JP2011065271A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening/closing type information processor with a display device separated from a body, having an opening/closing sensing function and capable of avoiding device damage caused by opening and closing without installing a special mechanism, such as mechanical switch and magnetic sensing switch, as well as capable of reduction in device size and weight. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor includes: a touch panel having an area sensor 103 consisting of a plurality of optical sensors placed as divided into small areas on a surface of a liquid crystal panel 110; an opening/closing sensing unit 107 for outputting a value indicating an opened/closed state of a display device 101 and body 105 based on an image read from a whole or partial area of the area sensor 103; and a control unit 120 for determining from the output value of the opening/closing sensing unit 107 whether the display device 101 and body 105 are in an opened state or in a closed state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of opening and closing a display apparatus that displays an image in various information processing and a main body that executes various information processing.

  Conventionally, information processing devices such as PDAs (personal digital assistants), notebook personal computers (hereinafter referred to as notebook personal computers), mobile phones, and electronic dictionaries have the display device opposed to the main body, and the display device can be opened and closed. In the state, products that are in a power-saving state such as turning off the display of the display device and cutting off the power supply are widely used. In such a display opening / closing type information processing apparatus, the opening / closing detection of the display apparatus uses a mechanical switch or a magnetic detection switch provided in the main body for opening / closing detection (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the mechanical switch and the magnetic detection switch are an obstacle to downsizing the information processing apparatus. In order to solve this problem, for example, in Patent Document 2, when the display device 301 is in a closed state using a touch panel 303 having an input area larger than the display surface 302 of the display device 301 as shown in FIG. A method of detecting opening / closing of the display device 301 by pressing a touch panel 303 with a protrusion 305 provided on the main body 304 is disclosed.

  On the other hand, as information processing apparatuses such as PDAs, notebook computers, and mobile phones, products including a display device incorporating an optical sensor are widely used. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a touch panel including an area sensor having an optical sensor and a thin film transistor on the same substrate as a substrate having a light emitting circuit of a display unit.

  However, in the open / close detection method of the display device 301 shown in FIG. 4, the coordinate 303 a of the touch panel 303 is always pushed by the protruding portion 305 when the display device 301 is in the closed state. It was easy. In addition, since the input area of the touch panel 303 is larger than the display area 302 of the display device 301, it has been an obstacle to downsizing the information processing apparatus. Furthermore, there is a problem that it cannot be applied to a display device having a structure that slides with respect to the main body 304.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in an open / close type information processing apparatus in which a display device and a main body are divided, opening / closing is not performed without providing a special mechanism such as a mechanical switch or a magnetic detection switch. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus having an open / close detection function capable of avoiding damage to the apparatus and allowing the apparatus to be light, thin, and small.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention closes a display device that displays an image on a display panel surface and a main body that executes predetermined information processing so that the display device and the display device are in use. An information processing apparatus in which the main body is opened, and a touch panel having an area sensor composed of a plurality of optical sensors divided into small areas on the display panel surface, and an entire area of the area sensor or Open / close detecting means for outputting a value indicating the open / closed state of the display device and the main body from an image read in a part of the area, and the display device and the main body are in an open state from an output value of the open / close detecting means. And an open / closed state determining means for determining whether it is in a closed state.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an area sensor type touch panel including a large number of optical sensors, and does not require special parts such as a mechanical switch or a magnetic detection switch, and the opening / closing detection avoids damage to the apparatus due to opening / closing. The function can be realized, and the information processing apparatus can be reduced in size and thickness.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an open / close type information processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the information processing apparatus in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the opening / closing detection operation and the example of the power saving operation of the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional open / close type information processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an open / close type information processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the information processing apparatus in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information processing apparatus 106 includes a liquid crystal panel 110 having a backlight 110 a on the back, an area sensor 103, a touch panel built-in display surface 102, an open / close sensor unit 104, and an open / close sensor unit 111. The apparatus 101 includes an opening / closing detection unit 107 serving as an opening / closing detection unit, a read image surface 108, a read image surface 112, a light emitting element 109, and a main body 105 having a power switch 113.

  The main body 105 includes a control unit 120 having a function of an open / close state determination means by a microcomputer system having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a timer, and the like. A power control unit 121 that controls supply, a power source 122 that serves as a power supply source, and a reference value range setting unit 123 that sets a reference value range to be compared with the output value of the open / close detection unit 107 are provided. The reference value range setting unit 123 is configured by a hidden switch (such as a dip switch provided on the control board) that can be set at the time of factory shipment or by a service person, for example. In FIG. 2, the configuration of a control system that performs various types of information processing is omitted.

  The touch panel function of the display surface 102 with a built-in touch panel reflects the light emitted from the backlight 110a of the liquid crystal panel 110 at the touched position and irradiates the area sensor 103, whereby the coordinates of one or a plurality of touched areas are displayed. This is realized by a method of detecting by the sensor 103.

  The open / close sensor unit 104 and the open / close sensor unit 111 are configured by a part of the area sensor 103, and images read by the open / close sensor unit 104 and the open / close sensor unit 111 are converted into signals and output. The read image surface 108 and the read image surface 112 are regions in which images are read by the open / close sensor unit 104 and the open / close sensor unit 111, respectively, when the display apparatus 101 is in a closed state.

  The light emitting element 109 is arranged so that a part thereof is lit in the area of the read image surface 108. The light emitting element 109 is also used as a status display light emitting element. That is, the light emitting element 109 also serves as an element (for example, LED: Light Emitting Diode) attached for the purpose of notifying the user that the information processing apparatus 106 is powered on in a light emitting state. The power switch 113 is disposed in the area of the read image surface 112, and a mark is drawn on the surface of the power switch 113.

  Next, a procedure for detecting the open / closed state of the display surface of the display apparatus 101 by the open / closed state detection unit 107 in the configuration described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the opening / closing detection operation and the example of the power saving operation of the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment. This operation is comprehensively executed by the control unit 120 (see FIG. 2). First, it is determined whether or not the output value of the open / close sensor unit 104 is within the reference value range a held in the open / close detection unit 107 (step S1). The reference value range a here is set to a signal range to be output when the image on the read image surface 108 is read by the open / close sensor unit 104. Further, in order to prevent the reading value from deviating from the reference value range a due to damage or aging of the reading image surface 108, the reference value range a based on the image of the reading image surface 108 periodically read by the open / close sensor 104. Is corrected.

  In the case of determination No in step S1, it is determined that the display surface of the display device 101 is in an open state (step S5). On the other hand, if the determination result in step S1 is Yes, for example, 100 milliseconds is waited (step S2). After this standby, it is determined whether or not the output value of the open / close sensor unit 111 is a value within the reference value range b held by the open / close detection unit 107 (step S3). The reference value range b is set to a signal range to be output when an image on the read image surface 112 is read by the open / close sensor unit 111. Further, in order to prevent the reading value from deviating from the reference value range b due to aging or damage of the reading image surface 112, the reference value range is periodically based on the image of the reading image surface 112 read by the open / close sensor 111. b is corrected.

  If the determination result in step S3 is No, it is determined that the display surface of the display device 101 is in an open state (step S5). On the other hand, when the determination result of step S3 is Yes, the display surface of the display apparatus 101 is determined to be in a closed state (step S4). If the display surface of the display device 101 is in the closed state, it is further determined whether or not the display device 101 is in the power saving state (step S6). If the determination result in step S3 is Yes, the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S6 is No, the power supply to the area sensor 103 excluding the open / close sensor unit 104 and the open / close sensor unit 111 is stopped to put the display device 101 in the power saving state (step S7), and then step S1. Return to.

  When the display surface of the display device 101 is in the open state, the display device determines whether or not it is in a power saving state (step S8). If the determination result in step S8 is No, the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S8 is Yes, after the power supply to the area sensor 103 is resumed and the power saving state of the display device 101 is released (step S9), the process returns to step S1. According to the above procedure, the open / close state of the display surface of the display apparatus 101 can be detected without using a mechanical switch or a magnetic switch.

  Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the information processing apparatus 106 of the display apparatus 101 having the area sensor type touch panel including a large number of optical sensors can be opened and closed without adding special parts such as a mechanical switch and a magnetic detection switch. Detection can be realized. That is, a touch panel type display device such as a PDA, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a small DVD playback device, an electronic dictionary, and the main body are arranged to face each other, and an open / close type or slide type information processing device can be reduced in size and thickness.

  In addition, since the touch panel built-in display surface 102 and the main body 105 can detect the open / closed state without contact, the touch panel is not damaged. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to open / close detection of a display device that slides with respect to the main body 105.

  Further, by arranging the light emitting element 109 on the read image surface 108, the image on the read image 108 read by the open / close sensor unit 104 when the display device 101 is in the closed state is greatly different from the image read when in the open state. Since the image can be displayed, it is possible to reduce erroneous detection of the open / closed state of the display device 101 and the main body 105.

  Further, the light emitting element 109 arranged on the read image surface 108 is also used as a status display light emitting element for displaying the power ON state of the main body 105, thereby preventing an increase in cost.

  In addition, when the light emitting element 109 arranged on the read image surface 108 is blinking, the open / close sensor unit 104 reads an image while it is lit, so that the open / closed state of the display device 101 and the main body 105 is erroneously detected. Can be reduced.

  In addition, in the open / close detection unit 107, the output values of the open / close sensor units 104 and 111 are either in a closed state if the value read first and the value read again after a certain period of time are within the reference value range, either If the value is outside the reference value range, it is possible to reduce the erroneous detection of the open / closed state of the display device 101 and the main body 105 by determining the open state.

  Further, when the display device 101 is in the closed state, the power supply of the information processing device 106 can be saved by stopping the power supply supplied to the area sensor 103 excluding the open / close sensor units 104 and 111.

  In addition, the reference value range to be compared with the output values of the open / close sensor units 104 and 111 can be manually set via the reference value range setting unit 123 or can be automatically reset. It is possible to reduce erroneous detection of the open / closed state due to aging or damage of 112. In addition, by arranging the open / close sensor units in a plurality of regions, the accuracy of open / close detection can be increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal panel has been described as an example of the display panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a plasma display, an EL display, or the like. Further, the present invention can be applied regardless of whether the display device is monochrome or full color.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is arranged so that the touch panel display device and the main body face each other, and is useful for open / close detection means such as an open / close type or slide type information processing apparatus. Suitable for PDAs, notebook computers, mobile phones, electronic dictionaries, game machines, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Display apparatus 102 Touchscreen built-in display surface 103 Area sensor 104,111 Opening / closing sensor part 105 Main body 106 Information processing apparatus 107 Opening / closing detection part 108,112 Reading image surface 109 Light emitting element 110 Liquid crystal panel 120 Control part 121 Power control part 122 Power supply 123 Reference | standard Value range setting section

JP 2000-113768 A JP 2006-072871 A Japanese Patent No. 4112184

Claims (10)

An information processing device in which a display device that displays an image on a display panel surface and a main body that executes predetermined information processing are closed facing each other, and the display device and the main body are opened when used,
A touch panel having an area sensor composed of a plurality of optical sensors arranged in a small area on the display panel surface;
Open / close detection means for outputting a value indicating an open / closed state of the display device and the main body from an image read in the entire area or a partial area of the area sensor;
An open / close state determination means for determining whether the display device and the main body are in an open state or a closed state from a value output by the open / close detection means;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The open / close state determination means compares the output value of the open / close detection means with a reference value range to be output by the open / close detection means when the display surface of the display device is in a closed state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus determines that there is a closed state.   The open / close state determination means compares the output value of the open / close detection means with a reference value range to be output by the open / close detection means when the display surface of the display device is in a closed state. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus determines that there is an open state.   4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light emitting element is disposed at a position facing the opening / closing detection unit when the display device is in a closed state.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light emitting element is also used as a status display light emitting element.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the open / close state determination unit reads the image while the light emitting element is blinking while the light emitting element is on.   The open / close state determination means is a closed state if the value read in the open / close detection means at the beginning and the value read again after a lapse of a certain time are within the reference value range. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the information processing devices is determined to be in an open state if it is out of a reference value range.   When the open / close state determination means determines that the display surface of the display device is in a closed state, the open / close state determination means stops the power supply to the area sensor except for the open / close detection means and puts it in a power saving state. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reference value range to be compared with an output value of the opening / closing detection unit can be reset manually or automatically.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing detection unit is arranged in a plurality of regions.

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