JP2005520232A - Portable electronic device with means for recording the placement of the device in space - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable electronic device (10) and a method for controlling the portable electronic device (10) are described. The electronic device (10) has a position sensor that allows the device to determine its placement in space. This device (10) can work in different modes of operation, for example mobile phones or PDAs. By changing the arrangement of the device in space, switching between different operating modes is performed, for example, operating the mobile phone mode in an upright position and operating the PDA mode in a horizontal position. Switching between different modes of operation using position / orientation changes allows the user to operate the device intuitively.

Description

  The present invention relates to portable electronic devices and methods for controlling portable electronic devices.

  There are a number of known portable electronic devices including microcomputers such as PDAs or organizers, mobile phones, music players, portable small televisions and the like. Portable devices note the fact that they are easy to carry in terms of size and weight for the user and that they can operate with little or no fixed direct connection to a power system or data network. Should.

  Depending on these properties, the device in this case contains different components. Within the housing is a power supply unit such as a storage battery and usually an electronic control unit, which in most cases has one or more microprocessors. These devices can acquire user input and can create a signal in which the user input itself is a video signal or an audio signal. Depending on the functions performed by the device, the means for obtaining user input comprises, for example, a microphone, a keyboard and a touch screen, and the output unit used is, for example, a speaker and a visual range ranging from simple lighting to a small image screen. It has a display and display means.

  As input means for this device, known mobile telephones have a plurality of keys and microphones for user input (for entering phone numbers, picking up voice during a call, verbal instructions). Known mobile telephone output means are speakers and small screens.

  Known microcomputers such as PDS, palmtops and organizers typically have a keyboard and / or touch screen as their input means. The output means usually has a speaker and a small screen. The microcomputer has at least one central processing unit capable of executing a memory and a program. These include programs for managing deadlines and appointments (electronic notebooks) or programs for managing data (eg address book) and even computer games.

  There are known devices that combine a number of functions. In this way, some mobile phones can also play compressed music files.

  International patent application WO A 01/43473 discloses a mobile device that is used both as a mobile phone and as a PDA in different modes of operation. The device has means for recording the arrangement of the device in the space, which means as a user input the determined arrangement in the space or a change relating to the arrangement in the space. The cursor shown on the device moves according to the tilt of the device. By moving the cursor to a displayed icon and selecting a particular icon by pressing a key, the function assigned to that icon can be selected. In this way, the device can switch between operating modes as a mobile phone, address book and computer game.

  International patent application WO A 01/03054 further deals with another embodiment of a portable electronic device having means for recording the arrangement of the device in the space and processing the determined arrangement in the space as a user input. Yes. This device uses sensors (acceleration sensors, magnetic field sensors, ultrasonic detection and optical scanning to propose) to detect the placement of the device relative to its environment, and the cursor shown on the display is placed on the device. Mobile phone to control as a change function.

  The object of the present invention is to propose an electronic unit that can be operated particularly easily by a user.

  This object is achieved by a method for controlling a device according to claim 1 and a portable electronic device according to claim 10. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

  According to the present invention, the device is designed so that it can operate in at least two different modes of operation, and this device can be used between these modes if the arrangement of the device in space is changed. Switch.

  Different operating modes are distinguished by the fact that the device performs different functions. In different operating modes, the device processes different user inputs and / or generates different outputs. The first possible mode of operation is operation as a mobile phone. A possible second mode of operation is operation as a microprocessor (eg PDA). A third example is a playback mode for audio and / or video data.

  If there is a given change in the arrangement of the device in space, an automatic switch between the different operating modes takes place. What is meant by the arrangement of the device in space is the position and orientation of the device. What is preferably analyzed is in particular the orientation of the device, i.e. a rotation around one or more axes of the three-dimensional axis of the device. The orientation of the device is preferably always scanned. As soon as the device is in a given orientation, i.e. in a range defined by a solid angle, a switch to the relevant mode takes place. In this case, the operation mode and the associated orientation are correlated with each other so that the operation can be brought about intuitively by the user.

  For example, in a device that is used as a mobile phone in one mode of operation, the arrangement of the device itself is normal for operating the mobile phone and will preferably result in the mode of operation of the mobile phone to be operated. In a mobile phone, this means a generally upright posture, and the general posture is taken when placing a phone call, i.e., tilted at an angle of 20 ° to 70 ° with the microphone end at the bottom. . If the device is substantially flat and has an elongated configuration, it automatically switches to the mobile phone operating mode when in the above position.

  An example of another operation mode is operation as a microcomputer (PDA, organizer). If the device is placed so that the display of the device is substantially horizontal, the device preferably automatically switches to the PDA mode of operation. In this PDA mode, applications such as an address database (address book) and an appointment book are activated. Other applications such as word processing and spreadsheets are possible.

  This device has many other modes of operation for the majority of various functions. The output unit may be a rectangular display area. If the device directs the user to view the display horizontally, the device switches to the television operating mode. When this device is oriented vertically, the schedule book operating mode is activated. If the device is placed with the display unit facing down, the device will turn off after a while.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the means for recording the arrangement of the device in space in this device is also used for inputting parameters, in particular including continuous parameters. In this case, the device switches to an input mode for inputting parameters by an input start command such as a spoken command. In a television mode of operation, for example, the colloquial command “volume” causes the appropriate input mode to be activated. The parameter value is changed by changing the arrangement of the devices in the space. For example, the volume may be increased or decreased by tilting the device to the right or left. The input mode ends and the parameters are retained with the settings reached by the input end command. This command is again preferably a spoken command.

  These and other features of the invention will be apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

  An electronic device 10 is illustrated in FIG. The device 10 has a flat rectangular housing 12 sized to allow a user to easily hold the device 10 with his hand.

  A screen 14 is on the upper surface of the housing 12. The speaker 16 is disposed on the screen 14. Below the screen 14, keys 18 are arranged on the left and right, and a microphone 20 is arranged in the center.

  Within the apparatus 10 (not shown) is a central processing unit having a plurality of microprocessors that control the functions of the central processing unit. This central processing unit processes the input from the key 18 and the signal picked up by the microphone 20. This central processing unit controls the screen 14 and the speaker 16.

  The device has a sensor for determining the arrangement of the device in space. Such sensors are known per se to those skilled in the art. There are many possible ways to physically implement these sensors, some of which are discussed in international patent applications WO A 01/03054 and WO A 01/43473. The actual form taken by these sensors is not as important to the present invention and will not be discussed in detail here.

  The arrangement in the space of the device as determined by the sensor is likewise processed by the central processing unit.

  The device 10 has essential functional units to allow it to be used as a mobile phone, PDA and audio / video playback device. The components required for each of these applications are known per se and do not require any detailed explanation.

  In the upright position shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 functions in an operating mode operating as a mobile phone. The user holds the device 10 so that the user can talk to the microphone 20 and listen to the output from the speaker 16. The device operates by keying a telephone number into the device, for example via the key 18 or if the screen 14 is in touchpad format.

  In the mobile phone mode, the device 10 accepts voice commands via the microphone 20 (with no phone call). Thus, for example, the volume from a speaker can be changed by activating the input mode with an oral command “volume” for this application. The volume currently set for the speaker appears on the screen 14 in, for example, a bar graph format. By slightly tilting the device from the vertical position to the left, the volume of the speaker is reduced. Therefore, tilting the device to the right increases the volume. Once the volume reaches the desired level, this reached level is held in response to the verbal command “stop”.

  FIG. 2 is a side view showing the device 10 in a horizontal position. If the position sensor included in this device informs the central processing unit that the device has been moved to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 with the screen facing upwards, this device will be an electronic calendar and address book for the user. It automatically switches to the PDA operation mode that can be used as The functions that this type of device performs for these applications are fairly well known and need not be described.

  Finally, FIG. 3 shows the device 10 in a laid upright position. If the position sensor detects that the device has been moved to the position shown in FIG. 3, the central processing unit switches the device 10 to audio / video mode. In this mode, the device 10 plays a data stream comprising audio data stored in the device or audio and / or video data input via the antenna 22. This may include, for example, playing a compressed audio file (such as known as an MP3 player) via the speaker 16. Similarly, a specially dialed up audio / video signal input via antenna 22 preferably as a data stream can be shown on screen 14 and played via speaker 16.

  Switching between these different operating modes is automatically performed by the central processing unit as soon as a specific orientation (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is reached. Of course, the orientation assigned to a given mode of operation includes a width in each case. That is, it is not necessary that the taken direction is the specified accurate direction. As an operation as a mobile phone, for example, an angle of up to 70 ° with respect to the vertical is considered. In order to avoid unnecessary switching, this switching is preferably not done until after a short waiting time has passed. Any switching is preferably blocked as long as the active use of the function takes place, ie as long as the call is made on a device that actually acts as a mobile phone.

  The device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in three modes of operation should be considered as merely an example in this case. There are an unlimited variety of possible combinations of devices having two or more different modes of operation. This device may be, for example, a digital camera having an image sensor for taking still images and / or moving images. In the positions normally used for taking pictures (for example, the position where the image sensor is oriented substantially horizontally and upright), the electronic unit is in a photography mode in which a picture or video sequence is taken. In different modes where the display screen is viewed, the playback mode is automatically activated to allow the taken pictures and / or video sequences to be played back.

  Another embodiment of the different operating modes is the mode as an address book / schedule book for another user. For example, if the device is laid down and kept in the position shown in FIG. 3 with the antenna pointing to the right, it serves as an address book / schedule book for the first user. At a position in space that is rotated 180 ° from the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the antenna lies sideways and to the left, the device serves as an address book / book for the second user. Differences between operating modes for different users are manifested by different background colors.

  If analysis of the position sensor indicates that the device is placed face down, the central processing unit switches off the device (eg after a predetermined waiting time of a few seconds).

  The present invention can be summarized by stating that a portable electronic device and a method for controlling the portable electronic device are described. The electronic device has a position sensor to allow the device to determine its placement in space. This device can work in different modes of operation, eg mobile phone or PDA. By changing the arrangement of the devices in the space, switching between different operating modes is performed, for example operating the mobile telephone mode in an upright position and operating the PDA mode in a horizontal position. Switching between different operating modes using changes in orientation allows the user to operate the device intuitively.

The front view of the electronic device in an upright position. FIG. 2 is a side view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 in a horizontal position. FIG. 2 is a front view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 in a laid position.

Claims (10)

A portable electronic device,
-At least one control unit and at least one output unit controlled by said control unit;
Means for recording the arrangement of the device in space, the determined arrangement in the space being provided to the control unit;
In portable electronic devices with
The device is designed to be able to work in at least two different operating modes, in which the different user inputs are processed and / or the output unit is controlled differently, and the device is in space Switching between the different operating modes as a result of changing the arrangement of the devices from a first spatial arrangement to a second spatial arrangement;
Portable electronic device.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first operating mode of the apparatus operates as a mobile phone.   The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus switches to the first mode of operation when the apparatus is moved to a substantially vertical position.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second operation mode operates as a microcomputer.   5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the device switches to the second mode of operation when the device is moved to a substantially horizontal position.   6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode of the apparatus is a reproduction mode in which the apparatus reproduces audio / video data.   7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus switches to the playback mode when the apparatus is moved to a position where it lies.   8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus can be switched to an input mode for inputting a parameter by an input start command, and the value of the parameter is a space in the input mode. The device is changed depending on a method of changing, and the value of the parameter is held by inputting an input end command.   9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input start command and / or input end command is a spoken command. In a method for controlling a portable electronic device,
The device can work in at least two different modes of operation, in which case the device processes different user inputs and / or outputs different signals in the different modes of operation;
-The arrangement of the device in space is determined; and-the device switches between different operating modes by changing the arrangement of the device in space;
Having a method.

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