JP2005242436A - Electronic book - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform a page updating operation without weakening strength to hold an electronic book with one hand. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic book comprises case bodies 2 and 3 in which plate-shaped display devices 5 and 6 for displaying text data by page units are stored; a jog dial 23 installed at a hinge part connecting the case bodies 2 and 3; a detection signal outputting means for outputting a detection signal at the time of detecting that the job dial 23 has been rotated to a predetermined position; and a control means for executing the page update of text data to be displayed at the display devices 5 and 6 when the detection signal is output from the detection signal outputting means. Thus, it is possible to execute the page update only by rotating the jog dial 23 with one hand, and to execute the page updating operation without weakening strength to hold the electronic book. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic book, and more particularly to an electronic book in which a page update operation can be easily performed with one hand.

  An electronic book (electronic book) equipped with a memory-type liquid crystal display device has a predetermined operation of an input key provided on a housing, thereby allowing one or two pages of text data of the book stored in the memory. The page is read and displayed on the memory type liquid crystal display device. In this electronic book, the display data of the page remains without being erased, and the user can read the sentence.

  Next, when an instruction to advance the page is input from the input key, the text data for the next one page or two pages is read from the memory and displayed.

  As described above, the main operation in the electronic book is a page update operation. For this reason, the casing of the electronic book is provided with at least a key for moving the page forward and a key for returning the page to the front ( Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-255977

  When an electronic book is carried around, for example, when reading text data while being held on a train strap, the electronic book is held between the thumb and index finger of one hand. When a page update operation is performed, the thumb is slightly shifted and either the key for moving the page forward or the key for returning the page to the front is pressed. When performing this page update operation, it is necessary to slightly lift the thumb holding the electronic book from the electronic book, and therefore, the force for holding the electronic book is weakened, and the electronic book may be dropped.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic book capable of easily performing a page update operation without weakening the force of holding the electronic book with one hand.

  An electronic book according to the present invention includes a housing that houses a flat display device that displays text data in units of pages, a jog dial that is provided in a part of the housing, and the jog dial that is rotated to a predetermined position. Detection signal output means for outputting a detection signal when it is detected, and control means for updating the page of text data displayed on the display device when the detection signal is output from the detection signal output means. Features.

  With this configuration, a page update instruction can be easily input from the jog dial by a turning operation with the thumb, so that the page update operation of an electronic book held with one hand is facilitated.

  The electronic book according to the present invention is characterized in that the display device is provided with two surfaces, and a housing for storing the display devices on each surface is connected by a hinge so as to be openable and closable.

  With this configuration, it is possible to read the text data for two pages and to protect the display screen because the display screen is hidden when folded.

  The electronic book according to the present invention is characterized in that the jog dial is arranged at the hinge portion.

  With this configuration, when the folding electronic book is opened and held with one hand, the thumb just comes to the jog dial portion, and the operation is further facilitated.

  In the electronic book of the present invention, the detection signal output means detects clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the jog dial, and the control means outputs the detection signal when the clockwise rotation to a predetermined position is detected. An update process for advancing the page forward when detected by the means is performed, and an update process for returning the page to the front when the rotation to the predetermined position in the counterclockwise direction is detected by the detection signal output means is performed. To do.

  With this configuration, the operation for advancing the page and the position for performing the operation for returning the page are the same, and only the direction in which the jog dial is rotated needs to be different.

  According to the present invention, since the page update operation can be performed only by slightly rotating the jog dial on which the thumb is placed at the position, the page update operation is facilitated, and there is no possibility of dropping the electronic book.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a foldable electronic book according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state opened 180 degrees. The electronic book 1 includes three main housings, and includes a rectangular flat plate-like right main body 2, a rectangular flat plate-like left main body 3, and a cylindrical battery case 4 provided therebetween.

  A thin display device such as a memory type liquid crystal device 5 or 6 is mounted on the right main body 2 and the left main body 3, respectively, and four operation buttons 7, 8, 9, 10 are provided on the lower side of the right main body 2. An operation button 11 is provided at the lower left corner of the left main body 3.

  The operation button 11 provided at the lower left corner of the left main body 3 is a key for advancing the page first, and the operation button 10 provided at the lower right corner of the right main body 2 is a key for returning the page forward. These operation buttons 10 and 11 are for facilitating a page update operation when the electronic book 1 is opened and read with both hands.

  Two hinge portions 12 and 13 that are vertically spaced apart are provided on the left side of the right body portion 2, and two hinge portions 14 and 15 (hinge 15) that are vertically spaced also on the right side of the left body portion 3. (See FIG. 2) is provided with a protruding outer surface covered by a jog dial mechanism 20 described later. And the right side main-body part 2 and the left-side main-body part 3 are connected so that opening and closing is possible by connecting the right-hand hinge parts 12 and 13 and the left-hand hinge parts 14 and 15 rotatably.

  In this electronic book 1, a cylindrical battery case 4 is attached to a columnar empty space formed between the hinge parts 12 and 13 when the right body part 2 and the left body part 3 are joined together. Space saving. And the jog dial mechanism 20 which can perform page update operation with one hand is provided in the place which overlaps with the hinge part 15. FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the jog dial mechanism 20 from the electronic book 1. The jog dial mechanism 20 includes a columnar fixed shaft body 21 fixed to a hinge portion 13 integrally projecting from the housing of the right main body portion 2, and an electronic board attached to a cutting portion 21 a of the fixed shaft body 21. 22, a jog dial 23 that is externally fitted to the fixed shaft 21 so as to be rotatable, and a coil shape that gives the jog dial 23 a force that is externally fitted to the fixed shaft 21 and returns the rotational position of the jog dial 23 to a predetermined position. A return spring 24 and a cap member 25 covering the end of the jog dial mechanism 20 are provided. A two-direction detection type switch 26 is attached to the electronic board 22. In this embodiment, the switch 26 functions as a detection signal output unit that outputs a detection signal when it is detected that the jog dial 23 has been rotated to a predetermined position.

  3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the jog dial 23 where the return spring 24 is disposed. A hole 23a extending in the circumferential direction is formed in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical jog dial 23, and a hole 2b extending in the circumferential direction is also formed in the arc wall 2a of the right body portion 2 in which the jog dial 23 is in sliding contact. It is installed. The opening angle θ of the holes 23a, 2b with respect to the central axis of the jog dial 23 is the same, and at the position where one end wall in the circumferential direction of the hole 23a is aligned with the end wall of the hole 2b, the other of the holes 23b, 2b The end walls are also aligned.

  Both end portions 24a and 24b of the coiled return spring 24 fitted on the fixed shaft 21 and housed inside the jog dial 23 protrude into the right main body 2 through the holes 23a and 2b. Both end portions 24a and 24b of the return spring 24 are urged in the expanding direction by the spring elastic force, and the hole 23a and the hole 2b are restricted to the aligned positions by the end portions 24a and 24b by the spring elastic force. Is done. Further, the tips of both end portions 24a and 24b are bent outward from the hole 2b so as not to easily escape from the hole 2b.

  In this state, when the jog dial 23 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3A, one end 24b of the spring 24 pressed against the end wall of the hole 23a is also counterclockwise against the spring force. Moving. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), when one end 24b of the spring 24 comes to a position where it abuts against the other end wall of the hole 2b that locks the other end 24a, the further end The rotational movement is blocked and the jog dial 23 stops. Further, when the application of turning force to the jog dial 23 is stopped and the jog dial 23 is made free, the spring force of the return spring 24 returns to the state shown in FIG.

  Conversely, when the jog dial 23 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3A, the other end 24a of the spring 24 pressed against the end wall of the hole 23a is also counterclockwise against the spring force. Move to. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), when the other end 24a of the spring 24 comes to a position where it abuts against the end wall of the hole 2b that locks the one end 24b, the spring 24 is rotated further. The moving movement is blocked and the jog dial 23 stops.

  4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional view of the position of the switch 26 attached to the shaft body 21 fixed to the right main body 2 via the hinge 13. The state when the jog dial 23 is at the position shown in FIG. 3A is shown in FIG. 4A, and the state when the jog dial 23 is at the position corresponding to FIGS. 3B and 3C is shown in FIG. c).

  A recess 23b is formed in the inner wall of the jog dial 23, and a switch insertion rod 26a for the switch 26 is inserted into the recess 23b. The switch insertion rod 26a is regulated by a spring force (not shown) so as to be always in an upright position. When the jog dial 23 is rotated clockwise and reaches the limit position shown in FIG. 3B, the switch insertion rod 26a is pushed against the one end wall in the circumferential direction of the recess 23b as shown in FIG. 4B. Then, it tilts and a page update (update to advance the page forward) instruction switch signal is output to an electronic book control unit (not shown).

  When the jog dial 23 is rotated counterclockwise and reaches the limit position shown in FIG. 3 (c), as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the switch insertion rod 26a is pushed against the other end wall in the circumferential direction of the recess 23b. Then, the page is tilted, and a page update (updating page) instruction switch signal is output to an electronic book control unit (not shown).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the folding electronic book 1 including the jog dial mechanism 20 having the above-described configuration is held with one hand and a page update operation is performed. The user opens the electronic book 1 and holds the lower center portion between the right thumb and forefinger. In this state, the thumb just comes on the jog dial 23.

  When the operation of advancing the page first is required, the jog dial 23 having the anti-slip pattern engraved on the outer peripheral portion is rotated in the clockwise direction A. As a result, the jog dial 23 is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B, and the page is updated. Thereafter, if the rotating force is slightly weakened, the jog dial 23 returns to the original state by the elastic force of the spring 24, and the switch closing rod 26a of the switch 26 returns to the upright position.

  When it is necessary to return the page to the front, the jog dial 23 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction B. As a result, the jog dial 23 is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 3C and 4C, and the page is updated. Similarly, if the rotating force is slightly weakened, the jog dial 23 returns to the original state by the elastic force of the spring 24, and the switch closing rod 26a of the switch 26 returns to the upright position.

  When you want to look at the previous page or return to the previous page, turn and return the jog dial 23 so that the page update instruction switch signal is output continuously. By repeating the rotation and return in small increments, the target page can be displayed quickly.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the page can be updated using the jog dial 23, the one-handed operation of the electronic book 1 is facilitated, and the usability of the electronic book 1 can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the folding type electronic book has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a single-plate type electronic book. In this case, a jog dial having a structure similar to that described above may be provided in a case where the thumb hits when the electronic book is held with one hand.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention has an effect that it can be held by one hand and can be easily updated by one hand operation, and is useful when applied to an electronic book.

The front view of the state which opened 180 degrees of folding electronic books concerning one embodiment of the present invention The exploded view which decomposed | disassembled the jog dial mechanism part among the electronic books which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an electronic book according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1 and (b) is a cross-sectional view of a limit position obtained by rotating the jog dial clockwise. (C) is a sectional view of the limit position when the jog dial is rotated counterclockwise. It is principal part sectional drawing of the electronic book which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is sectional drawing of the IV-IV line position of FIG. 1, (b) is sectional drawing of the limit position which rotated the jog dial clockwise. (C) is a sectional view of the limit position when the jog dial is rotated counterclockwise. The perspective view when holding and operating the folding electronic book which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention with one hand

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic book 2 Right body (fixed side)
3 Left body (movable side)
4 Battery case 5, 6 Memory type liquid crystal display device 20 Jog dial mechanism portion 21 Fixed shaft body 22 Electronic substrate 23 Jog dial 24 Return spring 25 Cap 26 Switch 26a Switch insertion rod

Claims (4)

  A case for storing a flat display device that displays sentence data in units of pages, a jog dial provided in a part of the case, and a detection signal when it is detected that the jog dial has been rotated to a predetermined position. An electronic book, comprising: a detection signal output means for outputting a document; and a control means for updating a page of text data to be displayed on the display device when the detection signal is outputted from the detection signal output means.   2. The electronic book according to claim 1, wherein the electronic book has a folding type in which two display devices are provided, and a housing for storing the display device on each surface is connected by a hinge so as to be opened and closed.   The electronic book according to claim 2, wherein the jog dial is arranged at the hinge portion.   The detection signal output means detects clockwise rotation and counterclockwise rotation of the jog dial, and the control means detects when the clockwise rotation to a predetermined position is detected by the detection signal output means. 2. An update process for performing an advance process for advancing a page and performing an update process for returning the page to the front when rotation to the predetermined position in the counterclockwise direction is detected by the detection signal output means. Item 4. The electronic book according to any one of Items 3 to 3.

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