JP2002140159A - Portable information apparatus equipped with sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to control the screen of a portable information apparatus even if he cannot use both hands. SOLUTION: This portable information apparatus 7 comprises a sensor for detecting the inclination of the apparatus, a sensor for detecting an acceleration or impact and the like. Accordingly, a screen control such as scroll of screen display by inclining the portable information apparatus, instruction of page turning by lightly shaking, or the like can be performed even with one hand.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for operating a portable information device by using a sensor and an apparatus for realizing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to operate a screen of a portable information device, it is necessary to operate an input device such as a mouse, a touch pen, or a pointing device built in the main body with a hand different from a hand holding a terminal as shown in FIG. was there.

[0003]

When viewing an electronic mail, a homepage, an electronic book, or the like on a portable information device, operations such as turning pages and scrolling on a display screen are mainly performed. Both operations require both hands, which is very inconvenient when carrying luggage, standing on a train, or when for some reason you cannot use both hands.

An object of the present invention is to control the display screen by tilting or shaking the information device main body with one hand or using an appropriate tool even when both hands cannot be used.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a portable information device according to the present invention has a sensor for detecting a tilt of the portable information device and a device for detecting that the device is swung in a direction to turn a page. A portable information device provided with an acceleration sensor and the like, and a screen control means for controlling a display by replacing a signal from the sensor with a signal from a conventional input device such as a mouse and a keyboard.

With the above configuration, for example, when scrolling a page while holding the portable information device with one hand and looking at the screen, the screen content starts to scroll by tilting lightly to the other side and returns to the original position. By this, scrolling can be stopped and the hand screen can be stopped.

When the page is turned, an acceleration sensor or the like detects acceleration or impact by shaking lightly, or a sudden change in angle is read from the inclination sensor to change the display content.

Further, acceleration is detected by pulling in parallel to the front without changing the angle, and control such as zoom-in of the screen from this signal and zoom-out by pulling it away from the screen become possible.

[0009] With such means and a device provided with this means, the screen display of the portable information device can be easily controlled with one hand.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration for explaining a characteristic portion of a portable information device according to the present invention. The information from the sensor 1 such as the inclination sensor or the acceleration sensor built in the portable information device 7 is replaced with the same signal 3 as when a similar operation such as scrolling is performed with a conventional input device such as a mouse arrow touch pen 14. . Specifically, when the main body 7 is tilted away from the current position as shown in FIG. 2, the input device 14 such as a mouse is moved upward with the scroll bar 12 of the active window 11 on the screen by the conventional device 13. Then, a signal similar to 15 is generated, and a signal similar to that instructed to scroll upward by the conventional input device 14 is given to the screen control unit 5 such as an operating system. Similarly, when tilted forward, the same signal is generated when the input device is operated downward with a conventional input device.

Also, by detecting a sudden angle change or acceleration or shock caused by shaking the device, a signal similar to that for instructing a page break from a conventional input device such as a keyboard board is generated to generate an operating system or the like. The display screen of the page break is controlled by passing a signal to the screen control unit 5 of FIG.

If it is not desired to move the display due to inadvertent tilt or vibration, a lock button 8 is provided to prevent this. While the button is pressed or locked, the display does not move even if the portable information device is tilted or shaken. By pressing this button, the reference position serving as the base for detecting the tilt is reset and the current position is determined.

The operation of scrolling and page break operation is terminated by the operation 10 for quickly returning the original position to the screen control. In other words, by shaking the other side and returning immediately, the first action, the 9th action of shaking the other side, scrolls a few lines, or breaks the page by speed or impact, and then quickly returns to the screen by the 10th action. Control is performed to freeze the display.

As described above, since the screen display is controlled by tilting or shaking the portable information device, simple operations such as viewing the screen information can be controlled with one hand. Can be operated easily when carrying. Also, by attaching the portable information device of the present invention to a bed or a wheelchair with an appropriate device having a movable portion,
Even if a person who had difficulty or could not operate with the conventional method can easily control the screen display by tilting or shaking the portable information terminal by appropriate means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration related to a characteristic portion of a portable information device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the portable information device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen scrolled by a conventional portable information device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Sensor for detecting inclination and acceleration 2 Module for judging inclination and acceleration and replacing it with conventional input signal 3 Module for judging signal from input device and passing it to screen control unit such as operating system 4 Conventional input such as mouse and keyboard Device 5 Module for controlling screen display such as operating system 6 Screen display device 7 Portable information device of the present invention 8 Screen still and current position reset button 9 Indicate the direction of operation to tilt away from scrolling 10 Original to stop scrolling 11 indicates the direction of operation for returning to the position 11 Screen display device 12 Scroll bar of active window 13 Conventional portable information device 14 Touch pen for controlling screen 15 Indicates the direction of operation to scroll

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 1/00 G06F 1/00 312G 1/247 H04B 7/26 V 1/725 109T

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling a screen display by a signal from a sensor for detecting inclination, acceleration, or slight impact of a portable information device, and a portable information device for realizing the method.