and 182 by the same operation as the block diagram of FIG.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the operator can select a mode in which the display direction is changed according to the direction of gravity and a mode in which the display direction is not changed, and change the mode according to the scene in use.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the gravity detection device is incorporated in the portable information terminal, and the display direction of the image displayed on the image display device is changed according to the holding direction of the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device or the display surface direction of the image display device. It is to let.

Further, the present embodiment is provided with two sets of image display devices having the same or pseudo structure having a touch panel as an input device, and a portable information terminal that displays a key arrangement on any of the image display devices has a gravity detection function. Incorporate the device,
The display direction of the image displayed on the image display device and the key arrangement is changed according to the holding direction detected by the gravity detection device or the display surface direction of the image display device.

[0039]

Since the portable information terminal of the present invention has the gravity detecting device, it is possible to detect the holding direction of the portable information terminal or the display surface direction of the image information device. Therefore, when the operator feels difficult to see the display content of the image display device based on the displayed image and the software used, the display direction of the image display device can be changed only by changing the holding direction of the portable information terminal.

Further, when the operator shows the display content to the facing person, the display direction of the image display device can be changed only by turning the display surface of the image display device toward the facing person.

Further, the portable information terminal of the present invention can display the key arrangement facing the operator on the image display device according to the holding direction detected by the gravity detecting device.
Even when the holding direction is changed, the operator can operate the portable information terminal using the keyboard facing the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram when the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is held in a horizontal direction.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram when the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is held vertically.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a configuration example of a gravity detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a configuration example of a gravity detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a gravity detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a state diagram when the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention is held in a horizontal direction.

FIG. 9 is a state diagram when the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention is held vertically.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 CPU 120 Memory 130 Bus 140 Gravity detection device 150 Interrupt signal 160 Display control device 170 Display memory 180-182 Image display device 190-192 Touch panel 210, 212 Portable information terminal main unit 211 Portable information terminal main unit cover 410 Gravity Detector main unit case 421 to 424 Magnetic sensor 431 to 434 Magnet 440 Sphere 610 Gravity detector sensor 620 Gravity detector detector 630 Signal line 1010 Mode change switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/033 360 G06F 15/02 310D 5C080 3/14 310 315C 5C082 15/02 310 G09F 9/00 312 5E501 315 366A 5G435 G09F 9/00 312 366G 366 G09G 3/20 660F 680T G09G 3/20 660 G06F 3/023 310L 680 G09G 5/36 520K 5/36 (72) Ins. No. 1 F-term (reference) in Hitachi, Ltd. Office Information Equipment Division 5 DD13 EE23 JJ01 JJ02 JJ06 KK07 5C082 AA01 AA21 AA24 CA42 CB01 CB03 DA87 MM09 MM10 5E501 AA04 BA03 CA04 CB05 EB05 FA03 FB03 FB24 FB34 5G435 AA01 CC09 DD00 DD01 EE14 LL07

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A portable information terminal including an image display device and a gravity detection device, wherein the gravity detection device uses a magnetic sensor, and the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device. A portable information terminal that changes a display direction of an image displayed on the image display device to a direction directly facing an operator according to a holding direction of the portable information terminal. 2. A portable information terminal provided with an image display device and a gravity detection device, wherein the image display device is provided with a display surface direction according to the upside down turning of the image display device detected by the gravity detection device. A portable information terminal characterized by changing a vertical display direction of an image to be displayed. 3. A first image display device having a touch panel as an input device, a second image display device connected to the first image display device and having a touch panel as an input device, and a gravity detection device. A portable information terminal that displays a key array on one of the first and second image display devices, wherein the portable information terminal according to a holding direction of the portable information terminal detected by the gravity detection device. A portable information terminal, wherein a display direction of an image and a key arrangement displayed on the first and second image display devices is changed to a direction directly facing an operator. 4. A first image display device having a touch panel as an input device, a second image display device connected to the first image display device and having a touch panel as an input device, and a gravity detection device. A portable information terminal for displaying a key arrangement on any of the first and second image display devices, wherein the display device direction is displayed along with the upper and lower surface reversal of the image display device detected by the gravity detection device. Therefore, a portable information terminal characterized by changing the image displayed on the image display device and the vertical display direction of the key arrangement. 5. The portable information terminal according to claim 3, wherein the key arrangement is displayed when a holding direction of the portable information terminal or a display surface direction of the image display device is changed. Can be selected on the side of ease of operation of the key arrangement. 6. The portable information terminal according to claim 3, wherein the key arrangement is not displayed, and the first and second image display devices are used for normal image display to expand a display area. A portable information terminal characterized by the following. 7. The portable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the gravity detection device uses a magnetic sensor. 8. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the gravity detecting device is arranged near a central portion of the portable information terminal. Terminal. 9. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a mode change switch, wherein the direction of gravity detected by the gravity detection device each time the switch is pressed. A portable information terminal, wherein the mode is changed between a mode in which the display direction is changed by the controller and a mode in which the display direction is maintained just before the mode change switch is pressed regardless of the direction of gravity detected by the gravity detector. .