JP2007156559A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient electronic device using electronic paper on which information can be displayed without power. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device 1 includes: electronic paper 3 on which information can be displayed without power; an HDD 12 for storing data to be displayed on the electronic paper 3; a display control part 17 for causing the data stored in the HDD 12 to be displayed on the electronic paper 3; a plurality of power switches 4, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d for turning on a main power supply; and a selective display means 15 for selecting the data stored in the HDD 12 according to the operation of specific power switches 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d among the plurality of power switches 4, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d to display the data on the electronic paper 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having an information display function, and more particularly to an electronic apparatus provided with information display means (electronic paper) capable of displaying information even in a non-powered state.

  In general, an electronic device such as a notebook type mobile PC (personal computer) is provided with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and various electronic images and data can be displayed on the LCD. The user can view and read various information through the LCD. Information displayed on the LCD includes information that was once distributed as a paper medium, such as newspapers and magazines. Since the information distributed on these paper media has a limited amount of information that can be carried, it is very convenient to be able to view the digitized information on a mobile PC.

  However, in order to display such information on the LCD, power must always be supplied, and the power cannot be turned off while browsing the information. Conversely, if you turn off the power, you will not be able to browse the information you want to see.

Therefore, in recent years, a display device called electronic paper that can maintain information once displayed even in a non-powered state has attracted attention. For example, a device has been proposed in which this electronic paper is used as a display device for a digital camera, and when the power is turned off, the remaining battery level immediately before the power is turned off, the number of shootable images, etc. are continuously displayed on the display device. Yes. (See Patent Document 1)
JP 2003-209718 A

  However, electronic paper can maintain and display information even when there is no power, and can continue to display information even when the electronic device is turned off. It is also conceivable to use such as displaying advertisement information including “at storefront”. In this case, an electronic device provided with electronic paper as a display device can be arranged in the store or in the store, and various information (including advertisement information) can be provided to the store customers without power consumption. However, in order for a visitor to use the device to obtain further information, it is necessary to first turn on the power, and after the power is turned on, a predetermined operation must be performed. It cannot be said that there is room for improvement in terms of usability.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use electronic device using electronic paper.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an information display unit that displays information without power, a storage unit that stores data displayed on the information display unit, Display control means for displaying the data stored in the storage means on the information display means, a plurality of power switches for turning on the main body power, and the operation of a specific power switch among the plurality of power switches And a selection display means for selecting the data stored in the storage means and displaying the data on the information display means.

  Further, in the electronic device of the second invention of the present invention, in addition to the electronic device of the first invention, a timer for measuring time, and the main power supply is automatically turned on and off based on the time information from the timer. A power management means for setting the status, and an information updating means for updating information displayed on the information display means when the main body power is turned on by the power management means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user-friendly electronic device using electronic paper.

  The electronic apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1A, an electronic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body housing 2 and a paper-like electronic paper 3 attached to the front surface of the main body housing 2. The main body casing 2 is provided with a main power switch 4 for turning on the main body power so as to protrude on the same surface as the surface on which the electronic paper 3 is attached. FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which the electronic paper 3 is removed. Four power switches 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, and 5 d are provided at positions corresponding to the back surface of the electronic paper 3.

The main body housing 2 stores data to be displayed on the electronic paper 3 and houses a control unit for displaying the data.
The electronic paper 3 has a paper shape with a thickness of about several tenths of a millimeter, and data can be displayed and erased by electric means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, plastic filter layers 3a and 3d, a display layer 3b composed of charged beads 6 arranged in alignment between these plastic filter layers 3a and 3d, and a TFT (Thin Film) And a driver layer 3c made of a transistor. The charged beads 6 are solid particles that are separately applied in two colors of black and white, and charge (plus or minus) differs for each color. The charged beads 6 are rotated by switching the charge (plus or minus) of the driver layer 3c corresponding to each charged bead. If a white hemisphere appears in the table, white is displayed, and if a black hemisphere appears, black is displayed. The resolution can be increased by reducing the size of the charged beads 6.

  The main power switch 4 is a switch for turning on the electronic device 1 based on power supplied from an external power source or a battery, and is provided at the front end of the main body housing 2. Similarly to the main power switch 4, the power switches 5 a to 5 d are switches for turning on the electronic device 1 and are hidden behind the electronic paper 3. The user of the electronic device 1 can operate to turn on the power by operating from the front surface of the electronic paper 3. When the power switches 5 a to 5 d are operated, predetermined information is displayed on the electronic paper 3 as well as the power-on operation. The displayed information differs depending on the operated power switches 5a to 5d. When the power switch 5a is operated, information on the portable DVD player is displayed. Similarly, when the power switch 5b is operated, information on the thin LCD TV, information on the DVD player when the power switch 5c is operated, and information about the mobile phone when the power switch 5d is operated are turned on. It is displayed on the electronic paper 3 after the operation.

  FIG. 3 shows a screen example of the electronic paper 3 when the power switch 5b is operated. The power switch 5b is provided at a position corresponding to the thin liquid crystal television displayed on the upper right portion of the electronic paper 3 shown in FIG. 1, and when the switch 5b is operated, the main body power is turned on. Information about the specific thin liquid crystal television is displayed on the electronic paper 3. For a specific product, specification information such as manufacturer and model name, price, screen size, number of pixels, brightness, tuner type, external dimensions, etc. is displayed. The electronic paper 3 also has a touch panel function. When the purchase button 7 is pressed on this screen, the screen can be shifted to the purchase procedure screen, and the “next” or “return” buttons 8a and 8b are operated. Then, the specification information of the next product and the previous product belonging to the thin LCD TV can be browsed. Although FIG. 3 shows an example of a thin liquid crystal television, when the power switch 5a is operated, specification information regarding a specific portable DVD player is displayed. Similarly, when the power switches 5c and 5d are operated. The specification information for each specific DVD player and specific mobile phone is displayed after the power is turned on, and products of the same category can be viewed by operating the “next” or “return” buttons 8a and 8b. The purchase procedure can be performed by operating the purchase button 7.

  FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram showing the configuration of the electronic apparatus 1 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the electronic device 1 includes an electronic paper 3 capable of continuously displaying information even in a non-powered state, a main power switch 4, power switches 5a to 5d, an input device 10 including a touch panel and a keyboard, The electronic device 1 as a whole composed of a timer 11 for timekeeping, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 12 for storing electronic data to be displayed on the electronic paper 3, a CPU, a memory, and the like, including control of data to be displayed on the electronic paper 3 And a battery 14 that supplies electric power to the control unit 13 and the like.

  The electronic paper 3 is information display means capable of displaying and erasing data by electrical means, and can maintain the displayed information even in a non-powered state. The main power switch 4 is a switch for turning on the electronic device 1 as described above, and is operated when the user operates and uses the electronic device 1. Similarly to the main power switch 4, the power switches 5a to 5d are switches for turning on the electronic device 1. At the same time, information on information displayed corresponding to the switches 5a to 5d is automatically electronically transmitted. This is a switch for displaying on the paper 3. The input device 10 is composed of a touch panel, a keyboard, or the like, and performs a character input operation or a pointing operation. The timer 11 is for measuring time, and periodically outputs time information to the control unit 13. The HDD 12 is a storage unit that accumulates information to be displayed on the electronic paper 3 as electronic data. Moreover, the table information 12a which memorize | stored the information displayed corresponding to each power switch 5a-5d is memorize | stored. For example, an image of “portable DVD player” at a position corresponding to the power switch 5a, an image of “thin liquid crystal television” at a position corresponding to the power switch 5b, and an image of “DVD player” at a position corresponding to the power switch 5c. Table information indicating that an image of “mobile phone” is displayed is stored at a position corresponding to the power switch 5d.

  The control unit 13 performs power on / off control based on the power on command from the main power switch 4 and the power switches 5a to 5d, and stores the power control unit 15 that controls the entire electronic device 1 and the HDD 12. A data input / output control unit 16 that controls input / output of electronic data and a display control unit 17 for displaying electronic data from the data input / output control unit 16 on the electronic paper 3 are configured. The power supply control unit 15 turns on the main body power based on a power-on command from the main power switch 4 and the power switches 5a to 5d. At this time, in the case of a power-on command from the power switches 5a to 5d, it is determined which power switch 5a to 5d has been operated, and information (electronic data) corresponding to the operated power switches 5a to 5d. Is extracted from the HDD 12 to the data input / output control unit 16. Further, the power control unit 15 automatically turns on and off the power at predetermined time intervals, for example, every 15 minutes, based on the timing data input from the timer 11. For example, during a period of 1 minute after the power is automatically turned on until it is automatically turned off, predetermined data is read from the HDD 12 by the data input / output control unit 16, and the information is displayed on the display control unit 17. Display on the electronic paper 3. Thereby, the information displayed on the electronic paper 3 is updated at intervals of 15 minutes. When the display information on the electronic paper 3 is updated in this way, the table information 12a in the HDD 12 is also updated at the same time.

  The data input / output control unit 16 reads predetermined information (electronic data) from the HDD 12 based on an instruction from the power supply control unit 15 and outputs it to the display control unit 17. The display control unit 17 displays the information read from the data input / output control unit 16 on the electronic paper 3 or erases the information displayed on the electronic paper 3.

  The battery 14 constantly supplies power to the control unit 13 and supplies power to each unit, for example, the HDD 12 and the electronic paper 3 when the power is turned on by the main power switch 4 or the like. The battery 14 may be charged by supplying power from the outside. In this embodiment, the battery 14 is used. However, the battery 14 may be omitted and power may be supplied from an external power source.

Next, the operation of the electronic device 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when the power switch 5b is operated. The operation in this flowchart is executed by the control unit 13.
First, the power control unit 15 determines whether or not the power switch 5b has been operated (step 501). When the power switch 5b is operated, the power from the battery 14 is transferred to each unit such as the HDD 12 and the electronic paper 3 and the like. To turn on the power (step 502). Next, the power management unit 15 acquires the table information 12a from the HDD 12 (step 503). The information “thin liquid crystal television” corresponding to the power switch 5b is extracted from the obtained table information 12a, and the data input / output control unit 16 is instructed to obtain product information related to the “thin liquid crystal television” from the HDD 12 (Step S12). 504). The data input / output control unit 16 acquires product specification information regarding the “thin liquid crystal television” from the HDD 12 based on an instruction from the power supply control unit 15, and outputs the acquired information to the display control unit 17. The display control unit 17 outputs the specification information to the electronic paper 3 and displays it in the form as shown in FIG. 3 (step 505).

  As described above, the control unit 13 can acquire information to be displayed on the electronic paper 3 from the HDD 12 according to the operated power switches 5 a to 5 d and display the information on the electronic paper 3.

  Next, operations of automatic power on and automatic power off of the electronic device 1 by the timer 11 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the automatic power on / off operation by the timer 11.

  First, the power supply control unit 15 monitors whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 15 minutes has elapsed, based on the timing information from the timer 11 (step 601). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the power from the battery 14 is supplied to each part such as the HDD 12 and the electronic paper 3 to turn on the power (step 602). Next, in order to update the currently displayed information, the data input / output control unit 16 is instructed to update the information to be displayed next. The data input / output control unit 16 outputs new information to be displayed on the electronic paper 3 to the display control unit 17 based on the update instruction. The display control unit 17 outputs and displays the updated information on the electronic paper 3 (step 603). Next, the table information 12a is updated based on the updated information (step 604). After the updated table information 12a is stored in the HDD 12, the power control unit 15 cuts off the power to the HDD 12 and the electronic paper 3 and turns off the power (step 605). Even when the power is off, the power from the battery 14 is constantly supplied to the power controller 15.

  In this way, the power supply control unit 15 can automatically turn on / off the electronic device 1 based on the timekeeping information of the timer 11 and update the information displayed on the electronic paper 3.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of power switches 5a to 5d are provided separately from the main power switch 4, and when these power switches 5a to 5d are operated, the electronic apparatus 1 is turned on and the power Since the information corresponding to the switches 5a to 5d can be displayed on the electronic paper 3, not only the advertising information is displayed on the electronic paper 3, but also the person who sees the advertising information operates the power switches 5a to 5d. It is possible to automatically lead to browsing of detailed information related to the information displayed in, and interactive operation becomes possible. As a result, further advertising effects can be expected, and the usability as a user can be greatly improved. Further, it is not necessary to supply power to the electronic paper 3 at normal times, and advertisement information can be displayed. When a user such as a visitor requests browsing of detailed information and operates the power switches 5a to 5d. The power is turned on for the first time, and interactive operation is possible, so that a power saving effect can be obtained.

  Further, since the power switches 5a to 5d are arranged on the back surface of the electronic paper 3, it is possible to support an intuitive operation by a user who wants to obtain more detailed information. In addition, since the arrangement space of the power switches 5a to 5d does not limit the size of the display screen of the electronic paper 3, the electronic device 1 itself can be downsized, and conversely, the electronic paper 3 can be enlarged. The degree of freedom increases.

  Further, four power switches 5a to 5d are provided separately from the main power switch 4, and each is independently linked to detailed information (product information). Therefore, as many power switches as the number of power switches can be directly accessed. Together with the effect, the convenience for the user is greatly improved.

  In addition, the display information on the electronic paper 3 is updated after the power of the electronic device 1 is automatically turned on / off based on the timing information of the timer 11 and is turned on until the power is turned off. Therefore, a wide variety of advertisement information can be displayed. In addition, since the power is automatically switched to the off state after the advertisement information is updated, it is sufficient to supply power only when the advertisement information is updated, and the power saving effect by using the electronic paper 3 can be maintained. It becomes.

  In this embodiment, the HDD 12 is used as the information storage means. However, a memory such as a nonvolatile memory may be used, and the medium is not limited to the HDD as long as it can store information.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic paper with which the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Example of this invention was equipped. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the information displayed on the electronic paper with which the electronic device which concerns on 1st Example of this invention was equipped. It is a block block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure when operating the power switch 5b of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure explaining the automatic power on / off operation | movement by the timer of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic device 2 ... Main body housing 3 ... Electronic paper 4 ... Main power switch 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d ... Power switch 6 ... Charged bead 11 ... Timer 12 ... HDD
13 ... Control unit 14 ... Battery 15 ... Power source control unit 16 ... Data input / output control unit 17 ... Display control unit

Claims (5)

In an electronic device equipped with information display means capable of displaying information in a no-power state,
Storage means for storing data displayed on the information display means;
Display control means for causing the information display means to display the data stored in the storage means;
A plurality of power switches for turning on the main unit power,
A selection display means for selecting data stored in the storage means in accordance with an operation of a specific power switch among the plurality of power switches and displaying the data on the information display means;
An electronic device characterized by comprising:   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information display means is a paper-like display device, and the specific power switch is disposed on a back surface of the paper-like information display means.   3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the specific power switches are provided, and the display control means displays information at positions corresponding to the surfaces of the specific power switches.   4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the selection display means selects the data stored in the storage means according to which specific power switch is operated, and causes the information display means to display the selected data. Features electronic equipment.   2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a timer for measuring time, a power management means for automatically turning on and off the main body power based on timekeeping information from the timer, and a main power source by the power management means An electronic device comprising: information updating means for updating information displayed on the information display means in an on state.

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