JP2003271280A - Electronic apparatus and method and program of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve both of containability of a keyboard and usability of a display unit. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus 10 includes a keyboard unit 13 fixed to the vicinity of the bottom of the display unit 11. The electronic apparatus also includes a detecting means for detecting whether or not a portion of a display area of the display unit 11 is covered by the keyboard unit 13, and a display control means for controlling a display mode for uncovered portion (unconcealed portion), which is not covered by the keyboard unit 13, of display area of the display unit 11 while the detecting means detects that a portion of the display area of the display unit is covered by the keyboard unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electronic device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic device having a display device and a keyboard (or an input device similar thereto).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of electronic equipment equipped with a keyboard (or an input device similar to it; hereinafter referred to as a keyboard) is a personal computer. The user interacts with the information displayed on the display device of the personal computer and operates the keyboard to input necessary commands and characters into the personal computer. The display device functions as an output means of information to the user, and the keyboard functions as an input means to the personal computer.

By the way, today's personal computers utilize not only the information processing function but also their excellent display performance, for example, television broadcasting and DVD (Dig).
Although it is evolving to have various functions such as italic versatile disk content playback function, the frequency of use of the keyboard will decrease accordingly, so a design (design) that can store an obstructive keyboard in good condition is required. It's starting to happen.

In terms of storability, the notebook personal computer has a keyboard and a display device which can be folded together so that it is not necessary to consider the location of the keyboard. In addition, a desktop personal computer that adopts this method (folding method) has also been put into practical use in some areas, and tentative improvement measures have been taken in terms of keyboard accommodation.

[0005]

However, in these improvement measures, since the entire screen of the display device is covered with the keyboard in all cases, the keyboard of the display device must be displayed every time it is necessary to see the screen of the display device. You have to release the stored state, which is troublesome and
In the first place, there is a problem that it is not possible to combine the storageability of the keyboard with the usability of the display device.

Therefore, a problem to be solved by the present invention is that a part of the screen of the display device can be used even when the keyboard is housed, so that the keyboard houseability and the display device usability can be improved. It is to provide an electronic device that can achieve both.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic device having an input device section, a mounting means for mounting the input device section near the lower end of the display section, and a part of the display area of the display section by the input device section. And a display means for controlling a display mode of a portion of the display area of the display unit which is not covered by the input device unit, while the detection unit detects that the state is covered. And a display control means.

Further, according to the present invention, in a method of controlling an electronic device having an input device unit mounted near a lower end of a display unit, a part of a display area of the display unit is covered by the input device unit. And a display control step of controlling a display mode of a portion of the display area of the display section which is not covered by the input device section while the state is detected by the processing of the detection step. It is characterized by

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a predetermined processing function, wherein the processing function is such that a part of the display area of the display section is covered by an input device section mounted near the lower end of the display section. And a display control for controlling a display mode of a portion of the display area of the display unit which is not covered by the input device while the state is detected by the detecting step. And a step.

Here, when the input device section covers a "part" of the display area of the display section (when the input apparatus section is "unused"), the display area of the display section is covered by the input apparatus section. Exposed (hidden) part and other parts (part not covered by the input device part)
Can be divided into Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the former will be referred to as a “concealed portion” and the latter will be referred to as a “non-concealed portion”.

In such a configuration, when a part of the display area of the display section is covered by the input device section, the state is detected by the detection means, and the non-concealed portion of the display section is detected by the display control means. The display mode of is controlled.

Therefore, even when the input device section is stored, a part of the screen of the display section (non-concealed section) can be used, and the keyboard section can be accommodated and the display section can be utilized. it can.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the input device section is a keyboard section, and the display mode is such that a portion of the display area of the display section which is not covered by the keyboard section (non-concealed section) has an arbitrary screen. Is to be displayed.

In this aspect, by displaying an arbitrary screen on the non-concealed portion of the display unit, it is possible to utilize a part of the screen of the display unit (non-concealed portion) when the keyboard unit is not used.

Further, in another preferred aspect of the present invention, the arbitrary screen displays the current date or time.

According to this aspect, a part (non-concealed part) of the screen of the display unit when the keyboard unit is not used can be used for date display, time display, or both of them.

Further, in still another preferred aspect of the present invention, the arbitrary screen has a screen configuration corresponding to the application program when a predetermined application program is being executed in the electronic device.

According to this aspect, when a predetermined application program is being executed when detecting that the keyboard is not used,
A screen having a configuration corresponding to the application program can be displayed on the non-concealed portion of the display unit. There are various possible application programs,
In particular, an application program that does not positively require keyboard operation, for example, an application program for reproducing content such as moving images and music can be the target. This is because the execution state of the content reproduction application software can be grasped or operated through the screen displayed on the non-concealed portion of the display unit. Alternatively, the application program may be a screen saver.

[0019] In still another preferred aspect of the present invention, the input device section is a keyboard section, and the display control step includes the keyboard in the display area of the display section while the state is detected by the detection step. It is supposed to position the cursor in the part not covered by the part.

In this aspect, when the keyboard portion is closed, the cursor is always positioned at the non-concealed portion of the display portion.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking application to a personal computer as an example. It should be noted that the identification of various details in the following description or examples and examples of numerical values, character strings, and other symbols are merely references for clarifying the idea of the present invention, and may be used by all or a part of them. Obviously, the inventive idea is not limited. In addition, a detailed description of well-known methods, well-known procedures, well-known architectures, well-known circuit configurations, and the like (hereinafter referred to as “well-known matters”) will be omitted, but this is also for the sake of brevity and these well-known matters. It does not intentionally exclude all or part of the matter. Such a well-known matter can be known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing the present invention, and is naturally included in the following description.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the personal computer 10. The personal computer 10 includes a display unit 11, a base unit 12, and a keyboard unit 13. The upper end of the keyboard portion 13 has a hinge mechanism 14
It is swingably attached near the lower part of the display unit 11 via. As a result, the personal computer 10 has the open state (keyboard section 13 shown in FIG.
From the state where the key operation is possible) to the closed state shown in (b) to the closed state shown in (c) (or "stored state" or "folded state"): the keyboard portion 13 is closed. Key operation is disabled),
Alternatively, the state can be changed to the opposite. Therefore, in the unused state, the keyboard portion 13 can cover almost the lower half of the screen of the display portion 11.

Here, the personal computer 10 is
The display unit 11 includes a liquid crystal display panel 15 arranged in front of the center and speakers 16R and 16L arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal display panel 15, and the keyboard unit 13 has a predetermined arrangement (for example, JIS arrangement). Although it has a full key top 17, the present invention is not limited to this.

Any electronic device having a display device and a keyboard may be used, and for example, various information processing devices such as a dedicated word processor, a network terminal or a workstation, or a PDA (Personal Di).
personal assistants such as digital assistance, mobile phones (car phones and PHS: Persona)
l Handy-phone System),
Alternatively, various dedicated devices used in the fields of measurement, broadcasting, etc. (for example, spectrum analyzer, non-linear editing device, etc.) may be used. These devices also have a display device and a keyboard in common with the personal computer 10 of the present embodiment. Note that some of these devices are provided with other input devices such as a numeric keypad instead of the keyboard, but such an input device is still an input device similar to a keyboard. Further, in the illustrated example, the liquid crystal display panel 15 is used as the display device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a cold cathode tube type or an EL (E
It may be another type of display device, such as a retro luminescence).

Now, one of the peculiar points of the electronic apparatus (personal computer 10) in the present embodiment is that the lower half of the liquid crystal display panel 15 is almost the same when the keyboard portion 13 is closed as described above. To be hidden.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram thereof. 1A shows the keyboard portion 13 in an open state (see FIG. 1A), and FIG. 1B shows the keyboard portion 13 in a closed state (see FIG. 1C).
(See) and when. In the "open state", the entire display area of the liquid crystal display panel 15 is visible (exposed), but in the "closed state", almost the lower half of the liquid crystal display panel 15 is hidden, and the remaining portion (almost all). Only the upper half) is visible.

The illustrated liquid crystal display panel 15 is a horizontally long one that is compatible with wide television broadcasting, and
XGA (eXtended Graphics Arr)
It has a resolution of ay) (1024 × 768 dots). Furthermore, when the keyboard unit 13 is in the "closed state", it is hidden and becomes invisible (hereinafter referred to as "concealed portion 15").
a)) is the lower half of 1024 × 384 dots,
In addition, the part that is visible in the same state (hereinafter referred to as “non-concealed part 15b”) is the upper half of 1024 × 384 dots. However, it goes without saying that these limitations are for convenience of description and do not indicate an extension of the idea of the invention.

Another unique point of the electronic device (personal computer 10) in the present embodiment is that it has a mechanism for detecting the open / closed state of the keyboard section 13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the mechanism. In this example, the magnetic sensitive switch element 20 is mounted inside the display unit 11, and the keyboard unit 1 is used.
A permanent magnet 21 is mounted inside the unit 3. The switch element 20 has a normally-off type switch contact 20a, and this switch contact 20a is turned on in response to magnetism. The permanent magnet 21 is provided at an appropriate position where magnetism can be applied to the switch element 20 when the keyboard portion 13 is closed.

According to this example, when the keyboard portion 13 is in the open state (or is in the state of being opened and closed;
(See (a)), the switch contact 20a is turned off because the permanent magnet 21 and the switch element 20 are separated from each other, while the keyboard portion 13 is closed (FIG. 3).
In (b), the switch contact 20a is turned on because the permanent magnet 21 and the switch element 20 approach each other.

Thus, for example, the switch element 20
When the ground potential (potential equivalent to logic 0) is applied to one end of the keyboard and the detection signal Sa is taken out from the other end, when the keyboard portion 13 is closed (FIG. 3B).
Since the detection signal Sa becomes the ground potential (logic 0), the closed state of the keyboard portion 13 can be electrically detected by activating this signal state (Sa = logic 0).

Next, the internal block configuration of the electronic device (personal computer 10) in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the configuration. The block configuration shown in the drawing is based on a known AT compatible machine architecture, although not particularly limited thereto. In this figure, the personal computer 10 has two blocks (North Bridge 30a and South Bridge 30a).
ge30b) to a CPU (Ce
generalProcessingUnit) 31 or Vi
Deo (video) controller 32 and Memory
While connecting various chips such as (memory) 33,
audio (audio) controller 34 and Modem
(Modem) 35, USB (UniversalSeri)
alBus) 36, MemoryStick (Memory Stick) 37, Bluetooth (Bluetooth)
38, HDD (hard disk drive) 39 and CD
-R / CD-RW / DVD-R / DVD-RW drive 40 and other interfaces and BIOS (Ba
sicInput / OutputSystem) chip 41 is connected, and further South Bridge 30b
PCI (Peripheral Compon)
entsInterconnectBus) 42 and alternative ISA (InstructionSetArchite)
i) to bus 43. Link (R) (IEEE
1394) 44, PC-Card45, SuperI /
It is configured by connecting an O46, an H8 microcomputer 47, and the like.

The Super I / O 46 controls input / output of the serial port 48 and the parallel port 49,
H8 microcomputer 47 is PS / 2 port 50 such as mouse
And controls input / output of the keyboard port 51 and the JOG port 52 such as a game controller.

The CPU 31 accesses the HDD 39 via the chipset 30, loads a basic program (also referred to as an operating system) previously stored (installed) in the HDD 39 into the memory 33, and executes it.

In the HDD 39, in addition to the above-mentioned basic program, an arbitrary application program (a program that can be executed on the basic program, also called an application program) is stored (installed).
The CPU 31 can load and execute a desired application program in the memory 33 automatically or in response to a user operation under the execution environment of the basic program.

By the way, the basic program is Windows, which is a representative of known general-purpose operating systems.
In the case of (R), in order to automatically execute the desired application program, the shortcut icon of the application program may be registered in a special folder called startup. Also, in the case of application programs that can be executed as background services,
The "startup type" of the application program should be "automatic".

The application program automatically designated as described above is stored in Mem after the personal computer 10 is started.
Since the function is continued to be resident in the ory 33 and the personal computer 10 is shut down, such an automatic execution type application program is hereinafter referred to as a “resident type application program”.

While executing the basic program and the application program, the CPU 31 can access various hardware resources of the personal computer 10 according to the contents of the program.

The personal computer 10 having the above-described configuration is capable of realizing a function according to the contents of the program by organically combining software resources such as a basic program and an application program with various hardware resources. It is common with the personal computer, and differs in the following points.

That is, the electronic device (personal computer 10) according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned two singular points, that is, (1) almost the lower half of the liquid crystal display panel 15 when the keyboard portion 13 is closed. In addition to the point that the switch element 20 that generates the detection signal Sa that becomes active when the keyboard unit 13 is closed is provided, (3) the detection signal Sa is predetermined. Of the basic program being executed by the CPU 31 (for example, API; Applica).
(Action Program Interface function)
The detection signal Sa from a predetermined application program using
Is different from the existing personal computer in that the active state / inactive state can be determined, and (5) the execution state of a predetermined application program can be changed using the determination result.

These characteristic points (1) to (5) will be described with reference to specific examples.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a specific example thereof. In the figure, the lower layer is a hardware resource 60, the middle layer is a basic program 61, and the upper layer is an application program 62. The hardware resource 60 includes the blocks shown in FIG. 4, but only the detection signal Sa generated by the switch element 20 is shown in the figure for simplification. The basic program 61 monitors the state of the detection signal Sa, and a predetermined API function (for convenience, “Device” for convenience)
If there is a notification request for the status via the IoControl function ”), the status of the detection signal Sa is notified using the return value of the API function.

For example, when the detection signal Sa is active (when the keyboard portion 13 is in the closed state), "De
The return value of the "viceIoControl function" is set to a true value ("True"), while the detection signal Sa is inactive (when the keyboard unit 13 is in the open state).
Notifies the return value of the "DeviceIoControl function" as a false value ("False"). According to this, in the application program 62, the formula “DeviceIoCon
The closed state of the keyboard portion 13 can be determined by evaluating "trol () = True".

As the application program 62, two independent programs 63 and 64 are shown in the illustrated example. The first application program 63 is "Device
Keyboard part 1 using "eIoControl function"
3 is a "resident application program" that determines the open / closed state of the liquid crystal display device 3 and the liquid crystal display 1
The display mode of No. 5 can be changed. The second application program 64 is an arbitrary application program that can change its execution state under the control of the first application program 63. The relationship between the first application program 63 and the second application program 64 will be described later.

As described above, the first application program 63 determines the open / closed state of the keyboard portion 13, and the "display mode" of the liquid crystal display 15 is determined according to the determination result.
Can be changed. Here, “changing the display mode” means, in a broad sense, giving different visual effects depending on whether the keyboard unit 13 is open or closed.
For example, while the open state of the keyboard unit 13 is being determined, the normal screen (Window) is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15.
In the case of s (R), the “desktop screen” is displayed, while while the closed state of the keyboard unit 13 is being determined, the “arbitrary screen” corresponding to the closed state is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. Say that.

The arbitrary screen may be a simple screen such as a logo display, but it is desirable to provide a screen to which some useful information can be given in consideration of the convenience for the user. For example, calendar display or time display. It may be a screen. Hereinafter, it will be described as a screen on which time can be displayed (for convenience, referred to as “time display screen”).

In FIG. 5, the first application program 63
Is composed of, for example, four blocks. The first block is the MotionClock display section 63a, and the second block is the Launcher control section 63b. The third block is the setting unit 63c, and the fourth block is the driver unit 63d. It should be noted that although it is composed of four blocks here, it may be combined into one block or may be divided into a plurality of blocks other than four. In any case, they are design items considering the ease of program development and the commonality of program parts.

Launcher control section 63b
Is a memory when the personal computer 10 is started.
It is a resident process unit that is loaded into y33 and automatically executed (as a startup or service). Lau
ncher control unit 63b, during the execution period,
The basic program 61 is periodically sent via the driver unit 63d.
The active / inactive state of the detection signal Sa, and based on the inquiry result, the MotionC
The start / end of the lock display portion 63a is determined.

The Motion Clock unit 63a is La
A predetermined screen (time display screen) is displayed (open) on the liquid crystal display panel 15 when a start command is output from the uncher control unit 63b, and the screen (time display screen) is closed when an end command is output. To do.

The setting section 63c has an interface screen (not shown) and uses the screen to set the operation of the first application program 63. This operation setting includes, for example, the Motion Clock unit 63a.
Enable (allows opening of certain screens)
It also includes whether or not to suppress the screen saver when the Motion Clock unit 63a is enabled and a predetermined screen is opened.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the layout of the predetermined screen (time display screen). Note that this drawing shows two types of layout examples (a) and (b). The time display screen 70 shown in one example (a) has a size (1024 × 3) of the non-concealed portion 15 b of the liquid crystal display panel 15.
The time display screen 71 shown in the other example (b) is the size of the concealed portion + non-concealed portion 15b of the liquid crystal display panel 15 (that is, the size of the liquid crystal display panel 15). : 1024
(× 768 dots).

In any of the examples, the time information display objects 70a and 71a and other operation objects (for example, monochrome display / color display change operation object 7) are displayed.
0b, 71b) and any incidental objects (for example, appropriately designed animation objects 70c, 71c, etc.) are gathered in the non-concealed portion 15b, so that either of them may be practically adopted. However, these two types of time display screens 70, 7
It is desirable that the drawing mode of 1 be full screen. This is because the title bar and screen frame can be hidden and the desktop screen can be hidden by making it the topmost display. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the time display screen 70 of FIG. 6A is used.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic flow chart of the Launcher control section 63b. In this figure, the Launcher control unit 63b in the resident state uses the formula "Device" at predetermined time intervals.
“IoControl () = True” is evaluated to determine the open / closed state of the keyboard unit 13 (step S1).
1). If the evaluation result is "keyboard open", it is determined whether or not the time display screen 70 is open at that time (step S12). If not, the open / closed state of the keyboard unit 13 is determined as it is. The process returns to step (step S11), and if opened, the time display screen 70 is closed (step S13), and then the keyboard unit 13
The process returns to the open / closed state determination step (step S11).

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a display mode of the liquid crystal display panel 15 when the keyboard portion 13 is in an open state. When the keyboard portion 13 is in the open state, the switch contact 20a of the switch element 20 is in the off state, and the detection signal Sa is inactive. Therefore, in this case, the time display screen 70 is not displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 15, and the normal screen (desktop screen 72) is displayed.

On the other hand, when the keyboard portion 13 is closed, the switch contact 20a of the switch element 20 is turned on and the detection signal Sa changes to active, as shown in FIG. 8 (b). This signal change is based on the expression “DeviceIoControl () = Tr in step S11.
ue ”is detected by the evaluation result (True). Then, in this case, it is determined whether or not the time display screen 70 is open at that time (step S14), and if it is not open, the time display screen 70 is opened (step S1).
5) After that, the process returns to the open / closed state determination step (step S11) of the keyboard portion 13, and if it is opened, the open / closed state determination step (step S1) of the keyboard portion 13 is performed as it is.
Return to 1).

As described above, in the electronic device (personal computer 10) of the present embodiment, when the keyboard portion 13 is put into the housed state (closed state), the lower half of the liquid crystal display panel 15 (the concealed portion 15a) is opened. The non-concealed portion 1 can be covered with the keyboard portion 13.
A closed state dedicated screen (time display screen 70) can be displayed on 5b. Therefore, even if the keyboard portion 13 is kept in the stored state (closed state), the personal computer 10 can be utilized as a display device for predetermined information (current time in the above example), which is a unique advantage. It can be differentiated from other personal computers designed only to store the keyboard portion, and the superiority in the market can be secured.

In the above example, when the keyboard unit 13 is closed, the closed state dedicated screen (time display screen 70 or 71) is displayed on the non-concealed portion 15b of the liquid crystal display panel 15 for "time display". Is displayed, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to this. Hereinafter, a preferable development example thereof will be described.

FIG. 9 is an improved example of the schematic flowchart (see FIG. 7) of the Launcher control unit 63b described above. In this improved example, execution / non-execution of the second application program 64 (see FIG. 5) is determined, and two closed state dedicated screens (the above-mentioned time display screen 70 or 71 / described later) are determined according to the determination result. The audio control / time display screen 90 or 91; see FIG. 11) is switched. Here, the second application program 64 can be, for example, a control program for audio.

FIG. 10 shows an example screen layout of an audio control program (hereinafter referred to as “So for convenience”).
nicStage screen "). This Son
The icStage screen has two display modes, a detailed screen 80 and a simple screen 81. The detail screen 80 includes a title bar 80a, a menu bar 80b, and a client area 80c, and various controls for operating audio resources are arranged in the client area 80c. For example, the client area 80c has control buttons such as a stop button, a play button, a pause button, a volume control, a fast forward button, and a rewind button, and is also managed by Sonic Stage such as CD, import, playlist, transfer, media, and the Internet. It consists of a file list display screen. On the other hand, the simple screen 81 has only the client area 81a in which the minimum necessary controls are arranged. For example, 81a is composed of control buttons such as a stop button, a play button, a pause button, a volume control, a fast forward button, and a rewind button. The detailed screen 80 and the simple screen 81 can be freely switched and used by a user operation.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the layout of the audio control / time display screen 90 or 91. The audio control / time display screen 90 shown in one example (a) is made to match the size (1024 × 384 dots) of the non-concealed portion 15b of the liquid crystal display panel 15. The audio control / time display screen 91 shown in the other example (b) matches the size of the concealed portion + non-concealed portion 15b of the liquid crystal display panel 15 (that is, the size of the liquid crystal display panel 15: 1024 × 768 dots). It was made.

In any of the examples, the time information display objects 90a and 91a and other operation objects (for example, monochrome display / color display change operation object 9) are displayed.
0b, 91b, audio control object groups 90c, 91c) and arbitrary auxiliary objects (for example, appropriately designed animation objects 90d, 91d, etc.) are grouped in the non-concealed portion 15b. There is no problem in adopting. However, it is desirable that the drawing modes of these two types of audio control / time display screens 90 and 91 are also full screen, like the previous time display screens 70 and 71. This is because the title bar and screen frame can be hidden and the desktop screen can be hidden by making it the topmost display. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, FIG.
(A) Audio control / time display screen 90
Will be used.

In the improved flowchart (FIG. 9), the Launcher control unit 6 in the resident state is shown.
3b has a formula "DeviceIoCo" at predetermined time intervals.
"ntrol () = True" is evaluated to determine the open / closed state of the keyboard unit 13 (step S21). If the evaluation result is "keyboard open", it is determined whether or not the time display screen 70 or the audio control / time display screen 90 is open at that time (step S22). The screen (time display screen 70 or audio control / time display screen 90) is closed (step S23), and if not opened, it is determined whether or not the second application program 64 is being activated (step S24). ).

Here, "starting" means that the second application program 64 is being executed as a task.

Next, the determination result of step S24 is YES.
In the case of, that is, when the second application program 64 is being activated, the execution screen (the detailed screen 80 or the simple screen 81) is brought into the on-focus state (step S2).
After 5), the process returns to the open / closed state determination step (step S21) of the keyboard portion 13 again. Also, step S2
If the determination result of No. 4 is NO, that is, if the second application program 64 is not started, the open / close state determination step of the keyboard unit 13 (step S2)
Return to 1).

In the routines of steps S21 to S25, if the time display screen 70 or the audio control / time display screen 90 is open when the keyboard portion 13 is opened, the screen can be closed. If the second application program 64 is active, the execution screen (the detail screen 80 or the simple screen 81) can be brought into the selected state (on-focus state).

On the other hand, when the closed state is determined in the step of determining the open / closed state of the keyboard portion 13 (step S21), it is first determined whether or not the second application program 64 is being activated (step S26). , The following two routines are selectively executed according to the determination result.

<Keyboard 13: Closed state + Second application program 64: Non-start> In this routine, it is determined whether the time display screen 70 is open (step S2).
7) If it is opened, the process directly returns to the open / closed state determination step (step S21) of the keyboard portion 13, and if it is not opened, the time display screen 70 is opened (step S28), and then the keyboard portion 13 is opened / closed. The process returns to the state determination step (step S21). In this routine, it is possible to display the closed-state dedicated screen (that is, the time display screen 70) for presenting time information similar to that in the previous embodiment.

<Keyboard 13: Closed + Second Application Program 64: Starting> In this routine, it is determined whether or not the audio control / time display screen 90 is open (step S29). If so, the process directly returns to the open / closed state determination step (step S21) of the keyboard portion 13, and if not opened, the audio control / time display screen 90 is opened (step S30), and then the open / closed state determination step of the keyboard portion 13 is performed. It returns to (step S21). In this routine,
A closed state dedicated screen different from the previous embodiment, that is, an operation object corresponding to the second application program 64 (for example, “STOP”, “PLAY / PAUS”).
E "," SKIP- "," SKIP + "," DIS
P ”,“ RWD ”,“ FF ”,“ VOL- ”,“ VOL
Closed state dedicated screen (title display such as +) (audio control / time display screen 90)
Can be displayed. By the way, the functions assigned to the click event of each title object are as follows.

"STOP": Playback is stopped.

"PLAY / PAUSE": Start playback / pause if playback is in progress.

"SKIP-": Cue the currently playing song.

"SKIP +": Finds the next song currently being reproduced.

"DISP": The display method of the reproduction time of the music is switched.

"RWD": Rewinds the currently reproduced song.

"FF": Fast-forward the currently playing song.

"VOL-": Decrease the reproduction volume.

"VOL +": Increases the reproduction volume.

Therefore, according to this improved flow chart, the keyboard unit 1 is the same as in the previous embodiment.
In the closed state of 3, the closed state dedicated screen (time display screen 70 or 71) for presenting time information can be displayed on the non-concealed portion 15b of the liquid crystal display panel 15, and the second application program 64 is running. In this case, instead of the closed state dedicated screen (time display screen 70 or 71) for presenting the time information, another closed state dedicated screen (an audio control time which has an interface similar to that of the second application program 64) is used. The display screen 90 or 91) can be displayed.

As a result, the latter closed state dedicated screen (audio control / time display screen 90 or 91) can be used to operate various audio resources with the keyboard unit 13 still stored. Since a particular merit can be obtained, it is possible to provide a convenient technique by applying it to an electronic device having a reproducing function of, for example, television broadcasting or DVD contents.

Although not mentioned in the above description, the following ideas may be made, for example.

<First Idea> When the time display screen 70 or 71 of FIG. 6 is opened and a specific character string (“Sonic Stage”) in the screen is clicked,
Instead of the time display screen 70 or 71, the audio control / time display screen 90 or 91 of FIG. 11 may be displayed. In this case, if the second application program 64 is not being executed, the second application program 64 is executed at the same time. Or, conversely, FIG.
When the audio control / combined time display screen 90 or 91 of FIG. Time display screen 70 or 71
May be displayed.

<Second Idea> When the time display screen 70 or 71 of FIG. 6 is opened, or when the audio control / time display screen 90 or 91 of FIG. 11 is opened, the liquid crystal display panel 15 is displayed. The lower half (concealed portion 15a) is hidden. Therefore, if the cursor is located at the relevant portion (the hidden portion 15a),
When selecting an object, the cursor has to be moved to the non-concealed portion 15b, which is troublesome and troublesome. As a countermeasure against this, while the keyboard portion 13 is in the closed state (while the detection signal Sa is active), the movement coordinates of the cursor are kept in the non-concealed portion 15b.
It should be limited to Since the cursor is not hidden, the inconvenience (the cursor has to be moved to the non-hidden portion 15b) can be avoided.

<Third device> In order to enhance the visual effect,
For example, the time display screen 70 or 71 of FIG.
When a moving image object such as a flash is incorporated in the audio control / time display screen 90 or 91, the display control of the moving image object requires a certain amount of hardware resources (such as the ability of the CPU 31). When a high-load application program (for example, an image processing program such as an MPEG decoder) is being executed, the execution of the image processing program may be hindered (for example, dropped frames). As a countermeasure against this, for example, when a specific high-load application program is being executed, the display of the above-mentioned moving image objects is prohibited, or a screen including these moving image objects (the time display screen 70 in FIG. 6 or Instead of 71 or the audio control / time display screen 90 or 91 of FIG. 11, an arbitrary message screen to that effect may be displayed.

Speakers 16 provided on both sides of the liquid crystal display panel 15 in order to further enhance the acoustic effect.
It is desirable that R and 16L are not covered with the keyboard portion 13 even when the keyboard portion 13 is closed. For example, when the keyboard unit 13 is folded, the speakers 16R and 16L are arranged so as to be located above the display unit (FIG. 1C) than the portion covered by the keyboard unit. By doing this, the keyboard unit 1
Even when 3 is closed, the music and the like can be heard with optimum sound quality, and the acoustic effect can be enhanced.

The main function of this embodiment is functionally realized by organically combining hardware resources including a microcomputer (CPU 31) and software resources such as a basic program and various application programs. However, since general-purpose hardware resources and basic programs can be used, it can be said that the essential items essential to the present invention are substantially concentrated in the first application program 63. Therefore, according to the present invention, a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, an MO, a CD, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory, which stores all of the first application program 63 or a main part thereof, is used as a distribution channel. Of course, including those which provide only the recorded contents on the network).

According to the present invention, the detecting means for detecting that a part of the display area of the display section is covered by the input device section, and the display while the detecting section detects the above state Since the display control means for controlling the display mode of the portion not covered by the input device portion in the display area of the portion is provided, a part of the screen of the display portion (non-concealed portion) even in the housed state of the input device portion. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both the storability of the input device section and the usability of the display section.

Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the input device section is a keyboard section, and the display mode is an arbitrary screen in a portion (non-concealed portion) of the display area of the display section which is not covered by the keyboard section. Is displayed, it is possible to use a part of the screen (non-concealed part) of the display unit when the keyboard unit is not used, by using the arbitrary screen.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the arbitrary screen is for displaying the current date and / or time, so that the display when the keyboard unit is not used is shown. A part of the screen of the department (non-concealed part) can be used for displaying date, displaying time, or displaying both of them.

According to still another preferred aspect of the present invention, the arbitrary screen has a screen structure corresponding to the application program when the predetermined application program is being executed. Therefore, for example, when the application program is an application program for content playback such as video and music, the execution state of the application software for content playback is maintained through the screen displayed in the non-concealed portion of the display unit. Or it can be operated.

According to still another preferred aspect of the present invention, the display control step is covered by the keyboard portion in the display area of the display portion while the state is detected by the processing of the detection step. Since it is supposed to position the cursor on the non-existing part, when the keyboard part is closed, the cursor is always located on the non-hidden part of the display part. Therefore, the cursor is not hidden (in the hidden portion).

[0092]

According to the present invention, a part of the screen of the display unit (non-concealed portion) can be utilized even when the keyboard unit is stored, and the keyboard unit can be stored and the display unit can be used. It is possible to achieve both.

Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a part of the screen of the display unit (non-concealed part) can be effectively used by the arbitrary screen when the keyboard unit is not used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a personal computer 10.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a concealed portion 15a and a non-concealed portion 15b of the liquid crystal display panel 15 when the keyboard portion 13 is opened and closed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mechanism for detecting an open / closed state of a keyboard unit 13.

4 is an internal block configuration diagram of the personal computer 10. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a characteristic point of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a layout of a time display screen 70 or 71.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic flowchart of a Launcher control unit 63b.

FIG. 8 is a liquid crystal display panel 15 when the keyboard portion 13 is in an open state and when it is in a closed state.
It is a figure which shows the display mode of.

FIG. 9 is an improved example of the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an example screen layout of a second application program 64.

[FIG. 11] Time display screen 9 for audio control and combined use
It is a figure which shows the layout of 0 or 91.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Personal computer (electronic device), 11 ...
... display section, 13 ... keyboard section, 15 ... liquid crystal display panel (display area), 20 ... switch element (detection means), 31 ... CPU (display control means),
64 ... Second application program (predetermined application program), 70 ... Time display screen (arbitrary screen), 71 ...
Time display screen (arbitrary screen), 90 ... Audio control / time display screen (arbitrary screen), 91 ... Audio control / time display screen (arbitrary screen).

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device including an input device unit, wherein a mounting means for mounting the input device unit near a lower end of a display unit and a state in which a part of a display area of the display unit is covered by the input device unit. And a detection means for detecting that the state is detected by the detection means,
An electronic device comprising: a display control unit that controls a display mode of a portion of the display area of the display unit that is not covered by the input device unit. 2. The input device unit is a keyboard unit, and the display mode displays an arbitrary screen in a portion of the display area of the display unit which is not covered by the keyboard unit. The electronic device according to claim 1. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the arbitrary screen displays a current date or time. 4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the arbitrary screen has a screen configuration corresponding to the application program when a predetermined application program is being executed. 5. A method of controlling an electronic device including an input device unit mounted near a lower end of a display unit, wherein a part of a display area of the display unit is covered by the input device unit. A detection step of detecting, and a display control step of controlling a display mode of a portion of the display area of the display section which is not covered by the input device section while the state is detected by the processing of the detection step. A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: 6. The input device unit is a keyboard unit, and the display control step is covered by the keyboard unit in a display area of the display unit while the state is detected by the detection step. 6. The cursor is located at a non-existing portion.
A method for controlling the described electronic device. 7. A program for causing a computer to execute a predetermined processing function, wherein the processing function is such that a part of a display area of the display unit is covered by an input device unit attached near a lower end of the display unit. A detection step of detecting a broken state, and a display mode of a portion of the display area of the display section that is not covered by the input device section while the state is detected by the detection step. And a display control step for performing the program. 8. The input device unit is a keyboard unit, and the display control step is covered by the keyboard unit in a display area of the display unit while the state is detected by the detection step. 8. The cursor is located at a non-existing portion.
The listed program.