JP2002007027A - Image information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image information display device capable of easily recognizing a large image in any place by using a device, whose display part is small, such as a portable telephone set and a mobile computer. SOLUTION: An observer (user) 122 considers that an unknown image 121 which is relatively large exists and recognizes the image by using this image information display device 124 provided with a relatively small display frame (display) 123. When the observer 122 actively changes partial areas 125 of the image 121 displayed in the frame 123 by moving his/her hand 126, the entire image 121 that is relatively large can easily be grasped. Not only a visual system but also a kinetic system such as hand movement are deeply involved in order to practically perceive the relatively large image 121 by sequentially changing the partial areas 125 of the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information display device for displaying an image, and more particularly to an image information display device suitable for displaying a relatively large image on a smaller screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Small information processing apparatuses such as portable telephones and mobile computers are widely used. Many of such devices are also capable of displaying image information. For example, a mobile phone was originally a device mainly for talking, but recently it has become possible to display various kinds of information by connecting to the Internet.

[0003] Images to be displayed also tend to have a large capacity as the processing speed of image processing hardware increases and various communication speeds increase. At the same time, the display size of the image has also increased. When the display size of an image is increased, a device having a relatively large screen display device such as a stationary computer can display a larger image on the screen and can recognize the image well. However, small information processing apparatuses such as mobile phones and mobile computers often have very small display devices, so that large images cannot be displayed at once. Therefore, various devices have been devised for displaying an image having a large size on a display device having a smaller size.

[0004] A large image is divided into a plurality of small-area images, and these are sequentially switched to be displayed on a small display device. Conventionally, a method of scrolling and displaying is performed. Regarding the latter, see JP-A-7-1.
Japanese Patent No. 3554 discloses a similar technique.

[0005] However, in the former case, since small areas divided like a grid are displayed one by one in order, it is difficult to associate small areas with each other and to grasp the overall structure. In addition, if the division of the small areas is not successful, the important information is divided and displayed at different display positions, and in this sense, it is difficult to understand the structure of the entire image. In the latter case, since a large image is scrolled up and down or left and right, the problem that the boundary position is divided does not occur. However, since the image flows unilaterally, it is difficult to recognize which position of the entire image is currently displayed. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to display the same position again, it is difficult to find that position.

Accordingly, various image information display devices have been proposed in which a frame in which a part of the image can be viewed is set in a large image, and the frame is scrolled by the user's own intention. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-29568, a trackball is attached to the back of a portable information device having a display, and the portable information device is moved on a desk. With this movement, the frame on which the image is displayed is shifted vertically or horizontally. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-263205, a detection ball for detecting the moving direction and the moving amount is arranged on the back of the portable information terminal. The information is displayed on a display arranged on the upper surface of the terminal.
JP-A-5-241731 discloses that a movement detector or a rotation detector is arranged on the back of an apparatus main body to detect a movement amount, a movement direction, or rotation.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-314629, a ball for detecting the direction of movement on a desk is similarly attached to the back of a flat casing on which a display is placed.
Alternatively, a trackball is attached to the upper surface of the housing. Thus, the image is scrolled in accordance with the movement of the housing on the desk or the movement of the hand when the housing is fixed on the desk. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-2 discloses a technique for scrolling an image displayed on a display by operating a direction key or the like provided on a housing arranged on a desk.
There is also a disclosure in 71505 publication.

[0008]

However, moving the housing on which the display is arranged as described above on a desk, or fixing the housing itself on a desk and moving a pointing device attached to the housing, causes a large image to be displayed. However, there is the following problem in a device that attempts to display a desired image portion in the above.

(1) A plane such as a desk or a table having a certain height suitable for operation is required for the arrangement of the apparatus. Therefore, there is a problem that it is practically impossible to scroll and display a part of a large image when carrying a portable telephone or a lightweight information terminal suitable for carrying.

(2) Next, the operation on the desk is similar to the case where a large map is pasted on the desk and a part of the map is viewed with a magnifying glass. Therefore, the method of moving the image displayed on the display by arranging the ball on the back of the housing and moving the ball on the desk is similar to the conventional method using paper representing the image, and is easy to adapt. However, on the other hand, the same problem as the conventional one occurs. In other words, if the images are observed on the display provided in these housings while moving these housings on the desk, it is easy to see the images in front of the desk, but the edge of the large image Even when trying to see it on the display, the case moves to a position far from the position of the observer's eyes, so that it cannot be observed well. The screen is easy for the observer to see from its vertical direction. However, if the display surface moves to the back side of the desk, especially in the case of a liquid crystal display, a phenomenon that the image becomes invisible or a part of the transparent material on the surface of the screen is reflected and the image becomes difficult to see occurs.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-66802, a virtual screen is arranged vertically on a desk, a liquid crystal display is arranged at the tip of a free arm, and the display is moved to each position on the virtual screen. There is disclosed a technology for displaying an image portion to be displayed. Also in this technique, when the virtual screen becomes large, there is a problem that depending on the position of the moved liquid crystal display, an image cannot be seen well unless the user leans upwards or leans right and left. Further, since it is necessary to attach the liquid crystal display to the tip of the free arm, not only the size of the device is increased, but also a large image can be observed only at the desk where such a special device is arranged. Therefore, there is a problem that the place where the invention is applied is further limited as compared with the case where the housing is moved on a desk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image information display device which can easily recognize a large image anywhere by using a small display unit such as a mobile phone or a mobile computer. It is in.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) a predetermined housing sized to be held and operated by hand, and (b) a display incorporated in the housing to display an image. Means, (c) position detection means for detecting a spatial movement of the housing, and (d) image information storage means for storing image information having an image size larger than an image size that can be displayed at one time on the display means. (E) display image range selection means for selecting partial image information of a display range that can be displayed at a time from the image information stored in the image information storage means and outputting the partial image information to the display means for display; And a partial image information selection control means for moving the image selected by the display image range selection means in the movement direction detected by the image information display device.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the position detecting means for detecting the spatial movement is provided in a predetermined casing sized to be held and operated by hand, and the display means and the display means are provided once. And image information storage means for storing image information having an image size larger than the image size that can be displayed in the image information. The image information having an image size larger than the image size that can be displayed on the display means at a time is displayed by selecting the partial image information of the display range that can be displayed at once by the display image range selection means. By using the selection control means, the image selected by the display image range selection means is moved in the movement direction detected by the position detection means. When the user holds the housing in his hand and actively moves it in the observation space, the partial image information displayed according to the moved position moves, so that the entire large image can be easily recognized. can do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image information display apparatus according to the first aspect, the position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with a two-dimensional movement, and detects the partial image information. The selection control means moves the image selected by the display image range selection means in association with the replaced two-dimensional movement.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the image information display apparatus according to the first aspect, the position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with the two-dimensional movement. ing. In this case, the partial image information selection control means two-dimensionally moves the image information selected by the display image range selection means in association with the replaced two-dimensional movement. For example, the image information displayed when the housing is moved left and right by hand is also an image moved left and right. Even if the housing is moved so that the display means is close to the eyes, this three-dimensional image is displayed. In movement (movement in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the XY plane), the image on the display means does not move. Thereby, it is possible to observe a natural enlarged image due to the display means being close to the eyes.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device according to the first aspect, the position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with the three-dimensional movement, and detects the partial image information. The selection control means moves the image selected by the display image range selection means in association with the replaced three-dimensional movement.

That is, in the third aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device of the first aspect, the position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with the three-dimensional movement. ing. In this case, the partial image information selection control means moves the image selected by the display image range selection means three-dimensionally in association with the replaced three-dimensional movement. For example, if the user moves the housing to the left and right by holding the housing, the displayed image information also becomes an image moved to the left and right. (Movement in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the XY plane) moves the image in the height or depth direction. By switching from holding the image information display device horizontally to switching it to the Z-axis direction by vertical, and thereby realizing the movement in the Z-axis direction, two-dimensional position detection means can be used. Three-dimensional movement is also possible. By such a method, for example, the analysis of the structure of each floor of the building or the cross section of the brain can be performed easily and intuitively.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device according to the first aspect, the image information storage means stores the image information downloaded from the download means via a communication network.

That is, the invention according to claim 4 indicates that image information may be downloaded to the image information storage means using a communication network such as the Internet. Various types of image information premised on a normal stationary computer are stored in the image information storage means, and the user actively operates the image information display device so that a relatively large image can be obtained despite the small display means. Can be grasped well. Therefore, it is not necessary for the information provider to prepare two types of image information for an ordinary stationary computer and an image information display device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone. Further, it is possible to solve the problem of resolution degradation that occurs when an image is prepared for an image information display device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device of the first aspect, the partial image information selection control means cuts out a part of the image information stored in the image information storage means to the display means. Origin coordinate data registration means for registering the coordinates of the origin as the reference of the display frame when displaying, and the origin coordinates are sequentially changed in accordance with the spatial movement direction and movement amount of the housing detected by the position detection means Selection instruction means for sequentially selecting the display range of the partial image determined by the display frame by the display image range selection means.

That is, in the invention according to the fifth aspect, the partial image information selection control means is configured to set the partial image information selection control means based on the origin moved corresponding to the spatial movement amount of the casing detected by the position detection means.
The display means displays a partial image having an image size that can be displayed at a time.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device of the fifth aspect, it is determined whether or not the spatial movement of the housing, which is sequentially detected by the position detecting means, is reflected in the registered contents of the origin coordinate data registering means. It is characterized in that a switch for setting the on / off state is provided.

That is, according to the invention of claim 6, in the image information display device of claim 5, by moving the housing in a state where the switch is selected to the side not to reflect on the display, and by switching to the side to reflect on the display, The same effect can be obtained as when the image information around the image information that could be displayed by the operation of moving the arm of the user is drawn into the area that can be displayed by the operation of moving the user. In addition, it is possible to shift the target part to the center of the movable area so that the part of interest can be easily observed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device of the first aspect, the position detecting means is an acceleration sensor, and after the spatial movement of the housing is started and stopped, the movement is restarted. It is provided with a movement stop period determining means for determining a movement stop period until the start, and a movement amount correction means for setting a spatial movement amount of the casing to zero during the movement stop period determined by the movement stop period determining means. It is characterized by:

In other words, the invention according to claim 7 deals with ignoring the apparent movement of the position detecting means that occurs when the user stops moving the image information display device. When the acceleration sensor is used as the position detecting means, an output that can be regarded as a subtle movement due to the characteristic of the sensor may be measured. In such a case, the movement stop period is determined and the movement amount during this period is set to zero. I have decided to. Other position detecting means can perform the same correction. Further, a measure for ignoring the movement of the position due to camera shake or the like is also effective.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an image information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This mobile phone type image information display device 101 has a configuration in which a telescopic antenna 103 is arranged on an upper portion of a device main body 102. A relatively large color liquid crystal display 104 is incorporated in the front of the apparatus main body 102. A speaker 105 is arranged at the top of the front surface, and a microphone 106 is arranged at the bottom. An operation unit 107 including various button switches is arranged between the liquid crystal display 104 and the microphone 106. A mode switch 1 is provided below the operation unit 107.
08 is provided. This mode switch 1
Reference numeral 08 denotes a switch used in a predetermined case such as when shifting a large-sized image as will be described in detail later. Of course, one of the existing switches constituting the operation unit 107 may have the same function as the mode changeover switch 108.

A position detecting sensor 109 is built in the apparatus main body 102. In this embodiment, an acceleration sensor is used as the position detection sensor 109. The acceleration sensor is operated by a user (not shown) by the image information display device 1.
This element detects acceleration in two or three axes when the space is moved with the 01 in hand, and is used for an airbag, a controller of a game device, or the like. The position detection sensor 109 according to the present embodiment uses an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in two axial directions, detects a vertical component and a horizontal component of the acceleration applied to the apparatus main body 102, and detects a time for each component. A velocity component and a displacement component are calculated by performing an integral operation. When observing a large-sized image using the liquid crystal display 104 as a smaller image frame, the image information display device 101 uses the calculation result of the position detection sensor 109 to display an area where the image is displayed. It changes according to the movement of the main body 102.

FIG. 2 is for explaining the principle operation of the image information display device of the present embodiment. Assuming that an unknown relatively large image 121 exists, the observer (user) 122 displays a relatively small display frame (display) 12.
It is assumed that image recognition is performed using the device 124 provided with the image processing apparatus 3. The observer 122 can see only a partial area 125 of the image displayed in the display frame 123 at a time. When the observer 122 changes the partial area 125 of the image displayed on the display frame 123 by moving the hand 126, the whole of the relatively large image 121 can be grasped. In this example, the image is a picture of an “elephant”, but may be various images such as a map and a photograph. A relatively large image 121 in which the partial area 125 of the image is sequentially changed
It has been found that not only the visual system but also the motor system such as hand movements are deeply involved in perceiving the reality of the human.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the information obtained from the eyes and the movement of the human cerebrum. Eyeball 131
Image information obtained from is transmitted to the cerebrum, and the primary visual cortex 1
At 32, line elements and colors are recognized,
Recognition of shape and color spread. In the parietal association area 134, the position and size are recognized, and in the temporal association area 135, a shape with color is recognized. On the other hand, in the exercise association area 136, an exercise is planned, and in the exercise area 137, an exercise command based on this is issued. In the frontal association area 138, the intention is formed.

The unknown relatively large image 12 shown in FIG.
1 is to be recognized, a thinking activity for that is performed in the frontal association area 138, an exercise plan is made by moving the hand 126 in the motor association area 136, and the motor area 13 is determined.
At 7, an exercise command is issued. The eyeball 131 catches a change in image information due to the movement of the hand 126 based on this command, and associates the position information of the hand 126 with the primary visual cortex 1.
32, the temporal association area 135, and the parietal association area 134 perform recognition activities.

FIG. 4 shows the mutual relationship between the visual information processing and the hierarchical structure of the motor output.
In the upper part of the visual and motion hierarchy, activities are performed to transmit information to each other so that the image 121 can be efficiently recognized. This is based on the assumption that the observer 122
It is that he actively utilizes the motor system for the recognition of 21. The observer 122 stores the geometrical positional relationship of the image 121 as the object to be recognized in the perceptual space, and combines the partial regions 125 of the sequentially presented images in the brain to integrate them. are doing. The active and free movements of the hands and arms of the observer 122 are deeply involved in grasping the positional relationship for integration at this time. The muscle 139 moves according to the instruction of the motor area 137, and adapts to the external environment 140.
The change in the external environment 140 is caught by the eyeball 131 and is recognized by the primary visual cortex 132 or the like. Temporal association field 13
Information processing of the visual system and the motor system is linked between the respective layers of the No. 5, the motor association area 136 and the parietal association area 134 and the frontal association area 138.

Returning to FIG. 2, the cooperation between the visual system and the motor system will be described. In FIG. 2, the observer 122 actively moves the hand 126, and recognizes the image 121 in the perceptual space 141 using empirical data of a change in position due to this and image information obtained from the eyeball 131 shown in FIG. 3. Draw out the results. Such cooperation between the visual system and the motor system has been confirmed, for example, by observing the activity state of each part of the brain at the time of image training in which a player practiced while swinging a racket and hitting a ball in tennis.

However, in the past, the general idea was to regard the human sensory system as passive. In such a concept, the observer 122 does not actively move the hand 126, but another person unilaterally moves the display frame 123. In this case, the observer 122 only has to follow the change of the partial image displayed in the display frame 123 located at the fixed position. In extreme cases, if the display control is devised, it is not necessary to move the eyeball 131 (FIG. 3). However, when such a passive method is adopted, it is not necessary to move each part of the body, but on the other hand, if the visual system captures the movement of the partial image under the same state as the stationary motion system, and if it is a moving image, Anyway, we encounter a phenomenon that is impossible in the real world, even in the case of still images. This causes an imbalance between the motor system and the perceptual system. As a result, the information obtained by the visual system is disturbed by the information obtained by the motor system, and a lot of wasted time is spent drawing the recognition result of the image 121 in the perceptual space 141.

The conventional concept of making the human sensory system passive is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-295, which has already been described.
In the technology disclosed in many publications such as Japanese Patent Publication No. 68, a ball is attached to the back of a device main body incorporating a display so that the device can be moved on a desk. The partial image is changed in conjunction with the movement of the apparatus main body. Even if these techniques change the observer 122 from passive to active, these techniques do not link the visual and motor systems. This is because the surfaces of the horizontally arranged desks have the same height, and the perceived space 141 formed in the head is forcibly replaced with a fixed positional relationship between the front and the back and the left and right directions on the desk. Because. The same applies to the case where a plane perpendicular to the desk shown in JP-A-2000-66802 is used as a virtual screen. The same applies to a device in which a trackball is arranged on the upper surface of an apparatus main body incorporating a display and rotated by hand.

In the image information display apparatus 101 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the observer (user) 122 moves the apparatus main body 102 in a normal use mode having the image information display apparatus 101 so that the image 121 is two-dimensionally displayed. , Partial images corresponding to the moving direction and the moving amount are sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 104. In the case of a two-dimensional image, even if the liquid crystal display 104 is brought close to the eyes of the user 122, the size (reduction magnification) of the partial image itself does not change. For example, if you hold a photograph and want to see it large, you bring the photograph itself closer to your eyes, just like an image of the photograph itself is not enlarged. That is, when the image 121 is a two-dimensional image, the position detection sensor 109 converts the movement of the apparatus main body 102 by the user into a moving direction and a moving amount in a two-dimensional plane parallel to the image 121, and The displayed partial image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 104.

FIG. 5 shows an outline of a circuit configuration of the image information display device of the present embodiment. The image information display device 101 has a CPU (central processing unit) 151 mounted thereon. The CPU 151 is connected to each unit in the image information display device 101 via a bus 152 such as a data bus. The ROM 154 is a read-only memory that stores fixed data such as a program for controlling each unit of the image information display apparatus 101. RAM155
Is a relatively large amount of random access memory,
In addition to a memory area as a working memory for temporarily storing data required when executing the program, a download memory area for downloading image information and a display memory area for expanding the downloaded image information for display are provided. Have. Image information stored in the download memory area is often compressed in a predetermined format.

Radio transmitting / receiving section 156 transmits / receives data via antenna 103. The display control section 157 controls display of the liquid crystal display 104.
The audio control unit 158 is connected to the speaker 105 and the microphone 106, and performs input / output of audio, amplification of an audio signal, and the like. Data input / output unit 159
Is connected to an operation unit 107, a mode changeover switch 108, and a position detection sensor 109. In addition to inputting button switch press-down information and two-axis acceleration information, these buttons are used for the operation unit 107 and the mode changeover switch 108. Lighting display control of the switch is performed.

FIG. 6 shows an outline of a communication system for image information using the image information display device of this embodiment. In this communication system, the image information display device 101 is connected to a mobile telephone network 172 via a base station 171 and can communicate with another portable telephone or fixed telephone (not shown). The mobile phone network 172 is also connected to the Internet network. Therefore, the image information display apparatus 101 of the embodiment can access various servers 174 _{1 to} 174 _N connected to the Internet 173 and acquire various contents. This point is in the same environment as the stationary personal computer 175 connected to the Internet 173.

However, as described above, in the case of the stationary personal computer 175, various sizes of displays are available, and these can be used in combination as appropriate or by adjusting the screen resolution. In many cases, large-size image information can be displayed on one screen. In the case of a mobile phone or a portable personal computer such as the image information display device 101 of the present embodiment, a relatively large size of image information is obtained from any of the servers 174 _{1 to} 174 _N because the display size is small. Then, when viewing this, a device on the display is required. This display contrivance will be described using a case where a map is downloaded as relatively large image information and displayed on the image information display device 101 as an example.

FIG. 7 shows the flow of processing when a desired map is downloaded by connecting to the Internet using the image information display device of this embodiment. Such processing is realized by the CPU 151 shown in FIG. 5 executing a program stored in the ROM 154. When the user turns on the power of the image information display apparatus 101 or presses a menu selection button (not shown) of the operation unit 107 shown in FIG. 1, a menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 (step S201). On this menu screen, various processes that can be performed by the image information display device 101 are displayed in a plurality of items. Since the user is connected to the Internet, the user selects the item "Internet connection" (step S20).
2: Y). As a result, a menu screen displaying various homepages for each item is displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 (step S203). If an item other than “Internet connection” is selected in step S201, the screen shifts to a screen for executing another item such as registration of a telephone directory. Also, instead of selecting a desired one from predetermined homepages, a URL (Uniform Reso
urce Locator) may be directly input.

It is assumed that the user has selected an item for which a map can be downloaded from various homepages in step S203 (step S204: Y). Then, a map selection menu is displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 (step S205). It is assumed that the user selects, for example, Chofu City from these (step S206:
Y). The map server 174 _N as a corresponding server is:
The information about the selection menu for selecting the whole or a specific area of Chofu city is transmitted to the image information display device 101, and the CPU 151 and the display control unit 157 display the information on the liquid crystal display 104 (step S207).
If the user wants to download a map of the campus of D University in Chofu City, he selects the item "D University" (Step S208: Y). When the user selects the download in this state (step S209:
Y), the download of the map of "D University" is executed (step S210). The liquid crystal display 104
At the time of downloading, selection of the size of data to be downloaded and display of time required for downloading map data of each size and a charge such as a call charge may be performed.

The map data is stored in a map server 174 shown in FIG.
_{From N,} the image information display device 101 reaches the image information display device 101 via the Internet network 173, the mobile phone network 172, and the base station 171, and is stored in the RAM 155 as it is after being compressed and transmitted to the download memory area. .

FIG. 8 shows a state of display control when a relatively large image such as a downloaded map is displayed on the image information display device. When the menu screen is displayed in step S201 of FIG. 7, the user selects the item of "download image" in this case (step S231: Y). Thereby, the image information display device 101
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 (step S232).

FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen of a liquid crystal display on which a list of titles of image information is displayed. On the liquid crystal display 104, a list of titles of download images stored by the user in the download memory area of the RAM 155 is displayed as a "download image list". The user selects the mode switch 10
When a desired number is input using a ten-key (not shown) of the operation unit 107 while the user presses the button 8 (see FIG. 1), the downloaded image information of the corresponding number is displayed in a reduced display corresponding to the display frame of the liquid crystal display 104. Is done. On the other hand, when only the number is input, the normal display is performed as described below. When a number and a “D” button switch as a special button switch (not shown) of the operation unit 107 are input together, the image information of that number is deleted from the download memory area.

Returning to FIG. 8, the description will be continued. If the user inputs the number and selects the normal display of "D university" (step S233: Y), the display memory for decompressing the compressed download image of D university and displaying the image of one page The image is developed in the area (step S234). Then, using the coordinate point (x, y) of the origin as the base address, only the display frame portion of the liquid crystal display 104 is cut out and displayed (step S235). After that, when the user moves the image information display device 101 (step S236: Y), the coordinates (x,
The coordinate point (x, y) of the origin moves by the amount of change in y), the area where the image expanded in the display memory area is cut out moves, and the moved image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 104. (Step S237). Such display control is continued until the user gives an instruction to end the display of the image information (step S238: Y).

When the reduced display shown in FIG. 9 is selected, the corresponding compressed pixel is expanded and then reduced to the number of pixels corresponding to the size of the display frame of the liquid crystal display 104. Will be performed. At this time,
Line drawing information may be lost depending on the process of thinning. Therefore, in such a case, a well-known image processing for holding the line drawing information may be performed.

By the way, as described above, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 moves only when the position detection sensor 109 detects the movement of the apparatus main body 102 by the integrated value obtained by moving the base address as the origin. A mode in which the apparatus main body 102 is moved in the X direction or the Y direction and a state in which the apparatus main body 102 is similarly moved while the mode switch
Is released, and the area of the image information which can be displayed by shifting the apparatus main body 102 is shifted. The latter can be considered to be adjusted by shifting the coordinate system of the user's movement operation area and the coordinate system on the image information side such as a map. That is, in the former case, if the user moves the image information display device 101 by a predetermined distance in the right direction, for example, and then moves the same by the same distance in the left direction to return to the original position, the liquid crystal display 104 Is initially an image moving in the right direction, then an image moving in the left direction, and finally the image of the starting point is displayed again. On the other hand, in the latter case, the image area itself displayed when the image information display device 101 is moved while the mode changeover switch 108 is pressed is fixed, and then the mode changeover switch 108 is released to release the original position. , The base address itself is shifted by the moving direction and the moving amount. Therefore, even when an image of a sufficiently large size cannot be displayed due to the limitation of the length of the arm of the user or the like, the necessary image area can be moved by operating the mode changeover switch 108. The image can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 by being shifted within an area (range) that can be displayed by the operation.

FIG. 10 shows a circuit portion for controlling and displaying the movement of an image. This circuit part includes the liquid crystal display 104, the mode changeover switch 108, the position detection sensor 109, the base address register 251, the display address counter 252, and a part of the RAM 155 (see FIG. 5) shown in FIG. The display memory area 253 is configured. Base address register 251 and display address counter 252
Is configured as a part of the display control unit 157 shown in FIG.

The display address counter 252 is a circuit for generating X coordinate information 262 and Y coordinate information 263 as address information 261 indicating a scanning point (x, y) for scanning the entire display area of the liquid crystal display 104. The display address counter 252 includes an X counter 252A and a Y counter 252B.
The counting is performed by the X coordinate component and the Y coordinate component of the movement information 265 output by the counter 09. X-based information X _b and Y based information Y _b as the base address base address register 251 to be displayed base point of the liquid crystal display 104 in the display memory area 253
Holding.

In an initial state where the mode changeover switch 108 is not pressed, X base information X _b representing the coordinates of the origin on the display output from the base address register 251 is displayed.
And Y based information Y _b is consistent with the origin of the display memory area 253 (e.g., the display memory area 253 bottom left corner of the points shown in FIG. 10). In this state, when the user moves the image information display device 101 by hand, the value representing the movement amount detected by the position detection sensor 109 becomes the X base information X.
As _b and Y-based information Y _b is input to the base address register 251, changing the origin of coordinates. The coordinates of the changed origin are used as the coordinates of the base point of an area in the display memory area 253 from which an image to be read out to the liquid crystal display 104 is cut out. Therefore, the image information 266 read from the display memory area 253 changes according to the movement of the position detection sensor 109.

FIG. 11 shows an example of movement detection by the position detection sensor in the X coordinate direction. When the acceleration sensor is used as the position detecting sensor 109 (FIG. 1), the apparatus main body 102 is accelerated with the start of the movement as shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the vehicle moves at a substantially constant speed, that is, the acceleration is substantially zero (section b), is decelerated (reversely accelerated) at a certain time (section c), and stops moving until the next movement starts (section d). That cycle will be repeated.

FIG. 9B shows a positive speed (forward) and a negative speed (back) of the image information display apparatus 101 based on such information obtained from the acceleration sensor.
FIG. 3C shows a change in the position of the image information display apparatus 101 in the X coordinate direction.

When a person sequentially operates a device such as the image information display device 101 by hand, the stop state shown by the section d generally has a relatively long time. Even in this stopped state, a calculated speed component may remain, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 may be shifted during the next viewing of the image. Therefore, the period of the stop state is determined from the length of the time from the acceleration to the reverse acceleration and further from the next acceleration, and the speed during this period is uniformly reduced to zero, or the image is shifted. It is preferable that the origin be corrected by executing a predetermined mode when the distance becomes a level that can be observed by the user. Further, it is also preferable to appropriately perform an operation of resetting the speed so that the movement of the image information display apparatus 101 becomes zero at the time of stop.

Further, depending on the user, "shake" may occur in the hand in a stopped state, and the acceleration and deceleration may be repeated little by little. The image information display device 101
It is also effective to store or register a pattern unique to the individual on the side, and to perform movement control that ignores movement due to this.

Now, referring to FIG.
08 is pressed, the user operates the image information display device 10.
1 in a predetermined direction, the display memory area 253
The image information 266 read out from is kept unchanged and unchanged. When the depression of the mode switch 108 is released, the user again operates as if the liquid crystal display
An image display effect that matches the moving direction of the image information display device 101 can be obtained as if the viewing window 4 was a viewing window in the virtual space. Therefore, for example, when the front gate of University D is first displayed on the liquid crystal display 104,
By moving the image information display device 101 in the direction of the road extending therefrom, it is possible to display each research building, library, cafeteria, etc., and by performing an operation to return to the original road when it is lost, the map is displayed. The entire displayed content can be grasped more quickly. In addition, the image information display device 10
By moving the image information display device 101, the image information that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 104 can be shifted by an amount corresponding to the movement of 1.

In the above embodiment, a two-dimensional map or image information has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a three-dimensional map or image information. For example, if the user arrives at the inside of the research building, which is to be moved in the horizontal direction (X, Y directions) from the main gate of University D, the image information display device 101 is moved in the Z direction to move the research building. It is also possible to display the layout of each floor. In the case of two-dimensional map information, it can be drawn in the human head in the perceptual space 141 (FIG. 2) in the horizontal direction or in another direction such as the vertical direction. Therefore, the user can use the image information display device 1
Naturally, the direction of the plane on which 01 is moved can be freely selected depending on how the perceptual space 141 is adopted.

In the embodiment described above, the acceleration sensor is used as the position detection sensor 109. However, a sensor having the same function can be constituted by using various other devices. For example, the image information display device 10
A mark indicating a reference point, a light-emitting device, or the like is attached to the chest or collar of the user's clothes, and the position is determined using a device such as a PSD (Position Sensitive Device) incorporated in the apparatus main body 101 in advance. By detecting, the position of the display screen can be calculated backward. In addition, it is possible to incorporate an imaging camera into the apparatus main body and determine the moving direction and the moving amount of the image information display apparatus 101 from the moving state of the captured image of the surrounding object. Further, the position can be detected in a form along the upper body of the user. The two one-dimensional image sensors may be arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other, and the amount of change in the position may be calculated by calculating the correlation of the one-dimensional image information acquired at fixed time intervals.
Movement detectors using speckles and the like also belong to this category.

It is also possible to detect a change of the image information display device 101 by the user by a simple change of the external video. However, when the user is on a transportation such as a train or a taxi, the image information display device 101 may move even in a stationary state unless changes in images due to movements other than the user are offset. Detection is performed.

Therefore, the distance from a fixed object such as a floor, a ceiling, a wall, or the like is detected using an optical distance detector or a distance detector based on ultrasonic waves. A technique for detecting movement is effective. When operating the image information display device 101, the floor and the ground may fluctuate as an image depending on physical characteristics such as the height of the user. However, since the same user operates, the fluctuation can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, the vertical direction of the perceptual space 141 (the vertical axis direction of a display such as a liquid crystal display)
Can be detected stably. If the shift of the origin becomes a problem in this method, the correction may be performed using the mode changeover switch 108 as described in the embodiment.

As an optical distance detector, similarly to the principle used for distance detection of an auto-focus camera, light is projected on an object to be measured, a bright spot position is detected, and triangulation is performed. Is simple and effective.
As for the distance detector using ultrasonic waves, the time-of-flight method of measuring the distance based on the time until the emitted ultrasonic waves are reflected and returned to the object to be measured is advantageous in that a stable result is obtained.

In the embodiment, the image information is obtained by using the Internet. However, similar information may be obtained by using another communication network such as a LAN (local area network), or a predetermined connection may be made. Of course, similar information may be obtained from a computer or another storage medium such as a CD (compact disk) or DVD (digital video disk) using a cable.

[0065]

As described above, claims 1 to 7 are described.
According to the invention described above, the display means accommodated in a predetermined housing having a size operable by hand is selected to display the partial image information according to the movement of the housing, and the display content is moved. Therefore, by actively moving the image information display device, the image can be changed in accordance with the change, and even when only a part of the image can be displayed, the entire image can be grasped and necessary points can be determined. Can be easily displayed. In addition, since it is not necessary to operate the image information display device on a desk, display control of an image can be performed regardless of a place. Also, unlike the operation on the desk, the movement of the image displayed on the display means can be matched with the movement in the perceptual space drawn by the human brain due to the movement of the image, and the recognition of the image becomes easy and accurate There is an advantage.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the partial image information selection control means moves the image selected by the display image range selection means two-dimensionally in association with the two-dimensional movement. Therefore, not only can the image be easily recognized, but also information other than the two-dimensional movement in the three-dimensional movement detected by the position detecting means can be shut out. Therefore, information other than the two-dimensional movement such as bringing the image displayed on the image information display device closer to the eyes is ignored, and the display content of the image is not changed. Recognition can be realized, and in this sense, the danger that a user of the image information display device may make an illusion of an image and lead to an incorrect recognition result can be avoided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image information display device of the first aspect, the position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with the three-dimensional movement. The partial image information selection control means uses the replaced 3
Since the image selected by the display image range selection means is moved in association with the three-dimensional movement, it becomes possible to intuitively grasp the three-dimensional image information. Therefore, for example, the analysis of the structure of each floor of the building and the cross section of the brain can be performed easily and intuitively.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the image information storage means can store the image information downloaded from the download means via the communication network, a large image can be easily stored. Utilizing the features of the image information display device that can be grasped in this way, it is possible to receive and use various image information premised on a normal stationary computer without distinction. Therefore, it is not necessary for the information provider to prepare two types of image information for an ordinary stationary computer and an image information display device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone. Further, it is possible to solve the problem of resolution degradation that occurs when an image is prepared for an image information display device having a small display screen such as a mobile phone.

Further, according to the present invention, the apparent movement of the position detecting means which occurs when the user stops moving the image information display device can be ignored, so that the display position can always be accurately determined. Can be kept.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a principle operation of the image information display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between information obtained from eyes and exercise for a human cerebrum.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a mutual relationship between visual information processing and a hierarchical structure of motor output.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a circuit configuration of the image information display device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a communication system for image information using the image information display device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when downloading a desired map by connecting to the Internet using the image information display device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a state of display control when an image having a relatively large size is displayed on the image information display device in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a liquid crystal display screen on which a list of image information titles is displayed in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit portion that performs movement control and display of an image in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of movement detection by a position detection sensor in the present embodiment, taking an X coordinate direction as an example.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 101 image information display device 102 device main body 103 antenna 104 liquid crystal display 108 mode changeover switch 109 position detection sensor 121 relatively large image 122 observer 123 display frame (display) 124 device (image information display device) 125 partial area of image 126 hand 141 Perceptual space 151 CPU 154 ROM 155 RAM 156 Wireless transmission / reception unit 157 Display control unit 251 Base address register (origin coordinate data registration means) 252 Display address counter 253 Display memory area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09G 5/34 G09G 5/00 555D (72) Inventor Eiji Miyazaki 1-4-4-Katori, Tama-shi, Tokyo 402 F term (reference) 5B069 AA20 BA04 DD11 DD17 JA10 5B087 AA07 AA09 BC13 BC27 BC31 DD03 DD12 DE06 5C082 AA01 AA22 BA12 BB01 BB15 BB25 CA72 CA76 CB01 CB05 DA55 DA61 MM09 MM10 5E501 AA04 CC37 FB03 CA02 FB05

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A predetermined housing sized to be held and operated by hand, display means incorporated in the housing to display an image, and position detection means for detecting a spatial movement of the housing. Image information storage means for storing image information having an image size larger than the image size which can be displayed on the display means at one time; partial image information of a display range which can be displayed at one time from the image information stored in the image information storage means Display image range selection means for selecting and outputting to the display means for display, and partial image information selection control means for moving an image selected by the display image range selection means in a movement direction detected by the position detection means. An image information display device, comprising: 2. The position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with a two-dimensional movement, and the partial image information selection control means detects the movement by the replaced two-dimensional movement. 2. The image information display device according to claim 1, wherein the image selected by the display image range selection means is moved in association with the image information. 3. The position detecting means detects the movement by replacing the spatial movement of the housing with a three-dimensional movement, and the partial image information selection control means detects the movement by the replaced three-dimensional movement. 2. The image information display device according to claim 1, wherein the image selected by the display image range selection means is moved in association with the image information. 4. The image information display device according to claim 1, wherein said image information storage means stores image information downloaded from a download means via a communication network. 5. The partial image information selection control means registers coordinates of an origin serving as a reference of a display frame when a part of the image information stored in the image information storage means is cut out and displayed on the display means. Origin coordinate data registering means, and display of a partial image determined by the display frame by sequentially changing the coordinates of the origin in accordance with the spatial movement direction and movement amount of the housing detected by the position detection means. 2. The image information display device according to claim 1, further comprising: selection instruction means for sequentially selecting a range by the display image range selection means. 6. A switch for setting on / off whether or not to reflect the spatial movement of the housing, which is sequentially detected by the position detecting means, in the registered contents of the origin coordinate data registering means is provided. The image information display device according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The position detecting means is an acceleration sensor, and a movement stop period determining means for determining a movement stop period from the time when the housing starts moving spatially to the time when the housing stops, and the time when the movement starts again. 2. The image information display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a movement amount correction unit that makes a spatial movement amount of the casing zero during the movement stop period determined by the movement stop period determination unit. .