JP2005175669A - Mobile electronic apparatus and display direction switching method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile electronic apparatus for providing ease of key entry even when a display direction of a display apparatus is switched and the display apparatus is used. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile phone terminal 1 has a key device 2 and the display apparatus 3, and a plurality of keys are arranged and mounted on the key device 2. Respective functions of the keys are displayed on the keys at an inclination of 45 degrees to the right with respect to a display direction of the display apparatus 3. Depression of a display direction switching button 4 among a plurality of the keys allows the display apparatus 3 to switch its longitudinal or lateral display direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a mobile cellular phone terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a display direction switching method thereof.

  In general, portable electronic devices, such as mobile cellular phone terminals and PDAs, have a display that displays images, and character data received using software such as a mailer or browser via the Internet on the display. (Text) and a function for displaying image data, and a function for displaying image data taken with a camera together with shooting data (character data, etc.) such as the date and time of shooting.

  And in order to make the display of the display easy to see, it is preferable that the displayed image is as large as possible. For this reason, a display having a display area as large as possible is required. It is important to reduce the size of the display to improve portability, so we don't want to give the display much space. As described above, since there is a limit to increasing the display area of the display, the shape and size of the display of the portable electronic device is the same as the shape and size of the main body determined by the purpose of using the portable electronic device. It will be decided in consideration.

  Here, FIG. 9 shows a general mobile cellular phone terminal as an example of the portable electronic device. Since the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 is used as a telephone terminal, its main body is formed in a vertically long shape as a result of considering the ease of holding during a call. The display 3 is also formed in a vertically long shape according to the shape of the main body in order to increase the display area as much as possible.

  As described above, in a portable electronic device, it is common to employ a vertically or horizontally long display in accordance with the shape of the main body to increase the display area of the display.

  However, when a horizontally written sentence is displayed on the vertically long display of the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 of FIG. 9, the same sentence as the horizontally written sentence is displayed in the same size on the horizontally long display having the same display area. Compared to the case, the number of characters that can be displayed per line is reduced, and the number of lines of the sentence is increased. Therefore, the problem that the text displayed on the display becomes difficult to read arises. Further, since a display used for a screen of a television or a personal computer is generally horizontally long, there is a problem that a sense of incongruity is inevitably generated when displaying on a vertically long display.

As a method for solving these problems, a method has been devised in which an image displayed on a vertically long display is subjected to image processing, rotated by 90 degrees, and a horizontally long image is displayed on the vertically long display. . Such switching of the display direction by rotating the image is normally performed by the user of the portable electronic device pressing a key having a display direction switching function provided in the portable electronic device. The display direction can be switched by an operation other than pressing the key. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)
JP 2000-332866 A (first page, FIG. 4)

  However, in the conventional portable electronic device described above, the display can be used by switching the display direction between portrait and landscape, so that the image on the display can be easily seen, but the operation panel is provided. Even if the display is switched, the same key is used without any change. For example, if the vertical display of the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 in FIG. 9 is displayed in the horizontal direction, the key is applied on the surface of the key. There is a problem that the display is inclined by 90 degrees with respect to the image on the display, making it difficult to perform key input while viewing the image on the display.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device that improves the above-described problems and allows easy key input even when a display is used by switching the display direction between portrait and landscape.

  A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a display that displays an image, a key device for operation, and an image rotation unit that rotates a display direction of the image displayed on the display in accordance with an instruction from the key device. In the portable electronic device, the key device has a plurality of keys provided on the surface with a display rotated in the same direction as that of the display direction of the image with respect to the display.

  Further, the portable electronic device of the present invention includes a display for displaying an image, a key device for operation, and an image rotating means for rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display according to an instruction from the key device. , Wherein the key device rotates the display of the surface in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image corresponding to the rotation of the display direction of the image by the image rotation means. It has a plurality of keys with means.

  Further, the portable electronic device of the present invention includes a display for displaying an image, a key device for operation, and an image rotating means for rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display according to an instruction from the key device. The key device rotates and displays the surface in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image in response to the rotation of the display direction of the image by the image rotation means. It has a plurality of keys provided with display changing means for changing the contents.

  Further, the display direction switching method of the portable electronic device of the present invention corresponds to the step of rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display by 90 degrees according to the instruction from the key device, and the rotation of the display direction of the image. And rotating the display of the surface of the plurality of keys provided in the key device in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image.

  Further, the display direction switching method of the portable electronic device of the present invention corresponds to the step of rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display by 90 degrees according to the instruction from the key device, and the rotation of the display direction of the image. And rotating the display of the surface of the plurality of keys provided in the key device in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image and changing the display contents.

The portable electronic device of the present invention has a display on the key surface in consideration of switching between the portrait and landscape orientations of the display direction of the display.
Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device that allows easy key input regardless of whether the display on the display is vertically long or horizontally long without greatly changing the mechanism of the housing of the portable electronic device. There is an effect that can be.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a mobile cellular phone terminal that is a first embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile cellular phone terminal 1 has a key device 2 and a display 3. A plurality of keys are mounted on the key device 2 and each function as a switch. Display is given on the surface of the key, and the display is related to the function when the key is pressed. Further, the display on the surface of these keys is displayed in a tilted manner in the same rotation direction (about 45 degrees clockwise in FIG. 1) with respect to the character data displayed on the vertically long display 3.

  4 of the plurality of keys is a display direction switching button of the display 3. Each time the display direction switching button 4 is pressed, the display 3 switches between the vertically long display shown in FIG. 1 and the horizontally long display shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a vertically long display as shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as a vertical display, and a horizontally long display as shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as a horizontal display.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the user interface according to the first embodiment. When a certain key mounted on the key device 2 is pressed, a key signal 90 corresponding to the key is output from the key device 2 to the key decoder 60. The key decoder 60 converts the input key signal 90 into a code system (for example, ASCII code) used in the internal processing of the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 and outputs it as an input key code 80.

  When the display direction switching button 4 among the plurality of keys mounted on the key device 2 is pressed and the corresponding key signal 90 is output to the key decoder 60, the key decoder 60 displays the display direction designation signal. 100 is output to the display driver 50. At this time, each time the display direction switching button 4 is pressed, the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the vertical display and the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the horizontal display are switched and output to the display driver 50. . The display driver 50 has a function of converting the input display data 70 into display data 110 corresponding to vertical display or horizontal display on the display 3 and outputting the display data 70 to the display 3 in accordance with the instruction of the display direction designation signal 100. The display 3 performs vertical display or horizontal display according to the display data 110.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 is used as a telephone for the purpose of calling, it is assumed that it is used in the state of FIG. 1 (vertical display) which has the same display form as a general mobile cellular phone terminal. When the number of characters that can be written in one horizontal line is too small in the state shown in FIG. 1 (vertical display), for example, when handling e-mail character data (text), the state shown in FIG. 2 (horizontal display) is set as necessary. Thus, the number of characters that can be written in one horizontal line can be increased.

  An operation when the display 3 is changed from the vertical display state of FIG. 1 to the horizontal display state of FIG. 2 will be described.

  When the user of the mobile cellular phone terminal presses the display direction switching button 4 while the display 3 is in the vertical display state of FIG. 1, the display direction switching button 4 is pressed from the key device 2 to the key decoder 60. A key signal 90 corresponding to this is output.

  The key decoder 60 is a signal obtained when the input key signal 90 is pressed by pressing the display direction switching button 4, and the display direction switching button 4 is pressed when the vertical display state of FIG. Therefore, the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the display driver 50 to perform horizontal display is output. When a key other than the display direction switching button 4 is pressed, the key decoder 60 converts the input key signal 90 into an input key code 80 that is a code system used in the internal processing of the mobile cellular phone terminal 1. And output.

  The display driver 50 having received the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the horizontal display converts the display data 70 into the display data 110 corresponding to the horizontal display and outputs it to the display 3.

  In this way, after the display direction switching button 4 is pressed in the state of FIG. 1, the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 is brought into the state of FIG. Can be handled as And, since the display of each key mounted on the key device 2 is tilted by about 45 degrees clockwise as described above, it is difficult to read the display of each key in each of the vertical display and the horizontal display. Can be avoided.

  Conversely, when switching from the horizontal display state of FIG. 2 to the vertical display state of FIG. 1, the display is switched from the key decoder 60 by pressing the display direction switching button 4 in the same manner as switching from the vertical display to the horizontal display. A display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the driver 50 to perform vertical display is output. The display driver 50 having received the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the vertical display converts the display data 70 into the display data 110 corresponding to the vertical display and outputs it to the display 3.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 is tilted by 90 degrees counterclockwise from the vertical display state of FIG. 1 and displayed horizontally, but it is tilted by 90 degrees clockwise and displayed horizontally. It is also possible to set the display driver 50. In that case, the display on the surface of the key also needs to be changed, and it is desirable that the display is inclined about 45 degrees clockwise with respect to the character data displayed on the display 3 of FIG.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, comparing the key arrangement of the vertically displayed key device 2 shown in FIG. 1 with the key arrangement of the horizontally displayed key device 2 shown in FIG. Since the mobile phone terminal 1 is used, the key arrangement in the state where the mobile cellular phone terminal 1 is used is different. For this reason, for example, the operability of numeric keys used for inputting telephone numbers is good in the state of FIG. 1 which is a standard arrangement, but worse in the state of FIG. Occur.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, a small display device is built in each key of the key device 21 mounted on the mobile cellular phone terminal 11 shown in FIGS. That is, each key of the key device 21 not only functions as a switch but also functions as a display device, and the display content (including direction) and arrangement can be freely changed.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user interface. Unlike the user interface of FIG. 3, the user interface of FIG. 6 includes a key display driver 120 for displaying numbers, characters, symbols, and the like on a display device built in each key of the key device 21. In the key display driver 120, the arrangement of each key of the key device 21 corresponding to each of the vertical display and the horizontal display, and display data such as numbers, characters, and symbols corresponding to each display device of each key are stored. It is remembered.

  The key display driver 120 outputs the aforementioned display data to the key device 21 as the key display data 131 in response to a vertical display instruction or a horizontal display instruction by the display direction designation signal 100 output from the key decoder 61. . Then, the key device 21 having input the key display data 131 displays display data corresponding to each key display device.

  Further, the key display driver 120 outputs key arrangement data 130 to the key decoder 61 in response to a vertical display instruction or a horizontal display instruction by the display direction designation signal 100 output from the key decoder 61. When the key arrangement data 130 becomes valid, the key decoder 61 switches between vertical key decoding processing and horizontal key decoding processing. The key decoder 61 decodes the key signal 90 input from the key device 21 according to the key arrangement data 130, and outputs the input key code 80 and the display direction designation signal 100.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the invention will be described.

  It is assumed that the mobile cellular phone terminal 11 is in the vertical display state of FIG. 4 and the display of each key of the display 3 and the key device 21 is both vertical display. Of the keys of the key device 21, 41 is a display direction switching button. When switching from the vertical display in FIG. 4 to the horizontal display in FIG. 5, the display direction switching button 41 is pressed.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the key decoder 61 receives the key display data 130 for vertical display before the display direction switch button 41 is pressed, and outputs a display direction designation signal 100 instructing the vertical display. When the button 41 is pressed, a display direction designation signal 100 for instructing horizontal display is output. The key display driver 120 having received the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing horizontal display outputs the key display data 131 for horizontal display to the key device 21 and also outputs the key arrangement data 130 for horizontal display to the key decoder 61. To do. As a result, the key device 21 displays the function of each key on each display device in the horizontal display by the key display data 131 for horizontal display. Then, the key decoder 61 decodes the key signal 90 as a horizontally arranged key arrangement.

  Further, the display driver 50 receives the display direction designation signal 100 for instructing the horizontal display, converts the display data 70 into the display data 110 which is the data for horizontal display, and outputs the display data 110 to the display 3. The horizontal display state shown in FIG. According to the second embodiment, the key arrangement of the key device 21 for vertical display and horizontal display and the display data of each key of the key device 21 are appropriately stored in the key display driver 120 in advance. Thus, even if the display is made horizontally, the display of each key of the key device 21 does not become difficult to read, and the arrangement of the keys can be arranged more easily.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the mobile cellular phone terminal 11 is horizontally displayed on the assumption that the mobile phone terminal 11 is tilted 90 degrees counterclockwise from the vertical display, but the mobile cellular phone terminal 11 is tilted 90 degrees clockwise from the vertical display. Of course, the display of each key of the key device 21 can be displayed horizontally in the direction corresponding to the horizontal display of 3.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, only a predetermined arrangement can be selected as the arrangement of keys in the vertical display and the horizontal display. Therefore, in the third embodiment, means for changing the key arrangement by operating the keys of the mobile cellular phone terminal is provided.

  FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the user interface of the third embodiment. In the configuration of FIG. 7, a key data controller 140 and a key display driver 121 are provided instead of the key display driver 120 of the configuration of FIG. 6 which is the second embodiment. The key data controller 140 receives the display direction designation signal 100, the reset signal 160, and the input key code 80, and outputs the key arrangement data 130 to the key display driver 121 and the key decoder 61.

  In order to change the key arrangement, means for calling a function for changing the key arrangement is prepared. For example, a function for changing the key layout is called by pressing the display direction switch button 41 for a long time, or a function for changing the key layout by switching or pressing a switch or the like prepared separately. Can do.

  When the key layout change is designated, the key data controller 140 is initial display data (hereinafter referred to as initial data) of the key layout stored in advance as display data to be displayed on the key device 21. Any one of display data of a key arrangement (hereinafter referred to as User Data) that can be arbitrarily stored by the user can be designated. Here, User Data is display data that can be changed and stored by the operation of the user of the mobile mobile phone terminal, while the initial Data is changed by the key operation of the user of the mobile mobile phone terminal. It is display data that cannot be done.

  The operation of changing the key arrangement in the key data controller 140 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The key data controller 140 starts the operation from START of FIG. 8 after the power is first turned on or reset, and the arrangement of the keys of the key device 21 for vertical display and horizontal display The initial data corresponding to the display contents of each key is stored (step 156). Then, initial data corresponding to the state of the display direction designation signal 100 at that time is output as key arrangement data 130, and each key of the key device 21 performs display for vertical display or horizontal display (step 141). At this time, if the key layout setting of each key is not changed, the display of each key is maintained as it is (step 142).

  However, when the function for changing the key layout is called, the key layout and the key display can be changed by the following procedure. When the key layout change is designated, a vertical display layout or a horizontal display layout is selected (step 143).

  Here, when an arrangement for horizontal display is selected, setting of initial data for horizontal display or setting of User Data is selected as display data (step 144).

  When the setting of the initial data for horizontal display is selected, the initial data for horizontal display is stored for horizontal display (step 145).

  If the setting of the horizontal display User Data is selected, if the horizontal display User Data has never been set in the past, the process of inputting the horizontal display User Data is always performed in steps 150, 152, and 154. If the user data of the horizontal display has been set in the past and it is not necessary to change the setting of the user data, the user data of the horizontal display set in the past is left as it is (step 147).

  In addition, when changing and setting User Data, new User Data of horizontal display is input from the key device 21 (step 150). When all the inputs are completed, it is checked whether the necessary settings for the User Data have been completely input. If the settings are incomplete, the input is performed again (step 152). When all the inputs for the horizontal display are completed, the horizontal display User Data is stored (step 154).

  Similarly, when the change for the vertical display is selected in step 143, the setting of the initial data for the vertical display or the setting of the user data for the vertical display is selected as the display data (step 164).

  When the setting of initial data for vertical display is selected, the initial data for vertical display is stored for vertical display (step 165).

  Also, when the setting of vertical user data is selected, if the vertical user data has never been set in the past, steps 170, 172, and 174 always perform the vertical user data input process. If the user data of the vertical display has been set in the past and it is not necessary to change the setting of the user data, the user data of the vertical display set in the past is left as it is (step 167).

  In addition, when changing and setting User Data, newly displayed User Data of vertical display is input from the key device 21 (step 170). When all the inputs are completed, it is checked whether the necessary settings for User Data have been completely input. If the settings are incomplete, the input is performed again (step 172). When all the inputs for the vertical display are completed, the user data for the vertical display is stored (step 174).

When all the settings are completed (from step 155 to step 141), each key of the key device 21 is displayed horizontally or vertically depending on the state of the display direction designation signal 100. When further setting is performed (from step 155 to step 143), the setting is continued.
It is also possible to prepare a plurality of keys that allow the user to set functions. In this case, since the number of keys that can be set for display is further increased, the degree of freedom in key arrangement can be further increased.

  In the middle of setting the keys, even if you make a mistake in setting the keys, if you can return to the initial state, for example, by executing Reset, you can at least operate the keys. The situation of disappearing can be avoided.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the mobile portable telephone terminal of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the display displayed vertically long (vertical display). It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the mobile portable telephone terminal of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the display displayed horizontally long (horizontal display). The block diagram which shows the structure of the user interface of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the mobile portable telephone terminal of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the display displayed vertically long (vertical display). It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the mobile mobile telephone terminal of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the display displayed horizontally long (horizontal display). The block diagram which shows the structure of the user interface of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the user interface of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the key arrangement change in the key data controller of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the external appearance of the conventional mobile cellular phone terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile cellular phone terminal 2 Key device 3 Display 4 Display direction switching button 11 Mobile cellular phone terminal 21 Key device 41 Display direction switching button 50 Display driver 60 Key decoder 61 Key decoder 70 Display data 80 Input key code 90 Key signal 100 Display direction Designation signal 110 Display data 120 Key display driver 130 Key arrangement data 131 Key display data 140 Key data controller 160 Reset signal

Claims (25)

A display for displaying images,
A key device for operation,
A portable electronic device having image rotation means for rotating a display direction of an image displayed on the display by an instruction from the key device,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key device has a plurality of keys provided on the surface with a display rotated in the same direction as the image display direction relative to the display.   The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the display direction by the image rotation means is 90 degrees.   The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation of the display of the plurality of keys is 45 degrees. A display for displaying images,
A key device for operation,
A portable electronic device having image rotation means for rotating a display direction of an image displayed on the display by an instruction from the key device,
The key device has a plurality of keys provided with display rotation means for rotating the display of the surface in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image corresponding to the rotation of the display direction of the image by the image rotation means. A portable electronic device.   The portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the rotation of the display direction by the image rotation means is 90 degrees.   6. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the display rotation by the display rotation means is 90 degrees. A display for displaying images,
A key device for operation,
A portable electronic device having image rotation means for rotating a display direction of an image displayed on the display by an instruction from the key device,
The key device includes a plurality of display changing means for rotating the display of the surface in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image and changing the display content in response to the rotation of the display direction of the image by the image rotating means. A portable electronic device characterized by having a key.   The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the rotation of the display direction by the image rotation means is 90 degrees.   9. The portable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display rotation by the display changing means is 90 degrees.   8. A display unit for registering display contents of the plurality of keys, wherein the display contents registered in the registration unit can be changed by an instruction from the key device. 9. The portable electronic device according to 9. Rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display by an instruction from the key device by 90 degrees;
Corresponding to the rotation of the display direction of the image, the display of the surfaces of a plurality of keys provided in the key device is rotated in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image. A method for switching the display direction of a portable electronic device.   The display direction switching method of the portable electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the display rotation of the plurality of keys is 90 degrees. Rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display by an instruction from the key device by 90 degrees;
Corresponding to the rotation of the display direction of the image, the display of the surface of the plurality of keys provided in the key device is rotated in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image and the display content is changed. A display direction switching method for a portable electronic device, comprising:   The display direction switching method of the portable electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the display rotation of the surfaces of the plurality of keys is 90 degrees.   15. The mobile phone according to claim 13, further comprising a step of registering display contents of the plurality of keys, wherein the registered display contents can be changed by an instruction from the key device. Method for switching the display direction of type electronic equipment. A portable electronic device having a display for displaying an image and an image rotation means for rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display is a key device provided for operation,
In addition to having instruction means for instructing the image rotation means to rotate the display direction of the image, the image rotation means has a plurality of keys having a display rotated on the surface in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image. Key device that features.   The key device according to claim 16, wherein the rotation of the display direction by the image rotation means is 90 degrees.   The key device according to claim 17, wherein the rotation of the display of the plurality of keys is 45 degrees. A portable electronic device having a display for displaying an image and an image rotation means for rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display is a key device provided for operation,
Instructing the image rotation means to rotate the display direction of the image, and corresponding to the rotation of the image display direction by the image rotation means in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image A key device having a plurality of keys provided with display rotation means for rotating the display on the surface.   The key device according to claim 19, wherein the rotation of the display direction by the image rotation means is 90 degrees.   The key device according to claim 20, wherein the display rotation by the display rotation means is 90 degrees. A portable electronic device having a display for displaying an image and an image rotation means for rotating the display direction of the image displayed on the display is a key device provided for operation,
Instructing the image rotation means to rotate the display direction of the image, and corresponding to the rotation of the image display direction by the image rotation means in the same direction as the rotation of the display direction of the image A key device comprising a plurality of keys provided with display changing means for rotating display on the surface and changing display contents.   The key device according to claim 22, wherein the rotation of the display direction by the image rotation means is 90 degrees.   The key device according to claim 23, wherein the display rotation by the display changing means is 90 degrees.   25. The key according to claim 22, further comprising registration means for registering display contents of the plurality of keys, wherein the change of the display contents registered in the registration means can be instructed. device.

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