JP5328611B2 - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information terminal which is improved in operability in direction input by preventing a malfunction due to an effect of a temperature change or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The portable information terminal includes: a pressure sensor 34, a direction key 31 composed of a contact switch which is disposed adjacent to the sensor, a main display 11 for displaying a pointer on a screen, and a pointer control unit 110 which generates a pointer movement signal based on outputs of the pressure sensor 34 and the contact switch. The pointer control unit 110 includes: a short-press control unit 111 which detects start of a pressing operation based on the detection result of the contact switch in a short-press mode, and generates the pointer movement signal at the start of the pressing operation; a mode switching unit 113 which switches, when it is determined that the pressing operation continues for a predetermined time, from the short-press mode to a long-press mode; and a long-press control unit 112 which repetitively generates, based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 34 in the long-press mode, the pointer movement signal according to the pressing force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal, and more particularly to an improvement of a portable information terminal that moves a pointer based on outputs of a pressure sensor and a contact switch.

  In recent years, using pressure sensors that detect the amount of pressing force and the inclination of the pad surface when a finger is brought into contact with an annular pad surface, screen scrolling, mouse pointer and cursor movement, focus movement, volume Techniques for making adjustments have been proposed. The pressure sensor is a capacitance-type input device that detects a user's operation using a plurality of capacitors whose electrode intervals change according to the pressing force of the pressing operation. Based on the capacitance of each capacitor, the pressure sensor is a pressure sensor. A control circuit that detects the magnitude of the pressure and the inclination of the pad surface is provided.

  If such a pressure sensor is mounted on a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), the number of operation variations can be increased. In other words, the CPU of the terminal reads out the magnitude of the pressing force and the inclination of the pad surface from the pressure sensor at regular intervals, so that the pressing force when the finger is brought into contact with the pad surface, the inclination of the pad surface, and the amount of change thereof. A corresponding input process can be performed. For example, the screen is scrolled upward or the focus indicating the selection candidate is moved upward by pushing a part in the pad surface that is predetermined as an operation position for upward direction input. Can do.

  Usually, the pressing force is obtained from the difference value between the electrostatic capacity during non-operation and the electrostatic capacity during pressing operation. When the pressing force obtained in this way exceeds a threshold value, screen scrolling or focus movement processing is performed. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose techniques for adjusting the scroll speed when scrolling the screen and the movement speed when moving the cursor according to the pressing force.

Japanese Patent No. 4079656 Japanese Patent No. 3690657

  However, in the input process using the pressure sensor described above, the capacitance of the capacitor fluctuates due to the influence of a temperature change or the like, and the direction input is not performed or the unintended direction input is performed against the intention of the user. There was a case. On the other hand, in the case of a direction key consisting of a contact type switch that is turned on by pressing the pad surface and outputs a direction input signal, it is difficult to be affected by a temperature change or the like and direction input is not performed contrary to the intention of the user. Few. Therefore, it is conceivable to improve the operability at the time of inputting a direction by combining such an input process using a direction key and an input process using a pressure sensor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable information terminal that can suppress malfunction due to an influence of a temperature change or the like and improve operability when the pointer is moved. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal capable of suppressing a malfunction while allowing a pointer to move according to a pressing force.

The portable information terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a pressure sensor and a contact type switch arranged adjacent to each other, display means for displaying a pointer on a screen, and the pointer based on outputs of the pressure sensor and the contact type switch. Pointer control means for generating a first pointer movement signal for moving the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is a capacitor whose electrode interval changes in accordance with the pressing operation, and the pressure based on the capacitance of the capacitor. and a pressing force detecting means for detecting the pressure of the operating, the pointer control means, based on a detection result of the contact type switch, and the pressing operation detection means for detecting the start of the pressing operation, is pressed Generating a first pointer movement signal for moving the pointer in a movement direction corresponding to the pressing force in a movement direction corresponding to the contact type switch; Configured with a dynamic speed control means. According to such a configuration, since the pointer movement signal is generated by detecting the start of the pressing operation based on the detection result of the contact type switch, the pointer can be moved according to the pressing force. In addition, it is possible to suppress malfunction due to an influence of a temperature change or the like.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the portable information terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a second for causing the pointer control means to move the pointer in a moving direction corresponding to the contact-type switch pressed down in the short press mode. Short moving control means for generating a pointer movement signal; and mode switching means for switching the short pressing mode to the long pressing mode when it is determined that the pressing operation continues for a predetermined time, and the moving speed control means Is configured to generate the first pointer movement signal in the long press mode.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the mobile information terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a period of time until the mode switching unit detects the end after the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation. In some cases, the short press mode is configured to be switched to the long press mode. According to such a configuration, it is possible to automatically shift to the pointer movement corresponding to the pressing force by simply pressing the contact type switch.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the portable information terminal according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is configured such that the mode switching unit detects the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor after the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation. When the predetermined time has passed without falling below one threshold value, the short pressing mode is switched to the long pressing mode, and the first threshold value is smaller than the pressing force when the contact switch detects the end of the pressing operation. Configured as follows. According to such a configuration, it is possible to shift to the pointer movement corresponding to the pressing force by continuously pressing the pressure sensor with a pressing force smaller than the pressing force when the contact type switch detects the end of the pressing operation. .

In addition to the above-described configuration, the portable information terminal according to the fifth aspect of the present invention has a second threshold that is smaller than the pressing force when the mode switching unit detects the pressing force when the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation. And the long press mode is switched to the short press mode based on the comparison result.

  According to such a configuration, the long press mode is based on the comparison result between the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor and the second threshold value smaller than the pressing force when the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation. Is switched to the short press mode, so that the range from the second threshold value to the upper limit value of the pressing force is used more effectively than when the contact switch detects the end of the press operation and returns to the short press mode. The moving speed of the pointer can be adjusted.

  According to the portable information terminal of the present invention, since the pointer movement signal is generated by detecting the start of the pressing operation based on the detection result of the contact type switch, the pointer can be moved according to the pressing force. However, it is possible to suppress malfunction due to the influence of temperature change and the like. Therefore, it is possible to realize a portable information terminal that suppresses malfunction due to the influence of temperature change and the like and improves operability when moving the pointer.

It is the figure which showed an example of schematic structure of the portable information terminal by Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the folding-type mobile telephone 100 is shown as an example of a portable information terminal. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, in which a key top sheet 40 that configures an operation housing 30 is illustrated. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, in which a pressure sensor 34 disposed on a main board 36 in an operation housing 30 is illustrated. It is sectional drawing which showed the structural example in the principal part of the mobile telephone 100 of FIG. 1, and the mode of the cut surface by the AA line is shown. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the pressure sensitive pad part 34a in the pressure sensor 34 of FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, in which key top portions 41 and 42 of a key top sheet 40 are illustrated. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically an example of operation | movement of the mobile telephone 100 of FIG. 1, and the mode inside the operation housing | casing 30 from the time of generation | occurrence | production of a down event to the time of a pushing limit is shown. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, illustrating an example of a functional configuration inside the mobile phone 100. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example in a main part of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 8, in which an example of a functional configuration in the operation input unit 101 is illustrated. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 8, and shows a list screen 60 for displaying an item string including a plurality of selection items 64. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 8, and shows a change in pressing force when the direction key 31 is pressed shortly. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 8, and shows a change in pressing force when the direction key 31 is pressed long. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 8, and illustrates how the focus 65 moves when the direction key 31 is pressed. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation at the time of pressing the direction key 31 in the mobile phone 100 of FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of the portable information terminal by Embodiment 2 of this invention, and the other example of the operation input part 101 is shown. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of the operation of the portable information terminal of FIG. 15, and shows a change in pressing force when the direction key 31 is pressed long.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
First, the configuration of the pressure sensor and the contact type switch that are assumed by the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  1A and 1B are diagrams showing an example of a schematic configuration of a portable information terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which a foldable mobile phone 100 is shown as an example of a portable information terminal. Yes. FIG. 1A illustrates a state in which the mobile phone 100 in the open state is viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B illustrates the mobile phone 100 in the closed state.

  The cellular phone 100 is a portable information terminal that includes a thin display casing 10 and an operation casing 30 that are long in the vertical direction, and a hinge unit 20 that connects these casings. The closed state that is folded and stored compactly can be changed.

  A main display 11 and a receiver 12 are provided on the front surface of the display housing 10, and a sub-display 13 is provided on the back surface. The receiver 12 for reception is an audio output device for reproducing an audio signal received during a call, and is disposed at an end of the display housing 10 opposite to the hinge portion 20.

  The main display 11 is a display device having a display screen, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel or a backlight. The sub display 13 is a display device having a display screen smaller than that of the main display 11.

  The hinge unit 20 is a connection mechanism that connects the display housing 10 and the operation housing 30. A plurality of operation keys such as four direction keys 31, a center key 32, a numeric keypad 33, and a guide key 33 a, a pressure sensor 34, and a transmission microphone 35 are provided on the front surface of the operation housing 30. The transmitting microphone 35 is a voice input device for inputting voice during a call, and is arranged at the end of the operation housing 30 opposite to the hinge part 20.

  Each direction key 31 is an operation key arranged above and below, and right and left of the center key 32 with the center key 32 interposed therebetween, and a direction input according to the vertical and horizontal positions can be performed by a pressing operation. For example, the direction key 31 includes an up key, a down key, a left key, and a right key. The up key, the center key 32, and the down key are arranged on a straight line in the vertical direction, and the left key, the center key 32, and the right key are arranged. It arrange | positions on the straight line of the left-right direction which cross | intersects the said straight line.

  Each of the direction key 31, the center key 32, the numeric keypad 33, and the guide key 33a is a contact type switch that is turned on or off by conduction or interruption between the contacts, and generates a predetermined key interruption signal at the time of pressing operation. The direction key 31 is turned on by pressing a pad surface common to the pressure sensor 34, and a direction input signal corresponding to the pressed part is output as a key interrupt signal.

  The pressure sensor 34 is an input device having an annular pressure-sensitive region centered on the center key 32. The pressure sensor 34 detects a user operation using a capacitor whose electrode interval changes according to the pressing operation, and performs a predetermined sensor interrupt. Generate a signal. By this pressure sensor 34, it is possible to perform input processing according to the magnitude of the pressing force when the finger is brought into contact with the pad surface and the inclination of the pad surface.

  The four direction keys 31 are operation keys arranged in the vicinity of the capacitor constituting the pressure sensor 34, and the capacitor is arranged between the direction key 31 and the center key 32. That is, each direction key 31 and the pressure sensor 34 are input devices that are arranged adjacent to each other without sandwiching other operation keys therebetween and are operated by a common pressing operation.

  In this example, each direction key 31 and the pressure sensor 34 constitute one multi-input device capable of performing a different direction input depending on the pressed part on the pad surface. It is arranged between.

<Key top sheet>
FIGS. 2A and 2B are plan views showing a configuration example of a main part of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 1, and a key top sheet 40 constituting the operation housing 30 is shown. 2A shows the surface of the key top sheet 40, and FIG. 2B shows the state of the back surface. The key top sheet 40 is a flexible film-like cover member, and is disposed on the front surface of the operation housing 30.

  The key top sheet 40 includes a key top portion 41 common to the four direction keys 31 and the pressure sensor 34, a key top portion 42 indicating the position of the center key 32, and a plurality of key tops indicating the positions of the numeric keys 33. A portion 43 and a microphone hole 44 are formed.

  The key top portion 41 is an annular pad centered on a circular key top portion 42. Each key top portion 43 is a rectangular pad arranged in a matrix of 6 rows and 3 columns. Pushers 41a, 42a, 43a for pushing in the contact type switches constituting the operation keys and pushers 41b for pushing in the capacitors constituting the pressure sensor 34 are provided on the back surfaces of the key top portions 41-43. Yes.

  That is, on the back surface of the key top portion 41, four pushers 41a for pushing each direction key 31 and an annular pusher 41b for pushing the capacitor of the pressure sensor 34 are formed. The pusher 41 b is disposed concentrically with the key top portion 41. The pusher 41a is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the key top portion 41, and the pusher 41b is disposed on the inner peripheral portion.

  A pusher 42 a for pushing the center key 32 is formed on the back surface of the key top portion 42, and a pusher 43 a for pushing the numeric keypad 33 is formed on the back surface of the key top portion 43. The key top sheet 40 is attached to the operation housing 30 in a state where the hinge portion 20 is inserted into a notch portion 45 formed at the upper end thereof.

<Pressure sensor>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, in which the pressure sensor 34 disposed on the main board 36 in the operation housing 30 is illustrated. The main board 36 is a wiring board on which circuit elements such as a pressure sensor 34, contact type switches constituting the operation keys 31 and 33, and a CPU are arranged.

  The pressure sensor 34 is a sensor module in which a pressure sensitive pad portion 34 a, a center key 32, and a sensor control circuit 34 d are formed on a flexible substrate 37. The pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a is a capacitor unit that includes four capacitors 34b disposed on the top and bottom and the left and right of the center key 32 and an annular capacitor 34c.

  Each of the capacitors 34b and 34c is a capacitive element composed of two flat electrodes arranged to face each other, and the electrode interval changes according to the pressing force during the pressing operation. Each capacitor 34b is disposed vertically and horizontally with the capacitor 34c interposed therebetween so as to surround the capacitor 34c. The electrode of the capacitor 34b has a fan shape.

  The capacitor 34c has an annular shape centered on the center key 32, and is disposed between the center key 32 and the capacitor 34b. The sensor control circuit 34d detects the pressing force for each capacitor based on the capacitances of the capacitors 34b and 34c, and generates a predetermined sensor interrupt signal. The pressing force is a pressure applied to the pressure sensitive pad portion 34 a via the key top portion 41.

  The capacitor 34c is used to determine the magnitude of the pressing force, and the capacitor 34b is used to input a direction corresponding to the pressed portion. For detecting the pressing operation, any of the capacitors 34b and 34c can be used, but here, the capacitor 34c is used.

<A-A cross section>
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, and illustrates a state of a cut surface along the line AA. The main board 36 in the operation casing 30 is disposed to face the back surface of the key top sheet 40.

  In the key top sheet 40, key top portions 41, 42 are formed on the front side, and pushers 41a, 41b, 42a are formed on the back side. The pusher 41 a is a protruding portion formed at a position facing the direction key 31 disposed on the main board 36.

  The direction key 31 is configured by a metal dome-type contact switch for bringing a dome-shaped electrode plate 31a into contact with the electrode 31b. When the key top portion 41 is pushed in, the pusher 41a comes into contact with the electrode plate 31a and the electrode plate 31a is elastically deformed. When the electrode plate 31a comes into contact with the electrode 31b, the contacts are brought into conduction and turned on.

  The pusher 41b is a protruding portion formed at a position facing the pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a including the capacitors 34b and 34c. The pressure sensitive pad portion 34 a is disposed between the center key 32 and the direction key 31. The capacitor 34b is composed of two electrode plates 53 that are spaced apart from each other, and the distance between the electrode plates 53 changes during a pressing operation. The capacitor 34c is composed of two electrode plates 52 that are spaced apart from each other, and the distance between the electrode plates 52 changes during a pressing operation.

  In this example, each electrode plate 52 of the capacitor 34b and each electrode plate 53 of the capacitor 34c are held in parallel with the main substrate 36 by the elastic members 54, respectively. Further, an annular metal plate 51 is fixed to the front side of the capacitors 34b and 34c via an elastic member 54.

  The metal plate 51 is a pressure-sensitive portion that contacts the pusher 41 b and covers the entire electrode plates 52 and 53. When the key top portion 41 is pushed in, the pusher 41b comes into contact with the metal plate 51 before the pusher 41a comes into contact with the electrode plate 31a, and the distance between the electrode plates 52 or the electrode plate 53 is deformed by the deformation of the elastic member 54. The distance between changes.

  The pusher 42a is a protrusion formed at a position facing the center key 32 disposed at the center of the pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a. The center key 32 is constituted by a metal dome type contact switch for bringing a dome-shaped electrode plate 32a into contact with the electrode 32b. When the key top portion 42 is pushed in, the pusher 42 a comes into contact with the elastic member 54 and elastically deforms the electrode plate 32 a via the elastic member 54. The center key 32 is turned on when the electrode plate 32a comes into contact with the electrode 32b and the contacts are brought into conduction.

<Pressure sensitive pad>
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing the pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a in the pressure sensor 34 of FIG. The pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a is configured by four capacitors 34b disposed on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the center key 32, and a capacitor 34c disposed on the inner side of the capacitor 34b with the center key 32 as the center.

In this example, the left / right direction is the X direction, the up / down direction is the Y direction, and the pushing direction during the pressing operation is the Z direction, and the four capacitors 34b are an X ₍₊₎ capacitor, an X ₍₋₎ capacitor, and a Y ₍₊₎ capacitor. And a Y _(-) capacitor, and the capacitor 34c is used as a Z capacitor.

The left key, the center key 32 and the right key are arranged in the X direction, and the up key, the center key 32 and the lower key are arranged in the Y direction. The X ₍₊₎ capacitor and the X ₍₋₎ capacitor are capacitors for detecting the inclination of the metal plate 51 in the X direction, and are arranged in the X direction with the center key 32 as the center. The inclination in the X direction is obtained by detecting the capacitance of the X ₍₊₎ capacitor and the X ₍₋₎ capacitor at regular intervals, and determining the pressing force for each capacitor from the difference value from the capacitance when not operated. It is determined.

The Y ₍₊₎ capacitor and the Y ₍₋₎ capacitor are capacitors for detecting the inclination of the metal plate 51 in the Y direction, and are arranged in the Y direction with the center key 32 as the center. The inclination in the Y direction is obtained by detecting the capacitance of the Y ₍₊₎ capacitor and the Y _(-) capacitor at regular intervals, and obtaining the pressing force for each capacitor from the difference value from the capacitance during non-operation. It is determined.

  The Z capacitor is a capacitor for detecting the magnitude of the pressing force when the metal plate 51 is pushed in the Z direction, and is arranged between the center key 32 and the capacitor 34b with the center key 32 as the center. ing.

  The pressure sensor 34 can obtain and output a vector quantity (X, Y, Z) having these as X, Y, Z components from the inclinations in the X and Y directions and the pressing force in the Z direction. Further, the rotation angle per unit time can be obtained from the amount of change in the tilt in the X direction and the Y direction and output.

  6 and 7 are explanatory views schematically showing an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 1, and shows the state around the pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a. FIG. 6A shows the key top portions 41 and 42 of the key top sheet 40, and FIG. 6B shows the inside of the operation housing 30 when not being operated.

  The key top portion 41 is a pad common to the four direction keys 31 and the capacitors 34b and 34c of the pressure-sensitive pad portion 34a, and in which direction in a range from 0 ° to 360 ° when a finger is brought into contact. It is possible to detect how much force (pressing force) is pushed. When the key top portion 41 is not operated, gaps are formed between the pusher 41a and the direction key 31 and between the pusher 41b and the pressure sensitive pad portion 34a.

  In this cellular phone 100, when a finger is brought into contact with the pad surface of the key top portion 41, if the pressing force exceeds a certain value, a sensor interruption signal is output and a pressing operation is detected. Here, the operation of bringing a finger into contact with the pad surface is called a down event, and the operation of moving a finger away from the pad surface is called an up event. When the pressing force exceeds a certain value, the finger down event is detected. Will be.

  FIG. 7A shows the inside of the operation housing 30 when a down event occurs with a finger, and FIG. 7B shows a state where the key top portion 41 is further pushed. FIG. 7C shows the inside of the operation housing 30 at the push-in limit.

  When the finger is brought into contact with the key top portion 41, if the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 34 is smaller than a certain value, the contact switch of the direction key 31 remains off. For example, when the key top portion 41 is pushed in by bringing the finger near the left key of the key top portion 41 and the pressing force is small (when a down event occurs), only the pusher 41b is connected to the pressure sensitive pad portion 34a. Abutting, and a gap remains between the pusher 41a and the left key.

  When the key top portion 41 is further pushed in and the pressing force exceeds a certain value, the pusher 41a also comes into contact with the direction key 31, that is, the left key and the contact switch of the left key is turned on, so that the operation of the left key is performed. Detected.

  That is, when the direction key 31 is pressed, the pressure sensor 34 detects the pressing operation before the direction key 31 and outputs the pressing force and the operation position. When the key top portion 41 is further pushed beyond a certain value, the operation of the direction key 31 is detected. If the pressing force at the time of pressing the key top portion 41 is increased, the elastic deformation amount of the direction key 31 and the pressure sensitive pad portion 34a increases, and the pressing limit is eventually reached.

  Next, the structure which moves a pointer using the output of the pressure sensor 34 and the direction key 31 which are operated by common press operation is demonstrated below using FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 1, and illustrates an example of a functional configuration inside the mobile phone 100. The cellular phone 100 includes a main display 11, an operation input unit 101, an application storage unit 102, an item string display unit 103, a document file storage unit 104, and a text display unit 105.

  The operation input unit 101 is an input processing device that detects a user's operation and performs a predetermined input process. The operation input unit 101 generates a pointer movement signal for moving a pointer displayed on the screen on the main display 11 and generates an item string. The data is output to the display unit 103 and the text display unit 105. The pointer is position information that defines the focus on the selection candidate and the position of the cursor in the screen.

  The item string display unit 103 operates based on the application program read from the application storage unit 102, and controls screen display of an item string including a plurality of selection items. A selection item is a selectable display object to which various functions are assigned or information is associated, and a function assigned to the selection item or associated information is selected by a predetermined operation. Can do.

  The item string is composed of a plurality of selection items arranged in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and any one of the selection items is displayed as a selection candidate. Specifically, selection candidates are displayed by focusing the selection items. The focused selection item is displayed differently from the other selection items. For example, the selected item in focus is displayed in reverse video or in a display color different from other selected items.

  Selection candidates move between selection items based on a pointer movement signal from the operation input unit 101. When the selection candidate is changed to an adjacent selection item, a pseudo focus is applied between the selection items in order to make the movement of the focus smooth. This pseudo focus is a display object in which each selection item is displayed using a rectangular display frame and is displayed across two display items when they are arranged adjacent to each other. is there.

  The sentence display unit 105 operates based on the application program read from the application storage unit 102, reads a document file from the document file storage unit 104, and reads a document composed of a plurality of characters arranged in a row direction and a column direction. Control the screen display.

  During editing of the document file, any one of the characters in the sentence is displayed as a selection candidate. Specifically, selection candidates are displayed by placing a cursor near a character. Selection candidates move between characters based on a pointer movement signal from the operation input unit 101.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the mobile phone 100 in FIG. 8, in which an example of a functional configuration in the operation input unit 101 is illustrated. The operation input unit 101 includes a direction key 31, a pressure sensor 34, and a pointer control unit 110.

  The pointer control unit 110 includes a short press control unit 111, a long press control unit 112, and a mode switching unit 113, and generates a pointer movement signal based on the outputs of the direction key 31 and the pressure sensor 34.

  The short press control unit 111 detects the start of the pressing operation based on the detection result of the direction key 31 and generates a predetermined pointer movement signal at the start of the pressing operation. On the other hand, the long press control unit 112 generates a pointer movement signal corresponding to the pressing force based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 34. Specifically, the pointer movement signal is repeatedly generated based on the sensor interrupt signal from the pressure sensor 34.

  For example, as the pointer movement signal, digital data associated with the magnitude of the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 34 is generated as a pointer movement signal at regular intervals. Alternatively, the pointer movement signal is generated as a signal having a different number of pulses per unit time according to the magnitude of the pressing force. Alternatively, the pointer movement signal is generated as a signal having a different pulse width or signal intensity according to the pressing force.

  The mode switching unit 113 includes an operation start detection unit 114, a short press end detection unit 115, a timer 116, a short / long switching determination unit 117, an end threshold storage unit 118, and a long / short switching determination unit 119. One pointer movement signal of the push control unit 112 is output.

  The operation start detection unit 114 detects the start of a pressing operation on the pad surface of the key top unit 41 based on the key interrupt signal from the direction key 31 and outputs the detection result to the short / long switching determination unit 117. The start of the pressing operation is detected, for example, when the direction key 31 is turned on.

  The short press end detection unit 115 detects the end of the short press operation based on the key interrupt signal from the direction key 31 and outputs the detection result to the short length switching determination unit 117. The end of the short press operation is detected when the direction key 31 transitions to the off state.

The short / long switching determination unit 117 sets the short pressing mode to the long pressing mode when it is determined that the pressing operation continues for a certain period of time based on the detection results of the operation start detection unit 114 and the short press end detection unit 115. Switch. Specifically, after the direction key 31 is turned on, the operation mode is short-pressed when it is detected based on the time information from the timer 116 that the fixed time B ₀ has passed without the direction key 31 being turned off. Switch from mode to long press mode. That is, here, an operation in which the direction key 31 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time B ₀ or more is called a long press, and an operation for turning it off until the predetermined time B ₀ elapses is called a short press.

Long and short switching determination unit 119 compares the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 34 and the end threshold Th _1, based on the comparison result, it switches the mode long press to the short push mode. Specifically, if the pressing force is below the end threshold Th _1, determines pressed against the pad surface of the key top portion 41 is completed, the operation mode is switched from the long push mode to short pressing mode. The end threshold value storage unit 118 holds a constant value smaller than the pressing force (a constant value P ₀ ) when the direction key 31 is turned on as the end threshold value Th ₁ .

<List screen>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 8, and shows a list screen 60 for displaying an item string composed of a plurality of selection items 64 arranged in the vertical direction. The list screen 60 is an input screen for displaying a part or all of an item string composed of a plurality of selection items 64 arranged in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and for allowing the user to select a desired selection item. 11 is displayed.

  The list screen 60 includes four display areas arranged in the vertical direction, that is, a pict display area 61, a title display area 62, an item string display area 63, and a key assignment display area 66. The pictogram display area 61 is a horizontally long rectangular area for displaying a pictogram (pictogram) indicating a radio wave reception state and a remaining battery level. The key assignment display area 66 is a horizontally long rectangular area for displaying function assignments for operation keys such as the direction key 31 and the center key 32 using a predetermined icon.

  The item string display area 63 is a vertically long rectangular area for displaying an item string. When the number of items is large, a part of the item string is displayed in the item string display area 63, and the other part of the item string can be displayed by scrolling the screen. The selection candidate has a focus 65.

  The display mode of the selection item 64 and the function assigned to the selection item 64 differ depending on the application program to be executed and the operation status. For example, in the case of a program for displaying a telephone number registered as telephone directory data or an e-mail address, registration information for each destination is displayed in a table format with one destination as one selection item 64. Each selection item 64 is assigned a browsing function and editing function for registered information, and if the browsing function is executed, the details of the registration information of the selection candidate can be browsed. If the editing function is executed, the registration information of the selection candidate can be edited.

  Alternatively, in the case of a program for displaying transmission source information held as incoming history data, the transmission information for each transmission source is displayed in a table format with one transmission source information as one selection item 64. Alternatively, in the case of a program that displays a content menu including a plurality of icons indicating executable content, icons for each content are displayed in a matrix format with one icon as one selection item 64.

  Alternatively, in the case of a program that displays registration information registered as schedule data, registration information is displayed in a table format for each registration order and registration date and time, with one piece of registration information as one selection item 64.

  This item sequence is an example of a schedule table, and ten selection items 64 numbered from 1 to 10 in order from the top are arranged adjacent to each other without being separated from each other. Also, the focus 65 is applied to the fourth item. In the key assignment display area 66, an icon 67 indicating function assignment to the up / down direction key 31 and the center key 32 and an icon 68 indicating function assignment to the guide key 33a are displayed.

  By operating the up or down direction key 31, the focus 65 can be moved to an adjacent selection item. For example, if the up key is pressed only once, the focus 65 can be moved from the fourth item to the third item.

  On the other hand, if the down key is pressed only once, the focus 65 can be moved from the fourth item to the fifth item. That is, every time the direction key 31 is pressed for a short time, the focus 65 moves by one item to the adjacent selection item.

  Further, by operating the center key 32 in a state where any selection item is selected, the function assigned to the selection candidate can be executed. Further, by operating the guide key 33a, it is possible to return to the state before executing the browsing function of the schedule table.

  When the direction key 31 is pressed for a short time, the focus 65 moves to the adjacent item every time the direction key 31 is operated. On the other hand, when the direction key 31 is pressed for a long time, the focus 65 moves to the adjacent item and then the long press mode. The focus 65 moves at a speed corresponding to the detected pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 34. That is, in the long press mode, if the pressing force is large, the moving speed is faster than when the pressing force is small.

<Pressing direction key>
FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 8, in which a change in pressing force when the direction key 31 is pressed is shown. FIG. 11 shows a change in pressing force when the lower key is repeatedly pressed for a short time, the operating state of the direction key 31, and a pointer movement signal.

When the direction key 31 is pressed, the predetermined threshold pressure detected by the pressure sensor 34, for example, if exceeds the end threshold Th _1, down event with the finger is detected, the sensor interrupt signal from the pressure sensor 34 Is output. When the pressing force exceeds a certain value P ₀ (P ₀ > Th ₁ ), the direction key 31 is turned on.

The time from when the direction key 31 is turned on to when it is turned off, that is, the elapsed time B1 from the transition to the on state at the time t ₁ to the transition to the off state at the time t ₂ is a certain time B ₀ (for example, If it is shorter than about 1 second, it is determined that the operation of the direction key 31 is a short press. Then, the pressing force if falls below a threshold value Th _1, finger-up event is detected.

The short push mode, the detected start of the pressing operation by the direction key 31 is turned on, at the start of the pressing operation, i.e., the pointer movement signal is generated at time t _1. In other words, the period C1 from time t ₁ to time t ₂ is the duration of the pressing operation.

After detection of up event, if exceeds the end threshold Th ₁ pressure again, down event with the finger is detected, further, the pressing force if exceeds the predetermined value P _0, the direction key 31 is turned on. Then, the elapsed time B2 until transition to the OFF state at time t ₄ from the transition to the ON state direction key 31 at time t ₃ is shorter than the predetermined time B _0, it is determined that a short press. Start of the pressing operation by the direction key 31 is turned on is detected, the pointer movement signal is generated at time t _3, the period C1 from time t ₃ to time t ₄ is the duration of the pressing operation.

FIG. 12 shows a change in pressing force when the lower key is pressed for a long time, an operation state of the direction key 31, and a pointer movement signal. If the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 34 exceeds the end threshold Th _1, down event with the finger is detected, the sensor interrupt signal from the pressure sensor 34 is outputted. Then, the pressing force if exceeds the predetermined value P _0, the direction key 31 is turned on.

After the direction key 31 is turned on at time t _5, when the elapsed the direction key 31 is fixed time B ₀ without off, operation of the direction key 31 is judged to hold, the operation mode is the short stroke mode Switch to long press mode. Thereafter, the pressing force falls below a certain value P ₀ at time t ₇ , and the direction key 31 transitions to the off state. Then, when the pressing force is below the end threshold value Th _1, finger-up event is detected, to return to the short-press mode.

In this example, the period C2 from time t ₅ to time t ₈ is the duration of the pressing operation. Further, the operation mode is switched to the long press mode at the time when the predetermined time B ₀ has elapsed, that is, at time t ₆ , and during the long press mode period B 3 from this time t ₆ until the up event is detected at time t ₈ . A pointer movement signal corresponding to the detection value of the pressing force by the pressure sensor 34 is generated. That is, in the short press mode, a pulse-shaped pointer movement signal with a constant signal strength is generated, whereas in the long press mode, a pointer movement signal whose signal strength changes according to the pressing force is generated. ing. Specifically, in the long press mode, a pointer movement signal having a signal strength corresponding to the pressing force within the range from the lower limit value (Th ₁ ) to the upper limit value P ₁ is repeatedly generated. By referring to such a pointer movement signal, it is possible to perform a control so that the moving speed of the pointer increases as it is pressed more strongly.

Here, the pressing force end threshold Th ₁ is sufficiently smaller than the pressing force when the direction key 31 is turned on (a constant value P ₀ ), and the pressing force upper limit value P ₁ (the pressing force at the pressing limit). Pressure) is larger than the constant value P ₀ , the pointer moving speed can be adjusted in the long press mode according to the pressing force within the range between the end threshold Th _{1 and the} upper limit value P ₁ . In other words, the pressing force mode long press is released when it falls below the end threshold Th _1, as compared with the case of releasing the mode long press time in which the direction key 31 is turned off, the upper limit value P from end threshold Th ₁ The moving speed of the pointer can be adjusted using the range up to ₁ effectively.

<Pointer movement>
FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 8, and shows how the focus 65 moves when the direction key 31 is pressed. FIG. 13 (a) shows a state when the down key is pressed for a short time, and FIG. 13 (b) shows a state when the long key is pressed.

  The focus 65 in the list screen 60 moves by one item from the fourth item to the fifth item based on the transition of the down key to the ON state. In the case of a short press, the transition of the direction key 31 to the off state is ignored.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the key 65 is long-pressed after a certain period of time B ₀ after the focus 65 moves from the fourth item to the fifth item due to the transition of the down key to the ON state, the pressure sensor The focus 65 moves at a speed corresponding to the detected value of the pressing force by 34. At that time, the focus 65 is moved while the pseudo focus 69 is applied between the selection items 64.

  The pseudo focus 69 is a focus applied to an area between the selection items 64 or a pseudo focus displayed over the selection items 64 in order to make the movement of the focus 65 smooth. In this example, when the focus 65 moves from the fifth item to the sixth item, a pseudo focus 69 that spans both items is displayed between the fifth item and the sixth item.

  When the cursor in the sentence is moved when editing the document file, the same operation as the movement of the focus 65 is performed. That is, a cursor indicating a selection candidate is displayed near the character, and the cursor moves between characters based on the pointer movement signal. Specifically, when the direction key 31 is pressed briefly, the cursor moves to the next character by one character. For example, if the down key is operated, the cursor moves downward, and if the right key is operated, the cursor moves in the right direction.

On the other hand, when the cursor is moved by one character due to the transition of the direction key 31 to the ON state, and it is determined that the long press is made after a certain time B ₀ , the pressure sensor 34 detects the pressing force. The cursor moves at a speed corresponding to the value. When the direction key 31 is short-pressed, the cursor is moved in character units, whereas in the long-press mode, the cursor is moved in pixel units, for example.

  Steps S101 to S111 in FIG. 14 are flowcharts illustrating an example of an operation at the time of pressing the direction key 31 in the mobile phone 100 in FIG. First, when the pointer control unit 110 of the operation input unit 101 detects that the detection value of the pressing force exceeds a certain value by the sensor interrupt signal from the pressure sensor 34, it determines that a down event has occurred by the finger. Then, interrupt processing is executed (step S101). Thereafter, if an up event is detected without the direction key 31 being turned on, this process ends (steps S102 and S111).

On the other hand, when the direction key 31 is turned on, the short press controller 111 generates a pointer movement signal based on the direction input signal from the direction key 31 and the selection candidate is changed to an adjacent selection item. (Steps S102 and S103). Next, when the short / long switching determination unit 117 determines that the pressing operation has continued for a certain time B ₀ after the start of the pressing operation is detected by turning on the direction key 31, It is determined that the operation is a long press, and the operation mode is switched from the short press mode to the long press mode (steps S104 and S105). If the direction key 31 is turned off after the direction key 31 is turned on and before the predetermined time B ₀ has elapsed, this processing is terminated (steps S104 and S110).

The long press control unit 112 determines the moving speed of the pointer with reference to the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 34 after shifting to the long pressing mode, and generates a pointer moving signal indicating the moving speed according to the pressing force. . Based on the pointer movement signal, the focus 65 moves within the list screen 60 (steps S106 to S108). Procedure from step S106 to step S108 is repeated until the finger-up event by pressing force falls below the end threshold Th ₁ is detected, if it is up event detection, the short push mode from the long push mode The operation mode is switched, and this process ends (step S109).

  According to the present embodiment, since the start of the pressing operation is detected based on the detection result of the direction key 31 and the pointer movement signal is generated, the pointer can be moved according to the pressing force. In addition, it is possible to suppress malfunction due to an influence of a temperature change or the like. Moreover, it is possible to automatically shift to the pointer movement corresponding to the pressing force by simply pressing the direction key 31. Therefore, it is possible to suppress malfunction due to the influence of temperature change and improve operability when moving the pointer.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, an example in which the operation mode is switched from the short press mode to the long press mode when a certain time B ₀ has passed without the direction key 31 being turned off after the direction key 31 is turned on. explained. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the short press mode is switched to the long press mode when a predetermined time has passed without the pressing force being lower than a predetermined value after the direction key 31 is turned on.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows another example of the operation input unit 101. This operation input unit 101 is different from the operation input unit 101 of FIG. 9 in that the mode switching unit 113 of the pointer control unit 110 includes a short press determination threshold storage unit 121.

In short press end detection unit 115 of the operation input unit 101, after the direction key 31 is turned on, the time information from the timer 115 that the predetermined time has elapsed without the pressing force falls below the determination threshold Th ₂ Press predetermined short When it detects based on it, it determines that pressing operation is continuing for a fixed time, and switches short press mode to long press mode.

The short press determination threshold value storage unit 121 stores a short value smaller than a pressing force (for example, a constant value P ₀ ) when the direction key 31 is turned off as a threshold value for determining whether or not the pressing operation is a short press. The push determination threshold value Th ₂ (Th ₂ > Th ₁ ) is held.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the portable information terminal of FIG. 15, in which a change in pressing force when the direction key 31 is pressed for a long time, an operation state of the direction key 31, and a pointer movement signal are illustrated. After the direction key 31 is turned on at time _{t 9,} the direction key 31 is turned off at time _{t 10.}

On the other hand, the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 34, after ON of the direction key 31, if a predetermined time B ₀ is elapsed without falls below the determination threshold Th ₂ Press smaller shorter than a certain value P _0, the pressing operation is long The operation mode is switched from the short press mode to the long press mode.

That is, the direction key 31 from the ON, when the elapsed time B4 until below the short press judgment threshold Th ₂ pressing force at time t ₁₂ is longer than the predetermined time B _0, shifts to the long push mode. Then, when the pressing force is below a threshold value Th _1, are detected finger up event, the operation mode is switched from the long push mode to short pressing mode.

When the fixed time B ₀ has elapsed, that is, at time t ₁₁ , the operation mode is switched to the long press mode, and during the period B 5 from time t ₁₁ to time t _{15 when} an up event is detected, the pressure sensor 34 presses. A pointer movement signal corresponding to the detected pressure value is generated.

  According to the present embodiment, by continuing to press the pressure sensor 34 with a pressing force smaller than the pressing force when the direction key 31 detects the end of the pressing operation, it is possible to shift to the pointer movement according to the pressing force. it can.

In Embodiments 1 and 2, an example in which the operation mode is switched from the short press mode to the long press mode if the pressing operation continues for a certain time has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 34 is compared with a constant value Th ₃ (Th ₃ <P ₁ ) that is larger than the pressing force (the constant value P ₀ ) when the direction key 31 is turned on. A configuration in which the short press mode is switched to the long press mode based on the above may be used. That is, the configuration may be such that the direction key 31 is pressed hard to near the pressing limit to switch to the long press mode without waiting for a certain period of time.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1 and 2, although the contact type switch was turned on when the key top part 41 was pushed in and the start of pressing operation was detected, this invention is limited to this. is not. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus using a contact type switch that turns off when the key top portion 41 is pressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display housing | casing 11 Main display 12 Receiver 13 Sub display 20 Hinge part 30 Operation housing | casing 31 Direction key 32 Center key 33 Ten key 33a Guide key 34 Pressure sensor 34a Pressure-sensitive pad part 34b, 34c Capacitor 34d Sensor control circuit 35 Sending Microphone for talk 36 Main board 37 Flexible board 40 Key top sheets 41 to 43 Key top portions 41a, 41b, 42a, 43a Pusher 44 Microphone hole 45 Notch portion 51 Metal plate 52, 53 Electrode plate 54 Elastic member 60 List screen 61 Pictograph display area 62 Title display area 63 Item string display area 64 Item 65 Focus 66 Key assignment display area 67, 68 Icon 69 Pseudo focus 100 Mobile phone 101 Operation input unit 102 Application storage unit 103 Eye row display unit 104 Document file storage unit 105 Text display unit 110 Pointer control unit 111 Short press control unit 112 Long press control unit 113 Mode switching unit 114 Operation start detection unit 115 Short press end detection unit 116 Timer 117 Short length switching determination unit 118 End threshold storage unit 119 Long / short switching determination unit 121 Short press determination threshold storage unit

Claims (5)

Adjacent pressure sensor and two or more contact type switches, display means for displaying a pointer on the screen, and a first pointer for moving the pointer based on outputs of the pressure sensor and the contact type switch Pointer control means for generating a movement signal,
The pressure sensor has a capacitor whose electrode interval changes according to the pressing operation, and a pressing force detection means for detecting the pressing force of the pressing operation based on the capacitance of the capacitor,
It said pointer control means, based on a detection result of the contact type switch, and the pressing operation detection means for detecting the start of the pressing operation,
And a movement speed control means for generating a first pointer movement signal for moving the pointer in a movement direction corresponding to the pressing force in a movement direction corresponding to the pressed contact switch. Mobile information terminal.   The pointer control means includes a short press control means for generating a second pointer movement signal for moving the pointer in a movement direction corresponding to the contact-type switch pressed in the short push mode;
  Mode switching means for switching the short press mode to the long press mode when it is determined that the pressing operation has continued for a certain period of time;
  The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the moving speed control means generates a first pointer movement signal in the long press mode. The mode switching means switches the short press mode to the long press mode when the predetermined time has elapsed after the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation until the end is detected. The portable information terminal according to claim 2 . The mode switching means is configured to perform a short press when the predetermined time has elapsed without the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor falling below the first threshold after the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation. Switch the mode to long press mode,
The portable information terminal according to claim 2 , wherein the first threshold value is smaller than a pressing force when the contact switch detects the end of the pressing operation. The mode switching means compares the pressing force with a second threshold value that is smaller than the pressing force when the contact switch detects the start of the pressing operation, and sets the long pressing mode to the short pressing mode based on the comparison result. The portable information terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the portable information terminal is switched to.

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