JP2009213177A - Cellular information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively display acquired image and video data in the whole display screen even when the image shapes such as the longitudinal-horizontal ratio of the image or video data are different. <P>SOLUTION: The cellular information terminal consists of at least two casings which are relatively rotatable and is capable of processing at least two types of information sources of a first information source and a second information source. Switching between processing of the first information source and the second information source is performed according to a difference of a relative position between the first casing and the second casing owing to rotation. Thus, it is possible to provide a cellular information terminal capable of effectively displaying the image and video data in the whole display screen even when the image shapes such as the longitudinal-horizontal ratios of the images or video data acquired are different. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a cellular information terminal which can be operated by one hand as is conventionally performed and also can be operated by both hands to achieve a rapid input operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a portable information terminal, and more particularly to a portable information terminal capable of processing at least two types of information sources.
In particular, it is a technology that improves display performance and operability. More specifically, information sources with different screen shapes, such as broadcast video screens for digital terrestrial broadcasting and communication information screens for mobile phones, are effective for the entire video display unit. The present invention relates to a portable information terminal that can be displayed automatically and can be comfortably input with both hands.

  In recent years, the data communication speed in digital mobile communication has been widened and increased. In mobile information terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), it has become possible to easily transmit and receive information sources (data) including characters and images.

  Conventionally, it has become possible to access an Internet Web site or the like browsed by a personal computer (PC) from a portable information terminal. At present, there are many websites for mobile terminals. Accordingly, video display units such as liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) mounted on portable information terminals are also becoming full color, large screen, and high image quality.

  Furthermore, content distribution technology via a communication line has also been developed, and users can download and execute content / program data having an advanced GUI (Graphical User Interface) function on a portable information terminal. . For example, game software or the like can be downloaded as content data, and the downloaded game can be played by operating a portable information terminal.

  Development of digital terrestrial broadcasting is advancing as a new broadcasting system replacing current analog broadcasting. ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial), the technical standard for digital terrestrial broadcasting, employs orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), which uses a large number of carriers as a modulation method, and is formed by reflection from buildings, etc. It is also possible to suppress ghosts by a plurality of propagation paths (multipath).

  One of the major features of ISDB-T is that stable reception is possible even in a mobile terminal. Therefore, a service for receiving digital terrestrial broadcasting using a mobile terminal such as a PDA or a mobile phone is also prepared. Data broadcasting utilizing a broadband transmission path is also being studied, and there are great expectations for a richer and more advanced content distribution service than content downloaded via a general communication line.

  In the future, it is considered that new portable information terminals capable of processing at least two types of information sources, that is, information sources via general communication lines and information sources via terrestrial digital broadcasting or the like, will rapidly spread.

  However, there are the following problems in order to enable the mobile information terminal to process two different types of information sources, such as an information source via a general communication line and an information source for digital terrestrial broadcasting.

  The first problem is related to the display screen. This problem will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the appearance of a general mobile phone.

  As shown in FIG. 13, a general mobile phone is provided with a display screen 10 and an operation button section below it. Generally, the display screen of a mobile phone is vertically long. Furthermore, the screen shape of a Web site obtained via a general communication line is generally a vertically long screen shape.

  On the other hand, a horizontally long screen shape is applied to a video broadcast by terrestrial digital broadcasting in order to share it with a conventional analog broadcast or a television receiver.

  Therefore, when an image by digital broadcasting is displayed on the vertically long display screen 10 provided in the conventional mobile phone, the image cannot be displayed on the entire display screen. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, an image is displayed on a part 10a of the video display unit 10. In FIG. 13, the area 10b of the video display unit 10 is not used for video display and becomes an invalid area. It is preferable that it can be displayed on the entire video display screen 10.

  As a conventional technique related to a display screen of a portable information terminal, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-55724 discloses a mobile phone having a display capable of displaying a long character string in one line by rotating the display screen unit 10. Has been. The display unit of the mobile phone disclosed in the above publication is merely a display of a character string, and is difficult to apply to a mobile phone that displays images and videos.

  The second problem relates to operability. Some current portable information terminals can download and execute game content. For game operation, quick button input is indispensable. For example, a controller for a game machine is designed so that buttons can be input quickly using both hands. When a data broadcasting service based on terrestrial digital broadcasting is started, more rich and advanced contents can be downloaded, and further improvement in input operability is required.

  However, in general mobile phones, there is a strong demand for downsizing, and it is usually only necessary to enter a phone number or scroll the screen, so the button operation unit has an elongated shape suitable for holding with one hand, It is designed to facilitate button input operation with one hand. Therefore, it is difficult to hold with both hands, and it is difficult to quickly perform an input operation with both hands. In the future, there will be a need for an easy-to-handle and easy-to-use operability with one hand.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a new portable information terminal that can cope with two different types of information sources. More specifically, it is possible to provide a portable information terminal that can be effectively displayed on the entire display screen even when the screen shape such as the aspect ratio of the acquired image or video data is different, and the conventional one-handed operation. It is to provide a portable information terminal having both quick operability with both hands in addition to the above operability.

  (1) According to the present invention, the relative positional relationship between the first casing and the first casing can be changed to at least a first relative positional relationship and a second relative positional relationship. 2, a determination unit that determines the relative positional relationship, an operation unit, and an operation unit change unit. The operation unit change unit is assigned to the operation unit based on a determination result of the determination unit. There is provided a portable information terminal characterized by changing the function.

  (2) Further, a display unit is provided, the operation unit includes a direction instruction key, and when the first relative positional relationship is changed to the second relative positional relationship, the operation unit has a relative direction. The operation unit changing unit is configured to change the direction instruction key assigned to the direction instruction key in both the first relative position relationship and the second relative position relationship. The function assigned to the direction indication key is changed so that the direction on the display unit matches the positional relationship of the direction indication key, and the portable information terminal according to (1) is provided.

  As described above, in the portable information terminal according to the invention described in (1) above, even if the relative positional relationship between the casing in which the operation unit is arranged and the other casing is changed, the user may be confused. Input operations can be performed accurately and quickly without being confused.

  Furthermore, in the portable information terminal according to the invention described in (2) above, even if the casing in which the operation unit is arranged is changed by 90 degrees relative to the casing in which the display unit is arranged, The display direction of the information source and the direction of the operation unit can be matched, and the input operation can be performed accurately and quickly without being confused or confused by the user.

1 is a plan view of a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the portable information terminal by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the use condition in the basic position of the portable information terminal by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the use condition in the 90 degree rotation position of the portable information terminal of 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a method of fixing the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram seen from the front, and FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram seen from the back. It is a functional block diagram which shows the other structural example of the portable information terminal by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the function of the determination button in the portable information terminal by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the portable information terminal by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure explaining a use condition. It is a functional block diagram explaining the structure of the portable information terminal by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a change of the number input operation button in the portable information terminal by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a change of the direction operation button in the portable information terminal by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the change method of the display of the operation button in the portable information terminal by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is an enlarged view of an operation button. It is a front view which shows the structure of the conventional mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows another example of the use condition in the basic position of the portable information terminal by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining rotation operation | movement of the portable information terminal by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, Fig.15 (a) is a front view and a side view corresponding to it, FIG.15 (b) is operation | movement. FIG. It is a figure which shows the use condition opened more than 270 degree | times of the portable information terminal by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the use condition opened 360 degree | times of the portable information terminal by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
First, a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the portable information terminal A according to the present embodiment includes a video display casing 10 including a video display unit 11 configured using, for example, an LCD, and an operation including a plurality of operation buttons 13. A button casing 12. Further, the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 are relatively rotatable by the rotation mechanism unit 15. The video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 have an initial state where they are in contact with each other on a facing surface, and a rotating state where both facing surfaces are separated except for one end (rotating shaft), for example.

  In the figure, a rotation mechanism 15 is provided at the left end of the figure, which is a connection between the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12. The image display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 rotate relatively in the plane of the display screen with the rotation mechanism portion 15 as the center. The operation button casing 12 is provided with a determination button 16 for determining the information source.

  A basic position A1 in which the rotation angle between the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 is 0 degrees, a 90-degree rotation position A2 that is 90 degrees and is indicated by a broken line in FIG. The rotation angle is 180 degrees, and at least three types of relative positional relationships with the 180-degree rotation position A3 indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1 can be taken. A stopper mechanism may be provided in the rotation mechanism unit 15 so as to hold at the rotation angle positions of 90 degrees and 180 degrees.

  The video display casing 10 is provided with an antenna 14 that receives a wireless transmission information source and a speaker (not shown) that outputs sound. A microphone (not shown) is incorporated in the operation button casing 12. In addition to the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12, for example, an open / close lid can be added to the casing.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information terminal according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the portable information terminal has a video display unit 11, an antenna 14, and a determination button 16. Furthermore, the portable information terminal includes an RF unit 22, a switching unit 23, a first information processing unit 24a, a second information processing unit 24b, and a rotation determination unit 26.

  An information source to be wirelessly transmitted is received by the antenna 14 and the RF unit 22. The switching unit 23 outputs the received information source to one of the first and second information processing units 24a and 24b. The selection of which of the two information processing units 24a and 24b is output is performed according to an instruction from the rotation determination unit 26.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the portable information terminal is used at the basic position A1 (FIG. 1). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the portable information terminal is used at a 90-degree rotation position A2 (FIG. 1). Note that the rotation angle of 90 degrees may have some deviation.

  The rotation determination unit 26 determines the rotation state of the rotation mechanism unit 15, that is, the relative position between the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12. The determination result is output to the switching unit 23.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the basic position, that is, the rotation angle is 0 degree, and the relative position between the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 is the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped as the entire portable information terminal. 4, whether the relative position between the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 is L-shaped, as shown in FIG. Then, the information is sent to the switching unit 23.

  An example of the determination method by the rotation determination unit 26 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view for illustrating the detailed structure of the determination button shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the determination button includes a protrusion 61 provided on the video display casing 10 and an ON / OFF switch 62 provided on the operation button casing 12. The ON / OFF switch 62 has a recess and can receive the protrusion 61. When the protrusion 61 is inserted into the ON / OFF switch 62, the switch is determined to be in an ON state, and is turned OFF when the protrusion 61 is separated from the ON / OFF switch 62.

  When the relative position between the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 is at the basic position (FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 3, the ON / OFF switch 62 is turned ON. In the state of the 90-degree rotation position (FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 4, the ON / OFF switch 62 is turned OFF.

  In addition, it is also possible to provide a rotary variable resistor in the rotation mechanism unit 15 and determine the position by an electrical determination mechanism having a principle that the rotation determination unit 26 determines the rotation angle based on the resistance value.

  Based on the determination result from the rotation determination unit 26, the switching unit 23 outputs the information source that is predetermined based on the selected result. For example, the first information processing unit 24a of the two information processing units 24 has a function of processing an information source that displays vertically long screen data received by a conventional mobile phone via a communication line, for example. Specifically, it has a function of browsing a mobile phone website and a function of displaying information such as a telephone number related to incoming call transmission.

  The other, for example, second information processing unit 24b has a function of processing, for example, terrestrial digital broadcast, which is horizontally long screen data, as a video source. Specifically, the processing function includes a function of performing OFDM demodulation and decoding processing, restoring a video signal, and displaying it on a video display unit.

  In FIG. 2, one antenna 14 and one RF unit 22 that can handle two types of information sources are provided.

  It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the same number of antennas and RF units as the number of information processing units are provided. FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of a portable information terminal having such a configuration.

  For example, FIG. 6 has a configuration in which the antenna units 14 (14a, 14b) and the RF units 22 (22a, 22b) are provided in the number of information processing units 24 (24a, 24b), that is, two. The switching unit 23 can select the antenna unit 14 (14a, 14b) and the RF unit 22 (22a, 22b). Therefore, it is possible to design a device that is optimized to have antenna characteristics and RF characteristics suitable for receiving different information sources, which are processed by the first or second information processing units 24a and 24b, respectively. is there. A configuration including three or more information processing units 24, antenna units 14, and RF units 22 is also possible.

  An example of a method for using the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The user holds and uses the portable information terminal in the state (basic position) shown in FIG. In this state, since the video display unit 11 has a vertically long shape, for example, the first information processing unit 24a suitable for processing a video source is selected by the switching unit 23, and the content is displayed on the video display unit 11. The

  When the user rotates the video display casing 10 with respect to the operation button casing 12, the rotation determination unit 26 detects the rotation operation. The result is notified to the switching unit 23. The switching unit 23 switches the output destination of the information source to, for example, the second information processing unit 24b suitable for processing an information source that acquires a horizontally long screen such as terrestrial digital broadcasting. As shown in FIG. 4, the user can watch the broadcast video screen displayed on the entire horizontally long video display unit while holding the portable information terminal.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), an example of a holding mechanism for the image display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 at a 90-degree rotation position obtained by rotating the portable information terminal 90 degrees will be described.

  FIG. 5 (a) is a view of the state at the 90-degree rotation position A1 obtained by rotating the portable information terminal 90 degrees from the front side. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), a link mechanism 3 including, for example, two levers 1a and 1b is provided on the opposite side to the left and right of the rotation mechanism portion 15 when viewed from the front. FIG. 5B is a view of the state at the 90-degree rotation position A1 obtained by rotating the portable information terminal 90 degrees from the back side. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the rotary shaft 5b and the protrusion 1c of the lever 1b are provided on the opposite side of the rotation mechanism 15 from the back of the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12, respectively. Yes. On the other hand, a hook 1c that can temporarily fix the lever 1a by being hooked on the protrusion 1c is provided at the tip of the lever 1a.

  At the 90-degree rotation position A1, the display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 can be fixed at the 90-degree rotation position by hooking the hook 1c to the protrusion 5a. When the hook 1c is removed from the protrusion 5a, the fixed state between the display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 is released.

  In addition, a mechanism for increasing the torque of the rotation mechanism unit 15 at the 90-degree rotation position may be provided. Of course, the fixing mechanism may be omitted.

  In addition, what is necessary is just to connect between both using the flexible cable etc. as an interface between the casings 10 and 12. FIG.

  In the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the information source can be switched by an intuitive operation such as rotation of the video display casing 10, and the aspect ratio of the image or video data acquired from the information source Even when the screen shapes are different, it is possible to effectively display the entire display screen by rotating and displaying the video display unit 11.

  A usage method based on another operation of the switching unit 23 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14, FIG. 6, and FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 14 (basic position), the switching unit 23 selects both the first information processing unit 24a and the second information processing unit 24b in FIG. 6, and the video display unit 11 displays both information sources. Appears in a split screen. In FIG. 14, 141 is a broadcast video screen of digital terrestrial broadcasting processed by the second information processing unit 24b, and 142 is a Web screen processed by the first information processing unit 24a. When the user rotates the video display casing with respect to the operation button casing 12, the rotation determination unit 26 detects the rotation operation, and the switching unit 23 is suitable for processing a vertically long information source such as digital terrestrial broadcasting. Only the second information processing unit 24b is selected. As a result, the user can view the broadcast video screen displayed on the entire video display unit shown in FIG.

  Next, a portable information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining an example of use of the portable information terminal according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, with the video display casing 10 rotated 180 degrees, the entire portable information terminal is rotated 90 degrees in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the casing and held and used. By holding the entire portable information terminal rotated 90 degrees, the shape of the portable information terminal can be used as a horizontally long shape. As shown in FIG. 8, it can be held comfortably with both hands, and the button input operation with both hands becomes easy.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information terminal according to the present embodiment. The rotation determination unit 26 detects the rotation of the video display casing 10 by the same method as the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment. In the case of the 180 degree rotation position (A3; FIG. 1) rotated 180 degrees from the basic position, the information processing unit 24 from which the switching unit 23 outputs the video source is changed from the first information processing unit 24a to the second information processing unit 24b. Switch.

  As described as another operation of the switching unit 23 of the first embodiment, the switching unit 23 selects both the first information processing unit 24a and the second information processing unit 24b at the basic position, and the video display unit. In FIG. 11, both information sources are displayed in a divided screen (FIG. 14), and it is possible to select only the second information processing unit 24b when rotated 180 degrees.

  The portable information terminal according to the present embodiment is different from the portable information terminal according to the first embodiment in that a button changing unit and an operation button are added. The button changing unit changes a function (hereinafter referred to as “key assignment”) assigned to the operation button arranged in the operation button casing 12 based on the determination result from the rotation determination unit 16. A specific configuration of the operation button will be described with reference to FIGS.

  10 and 11, the symbol X is the key assignment when used in the state of A1 from the basic position shown in FIG. 3, and Y is used in the state of the 180-degree rotation position A3 shown in FIG. Indicates key assignment. In the case of Y, the operation button casing 12 is actually used in the Y 'state as shown in FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 10, an example of the operation of the button changing unit 81 will be described by taking as an example a numeric input operation function frequently used as an operation for inputting a telephone number or selecting a broadcast channel. The numbers described in each operation button in FIG. 10 indicate the numbers to be input and selected. For example, when the operation button 91 in which the number 1 is described is pressed, the number “1” is input. Or selected.

  In FIG. 10, as indicated by the symbol Y, the button changing unit 81 (FIG. 9) sets the key assignment of the operation button 91 to 1 (for example) based on the determination result of the rotation determining unit 26 (FIG. 9). The key assignment of each operation button is changed, such as changing from X) to 4 (Y ′). As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the arrangement and order of the numbers assigned to the keys are unified between X and Y '. Even if the operation button casing 12 is rotated by 90 degrees, it is possible to input a number accurately and quickly without being confused or confused by the user.

  FIG. 11 shows another operation example of the button changing unit 81. With reference to FIG. 11, a specific example of the up / down / left / right direction button functions for scrolling the screen and moving the cursor will be described. In FIG. 11, up, down, left and right direction buttons are assigned to the operation buttons 101, 102, 103 and 104 at the position X. By pressing each button, the direction of scrolling and cursor movement can be selected.

  The button change unit 81 (FIG. 9) changes the key assignments of the operation buttons 101, 102, 103, and 104 to right, left, and up direction buttons based on the determination result in the rotation determination unit 26 (FIG. 9). be able to. As a result, as shown by Y 'in FIG. 11, the key assignment of the direction button matches the actual positional relationship of the button. The user can select the direction button without being wrong or confused. The direction button is a function often used when playing game content. As shown in FIG. 8, the user holds the portable information terminal body with both hands, operates the direction buttons (101, 102, 103, and 104) with the left hand, and operates the operation buttons (105, 106, and 107) with the right hand. As a result, it is possible to perform a quick input operation with the same operation feeling as the controller of the game machine.

  Next, a portable information terminal according to a first modification of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the first modification, the display method of the key assignment of the operation button is different from the case of FIG. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the operation buttons.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the operation button 91 is composed of two operation display portions 111 and 112 on which two numbers assigned to keys are described. The two operation display units 111 and 112 are selectively lit. The process of selecting the lighting of the operation display units 111 and 112 is managed by the button changing unit 81.

  In the X state, the operation display unit 111 on which the number 1 is written is lit. In the Y state, the operation display unit 112 on which the numeral 4 is written is lit. Since the display of the operation button is changed according to the change of the key assignment, the user can definitely select the desired operation button.

  As described above, at the 180 degree rotation position A3, the information processing terminal body can be rotated 90 degrees, and the entire body can be comfortably held and operated with both hands, resulting in game content and the like. Even when a quick input operation is required, a quick button operation can be performed with both hands like a controller of a game machine.

  Furthermore, by changing the key assignment and function display of the operation buttons, the user can operate the buttons comfortably without any sense of incongruity.

  Note that the relative relationship regarding the position in the rotation direction between the video display casing and the operation button casing is not changed from the basic position A1, and the integrated portable information terminal is rotated by 90 degrees, for example, and gripped. It is also possible to display the screen display rotated 90 degrees. At this time, if the configuration shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 is used with respect to the key assignment, it is possible to enjoy a game or video on a horizontally long display screen.

  Next, a portable information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The third embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in the rotational operation of the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12, and the other functions are the same as those in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a front view and a side view of a portable information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 (a) is a front view and a side view corresponding thereto, and FIG. 15 (b) is a side view showing the operation. As shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), in the portable information terminal according to the present embodiment, the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 can be relatively folded and rotated. Folding rotation of the video display casing 10 and the operation button casing 12 can be performed from the closed state B1 in a completely folded state to the 360 degree opened state B4 in which the opening / closing angle is 360 degrees.

  An example of how to use the portable information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. When this portable information terminal is not used, it is carried in the closed state B1. When the user uses the information terminal, the user terminal is opened about 180 degrees (B2). In this state, the first information processing unit 24 a suitable for processing the vertically long screen data is selected by the switching unit 23, and the content is displayed on the video display unit 11. When the user opens the opening / closing angle to about 270 degrees or more (B3), the switching unit 23 selects, for example, the second information processing unit 24b that processes terrestrial digital broadcasting, and as a result, the video display unit 11 performs broadcasting. The video screen is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 16, a user views a broadcast video screen by installing a portable information terminal opened at an opening / closing angle of 270 degrees or more on a desk. The portable information terminal opened at an opening / closing angle of 270 degrees or more can be installed easily and stably, and the video display casing 10 can be adjusted to an angle that is easy for the user to see as shown by the dotted line in FIG. This makes it possible to provide a viewing method that is optimal for viewing without requiring key operations during viewing and without having to hold the device by hand.

  As another example of the method of using the mobile terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 17, when the user opens the mobile terminal 360 degrees (B4), the switching unit 23 It is also possible to select the second information processing unit 24b that processes the terrestrial digital broadcast and display the broadcast video screen on the video display unit 11. In this usage example, it is possible to view while comfortably holding the folded compact shape.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated along embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to these. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other various modifications, improvements, and combinations can be made.

  For example, the positional relationship between the first casing and the second casing may be changed by an operation other than the rotation operation, for example, when the second casing can be advanced and retracted with respect to the first casing. Thus, the case where the process is switched according to the advance / retreat operation of the second casing is also included.

  The present invention can be used for a portable information terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Video display part, 10 ... Video display casing, 12 ... Operation button casing, 13 ... Several operation button, 15 ... Rotation mechanism part, 16 ... Determination button.

Claims (2)

A first casing;
A second casing configured such that the relative positional relationship with the first casing can be changed to at least a first relative positional relationship and a second relative positional relationship;
A determination unit for determining the relative positional relationship;
An operation unit;
An operation unit changing unit,
The operation unit changing unit changes a function assigned to the operation unit based on a determination result of the determination unit. With a display,
The operation unit includes a direction instruction key,
When the first relative positional relationship is changed to the second relative positional relationship, the operation unit changes its direction relatively by 90 degrees,
The operation unit changing unit includes the direction in the display unit assigned to the direction instruction key and the direction instruction key, regardless of whether the direction instruction key is in the first relative position relationship or the second relative position relationship. 2. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein a function assigned to the direction indication key is changed so as to match the positional relationship of the mobile information terminal.