JP2011172078A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal in which operability is improved regardless of whether a user is right-handed or left-handed. <P>SOLUTION: A so-called lateral slide type mobile phone which has a first case with a main touch panel 14 provided thereon and a second case with a sub-touch panel 18 provided thereon and is opened and closed by sliding in a width direction of the first case has a dominant hand information storage section 33 storing dominant hand information indicating whether a user is right-handed or left-handed. Furthermore, the mobile phone has a posture determining section 53 and an image generating section 57. The posture determining section determines whether a posture in an open state is a first posture in which a length direction of the first case becomes a vertical direction and the first case is held by the user so as to be positioned at a left side viewed from the user, or is a second posture in which the width direction becomes the vertical direction and the first case is held by the user so as to be positioned at an upper side viewed from the user. The image generating section generates images to be displayed on a display screen of the main touch panel 14 and on a display screen of the sub-touch panel 18 based on the dominant hand information and information about the posture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal provided with a display device.

  Some portable terminals have a display screen and an input unit that are divided into left and right when used by the user. In this case, depending on the user's dominant hand, the display screen may be hidden by the user's own hand when operating the input unit. It may disappear.

  Conventionally, various techniques have been developed to prevent the display screen from being hidden during operation of the input unit regardless of the user's dominant hand even if the display screen and the input unit are located separately on the left and right. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which input units are provided on the left and right sides of a display screen of a mobile terminal so that the functions of the left and right input units can be switched. Further, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, when the mobile terminal is turned upside down, the display screen displayed on the display screen is turned upside down to switch the display screen viewed from the user and the left and right positions of the input unit. Techniques that enable it are disclosed.

JP 2003-316498 A JP 2002-73249 A JP 2000-322386 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide the same input unit on the left and right of the display screen. For this reason, when this technology is applied to a portable terminal having a large input unit, the entire portable terminal becomes large and portability is impaired.

  Moreover, in the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, it is necessary to turn the mobile terminal upside down. For this reason, it is difficult to apply this technique to a mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is configured to cause inconvenience if it is turned upside down. For example, in a mobile phone, a receiver is often provided at the upper end of the device, and a microphone is often provided at the lower end. If this type of cellular phone is turned upside down, the receiver and microphone are also turned upside down, which impairs convenience.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a portable terminal with good operability regardless of the user's dominant hand.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a mobile terminal according to the present invention includes a first housing having a first surface provided with a first display input unit, a second display input unit, and a plurality of keys. A key input unit having a second surface, and the first housing is placed on the second surface while the back surface of the first surface and the second surface are opposed to each other. A closed state in which the second surface is covered by being overlapped with the first casing by sliding in the short side direction of the first surface, the second display input unit, and the key input unit A second housing coupled to the first housing so as to be openable and closable between an open state and a dominant hand information storage unit storing handed hand information indicating whether the user's dominant hand is a right hand or a left hand; The posture in the open state is such that the long side direction of the first surface is the vertical direction and the first housing is positioned on the left side when viewed from the user. Or the second posture held by the user so that the short side direction is the vertical direction and the first housing is positioned on the upper side when viewed from the user. And an image to be displayed on the display screen of the first display input unit and the display screen of the second display input unit based on the dominant hand information and the posture information. And an image generation unit for generation.

  The mobile terminal according to the present invention provides a mobile terminal with good operability regardless of the user's dominant hand.

(A) is a perspective view in the state (open state) in which the mobile phone is open, (b) is a perspective view in the state (closed state) in which the mobile phone is closed. (A) is a front view in the 1st attitude | position of a mobile telephone, (b) is a front view in the 2nd attitude | position of a mobile phone. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the e-mail preparation screen in the 1st attitude | position of the conventional horizontal slide type | mold mobile phone. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the left-handed e-mail preparation screen in the 1st attitude | position of the mobile telephone which concerns on this embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the right-handed e-mail preparation screen in the 1st attitude | position of the mobile telephone which concerns on this embodiment. The block diagram which shows schematically the internal structural example of a mobile telephone. The schematic block diagram which shows the structural example of the function implementation part by CPU of a main control part. Explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the right-handed e-mail preparation screen in the 1st attitude | position of the mobile telephone which concerns on this embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that the function of a touchpad is allocated to a sub touch panel by a main control part, when a web page is browsed in the 2nd attitude | position of the mobile telephone which concerns on this embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that the function of the half key of a full keyboard is allocated to a sub touch panel by a main control part, when a web page is browsed in the 2nd attitude | position of the mobile telephone which concerns on this embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that the menu of a web browser is displayed on a sub touch panel by a main control part, when a web page is browsed in the 2nd attitude | position of the mobile telephone which concerns on this embodiment.

Embodiments of a portable terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a portable terminal according to the present invention. Note that the present invention can be applied to various portable terminals having a touch panel. In this embodiment, an example in the case of using a mobile phone as the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1A shows a perspective view when the mobile phone 10 is open (open state), and FIG. 1B shows a perspective view when the mobile phone 10 is closed (closed state).

  The mobile phone 10 is a so-called lateral slide type mobile phone. The mobile phone 10 includes a first housing 11 and a second housing 12. The first housing 11 and the second housing 12 each have a rectangular main surface, and the first housing 11 is in the direction of the arrow X (the short side of the main surface) with respect to the second housing 12. Are connected via a connecting portion (not shown) so as to be openable and closable. When the first casing 11 slides in the direction of the arrow X, the mobile phone 10 can be positioned in an open state (see FIG. 1A) and a closed state (see FIG. 1B). it can.

  The first housing 11 is configured not to slide in the X direction negative direction from the closed state shown in FIG. 1B with respect to the second housing 12. When transitioning from the closed state shown in FIG. 1B to the open state, as shown in FIG. 1A, the first casing 11 is positive in the X direction with respect to the second casing 12. Will slide.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a main touch panel 14 serving as a first display input unit is first on a surface (first surface) 13 exposed in a closed state among surfaces constituting the first housing 11. And the receiver 15 and the microphone 16 are provided. On the other hand, a surface (second surface) 17 which is covered with the back surface of the first surface 13 in the closed state among the surfaces constituting the second housing 12 is provided as a second display input unit. A sub touch panel 18 and a key input unit 19 are provided.

  In addition, a magnetic piece 21 and a magnetic sensor 22 are provided inside the first casing 11 and the second casing 12, respectively. In the closed state, the magnetic piece 21 and the magnetic sensor 22 are located at positions facing each other. Has been placed.

  2A is a front view of the mobile phone 10 in the first posture, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the mobile phone 10 in the second posture. In the open state, the mobile phone 10 is used in one of the first posture shown in FIG. 2A and the second posture shown in FIG.

  The first posture is one of the postures in the open state, and the long side direction of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 is the vertical direction, and the first housing 11 is viewed from the user. The posture is held by the user so as to be positioned on the left side.

  The second posture is another one of the postures in the open state, and the short side direction of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 is the vertical direction, and the first housing 11 is removed from the user. The posture is held by the user so as to be positioned on the upper side as viewed.

  As apparent from FIG. 2A, in the first posture, the user holds the left hand on the first housing 11 and further holds the second housing 12 while holding the key input unit 19 with the thumb of the right hand. Will push. For this reason, it is difficult for a left-handed user to use the key input unit 19 in the first posture.

  Here, a problem when a left-handed user uses a lateral slide type mobile phone in the first posture will be briefly described.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an e-mail creation screen in the first posture of the conventional lateral slide type mobile phone 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional horizontal slide type mobile phone 100 is also provided with a key input unit 19 at the position of the sub-touch panel 18 shown in FIGS. In the mobile phone 100, in the first posture, no function is assigned to the upper part of the key input unit 19, and a so-called numeric keypad function is assigned to the lower part of the key. The key to which the function of the numeric keypad is assigned refers to a key to which a function as an input key for a character corresponding to a character type such as English / Kana / Kanji / number is assigned.

  The main touch panel 14 of the conventional mobile phone 100 displays a text display area 41 for displaying a confirmed character string and an unconfirmed character string as an image generated by a program that handles character strings, and a prediction candidate character string. The candidate display area 42 is displayed. However, the conventional mobile phone 100 shown in FIG. 3 is based on the premise that the user's dominant hand is the right hand, and does not have any countermeasure for the case where the user's dominant hand is the left hand.

  When a left-handed user uses the conventional mobile phone 100 in the first posture, if he / she tries to input a character string by operating the key input unit 19 with the left hand which is a dominant hand, the display screen of the main touch panel 14 is displayed with his / her hand. It will be hidden.

  On the other hand, in the first posture, a left-handed user can use the main touch panel 14 more easily than a right-handed user.

  Therefore, the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to use user's dominant hand information, and when a left-handed user uses the first posture, a soft key is displayed on the main touch panel 14, and the soft key is displayed on the soft key. The assigned function is assigned to the key input unit 19.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a left-handed e-mail creation screen in the first posture of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment.

  When the mobile phone 10 acquires information indicating that the mobile phone 10 is currently in the first posture and information indicating that the user is left-handed, a candidate display area 42 is provided on the display screen of the main touch panel 14 as illustrated in FIG. In addition, an image including a plurality of soft keys to which functions equivalent to the plurality of keys constituting the key input unit 19 such as a numeric keypad and a confirmation key are assigned is displayed. The mobile phone 10 includes a sub-touch panel 18 and a text display area 41 is provided on the sub-touch panel.

  By providing the text display area 41 on the sub-touch panel 18, operation keys such as a numeric keypad can be provided as soft keys with a large operability on the display screen of the main touch panel 14. Therefore, according to the mobile phone 10, a left-handed user can easily input a character string even in the first posture.

  The sub touch panel 18 is mainly used for displaying a confirmed character string. For this reason, input to the sub touch sensor 39 may be invalidated. For example, power supply to the sub touch sensor 39 may be stopped to reduce power consumption.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a right-handed e-mail creation screen in the first posture of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment.

  When the mobile phone 10 acquires the information indicating that the mobile phone 10 is currently in the first posture and the information indicating that the user is right-handed, the mobile phone 10 performs the same operation as the conventional mobile phone 100 as shown in FIG. The operability similar to that of the mobile phone 100 can be provided to the user. At this time, if power supply to the sub-touch panel 18 is stopped, the power consumption can be made substantially the same as that of the conventional mobile phone 100.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration example of the mobile phone 10.

  In addition to the main touch panel 14, the receiver 15, the microphone 16, the sub touch panel 18, the key input unit 19, the magnetic piece 21, the magnetic sensor 22, and the like shown in FIG. A storage unit 33, an acceleration sensor 34, and a main control unit 35 are included.

  The main touch panel 14 as a first display input unit includes a main LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 36 as a display unit and a main touch sensor 37 as an input unit provided in the vicinity of the main LCD 36. The sub-touch panel 18 as the second display input unit includes a sub-LCD 38 as a display unit and a sub-touch sensor 39 as an input unit provided in the vicinity of the sub-LCD 38.

  In the following description, an example in which the main LCD 36 and the sub LCD 38 are configured by liquid crystal displays will be described, but these may be configured by other general display output devices such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display.

  The main LCD 36 and the sub LCD 38 are controlled by the main control unit 35, and various images generated by a character string creation program such as an e-mail program or an application program such as a web browser, information for operating the cellular phone 10, A plurality of keys (soft keys) for operating the mobile phone 10 are displayed.

  The main touch sensor 37 and the sub touch sensor 39 provide information on the position indicated on the touch sensor by the user to the main control unit 35 of the mobile phone 10. For example, when the user intends to press a soft key displayed on the main LCD 36, the user tries to touch the soft key on the screen. In this case, the main touch sensor 37 acquires information obtained from the contact operation as information on the user's designated position, and provides the information to the main control unit 35 of the mobile phone 10. For example, in the case of a resistive film type pressure-sensitive panel, the main touch sensor 37 acquires information on the pressed position as information on the user's designated position, and provides the information to the main control unit 35 of the mobile phone 10.

  The receiver 15 outputs sound corresponding to various kinds of information including received voice. The microphone 16 converts voice input by the user into a digital voice signal.

  The key input unit 19 includes a plurality of keys, and outputs an operation input signal corresponding to a user operation. Each key functions as a movement instruction key, a confirmation key, a numeric keypad, a power on / off key, an e-mail function activation key (hereinafter referred to as a mail activation key), a web browser activation key (hereinafter referred to as a browser activation key), and the like. .

  The main control unit 35 can assign different functions (key codes) between the first posture and the second posture to each key, and can change the key top display according to the assigned function. For example, the main control unit 35 can assign “T” or the like in the second posture to a key to which “1” or “A” or the like is assigned in the first posture, and is currently assigned. Characters can be displayed on the key top.

  For this reason, the key input unit 19 can be used as a numeric keypad (English / Kana / Kanji / numeric input keys) or as a part of a full keyboard.

  In order to change the display of the key top according to the assigned function, each key may be formed of, for example, a transparent or translucent resin and provided with a lighting device (key light) on the back.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the key input unit 19 is provided below the sub-touch panel 18 in the first posture (see FIG. 4) will be described. However, the arrangement position of the key input unit 19 is not this position. For example, the positions of the sub touch panel 18 and the key input unit 19 may be interchanged.

  The magnetic sensor 22 outputs to the main control unit 35 according to the distance from the magnetic piece 21. Therefore, the mobile phone 10 can detect the open / closed state by monitoring this output. The magnetic sensor 22 can be configured using, for example, a reed switch or a Hall element.

  The antenna 31 transmits / receives communication radio waves to / from a radio base station (not shown). The transmission / reception unit 32 is a wireless circuit that transmits / receives a radio signal inherent in the communication radio wave, modulates communication data output from the main control unit 35, and transmits the modulated communication data via the antenna 31. The transmission / reception unit 32 demodulates communication data received via the antenna 31 and outputs the demodulated data to the main control unit 35. The communication data includes at least voice data for performing a call and data for performing Internet communication.

  The dominant hand information storage unit 33 is a non-volatile memory in which data can be rewritten, and can be configured by, for example, a hard disk drive or a solid state drive. The dominant hand information storage unit 33 stores various data such as e-mail data and music data, as well as information on the user's dominant hand set by the user. The user's dominant hand information is set in advance by the user.

  The acceleration sensor 34 detects the acceleration of the mobile phone 10, outputs a signal corresponding to the detected acceleration, and gives it to the main control unit 35. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a three-axis acceleration sensor widely used in a portable information processing apparatus is applied as the acceleration sensor 34 because it is very small but highly accurate.

  When a three-axis acceleration sensor is used as the acceleration sensor 34, the acceleration sensor 34 outputs accelerations αx, αy, and αz in the three-axis directions of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis as analog voltage values. The main control unit 35 can calculate the direction of gravity acceleration received by the main body of the mobile phone 10 from these voltage values. Therefore, the main control unit 35 can acquire information on the tilt of the mobile phone 10 main body based on the output of the acceleration sensor 34.

  The main control unit 35 is configured by a storage medium such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the mobile phone 10 according to a program stored in the storage medium. Control the behavior.

  The CPU of the main control unit 35 loads the dominant hand display input control program stored in the storage medium such as the ROM and the data necessary for executing the program into the RAM, and provides the user's dominant hand according to the program. Accordingly, the main touch panel 14, the sub touch panel 18, and the key input unit 19 are controlled to execute processing for improving operability for a left-handed user.

  In addition, the CPU of the main control unit 35 stores data necessary for executing various application programs such as a character string creation program such as an e-mail creation program and a web browser program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM. It loads into the RAM and functions as an image generation unit that generates an image to be displayed on the main touch panel 14 and the sub touch panel 18 in accordance with these programs.

  The RAM of the main control unit 35 provides a work area for temporarily storing programs and data executed by the CPU.

  The storage medium including the ROM of the main control unit 35 stores a startup program for the mobile phone 10, a display control program for each dominant hand, and various data necessary for executing these programs.

  A storage medium such as a ROM has a configuration including a recording medium readable by a CPU, such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and a part of programs and data in the storage medium. Or you may comprise so that all may be downloaded via an electronic network. Here, the electronic network means an information communication network in general using telecommunications technology. In addition to a wireless / wired LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet network, a mobile communication network, an optical fiber communication network, a cable communication network, Includes satellite communications networks.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the function realization unit by the CPU of the main control unit 35. In addition, this function realization part may be comprised by hardware logics, such as a circuit, without using CPU.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the CPU of the main control unit 35 performs at least an open / close determination unit 51, an orientation information acquisition unit 52, an attitude determination unit 53, an operation content acquisition unit 54, and a key display change unit according to a dominant hand display input control program. 55, functions as a key function determination unit 56 and an image generation unit 57. Each of the units 51 to 57 uses a required work area of the RAM as a temporary storage location for data.

  The open / close determination unit 51 monitors the positioning state of the mobile phone 10 based on the output of the magnetic sensor 22 and determines whether the mobile phone 10 is currently open or closed.

  The orientation information acquisition unit 52 detects the tilt of the mobile phone 10 based on the output of the acceleration sensor 34.

  The posture determination unit 53 acquires information on the positioning state of the mobile phone 10 from the open / close determination unit 51 and information on the tilt of the mobile phone 10 from the orientation information acquisition unit 52, and the positioning state is determined based on these information. In the open state, it is determined whether the posture is the first posture or the second posture. The posture determination unit 53 provides information to that effect when the positioning state is the closed state, and information about which posture is the first posture or the second posture when the positioning state is the open state, The data is output to the key display change unit 55, the key function determination unit 56, and the image generation unit 57.

  Note that the posture determination unit 53 does not need to output when the posture of the mobile phone 10 is neither the first posture nor the second posture even though the positioning state is the open state. Then, information on any posture determined last may be output.

  The operation content acquisition unit 54 receives the output of the main touch sensor 37 and acquires the content of the input operation on the display screen of the main LCD 36. The output of the main touch sensor 37 includes at least information on the contact position on the display screen by the user. Based on the information on the contact position received from the main touch sensor 37 and the information on the time at which the information is received, the operation content acquisition unit 54 presses and releases an operation intended by the user on the display screen of the main LCD 36. Whether the input operation is press and hold, slide, single tap, double tap or the like. Note that the operation content acquisition unit 54 similarly determines the content of the input operation on the display screen of the main LCD 38 for the output of the sub-touch sensor 39.

  Here, for each input operation on the user's display screen, the press refers to the transition operation from the non-contact state to the contact state, the release refers to the transition operation from the contact state to the non-contact state, and press and hold is A so-called long press operation that maintains the contact state for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) after pressing refers to a so-called drag operation that moves the contact position while maintaining the contact state after pressing. The single tap is a so-called click operation that is released within a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) after pressing, and the double tap is a so-called single tap that is again performed within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second) after the single tap. It shall be a double click operation.

  Further, the operation content acquisition unit 54 receives the output of the key input unit 19 and acquires the content of the operation on the key input unit 19 by the user (such as information on the pressed key and the type of short press / long press).

  The key display changing unit 55 changes the key top display of the key input unit 19 based on the current posture information and the user's dominant hand information.

  The key function determining unit 56 determines a function to be assigned to each key of the key input unit 19 based on the current posture information and the user's dominant hand information. For example, in the first posture and the user is right-handed, the function of the numeric keypad is assigned to a part of the key input unit 19 (see FIG. 5). Further, when the user is left-handed in the first posture, the numeric keypad function is assigned to a part of the key input unit 19 (FIG. 4), and the character type assigned to the soft key of the main touch panel 14 (for example, “Kanji / Kana mixed”). ) May be assigned a different character type (for example, “number”). In this case, the mobile phone 10 can greatly improve the input efficiency when creating a character string in which kanji, kana, and numbers are mixed.

  The image generation unit 57 generates an image to be displayed on the display screens of the main LCD 36 and the sub LCD 38 based on the current posture information and the user's dominant hand information so that the display direction is in accordance with the posture. This image is based on image data generated by an application program. For example, when the e-mail creation program is activated, the image generation unit 57 uses the main touch panel 14 based on the current posture information and the user's dominant hand information based on the e-mail creation image data given from this program. And the image displayed on the display screen of the sub touch panel 18 is produced | generated (refer FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).

  When there is an input from the main touch sensor 37, the sub touch sensor 39, and the key input unit 19, the image generation unit 57 generates an image in response to this input, for example, displaying a new character. When there is an input from the key input unit 19, the image generation unit 57 can specify the user's instruction content by using the information on the function assigned to each key determined by the key function determination unit 56. .

  The mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment is a so-called horizontal slide type mobile phone and includes a sub-touch panel 18. For this reason, when the character creation program is used in the first posture when the user's dominant hand is the left hand, the text display area 41 is provided on the display screen of the sub-touch panel 18 so that it is positioned on the left side of the user. A wide area for displaying a numeric keypad as a soft key on the main touch panel 14 can be secured. Therefore, according to the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment, even a left-handed user can easily input a character string with one hand in the first posture.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a right-handed e-mail creation screen in the first posture of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the mobile phone 10 acquires information indicating that the user is currently in the first posture and information indicating that the user is right-handed, the character type (for example, “ A character type (for example, “number”) different from “Kanji mixed”) may be assigned. In this case, the mobile phone 10 can greatly improve the input efficiency when creating a character string in which kanji, kana, and numbers are mixed.

  In the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment, a sub-touch panel 39 is added to the conventional mobile phone 100. By using the sub-touch panel 39 as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 below, the cellular phone 10 can improve user convenience even when the mobile phone 10 is in the second posture.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the function of the touch pad is assigned to the sub touch panel 18 by the main control unit 35 when the web page is browsed in the second posture of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment. is there.

  The second posture of the mobile phone 10 is a posture suitable for displaying a horizontally long image such as a web page created for a personal computer with the main LCD 36 being horizontally long.

  The sub touch sensor 39 outputs a signal corresponding to the input position. Therefore, it is possible to easily assign a function as a so-called touch pad widely used in personal computers to the sub-touch sensor 39. FIG. 9 shows an example in which an up / down scroll operation of an image displayed on the main LCD 36 is assigned to an up / down slide operation at the right end of the sub LCD 38.

  When a touch panel function is assigned to the sub touch sensor 59, the content of a predetermined input operation output by the operation content acquisition unit 51 in accordance with the output signal of the sub touch sensor 39 (right end slide, center double tap, upper side slide, etc.) The image generation unit 57 applies a function as a so-called touch pad to generate an image to be displayed on the main LCD 36 according to the contents of the input operation.

  By causing the sub-touch sensor 39 to function as a touch pad in the second posture, the user can perform an input operation on the display content of the main LCD 36 much more easily than when only the enter key and the direction instruction key are used.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a state in which half key functions of the full keyboard are assigned to the sub-touch panel 18 by the main control unit 35 when the web page is browsed in the second posture of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing shown.

  The second posture of the mobile phone 10 is a posture suitable for displaying a horizontally long image such as a web page created for a personal computer with the main LCD 36 being horizontally long.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the key display changing unit 55 and the key function determining unit 56 cause some keys of the key input unit 19 to function as the left half keys of the full keyboard (for example, QWERTY keyboard), and the image generating unit 57. By causing the sub-touch panel 18 to function as the right half of the full keyboard, the user can use the full keyboard with the key input unit 19 and the touch panel 18.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a web browser menu is displayed on the sub-touch panel 18 by the main control unit 35 when a web page is browsed in the second posture of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment. It is.

  By displaying the menu of the web browser on the sub-touch panel 18, the user can perform various menu selection operations without hiding the display image (web page image) on the main LCD 36.

  The usage method of the sub touch panel 18 in the second posture is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. In addition, each function shown in the above example may be realized as a function set in advance by determining that the posture determination unit 53 has shifted to the second posture, or the main touch panel 14 or the like may be realized as necessary by the user. It may be implemented by being called by an input operation using the key input unit 19.

  As described above, by appropriately using the sub-touch panel 18, the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment can improve the operability of a left-handed user when used in the first posture, and can also be used in the second posture. When it is used in, the operability can be improved regardless of the user's dominant hand.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment.

  For example, in the present embodiment, an example in which a right-handed user is used as a reference is shown, but a left-handed user may be used as a reference. Specifically, the first posture is defined as a posture in which the first casing 11 is positioned to the right when viewed from the user. A numeric keypad may be displayed. Moreover, you may delete some components from all the components shown by embodiment.

  Further, the present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus in addition to the mobile phone 10 described in the present embodiment, and in particular, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) having a lateral slide type housing structure, a portable game. This is suitable for portable information processing devices such as a portable device, a portable music player, and a portable video player.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, each step of the flowchart shows an example of processing that is performed in time series in the order described. The process to be executed is also included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone 11 1st housing | casing 12 2nd housing | casing 13 1st surface 14 Main touch panel (1st display input part)
15 Receiver 16 Microphone 17 Second surface 18 Sub-touch panel (second display input unit)
19 Key input unit 21 Magnetic piece 22 Magnetic sensor 31 Antenna 32 Transmission / reception unit 33 Handedness information storage unit 34 Acceleration sensor 35 Main control unit 36 Main LCD
37 Main touch sensor 38 Sub LCD
39 Sub-touch sensor 41 Text display area 42 Candidate display area 51 Open / close determination unit 52 Orientation information acquisition unit 53 Attitude determination unit 54 Operation content acquisition unit 55 Key display change unit 56 Key function determination unit 57 Image generation unit 100 Conventional lateral slide type Mobile phone

Claims (5)

A first housing having a first surface provided with a first display input unit;
A second display / input unit and a key input unit having a plurality of keys, wherein the first surface and the back surface of the first surface are opposed to each other. When the housing slides on the second surface in the short side direction of the first surface, the housing is overlapped with the first housing and the second surface is covered with the closed state. A second housing connected to the first housing so as to be openable and closable between an open state in which the two display input units and the key input unit are exposed;
A handedness information storage unit storing handedness information indicating whether the user's dominant hand is a right hand or a left hand;
The posture in the open state is a first posture held by the user so that the long side direction of the first surface is the vertical direction and the first housing is positioned on the left side when viewed from the user. Or a posture determination unit that determines whether the short side direction is the vertical direction and the second housing is held by the user so that the first housing is positioned on the upper side when viewed from the user;
An image generation unit that generates an image to be displayed on the display screen of the first display input unit and the display screen of the second display input unit based on the dominant hand information and the posture information;
A portable terminal characterized by comprising: A key function determining unit that determines a function assigned to each of the plurality of keys of the key input unit based on the dominant hand information and the posture information;
Further comprising
The key function determining unit
When held in the first posture, a function of a numeric keypad is assigned to a part of the plurality of keys,
The image generation unit
When the user's dominant hand is a left hand and held in the first posture, the same function as the plurality of keys constituting the key input unit as an image to be displayed on the display screen of the first display input unit Generating an image including a plurality of soft keys assigned, and generating an image based on information input via the plurality of soft keys as an image to be displayed on the display screen of the second display input unit.
The mobile terminal according to claim 1. The second display input unit includes:
It is constituted by a display unit that displays an image and an input unit that accepts an input corresponding to the image displayed on the display unit, and when in the first posture, invalidates an input operation on the input unit.
The mobile terminal according to claim 1 or 2. The image generation unit
When the user's dominant hand is held in the first posture with the left hand, an image including a numeric keypad as a soft key is generated as an image to be displayed on the display screen of the first display input unit, and the second Generating an image of a character string whose input is confirmed through the key input unit and the numeric keypad as the soft key as an image to be displayed on the display screen of the display input unit,
The key function determining unit
When the user's dominant hand is a left hand and held in the first posture, a character type different from the character type assigned to the numeric keypad as the soft key is assigned to the key input unit.
The mobile terminal according to claim 2. The image generation unit
When the user's dominant hand is a right hand and is held in the first posture, a character string whose input is confirmed via the key input unit as an image to be displayed on the display screen of the first display input unit Generate an image of
The portable terminal of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4.

Images