JP2007093914A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent information left unerased from being seen by others. <P>SOLUTION: When charging is started, that is, an information display device is connected to a charger to be put into a non-use state, a rewrite operation is performed on a memorable display 13 to erase display contents. Therefore, displayed electronic data is prevented from being seen by others in the case that, for example, the information display device is returned to a rack with display contents left unerased and displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device including a memory display that keeps information once displayed until the next rewriting operation is performed.

Conventionally, as this type of technology, there is a display device that displays a document on a memory display such as a cholesteric liquid crystal display or an electrophoretic display (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
In such a display device, unless the operation of rewriting the display content is performed, since the information displayed until then is kept without consuming power, the power consumption is small, for example, when going out. It is used as a data viewer to take out and display information.
JP 2000-284760 A JP 2005-172843 A

However, in the above prior art, unless the display content is positively erased, the displayed information continues to be retained. For example, if the displayed information is forgotten to be erased after browsing, the information is displayed by another person ( Someone who should not show the information)
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned unsolved problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information display device capable of preventing others from seeing information that has been forgotten to be erased.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the information display device of the present invention, the information once displayed is an information display device including a memory display that keeps holding until the next rewriting operation is performed. An unused state determining means for determining whether or not the display device is being used but not being used, and when the display device is determined to be in the unused state, the memory display body is rewritten. And rewriting means for performing the above.

  A security state setting unit that sets a security state in which an operation input to the information display device is not accepted when the unused state determination unit determines that the state is unused; It is determined that an operator of the display device is an operator determining means for determining whether or not the information display device is permitted to be used, and a person who is not permitted to use the information display device. And security state release means for releasing the security state when it is determined that the person is permitted to use the information display device.

Furthermore, the unused state determination means may determine that the information display device is in an unused state if there is no operation input to the information display device for a predetermined time or longer.
In addition, when the rewriting operation is completed, a stop unit that stops power supply to the information display device, a termination unit that is operated when the use of the information display device is terminated, and the information when the termination unit is operated Resuming means for resuming power supply to the display device, wherein the unused state determining means determines that the information display device is in an unused state when the ending means is operated. Good.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to automatically erase the display contents when the information display device is in a neglected state. Therefore, for example, even when the displayed information is forgotten to be erased and left unattended, it is possible to prevent others from seeing the information forgotten to be erased.
The information display device further includes a battery that supplies power, and the unused state determination unit determines that the information display device is in an unused state when charging of the battery is started. Good.

According to such a configuration, for example, when the user connects to the charger at the end of the day, the display content can be erased simultaneously with the charging. Therefore, even if the displayed information is forgotten to be erased, when the information display device is carried next, the display content is erased, so that it is possible to prevent others from seeing the information forgotten to be erased.
Further, the memory-type display body is a reflective display body that performs display by reflecting incident light, and the unused state determining means is configured such that the amount of incident light on the memory-type display body is a predetermined threshold value or less. Since the display performance deteriorates, it may be determined that the information display device is not in use.

According to such a configuration, for example, the display content can be erased by turning the information display device into a habit, and it is possible to prevent others from seeing the information that has been forgotten to be erased.
On the other hand, in order to solve the above-described problem, the information display device of the present invention is an information display device including a memory display that keeps information once displayed until the next rewriting operation is performed, An unused state determining means for determining whether or not the battery has been removed from a state where it is attached to a charger, and a state in which the battery is removed from the charger. Rewriting means for performing a rewriting operation on the memory display when it is determined that the memory display has been obtained.

  A security state setting unit configured to set a security state in which an operation input to the information display device is not accepted when the unused state determination unit determines that the battery has been removed from the charger; And an operator determination means for determining whether or not the operator of the information display device is a person permitted to use the information display device, and the use of the information display device is not permitted. Security state release means for maintaining the security state if it is determined to be a person and releasing the security state if it is determined that the person is allowed to use the information display device. May be.

According to such a configuration, for example, when used at home or in the office, even if the charger is connected to the charger during use, the display content is not erased and can be used continuously. . Further, when the display device is carried, the display contents are erased by removing the display device from the charger, so that it is possible to prevent others from seeing information that has been forgotten to be erased.
Further, a confidentiality unused state determining means for determining whether or not the information displayed on the memory display has confidentiality, and rewriting operation to the memory display when it is determined that there is no confidentiality Rewriting prohibiting means for prohibiting the user from performing the operation.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent display contents from being erased when a hobby item such as a picture or a novel is displayed between confidential document displays.

Hereinafter, an example in which the information display device of the present invention is applied to a plurality of data viewers (devices for displaying and browsing electronic data) shared by a plurality of personnel in a company will be described with reference to the drawings.
In other words, each of these multiple data viewers is stored in a rack that has a charging function, and each person carries whatever they have (with performance suitable for electronic data to be viewed) when they go out, and they are returned when they return to work. It is used jointly by the operation method of doing.

  Then, when the data viewer is returned to the rack and charging starts, it is determined that the data viewer is left unattended (a state in which some information is being displayed but not used), and the data viewer is rewritten. This prevents the electronic data (display contents) that you forgot to erase from being seen by others.

<Configuration of information display device>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the data viewer of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the data viewer of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the data viewer 1 includes various switches 2, a battery controller 3, an authentication unit 4, a power controller 5, a memory card 6, a memory card controller 7, a ROM 8, a volatile memory 9, a nonvolatile memory 10, A central processing unit (CPU) 11, a display controller 12, a storage display 13 and a bus controller 14 are included.

Various switches 2 are a group of switches for performing operation input to the data viewer 1, such as cursor buttons (buttons for operating various menu screens) and page switching buttons (buttons for switching display data). When operated by the operator, an operation signal indicating the operation content is output to the CPU 11 and the power supply controller 5.
The battery controller 3 monitors the state of charge (start / end of charging) of a battery (not shown) that supplies power to the units 1 to 14 of the data viewer 1, and the voltage value (battery supplied from the rack) is equal to or higher than a certain threshold. When the charging voltage value is detected (when charging of the battery is started), a start signal indicating the start of the charging is output to the power supply controller 5.

When the operator's fingerprint is pressed against the detection surface, the authentication unit 4 detects a feature portion of the fingerprint and outputs a fingerprint signal indicating the state of the feature portion to the power supply controller 5.
The power supply controller 5 supplies power to the CPU 11 by the battery when an operation signal is output from the various switches 2, a start signal is output from the battery controller 3, or a fingerprint signal is output from the authentication unit 4. To start. Further, the power supply controller 5 stops the power supply to the CPU 11 when the CPU 11 outputs a rewrite end signal (a signal indicating that the rewrite operation of the memory-type display 13 is completed).

The memory card 6 stores electronic data to be displayed by the data viewer 1.
The memory card controller 7 reads out arbitrary electronic data stored in the memory card 6 and outputs it to the CPU 11 in response to a read request from the CPU 11.
The ROM 8 stores various programs such as a basic control program and application programs executed by the CPU 11 and data related to these various programs.

The volatile memory 9 forms a work area for developing various programs when the CPU 11 executes the programs, and forms a memory area for storing data (for example, raster data) related to the various programs executed by the CPU 11. .
The non-volatile memory 10 is a memory such as a flash ROM, EEPROM, FeRAM, FRAM, etc. that keeps stored information even when power is not supplied, and a security status flag indicating whether or not to request fingerprint verification from the operator (A flag indicating that fingerprint collation is requested when the set state is “1” and no fingerprint collation is requested when the reset state is “0”) and information regarding the displayed electronic data Store.

  The CPU 11 controls the units 2 to 10 by reading various programs stored in the ROM 5, developing them in a work area formed in the RAM 6, and executing them. Further, the CPU 11 executes viewer control processing (described later), and in normal times, receives various operations on the data viewer 1 to control each unit 2 to 10 and stores raster data of electronic data in the nonvolatile memory 10. A command to drive the memory display 13 so that the raster data is displayed is output to the display controller 12, and when charging of the battery is started, the entire surface is rewritten with white pixels. Further, the CPU 11 outputs a rewrite end signal to the power supply controller 5 when the rewrite operation of the memory display 13 is completed.

The display controller 12 drives the storage display 13 so that the raster data stored in the volatile memory 9 is displayed according to a command from the CPU 11.
The memory display 13 displays a cholesteric liquid crystal display, that is, reflects incident light, and keeps the electronic data once displayed until the next rewriting operation is performed even if power is not supplied. When the display controller 12 is a memory-type display body, the electronic data read from the volatile memory 9 is displayed.

<CPU operation>
Next, the viewer control process executed by the CPU 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This viewer control process is executed when power supply to the CPU 11 is started. First, in step S101, the security state flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 10 is set to “1” ( It is determined whether or not the operator is in a state of requesting fingerprint verification. When it is in the set state (Yes), the process proceeds to step S102, and when it is not in the set state (No), the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S102, a power-on process (described later) is performed when authentication is required and the operation input of the various switches 2 is not accepted until the fingerprint of the operator matches a pre-registered fingerprint. finish. (Turn off the entire system.)
In step S103, in the normal state, the units 2 to 14 are controlled in accordance with the operation inputs of the various switches 2, and when charging of the battery is started, the entire surface is set to white pixels and the security status flag is set to “1”. After executing a power-on process (described later) when authentication is not required to be set, this calculation process is terminated. (Turn off the entire system.)
Next, the power-on process at the time of authentication required executed in step S102 of the viewer control process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the power-on process when authentication is required, first, in step S201, the power supply start factor to the CPU 11 is any of the operation of various switches 2, the start of battery charging, or the detection of the characteristic part of the operator's fingerprint. Determine if there is. If it is an operation of various switches 2 (SW operation), the process proceeds to step S202, and if it is a start of charging of the battery (start of charging), this calculation process is terminated as it is, and the characteristic portion of the operator's fingerprint is detected. If it is (authentication operation), the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S202, raster data of a message notifying that fingerprint verification is necessary is stored in the volatile memory 9, and based on the raster data, the display controller 12 drives the memory display 13, and then This calculation process is terminated.
In step S203, a fingerprint group (a fingerprint of a person who shares the data viewer 1 or a person permitted to use the data viewer 1) is registered in advance as a fingerprint feature indicated by the fingerprint signal output from the authentication unit 4. And the feature part matches with any one of the fingerprint groups (whether or not the person is permitted to use). If they match (Yes), the process proceeds to step S204. If they do not match (No), this calculation process is terminated.

In step S204, the security state flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 10 is set to a reset state of “0” (a state in which the operator does not request fingerprint verification).
In step S205, raster data of a message notifying that the operation input of the various switches 2 can be received because the operator's fingerprint matches the pre-registered fingerprint is stored in the volatile memory 9. Based on the raster data, the storage controller 13 is driven by the display controller 12, and the calculation process is terminated.

  Next, the power-on process when authentication is not required executed in step S103 of the viewer control process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the power-on process when authentication is not required, first, in step S301, the start factor of power supply to the CPU 11 is any of the operation of various switches 2, the start of battery charging, or the detection of the characteristic part of the operator's fingerprint. Determine if there is. If it is an operation of the various switches 2 (SW operation), the process proceeds to step S302, and if it is a start of battery charging (starts charging), the process proceeds to step S303 to detect the characteristic portion of the operator's fingerprint. In this case (authentication operation), this calculation process is terminated.

In step S302, each unit 2-14 is controlled in accordance with operation signals output from the various switches 2 (for example, raster data of arbitrary electronic data selected by the operator is stored in the volatile memory 9). Based on the raster data, after the display controller 12 drives the memory display 13), the calculation process is terminated.
In step S303, it is determined that the data viewer 1 is not in use, raster data having the entire surface as white pixels is stored in the volatile memory 9, and the display controller 12 stores the raster display on the basis of the raster data. 13 is driven.

Next, the process proceeds to step S304, and after the security state flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 10 is set to “1”, this calculation process is terminated.
<Specific operation of Data Viewer>
Next, the operation of the data viewer of the present embodiment will be described in detail based on a specific situation.
First, forgetting to erase the electronic data displayed on the memory display 13 while away from home, the user returning to the office keeps the electronic data forgotten to be displayed, and sets the security status flag to “1”. It is assumed that the user has forgotten to enter the state (it is in a state in which it can be operated by its own fingerprint collation and the fingerprint collation is not newly requested) and is returned to the rack. Then, charging of the battery is started by the rack, a start signal is output from the battery controller 3, and power supply to the CPU 11 is started by the power supply controller 5. Then, the viewer control process is executed by the CPU 11, and as shown in FIG. 3, the determination in step S101 is “No”, and in step S103, the power ON process is executed when no authentication is required.

  When the power-on process is executed when authentication is not required, as shown in FIG. 5, the determination in step S301 is “charge start”, and in step S303, raster data in which the entire surface of the storage display 13 is white pixels is generated. Based on the raster data, the display controller 12 is made to drive the memory display 13, and in step S304, the security state flag is set to “1” (a state in which fingerprint verification is requested). Exit. Then, the memory controller 13 is driven by the display controller 12, the display contents so far are erased, and the entire surface of the information display device 10 is in a blank state.

As described above, in the data viewer 1 of the present embodiment, when charging is started, that is, when the data viewer 1 is returned to the rack, it is determined that the data viewer 1 is not in use, and the display contents are erased. I tried to do it. Therefore, for example, even if the electronic data being displayed is forgotten to be erased and returned to the rack, it is possible to prevent others from seeing the display content forgotten to be erased.
As described above, in the above embodiment, the liquid crystal display of FIGS. 1 and 2 constitutes the memory display body described in the claims. Similarly, the battery controller 3, the power controller 5, the CPU 11 of FIG. Steps S101 to S103 in FIG. 3 constitute unused state determination means, and the volatile memory 9, CPU 11 and display controller 12 in FIG. 2, steps S101 and S103 in FIG. 3, and steps S301 and S302 in FIG. 2, the authentication unit 4 in FIG. 2, the CPU 11, steps S <b> 101 and S <b> 102 in FIG. 3, and steps S <b> 201 and 203 in FIG. 4 constitute an operator determination unit, and the authentication unit 4, CPU 11 in FIG. 2 constitutes a security state setting means, and the authentication unit 4 and CPU 11 in FIG. 2 and step S101 in FIG. Configure, step S102 in FIG. 3, step S203 in FIG. 4 constitute the operator determination means, steps S203, S204 of FIG. 4 constitutes a security state release means.

Note that the information display device of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the display content is erased when charging is started (when the battery is returned to the rack) is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when it is taken out of the rack, that is, when it is removed from the charger (when the voltage for charging supplied from the rack is detected and the voltage cannot be detected), the display content is deleted. You may do it. By doing so, for example, when used in a company, even if it is connected to a charger during use, the display contents are not erased and can be used continuously. Further, when the user goes out of the office when going out, the display content is erased by removing it from the charger, so that it is possible to prevent the display content forgotten to be seen by others.

  Further, when the operation signal input from the various switches 2 has not been input for a certain time (for example, 1 hour) or longer, it may be determined that the data viewer 1 is not in use and the display content may be erased (for example, The timer that operates even when the power supply to the CPU 11 stops is used to count the elapsed time since the input of the operation signal is stopped, and when the predetermined time is counted, the display content is erased). When the amount of incident light on the memory display 13 becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold (incident amount of light that makes it difficult to view the display content), it is determined that the data viewer 1 is not in use and the display content is erased. (For example, when an optical sensor that detects the amount of light incident on the memory display 13 is provided and the incident light cannot be detected by the optical sensor, the display content is To xi). By doing so, for example, when going to the meeting destination without returning to the company, when the user moves from the first meeting destination to the next meeting destination, the data viewer 1 is taken into the trap so that the display contents until then Since is deleted, it is possible to prevent the display content at the first outing from being seen at the next outing. In the method of erasing the display content when the incident light amount is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the display content is erased even when the sun goes down and the surroundings become dark, but in the first place the cholesteric liquid crystal Is a reflection type display, and there is no problem because it cannot be viewed where the amount of incident light is small.

Further, it is determined whether or not the electronic data displayed on the memory display 13 is confidential. If the electronic data is not confidential, the display contents are not erased (erasure is prohibited). Good. In this way, for example, when a hobby item such as a picture or a novel is displayed during work, it is possible to prevent the display content from being erased.
Further, an end button that is operated when the use of the data viewer 1 is ended is provided, and when the end button is operated, it is determined that the data viewer 1 is not in use and the display content is erased. Good.

It is a perspective view which shows the external shape of the data viewer to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the data viewer of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a viewer control process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the power ON process at the time of authentication required. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the power ON process at the time of authentication unnecessary.

Explanation of symbols

1 is a data viewer, 2 is various switches, 3 is a battery controller, 4 is an authentication unit, 5 is a power supply controller, 6 is a memory card, 7 is a memory card controller, 8 is ROM, 9 is volatile memory, and 10 is nonvolatile Memory, 11 CPU, 12 display controller, 13 storage display, 14 bus controller

Claims (9)

The information once displayed is an information display device having a memory display that keeps holding until the next rewriting operation is performed,
An unused state determining means for determining whether or not the information display device is displaying but is not being used, but when the information display device is determined to be in the unused state, An information display device comprising: rewriting means for performing a rewriting operation.   A security state setting unit that sets a security state in which an operation input to the information display device is not accepted when the unused state determination unit determines that it is in an unused state; and the information display device when in the security state The operator determining means for determining whether or not the operator is a person permitted to use the information display device, and if it is determined that the operator is a person not permitted to use the information display device, The security state releasing means for releasing the security state when it is determined that the person is allowed to use the information display device while maintaining the security state. Information display device.   3. The information according to claim 1, wherein the unused state determination unit determines that the information display device is in an unused state if an operation input to the information display device is not performed for a predetermined time or longer. Display device. Stop means for stopping power supply to the information display device upon completion of the rewriting operation, end means for operation when use of the information display device is ended, and information display device when the end means is operated Resuming means for resuming power supply to
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the unused state determination unit determines that the information display device is in an unused state when the end unit is operated. A battery for supplying power to the information display device;
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the unused state determination unit determines that the information display device is in an unused state when charging of the battery is started.   The memory-type display body is a reflective display body that performs display by reflecting incident light, and the unused state determination unit is configured such that the amount of incident light on the memory-type display body is a predetermined threshold value or less. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is determined to be unused. The information once displayed is an information display device having a memory display that keeps holding until the next rewriting operation is performed,
A battery for supplying power to the information display device; and an unused state determining means for determining whether or not the battery is removed from a state where it is attached to a charger; and the battery is removed from the charger. An information display device comprising: rewriting means for performing a rewriting operation on the memory-type display body when it is determined that the storage state has been reached.   A security state setting unit that sets a security state in which an operation input to the information display device is not accepted when the unused state determination unit determines that the battery has been removed from the charger; and is in the security state Sometimes, an operator determination means for determining whether or not the operator of the information display device is a person permitted to use the information display device, and a person who is not permitted to use the information display device. Security state release means for maintaining the security state if it is determined to be present, and releasing the security state if it is determined that the person is permitted to use the information display device. The information display device according to claim 7.   Confidentiality unused state determining means for determining whether or not the information displayed on the memory display is confidential, and rewriting operation on the memory display when it is determined that the information is not confidential The information display device according to claim 1, further comprising a rewrite prohibiting unit that prohibits the rewriting.

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