JP2008234294A - Electronic appliance and information presentation method of electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a functional informative display which has a high visibility and does not become hindrance of a manipulation to a user. <P>SOLUTION: An appliance has: a keystroke device (a keystroke device 19); a displaying means (a LCD panel 16) which displays a predetermined information on a display part; a presentation means (an LCD driver 15) for present an information which presents a function of the predetermined key of the keystroke device on at least a part of display part of the displaying means; and a updating means (CPU11) for updating the information which presents the function of the predetermined key presented by the presentation means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device and an information presentation method for the electronic device.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151858 discloses a technique in which when a help key is operated, a corresponding function description is read and displayed.

JP-A-4-76613 (Claims and Abstract)

  By the way, in the technique shown in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to operate a help key in order to display a function description related to the function of a predetermined key. For this reason, there is a problem that the operation is complicated because it is necessary to always operate the help key when the function explanation is required.

  In addition, since the function description displayed in this way is displayed on the entire display unit, the information that was originally displayed is obscured, so that the operation cannot be continued. is there.

  The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide information on electronic devices and electronic devices that are highly visible to the user and capable of displaying function explanations that do not hinder the operation. The purpose is to provide a presentation method.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a key input device, a display unit that displays predetermined information on a display unit, and a predetermined unit of the key input device on at least a part of the display unit of the display unit. Presenting means for presenting information indicating the function of the key, and updating means for updating information indicating the function of the predetermined key presented by the presenting means.

  In addition to the above-described invention, an electronic device of another invention has a nonvolatile storage means for storing information, and the presenting means displays information indicating a function of a predetermined key stored in the storage means. Presented on at least a part of the display unit of the means, the update means updates information indicating the function of a predetermined key stored in the storage means.

  In addition to the above-described invention, an electronic device according to another invention includes a communication unit that exchanges information with another electronic device, and the update unit includes information acquired from the other electronic device by the communication unit. Thus, the information indicating the function of the predetermined key stored in the storage means is updated.

  In addition to the above-described invention, in the electronic device of another invention, the information indicating the function of the predetermined key is constituted by information of a character or a figure, and the presenting means has a character or a character in the vicinity of the corresponding key. Present graphic information.

  An electronic device information presentation method according to the present invention is an electronic device information presentation method including a key input device and display means for displaying predetermined information on a display unit, and includes at least a display unit of the display unit. In part, information indicating the function of the predetermined key of the key input device is presented, and the information indicating the function of the predetermined key presented is updated.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device and a method for presenting information on the electronic device that are highly visible to the user and capable of displaying a function explanation that does not hinder the operation.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, (A) a configuration example of the embodiment, (B) an overview of the operation of the embodiment, (C) details of the operation of the embodiment, and (D) a modified embodiment will be described in this order. . In addition, the information presentation method of the electronic device of the present invention will be described as the operation of the electronic device of the embodiment of the present invention.

(A) Configuration example of the embodiment

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration example of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the antenna 3 and the operation knob 5 are provided on the top surface (upper surface in the vertical direction in the figure) of the casing 2 having a substantially rectangular shape. Is provided. An operation button 6 is provided on the left side surface (the left side surface in the horizontal direction in the figure). An LCD panel 16, operation keys 4a and 4b, and a plurality of communication holes 7 are provided on the front surface (the surface on the near side in the depth direction in the figure).

  When transmitting and receiving information to and from other electronic devices, the antenna 3 transmits radio waves to other electronic devices and receives radio waves transmitted from other electronic devices.

  The operation knob 5 is connected to, for example, a volume (not shown) for adjusting the call volume. By operating the operation knob 5, the drive shaft of the volume is rotated and the resistance value is changed. Adjust the call volume.

  The operation button 6 is, for example, a push-to-talk (PTT) button, and transmits information to other electronic devices by pressing the button.

  The LCD panel 16 is a display device for displaying various information on the display unit. In this example, as will be described later, function displays 16a and 16b for indicating the functions of the operation keys 4a and 4b are provided.

  In this example, the operation key 4a as a key is a button pressed when selecting a channel set as a home CH, as will be described later. The operation key 4b as a key is a button that is pressed when the LCD 16 is illuminated (backlight is turned on).

  The call hole 7 is a plurality of holes provided on the surface of the housing 2, and a speaker and a microphone (not shown) are provided on the back side surface of the call hole 7 (inner side surface of the housing 2). The sound signal transmitted from the other electronic device and received by the speaker is output, and the voice uttered by the user is converted into the sound signal by the microphone and subjected to the modulation process. Send.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration example of the electronic apparatus illustrated in FIG. As shown in this figure, an electronic device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) 13, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). ) 15, LCD panel 16, I / F (Interface) 17, bus 18, key input device 19, and wireless transmission / reception unit 20.

  Here, the CPU 11 as the updating means is a central processing unit that controls each unit of the apparatus and executes various arithmetic processes according to a program (not shown) stored in the ROM 12 or the EEPROM 13.

  The ROM 12 is a semiconductor storage device that stores programs or data executed by the CPU 11. The EEPROM 13 as a storage means is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device that can rewrite the contents and can retain the stored contents even when the supply of power is interrupted. The EEPROM 13 stores display data 13a as shown in FIG. The display data 13a is information for displaying function displays 16a and 16b (described later) on the LCD panel 16.

  The RAM 14 is a semiconductor storage device for temporarily storing a program or data to be processed by the CPU 11. The LCD driver 15 as the presenting means executes a drawing process based on the drawing command supplied from the CPU 11, converts the obtained image data into a video signal, and supplies it to the LCD panel 16.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the LCD panel 16 as a display means is provided on a part of the surface of the casing, and presents various information on the display unit as will be described later.

  The I / F 17 as a communication means is a data expression format when data is exchanged with the key input device 19, the wireless transmission / reception unit 20, and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC” (Personal Computer)). Convert. Specifically, the I / F 17 inputs data generated by the user operating the key input device 19. Further, the I / F 17 controls the wireless transmission / reception unit 20 by sending a control signal from the CPU 11. Further, for example, the I / F 17 transmits and receives data to and from the PC 30 when connected to the PC 30 by the cable 31.

  The bus 18 is a signal line group for electrically connecting the CPU 11, ROM 12, EEPROM 13, RAM 14, LCD driver 15, and I / F 17 to each other and enabling data exchange between them.

  The key input device 19 as a key input device is a device that generates and outputs corresponding data when the operation keys 4a and 4b, the operation knob 5, the operation button 6, and the like are operated.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 20 is a functional block for performing communication by radio waves with other electronic devices via the antenna 3. Specifically, for example, it is composed of a transmission block and a reception block. The transmission block amplifies an audio signal from the microphone, a modulation unit that modulates a carrier wave based on the amplified audio signal, and transmits the modulated modulated wave to another electronic device via the antenna 3. The transmitting unit is a main component. The reception block mainly includes a demodulator that demodulates a carrier wave transmitted from another electronic device and received by the antenna 3, and an amplifier that amplifies an audio signal obtained by the demodulator and drives a speaker. Element.

  The PC 30 as another electronic device has a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), I / F, I / F, input unit, display unit, etc., not shown, as main components, and as will be described later, the electronic device 1 When the function displays 16a and 16b displayed on the LCD panel 16 are changed, for example, information for performing function display is connected to the electronic device 1 via a cable 31 via an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus). Supply.

(B) Overview of operation of the embodiment

  Next, an outline of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, function displays 16 a and 16 b for explaining the functions of the operation keys 4 a and 4 b are displayed on a part of the LCD panel 16. In this example, in the lower left corner of the LCD panel 16 (immediately above the operation key 4a), “Home CH” indicating “moving to the home channel”, which is a function of the operation key 4a, is displayed. In addition, in the lower right corner of the LCD panel 16 (immediately above the operation key 4b), “light” indicating “lighting on”, which is a function of the operation key 4b, is displayed. Such function displays 16a and 16b are constantly displayed during a period from when the power is turned on to when the power is turned off. Therefore, the user can immediately understand the functions of the operation keys 4a and 4b by referring to such a display.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the contents of the function displays 16a and 16b can be changed by connecting the PC 30 to the electronic device 1 by the cable 31. Specifically, for example, “Home CH” on the function display 16a can be changed to “Emergency CH”. That is, if the operation key 4a is a key operated when moving to a registered predetermined channel, the function of the operation key 4a differs depending on the type of the registered channel. For example, when an emergency channel is registered, the operation key 4a serves as a key for moving to the emergency channel. Further, when the channel of the base station is registered, the operation key 4a is a key for moving to the channel of the base station. Therefore, by changing the content of the function display 16a to, for example, “emergency CH” or “base station CH” according to the type of the registered channel, the actual function of the operation key 4a can be expressed more accurately. Therefore, user operability can be improved.

  That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the function displays 16a and 16b for explaining the functions of these keys are constantly displayed near the operation keys 4a and 4b of the display unit of the LCD panel 16. For example, the operation can be performed without interruption as compared with the case where information is displayed only when the help button is operated.

  In addition, since the function displays 16a and 16b can be rewritten to arbitrary information, it is possible to present information that matches the user's purpose or preference, and thus visibility and operability can be improved.

(C) Details of operation of embodiment

  Next, the detailed operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing executed when, for example, the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 is turned on. When the processing of this flowchart is started, the following steps are executed.

  Step S10: When a power switch (not shown) of the electronic device 1 is operated to turn on the power, supply of power from a battery (not shown) to each part of the apparatus is started. When receiving power supply, the CPU 11 reads a predetermined program from the ROM 12 and starts controlling each unit of the apparatus. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not to display the function displays 16 a and 16 b on the LCD panel 16. Specifically, the initial setting information is read from the EEPROM 13, and if it is set to display the function displays 16a and 16b, the process proceeds to step S11, and otherwise the process shown in FIG. 3 is terminated. . The initial setting information may be set as default information at the time of product shipment. The information for initial setting may be changeable by the user. Thereby, the function displays 16a and 16b can be displayed or not displayed according to the user's preference.

  Step S11: The CPU 11 acquires information for displaying the function displays 16a and 16b from the EEPROM 13. Specifically, since the head address where the information for displaying the function display 16a is stored and the head address where the information for displaying the function display 16b is stored are stored in the ROM 12, for example, The CPU 11 first reads a predetermined amount of information (or information from the EOF (End of File)) from the head address where the information for the function display 16a is stored, and then stores the information for the function display 16b. A predetermined amount of information (or information up to EOF) is read from the starting address. As a result, for example, “home CH”, which is character information, is acquired as information for the function display 16a, and “light”, which is character information, is acquired as information for the function display 16b.

  Step S12: The CPU 11 supplies the information acquired in step S11 and the information indicating the display position of each function display to the LCD driver 15 via the bus 18. As a result, the LCD driver 15 executes a drawing process based on the information for displaying the function displays 16a and 16b, converts the obtained image data into a video signal, and supplies it to the LCD panel 16. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, “Home CH” is displayed on the LCD panel 16 as the function display 16a, and “Light” is displayed as the function display 16b.

  With the above processing, the function displays 16a and 16b are displayed on the LCD panel 16 based on the information set as the initial setting information when the power is turned on. The function displays 16a and 16b displayed in this way are displayed immediately above the corresponding operation keys 4a and 4b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4A, so that the user can display these function displays 16a and 16b. By referring to 16b, the functions of the operation keys 4a and 4b can be easily known.

  When the operation keys 4a and 4b are operated, the display form of the corresponding function display 16a or 16b is changed (for example, the display color is changed, the display is reversed, or the display is blinked). You may be allowed to specify the key that was created.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, processing executed when the PC 30 is connected to the electronic apparatus 1 and the display contents of the function displays 16 a and 16 b stored in the EEPROM 13 are changed will be described. When the processing of the flowchart shown in this figure is executed, the following steps are executed.

  Step S30: When the PC 30 is connected to the electronic device 1 by the cable 31, the CPU 11 determines that the PC 30 is connected, proceeds to step S31, and otherwise ends the processing of FIG.

  Step S31: The CPU 11 determines whether or not an input unit (not shown) of the PC 30 has been operated and an instruction to rewrite the display data 13a stored in the EEPROM 13 of the electronic device 1 has been issued. Specifically, when the operation unit of the PC 30 is operated to give an instruction to change the function display 16a, 16b, the CPU 11 receives this instruction from the PC 30 via the I / F 17. As a result, the CPU 11 determines that rewriting has been instructed, and proceeds to step S32. If no instruction is given, the process shown in FIG. 5 is terminated.

  Step S32: The CPU 11 acquires data for rewriting from the PC 30. Specifically, when the input unit of the PC 30 is operated and information for rewriting the function displays 16 a and 16 b is input, the PC 30 transmits the information to the electronic device 1 via the cable 31. In the electronic device 1, the CPU 11 acquires this information via the I / F 17.

  Step S33: The CPU 11 overwrites the display information 13a stored in the EEPROM 13 with the information acquired in step S32. Specifically, when the information acquired in step S32 is information corresponding to the function display 16a, the CPU 11 writes the information from the corresponding head address of the EEPROM 13. When the information acquired in step S32 is information corresponding to the function display 16b, the CPU 11 writes information from the corresponding head address of the EEPROM 13. If information corresponding to both is acquired, the above-described overwriting process is repeated twice.

  With the above processing, it becomes possible to connect the PC 30 to the electronic device 1 and rewrite the display data 13 a stored in the EEPROM 13.

  For example, when a channel of a base station is newly registered in the operation key 4a, the “base station” is more preferable than the “home CH” as the function display 16a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by connecting the PC 30 to the electronic device 1 by the cable 31 and operating the input unit of the PC 30, the “home CH” stored in the EEPROM 13 is processed by the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. It can be changed to “base station”. Further, “light” as the function display 16b can be changed to “lighting” according to the user's preference by the same processing. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a result of rewriting the function displays 16a and 16b shown in FIG. In this example, the function display 16a is changed to “base station”, and the function display 16b is rewritten to “lighting”. Thereby, the user can know that the channel of the base station is registered in the operation key 4a. Further, when the operation key 4b is operated, it can be known that the illumination is turned on.

  In the above example, character information is displayed as the function displays 16a and 16b. However, for example, image information may be displayed as shown in FIG. In the example of this figure, image information imitating the shape of a house is displayed as the function display 16a. Further, as the function display 16b, image information imitating the shape of a light bulb is displayed. By referring to such image information, the user can easily know the functions of the operation keys 4a and 4b arranged below the function displays 16a and 16b. In the case of image information, even if the user cannot read Japanese, the functions of the operation keys 4a and 4b can be easily known.

  When displaying image information, the image data corresponding to the function displays 16a and 16b is stored in the EEPROM 13 as, for example, bitmap data, and these image data are read out and supplied to the LCD driver 15, Desired image information can be displayed by displaying on the LCD panel 16 as pixel shading or display / non-display information. When writing from the PC 30 to the EEPROM 13, the PC 30 writes image data as data to the EEPROM 13 and also writes, for example, information indicating the type of character data or image data. The CPU 11 can display desired information on the LCD panel 16 by referring to the information indicating the type and executing appropriate development processing.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the function displays 16a and 16b of the operation keys 4a and 4b are displayed in the vicinity of these keys on the LCD panel 16, so that the operation keys 4a , 4b can be easily known.

  Further, since these function displays 16a and 16b are constantly displayed, an operation for displaying these function displays 16a and 16b becomes unnecessary. Moreover, since these function displays 16a and 16b are performed on a part of the LCD panel 16, other displays are not hindered.

(F) Modified embodiment

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a portable wireless device has been described as an example of the electronic device 1. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case and is used for other electronic devices. Is possible.

  In the above embodiment, the function displays 16a and 16b corresponding to the two operation keys 4a and 4b are displayed. However, one function display corresponding to one operation key is displayed, and three or more functions are displayed. Three or more function displays corresponding to the operation keys may be displayed. In addition, the number of function displays and the number of operation keys may not match. Specifically, when there are two operation keys, only one function display may be displayed.

  In the above embodiment, the information stored in the EEPROM 13 is rewritten by connecting the PC 30. However, the information is rewritten by connecting, for example, a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) instead of the PC 30. May be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the EEPROM 13 is built in the electronic device 1. However, the EEPROM 13 is detachable from the main body and connected to the PC 30 in a state where the EEPROM 13 is detached from the main body to rewrite information. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, the function display 16a, 16b stored in the EEPROM 13 is only one type. However, a plurality of types are registered in advance so that they can be selected from the registered types. Also good. As a selection method, for example, when a predetermined operation is performed on an operation key, corresponding information is selected, or information is registered for each user to identify the user. When information (for example, a user ID) is input, information corresponding to the user ID may be read from the EEPROM 13 and displayed.

  In the above embodiment, one type of information is presented for one operation key. For example, when the function of the key changes due to the operation of the shift key, the information is displayed according to the operation of the shift key. The contents may be changed.

  In the above embodiment, examples of changes to the home CH and lighting have been described. However, for example, “scan” is changed to “standby”, and “transmission” is changed to “call”. Or you can change “Group Call” to “Batch Call”. According to such a change, the display content can be changed to a content that the user can easily understand, so that the operability can be improved.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a portable radio device.

It is an external view of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing executed when power to the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 is turned on. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the information displayed on an LCD panel. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process performed when rewriting the information stored in EEPROM.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic equipment 4a, 4b Operation keys (keys)
11 CPU (update means)
13 EEPROM (memory means)
15 LCD driver (presentation means)
16 LCD panel (display means)
17 I / F (communication means)
19 Key input device (key input device)
30 PC (other electronic devices)

Claims (5)

A key input device;
Display means for displaying predetermined information on the display unit;
Presenting means for presenting information indicating a function of a predetermined key of the key input device on at least a part of a display unit of the display means;
Updating means for updating information indicating the function of the predetermined key presented by the presenting means;
An electronic device comprising: Having non-volatile storage means for storing information;
The presenting means presents information indicating the function of the predetermined key stored in the storage means on at least a part of the display unit of the display means,
The updating means updates information indicating a function of the predetermined key stored in the storage means;
The electronic device according to claim 1. Having communication means to exchange information with other electronic devices,
The update means updates information indicating the function of the predetermined key stored in the storage means with information acquired from the other electronic device by the communication means.
The electronic device according to claim 2. The information indicating the function of the predetermined key is composed of character or graphic information,
The presenting means presents information on the character or figure in the vicinity of the corresponding key.
The electronic device according to claim 1. An information presentation method for an electronic device having a key input device and display means for displaying predetermined information on a display unit,
Presenting information indicating the function of a predetermined key of the key input device on at least a part of the display unit of the display means,
Updating the information indicating the function of the given key presented;
A method for presenting information on an electronic device.

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