JP2011216066A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a lighting state including change in luminance for each area of a display screen.SOLUTION: A display unit lighting control function 11a starts, upon detection of a contact onto a touch panel during low lighting or extinguishing of the touch panel for reducing power consumption, an operation for controlling the lighting and extinguishing of the touch panel and also the luminance in lighting (step S101), and normally lights a predetermined area including the position where the contact is detected, of the display screen of the touch panel, while lighting the outside of the area darkly (step S103).

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to control of luminance of a display unit.

  High-luminance lighting or long-time lighting of the display unit consumes electric power, and may lead to display performance such as luminance and clear color development. For example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) with a backlight requires countermeasures mainly from the viewpoint of reducing power consumption. For example, an organic EL display (Organic Electro-Luminescence Display) requires countermeasures mainly from the viewpoint of preventing deterioration. ing. Furthermore, when it is required to keep it dark because it is being shown in a movie, etc., it is required to turn on with low brightness and for a short time.

  Therefore, when there is an input from the key input unit and when a new display is made by the operation of the device regardless of whether there is an input from the key input unit, the display unit is turned on while the device is used. When it is determined that the person is not looking at the display unit, for example, when there is no input from the key input unit for a predetermined time, it is known to turn off the display unit. It is also known to turn on a part of the display unit and turn off the other part. These processes are particularly required in a portable device that operates by the amount of power stored in the rechargeable battery, for example, a mobile communication device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-9-62198 (2nd page, FIG. 2)

  However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the display screen of the display unit is divided into two parts, and although it is possible to control lighting and extinguishing for each, a display for lighting a part necessary for the user of the apparatus There is a problem that it is impossible to control the lighting state, such as lighting with different brightness for each area of the screen.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that controls a lighting state including a change in luminance for each area of a display screen.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus of the present invention lights a predetermined area including a touch panel and a position where contact is detected by the touch panel, with a first luminance, on a display screen of the touch panel. When the touch panel is turned on at a second brightness lower than the first brightness and no touch is detected by the touch panel for a predetermined time, the touch panel is turned on in the brightness variation mode in which all of the display screen is turned off. It is characterized by comprising lighting control means for displaying.

  According to the present invention, lighting conditions including luminance are controlled for each area of the display screen.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of the operation | movement which controls the brightness | luminance at the time of lighting and light extinction of the display part by the display part lighting control function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and lighting. The figure which shows the 2nd area | region to light normally based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example depending on distance). The figure which shows an example of the system which changes the brightness | luminance of lighting for every area | region based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the area | region which carries out the 3rd normal lighting concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example depending on distance). The figure which shows the area | region normally lighted based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example depending on distance). The figure which shows the area | region which carries out the 3rd normal lighting concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example depending on the number of rows). The figure which shows the area | region which carries out the 4th normal lighting concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example depending on the number of rows). The figure which shows the 2nd area | region made to light normally which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example in which an area | region is expanded). The figure which shows the area | region which carries out the 2nd normal lighting which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example in which an area | region is expanded). The figure which shows the area | region which carries out the 3rd normal lighting concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention (example mounted by control of the brightness | luminance of a backlight). The flowchart of the operation | movement which controls the brightness | luminance at the time of lighting and light extinction of the display part by the display part lighting control function which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and lighting. The figure which shows the area | region made to light normally concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of the operation | movement which controls the brightness | luminance at the time of lighting and light extinction of the display part by the display part lighting control function which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and lighting. The figure which shows the area | region made to light normally based on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of an information processing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication apparatus to which an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. This mobile communication device includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire device, a mobile communication network communication unit 12, and an antenna 12a that transmits and receives radio signals between base stations (not shown) belonging to the mobile communication network. A mobile communication network transmission / reception unit 13, a call unit 14, a speaker 14a used for receiving voice output, a microphone 14b used for transmitting voice input, and a display unit 15 for visually presenting information to the user, It comprises a touch pad 16 installed in contact with the display screen of the display unit 15, a key input unit 17 for inputting an operation instruction from a user, an application processing unit 20, and a power supply unit 30 including a rechargeable battery.

  The display unit 15 and the touch pad 16 constitute a touch panel. Further, as a function related to the present invention realized by executing the program, the control unit 11 has a display unit lighting control function 11a, and a display unit lighting control mode 11b which is a fixed luminance mode or a luminance variation mode. Is remembered. Hereinafter, when the display unit lighting control mode 11b is in the fixed luminance mode, the device may be referred to as a fixed luminance mode, and when in the luminance variation mode, the device may be referred to as a luminance variation mode.

  In addition, the control unit 11 and the application processing unit 20 are implemented by a program stored in a storage unit (not shown) being executed by a CPU (not shown). A driver program for operating other hardware is also implemented by being executed by the CPU.

  The function of each part of the mobile communication device configured as described above according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The mobile communication network communication unit 12 obtains a high frequency signal from the radio signal received by the antenna 12 a from the base station, and transmits this high frequency signal to the mobile communication network transmission / reception unit 13. Moreover, the high frequency signal transmitted from the mobile communication network transmission / reception unit 13 is transmitted to the antenna 12a.

  The mobile communication network transmission / reception unit 13 amplifies, frequency converts and demodulates the high frequency signal from the mobile communication network communication unit 12, and transmits the digital voice signal obtained thereby to the call unit 14 and the control signal to the control unit 11, respectively. To do. Further, the mobile communication network transmitting / receiving unit 13 modulates, frequency-converts and amplifies the digital voice signal transmitted from the call unit 14 and the control signal transmitted from the control unit 11 to obtain a high-frequency signal, Transmit to the mobile communication network communication unit 12.

  The calling unit 14 converts the digital audio signal transmitted from the mobile communication network transmitting / receiving unit 13 into an analog audio signal, amplifies it, and sends it to the speaker 14a. The analog audio signal transmitted from the microphone 14b is amplified, converted into a digital audio signal, and transmitted to the mobile communication network transmitting / receiving unit 13.

  The display unit 15 is an organic EL display used for display for prompting the user to perform an operation, display of contents operated by the user, display of an operation state of the apparatus, and the like, and is controlled by the control unit 11 and each unit of the apparatus. By doing so, image data including letters, numbers, and icons is displayed. The display brightness of the display unit 15 is controlled by the display unit lighting control function 11a. A part of the image is a software key for identifying the operation, and an input operation is performed by touching the touch pad 16 to a position corresponding to the image.

  The touch pad 16 has a size substantially equal to the size of the display screen of the display unit 15, and a finger or a stylus pen (hereinafter referred to as a finger or a stylus pen is referred to as a finger or the like) is touched. Detect missing. The contact includes that the distance is less than a predetermined threshold. And when a contact is detected, the control part 11 is notified of the 1 or several position where the contact was detected. When the finger or the like moves on the touch pad 16, the control unit 11 recognizes that the finger or the like traces the display screen by notifying the control unit 11 of the touched position at a predetermined time interval. Is done.

  Thus, the display unit 15 and the touch pad 16 operate as a touch panel. Hereinafter, the contact of the finger or the like with the touch pad 16 may be simply referred to as contact or the touch of the finger or the like. The method for detecting the touch of the touch pad 16 is an arbitrary method such as a resistance film method, a capacitance method, a method for detecting reflection of an electromagnetic wave by a finger or the like.

  The key input unit 17 includes operation keys pressed by the user of the apparatus. When the operation key is pressed, the key input unit 17 notifies the control unit 11 of the identifier of the key. The operation keys include keys for inputting limited instructions such as a power ON / OFF key, a volume adjustment key during a call, a call incoming / outgoing call, and a call end key.

  The application processing unit 20 includes various applications. An application to be displayed on the display unit 15 includes a clock unit (not shown) that displays time on the display unit 15, and an e-mail transmission / reception unit that displays e-mails transmitted and received via the mobile communication network transmission / reception unit 13 on the display unit 15. (Not shown), an electronic book browsing unit (not shown) for displaying digitized books downloaded via the mobile communication network transmitting / receiving unit 13 on the display unit 15, and displaying still images and moving images on the display unit 15 The current position of the device measured by the content reproduction unit (not shown), the GPS positioning unit (not shown), and the route to the destination input by the predetermined touch on the touch pad 16 are superimposed on the map A navigation unit (not shown) or the like to be displayed on the display unit 15.

  The power supply unit 30 supplies power from the rechargeable battery to each unit of the apparatus under the control of the control unit 11. In addition, the rechargeable battery is appropriately charged with power supplied from outside the apparatus. Furthermore, the control unit 11 is notified of the amount of power stored in the rechargeable battery. The power supply unit 30 may include a primary battery instead of the rechargeable battery. In this case, the power supply unit 30 does not charge.

  The display unit lighting control function 11a controls lighting and extinguishing of the display screen of the display unit 15, and further controls luminance at the time of lighting. In this control, the display unit lighting control mode 11b is in a fixed luminance mode (in this mode, the display unit lighting control function 11a receives a touch to the touch pad 16 or an input from the key input unit 17 as conventionally known. If the display unit 15 is turned on, and if there is no contact or input for a predetermined time, a control operation such as turning off the display unit 15 is performed). .

  Here, the display unit lighting control mode 11b is changed by the control unit 11 based on a predetermined mode change instruction contact with the touch pad 16 such as a finger. The predetermined mode change instruction contact is a plurality of, for example, simultaneous contact with two positions, a predetermined number of contacts with a short interval, a contact with a predetermined rhythm, that is, a predetermined number of times with a predetermined interval. Contact, etc.

  The change of the display unit lighting control mode 11b may be performed depending on the amount of electric power stored in the rechargeable battery notified from the power supply unit 30 instead of or in addition to the touch to the touch pad 16. . That is, when the amount of power decreases below the first power amount threshold, the control unit 11 changes to the luminance variation mode, and the power amount exceeds the second power amount threshold exceeding the first power amount threshold. When it increases, you may change to luminance fixed mode.

  In addition, when the power amount decreases below the first power amount threshold value and does not increase above the second power amount threshold value, and the display unit lighting control mode 11b is the luminance variation mode, the control unit 11 The brightness change mode may be updated or maintained. In other cases, the brightness change mode may be changed.

  Regardless of the display unit lighting control mode 11b, the display unit lighting control function 11a is used when the touch pad 16 is touched, when the key input unit 17 is operated, and when the touch or key operation is performed. Regardless of the presence or absence, when a new display is performed by the operation of each unit of the apparatus, the display unit 15 is normally lit. An example in which a new display is performed by the operation of each unit of the apparatus is a case where an incoming call signal is received by the mobile communication network transmission / reception unit 13 and an incoming call notification image is displayed by the control unit 11. Another example is a case where the time display is updated and displayed by the clock unit as time elapses.

  Here, the normal lighting is lighting at a luminance that allows easy visual recognition by the user. Then, when there is neither the touch nor the key operation for a predetermined time, the display unit 15 is slightly lit for a predetermined fine lighting time to reduce power consumption, and is then turned off to reduce power consumption. Let Here, the fine lighting is lighting with lower luminance than the normal lighting, but there is no step of making the light to light, and the normal lighting may be switched to the light-off.

  When the display unit lighting control mode 11b is the luminance variation mode, the display unit lighting control function 11a includes, in addition to the above, the position where the touch pad 16 is touched when the touch pad 16 is touched. The predetermined area of the display screen of the display unit 15 is normally lit, and the area other than that area is lit darkly. Here, the dark lighting is lighting with luminance lower than that of normal lighting. The dark lighting may be lighting with a plurality of levels of luminance, or lighting with continuously different luminances. In any case, the farther from the position where the contact is, the lower the brightness is. When the key input unit 17 is operated, the display screen of the display unit 15 is normally lit.

  Whether the display unit lighting control mode 11b is the fixed luminance mode or the luminance variation mode is long-term, that is, even if the above-described lighting and extinguishing by the display unit lighting control function 11a are repeated. It may be stored without being updated, and it is short-term, that is, in the fixed luminance mode, but may be updated to the luminance variation mode at the time of the above lighting. When the display is turned off, the display unit lighting control function 11a is turned off, or the predetermined contact is performed, the fixed luminance mode may be restored.

  Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the details of the operation of controlling the luminance at the time of lighting, and the lighting of the display unit 15 by the display unit lighting control function 11a in the luminance variation mode will be described. The display unit lighting control function 11a according to the first embodiment is in the luminance fluctuation mode for a long time, and detects contact with the touch pad 16 while the display unit 15 is slightly lit or turned off to reduce power consumption. When the display is performed or when a new display is performed by the operation of each unit of the apparatus, the control operation is started (step S101).

  First, the display unit lighting control function 11a normally lights all display screens of the display unit 15 over a predetermined time (step S102). Next, on the display screen of the display unit 15, a predetermined area including a position where contact is detected is normally lit, and the outside of the area is lit darkly (step S103). The normal lighting area at this time will be described later. In addition, when the touched position moves during the normal lighting in step S102 and when the contact is lost, the display unit lighting control function 11a does not wait for the elapse of a predetermined time, and the predetermined area in step S103. The operation proceeds to the operation of step S104, which will be described later, through or without the operation of normally turning on (not shown).

  Next, the display unit lighting control function 11a determines the state of contact with the touch pad 16 (step S104). If there is no change in the state of contact, that is, if the contact at the same position continues, the operation of step S104 is repeated. By this operation, the state of normal lighting and dark lighting in step S103 continues. When the touched position moves, the display unit lighting control function 11a moves to step S103. As a result, the area that is normally lit moves.

  The operation of moving the touched position may be used as a display scroll instruction. Therefore, this operation is used both as an instruction for scrolling the display and an instruction for moving the area that is normally lit. Alternatively, which purpose this operation is used for is switched by a predetermined instruction switching contact. The predetermined instruction switching contact is a predetermined number of contacts with a short interval, a contact with a predetermined rhythm, that is, a predetermined number of contacts with a predetermined interval. Further, an operation of touching with two fingers and moving one of them while keeping the contact may be used as a scroll instruction.

  When the contact is lost, that is, when the finger or the like moves away from the touch pad 16, the display unit lighting control function 11a waits for a predetermined waiting time (step S105), and the normal lighting and dark lighting in step S103 are performed. Let it continue. Thereafter, the entire display screen of the display unit 15 is normally lit for a predetermined time (step S106), is turned off after being slightly lit (step S107), and the control operation is terminated (step S108).

  In addition, the step of normal lighting of all the display screens in step S102 and step S106 is to prevent the user of the device from feeling uncomfortable by adopting the operation in the fixed luminance mode. Or both may be omitted.

  Further, when the display unit lighting control function 11a is in the luminance fixed mode for a long time, the control operation is started by detecting a predetermined short-term luminance variation mode transition contact to the touch pad 16 (not shown). . Here, the predetermined short-term luminance fluctuation mode transition contact is a predetermined number of contacts with a short interval, a contact with a predetermined rhythm, that is, a predetermined number of contacts with a predetermined interval. When the contact is performed a plurality of times, the entire display screen of the display unit 15 may be normally lit, or may be slightly lit or turned off. Furthermore, it may be changed to normal lighting of the entire display screen during the plurality of touches.

  In addition, when the touch to the touch pad 16 that triggered the operation start in step S101 is performed at the position where the soft key is displayed, if the display unit 15 is slightly lit or extinguished, the control unit 11 The operation started by touching the soft key is not performed. This is because when the contact is made, the user cannot visually recognize the display of the display unit 15 or it is difficult to visually recognize the user, and the user does not have an intention to perform an operation associated with the soft key. Because it is. On the other hand, if the display unit 15 is normally lit or is lit dark, the control unit 11 performs an operation started by touching the soft key.

  When determining the state of contact with the touch pad 16 in step S104, if the touched position passes through the position where the soft key is displayed while moving, the control unit 11 touches the soft key. Do not perform the action started by. Because, when the contact is made, the user is performing an operation for the purpose of moving the area that is normally lit, and does not intend to perform the operation associated with the soft key. Because it is considered. In addition, after a contact moves to the position where a soft key was displayed, when a contact is lost, the control part 11 may perform the operation | movement started by the contact to the soft key, and does not need to perform it.

  Here, the region that is normally lit in the operation of normally lighting the predetermined region including the position where the contact is detected in step S103 will be described in detail. First, the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the first embodiment normally turns on the area where the soft key is displayed regardless of the position on the display screen. The soft keys are not limited to those displayed by the running application, but include those displayed by the control unit 11 such as a soft key indicating an incoming call and a soft key indicating an outgoing call. Furthermore, a scroll bar and a link in web content displayed by a browser unit (not shown) are also included. Here, the link is a display indicating that a different part of the displayed web page is displayed by touching a position where the link is displayed or a different web page is displayed. Note that the area where the soft key is displayed may not be normally lit.

  Furthermore, the display unit lighting control function 11a depends on the application being operated and the function of the control unit 11 from any one of the areas to be normally lit other than the soft key described below. Select according to the settings based on the operation. The first normal lighting area is at least a display area where display is performed by the application or a predetermined control function of the control unit 11, for example, a window where the display is performed. In this case, the display section lighting control function 11a is turned on and off, and the luminance control operation at the time of lighting is the same as the operation in the conventionally fixed luminance mode.

  In addition, the above-mentioned application and the part where the display by the predetermined control function of the control unit 11 is not performed, for example, the pictogram in which the pictogram indicating the strength of the radio wave received by the antenna 12a is displayed, The area where display by an application different from the predetermined control function of the control unit 11 is not necessarily included or included in the normal lighting area by the display unit lighting control function 11a.

  If it is not included in the area, the area not included is separately from the area, for example, conventionally known lighting and extinction in the fixed luminance mode, and further, the luminance control at the time of lighting is controlled. Done. Therefore, for example, when an application starts displaying when the display unit 15 is turned off, the display area by the application is normally lit, and the area other than that area may continue to be turned off.

  The first normal lighting area is selected to normally light the entire menu display when the menu is displayed, or to normally light the entire moving image when the moving image is displayed. When these are displayed, it is possible to make the device easy to use by viewing the entire menu and the entire area where the moving image is displayed. Here, the menu item constituting the menu may be an image called an icon or a character string.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the second normal lighting region will be described. FIG. 3A shows a second normal lighting area, which is a first area 15b within a circle having a first radius R1 centered on a contact position 15a touched by a finger or the like. . The display unit lighting control function 11a has the same center as that of the first region 15b, is within a circle having a second radius R2 larger than the first radius R1, and excludes the first region 15b. 2 area 15c is lit darkly. In the figure, sparse hatching from the upper right to the lower left is shown. In addition, in the figure, the third region 15d shown by dense hatching from the upper left to the lower right is darker than the first region 15b and the second region 15c, that is, darker than the second region 15c. Lighting, for example, lighting with the same brightness as that of fine lighting. The darker lighting includes turning off.

  FIG. 3B is a display screen in which the entire display screen is normally lit, and is displayed in step S102, for example. As is clear from the display screen shown in FIG. 3A, this display screen does not have a darkly lit area and a darkly lit area, and is not hatched at all.

  Here, the first region 15b and the second region 15c are assumed to be circular, but naturally, since the region is limited to the display screen of the display unit 15, the contact position 15a, the first radius R1, and Depending on the second radius R2, the second region 15c shown in FIG. 3 may not be a perfect circle as described above. Since it is limited to the display screen of the display unit 15, the fact that it may not be a complete shape as described is the same in the description of the region that is normally lit below, and the description will not be repeated.

  Further, the first region 15b and the second region 15c are not limited to a circular shape. An ellipse whose center of gravity is the contact position 15a touched by a finger or the like may be used, or a rectangle may be used. Since the display screen of the display unit 15 is exemplified as being vertically long, this ellipse preferably has a vertically long shape. The rectangle is preferably a vertically long shape similar to the display unit 15.

  The second normal lighting region is selected when a photograph is displayed or a web page is displayed. When these are displayed, it is possible to make the device easy to use by visually recognizing the periphery of the portion of interest. In the figure, portions not related to these displays, for example, pictograms, are not shown because they are regions in which the luminance variation mode is not controlled by the display unit lighting control function 11a. In the drawings to be referred to hereinafter, illustration of pictographic rows is omitted. Further, in the figures to be referred to hereinafter, as in FIG. 3, the normal lighting is not performed by hatching, and the dark lighting is performed by sparse hatching from the upper right to the lower left, and the lighting is further darkened. This is indicated by dense hatching from the upper left to the lower right.

  Although the center of the 1st field 15b and the center of the 2nd field 15c were made into contact position 15a, it is not restricted to this. Since the user of the device cannot visually recognize the position touched by a finger, etc., when touching with the finger of the right hand, the touching position is centered on the left of the touched position slightly with the finger of the left hand. It may be a little right. When the center is determined in this way, the area of the first region 15b that is hidden by the finger and cannot be visually recognized is small, and the possibility that the user of the apparatus will feel uncomfortable is small. Whether the finger touches the finger of the right hand or the finger of the left hand can be determined by detecting the area touched by the touch pad 16. That is, when touching with the finger of the right hand, the region is substantially elliptical from the lower right to the upper left, and for the finger of the left hand, the region is substantially elliptical from the lower left to the upper right.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, an example of a method for normal lighting, dark lighting, and further dark lighting will be described for each region. The display function of the control unit 11 is an image displayed on the display unit 15 by the application or the control function of the control unit 11, and the normally lit luminance image is stored in the image memory of the storage unit as a standard layer. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the image shown in FIG. 3B is stored as a standard layer. Note that the standard layer is a layer for the lowest background (sometimes referred to as wallpaper), an application layered in order on the layer, and a window assigned for each control function of the control unit 11. Sometimes it consists of layers.

  The display unit lighting control function 11a is a luminance control image composed of transparent pixels in a normal lighting region, transparent pixels and black pixels in a dark lighting region, and transparent pixels and black pixels in a dark lighting region. It is stored in the image memory of the storage unit as a brightness control layer. Here, the ratio of black pixels included in the region that is further lit darker is larger than that of black pixels included in the region that is lit darkly. FIG. 4 shows an example of a brightness control image for causing the display unit 15 to display an image in which the brightness shown in FIG. Note that the details of dark lighting and further dark lighting can be switched by using different brightness control images of different colors and the like.

  The display function of the control unit 11 controls the luminance for each region by causing the image layer processing hardware (not shown) to perform an operation of superimposing the luminance control layer on the standard layer. The image shown in FIG. 3A is created and displayed on the display unit 15. As described above, the luminance can be changed at high speed by causing the image layer processing hardware to perform the luminance control.

  On the other hand, in an apparatus that does not include image layer processing hardware, the display unit lighting control function 11a is displayed as an image displayed on the display unit 15 by an application or the control function of the control unit 11 (stored as a standard layer shown in FIG. 4). The luminance indicated by the pixel of the image is changed by image correction hardware or an image processing program. According to this method, it is possible to freely change not only the luminance but also the color, etc., how to change the luminance. The change may depend on, for example, the color of the displayed image. In addition, regarding the region to be normally lit described below, the method of changing the lighting brightness for each region may be any of the methods described above, and the description will not be repeated.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the third normal lighting region will be described. The third region that is normally lit is a rectangular first region 15f that is within a first distance D1 up and down from the contact position 15e touched by a finger or the like and extends from the left end to the right end of the display screen. The second region 15g is a first region from a rectangular region extending from the position touched by a finger or the like up and down within a second distance D2 longer than the first distance D1 and extending from the left end to the right end of the display screen. In the area excluding the area 15f, the display unit lighting control function 11a lights the second area 15g darkly. Then, the display unit lighting control function 11a lights the third region 15h other than the first region 15f and the second region 15g further darkly.

  The third area to be normally lit is selected when a horizontally written sentence is displayed. When these are displayed, it is possible to make the device easy to use by visually recognizing the lines before and after the portion being read.

  The first region 15f and the second region 15g are assumed to be equidistant from the position touched by the finger or the like, but are not limited thereto. Since the user of the device cannot visually recognize the position touched by a finger or the like, the range may be equidistant from the touched position. In this way, the area of the first region 15f that is hidden by the finger and cannot be visually recognized is small, and the possibility that the user of the apparatus will feel uncomfortable is small.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the 4th area | region normally lighted is demonstrated. The fourth region that is normally lit is a first region 15j that is rectangular within a first distance D3 from the contact position 15i touched by a finger or the like to the left or right and extends from the upper end to the lower end of the display screen. The second area 15k is a first area from a rectangular area extending from the position touched by a finger or the like to the left and right within a second distance D4 longer than the first distance D3 and extending from the upper end to the lower end of the display screen. In the area excluding the area 15j, the display unit lighting control function 11a lights the second area 15k darkly. And the display part lighting control function 11a lights the 3rd area | region 15m other than the 1st area | region 15j and the 2nd area | region 15k further darkly.

  The fourth area to be normally lit is selected when a vertically written sentence is displayed. When these are displayed, it is possible to make the device easy to use by visually recognizing the lines before and after the portion being read.

  The first region 15j and the second region 15k are assumed to be equidistant from side to side from the position touched by a finger or the like, but are not limited thereto. Since the user of the device cannot see the position touched by the finger, etc., the position where the finger of the right hand touched is slightly equidistant from the left, and the position where the finger of the left hand touched is equidistant from the right It is good also as the range. If determined in this way, the area of the first region 15j that is hidden by the finger and cannot be visually recognized is small, and the possibility that the user of the device will feel uncomfortable is small.

  The third and fourth areas that are normally lit as described above are lit at a luminance depending on the distance from the position touched by a finger or the like, but are not limited thereto. When a sentence is displayed, an area that is normally lit may be determined depending on the number of lines from the position touched by a finger or the like.

  With reference to FIG. 7, an area that is normally lit, which is determined depending on the number of lines from a position touched by a finger or the like when a horizontally written sentence is displayed, will be described. In FIG. 7, the horizontally written text shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. The region that is normally lit is a region where a first row number L1 including the row displayed at the contact position 15e touched by a finger or the like is displayed, and is a rectangular shape extending from the left end to the right end of the display screen. 1 region 15f-2. In FIG. 7, the first row number L1 is 1, and the first region 15f-2 is only the region where the row displayed at the contact position 15e is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . In addition, when the first area 15f-2 includes an area in which a line displayed above the line displayed at the contact position 15e and a line displayed below are displayed, the number of these lines is displayed. If they are equal, they are not limited. For example, one may be zero.

  The area to be lit darkly is the second line number L2 displayed above the first area 15f-2 and the second line number L2 displayed above. Region 15g-2. Note that the number of rows displayed above and the number of rows displayed below are not limited. For example, one may be zero. The third region 15h-2 that is not the first region 15f-2 and is not the second region 15g-2 is lit even more darkly.

  FIG. 8 shows a region that is normally lit, which is determined depending on the number of lines from the position touched by a finger or the like when the vertically written text shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. The contact position 15e, the first line number L1, the second line number L2, the first area 15f-2, the second area 15g-2, when the vertically written text shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, And the third region 15h-2 includes the contact position 15i, the first row number L3, the second row number L4, the first region 15j-2, the second region 15k-2, and the first region 15h-2, respectively. 3 corresponding to the area 15m-2 of FIG.

  Further, the third and fourth normal lighting regions may be determined depending on the number of sentences from the position touched by a finger or the like when the sentences are displayed. That is, the area where the text of the first number of sentences including the text displayed at the position touched by the finger or the like is normally lit. In addition, the area in which the second sentence number of sentences following the first sentence number is displayed darkly. Furthermore, areas that are not normally lit and that are not darkly lit are lit darker. Here, the sentence delimiter is a predetermined character including a period, a period, a colon, a question mark, and an exclamation mark. Furthermore, a line break can be used as a sentence delimiter, and a bulleted document can be appropriately divided into sentences.

  The second, third, and fourth areas that are normally lit as described above move following the movement of the position touched by the finger or the like. Further, the darkly lit area also moves following, and as a result, the darkly lit area also moves (corresponding to “moved” in step S104 and the operation in step S103 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2). At this time, the area that is lit brighter than before the movement follows the movement of the touched position without delay, and the area that is lit darker than before the movement follows the movement with a predetermined delay time. It may be lit darker. Further, when the light is turned on darker than before the movement, the light may be turned on gradually.

  However, the area that is normally lit is not limited to follow and move, and the area that is normally lit may be extended by the movement of the position touched by a finger or the like. That is, the area that was normally lit before moving is normally lit after moving, is lit dark before moving, and the area that is not normally lit after moving is stretched by being lit dark continuously after moving. It may be. According to this process, the user can normally light up an arbitrary size region that is normally lighted. Therefore, the outline of the displayed contents can be easily understood. Even when the soft key is not normally lit, the position where the key is displayed can be easily known.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which the normally lit area is expanded with respect to the second normally lit area shown in FIG. When a finger or the like moves substantially straight from the contact position 15a to the second contact position 15a-2, the display unit lighting control function 11a moves from the contact position 15a to the second contact position 15a-2. The first region 15b-2 that is in any one of the circles having the first radius R1 centering on each position is normally lit for all the positions that reach the center. In addition, the second region 15c-2 except for the first region 15b-2, which is in any one of the circles having the second radius R2 centering on each position, is lit darkly. The third region 15d-2 other than the first region 15b-2 and the second region 15c-2 is turned on more darkly.

  When the finger or the like keeps touching the same position (corresponding to “no change” in step S104 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2), the second, third, and fourth normal lighting areas are: Although not changed, it is not limited to this. The area that is normally lit may be enlarged as the contact time becomes longer.

  For example, the first radius R1 is increased with respect to the second normal lighting region shown in FIG. The second radius R2 is lengthened, shortened, or not changed. Note that after the first radius R1 becomes longer and becomes equal to the second radius R2, the second radius R2 is made equal to the first radius R1.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a situation where the normal lighting region shown in FIG. 3 is enlarged, and FIG. 10A is a first radius R1-2 larger than the first radius R1 shown in FIG. In addition, an example is shown in which the second radius R2 shown in FIG. 3 becomes a larger second radius R2-2. In FIG. 10B, the region that is normally turned on is further enlarged, the first radius R1-2 becomes the larger first radius R1-3, and the second radius R2-2 is larger. An example of the radius R2-3 is shown.

  In addition, the area to be normally lit is increased by increasing the first distances D1 and D3 for the third normal lit area shown in FIG. 5 and the fourth normally lit area shown in FIG. Is done by. The second distances D2 and D4 are changed according to the second radius R2. Further, the first number of rows for the processing of making the third normal lighting region shown in FIG. 7 depend on the number of rows and the processing of making the fourth normal lighting region shown in FIG. This is done by increasing L1 and L3. The second row numbers L2 and L4 are changed according to the second radius R2.

  The second, third, and fourth normal lighting regions described above can be used in appropriate combination. For example, in the second normal lighting region, the first region 15b and / or the second region 15c may be a horizontally long ellipse or a vertically long ellipse. Alternatively, a region where the third normal lighting region and the fourth normal lighting region overlap with each other may be a normal lighting region.

  The third normal lighting area described above is an LCD with a backlight in which the display unit 15 is divided into a plurality of parts, and each backlight is provided at the upper part of the display screen of the display part 15 and at the lower part thereof. It is possible to apply when irradiating in a shared manner. The fourth normal lighting area is an LCD with a backlight in which the display unit 15 is divided into a plurality of parts, and each backlight is on the right side of the display screen of the display unit 15 and on the left side. It is possible to apply when irradiating in a shared manner. The third and fourth normal lighting regions are not limited to depending on the distance from the position touched by a finger or the like, but can be similarly applied to cases where the third and fourth areas are dependent on the number of rows from that position.

  With reference to FIG. 11, the operation of mounting the third normal lighting region by controlling the luminance of the backlight divided into a plurality of parts will be described. The display unit 15 includes first to fourth backlights BL1 to BL4 installed from the upper part to the lower part, and each of them shares the uppermost part, the upper central part, the lower central part, and the lowermost part of the display screen. Irradiate the liquid crystal. Then, one or more of the first to fourth backlights BL1 to BL4 are normally lit so that the first region 15f has a predetermined luminance. Then, one or more of the first to fourth backlights BL1 to BL4 are lit darkly so that the second region 15g has a low luminance. And the 1st-4th backlights BL1-BL4 other than the above are lighted further darkly. Of course, the same effect can be obtained although the division of the backlight does not necessarily coincide with the division of the first to third regions 15f to 15h.

  Next, an operation of changing the size of the first area and the size of the second area by the display unit lighting control function 11a will be described. When the display unit lighting control function 11a waits for a predetermined time in step S105 shown in FIG. 2, that is, when the normal lighting state and the dark lighting state are continued, the first area and the second area Touch two points near the boundary of Then, by moving those fingers and the like, the boundary moves following the movement, and the size of the first region can be changed.

  In the third normal lighting area shown in FIG. 5 and the like and the fourth normal lighting area shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the boundary between the first area and the second area is linear. Only one of the lines is visible. Even in this case, the size of the first region may be changed. In addition, two lines indicating the boundary may be visually recognized, and the size of the first region may be changed by touching and moving each line with a finger or the like. The change in the size of the second area is in accordance with the change in the size of the first area described above.

  In this way, the operation of touching two points with a finger or the like and moving the finger or the like may be used to change the zoom ratio. Therefore, for which purpose this operation is used is switched by a predetermined contact. The predetermined contact is a predetermined number of contacts with a short interval, a contact with a predetermined rhythm, that is, a predetermined number of contacts with a predetermined interval. The operation may be performed for different purposes depending on whether the finger touched is the finger of the right hand or the finger of the left hand.

  In the above description, the area is lit at three different brightness levels: normal lighting, dark lighting, and further dark lighting, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be lit at two different levels of brightness: normal lighting and dark lighting, or normal lighting and darker lighting. Moreover, you may light with the brightness | luminance which differs in four steps or more. Further, the luminance may take a continuously different value instead of taking a discretely different value.

  Further, in addition to lighting with different luminance, or alternatively, the color may be changed and the lighting may be performed. That is, the region that is normally lit is lit without changing its color. Then, the color may be changed to a color having a low saturation, that is, a color close to gray as the region is darkly lit and further darkly lit. As a result, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the coloring performance of the display unit 15 without making the user of the device feel uncomfortable.

  According to the operation of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the first embodiment described above, a position where the touch pad 16 may be touched and / or a region including the touched position is determined. Since the device is normally lit, the user of the apparatus can easily touch a desired position and can easily designate a region to be lit normally.

(Second Embodiment)
The configuration of the mobile communication device to which the information processing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied is the same as the configuration of the mobile communication device according to the first embodiment. The difference lies in the operation of the display unit lighting control function 11a in the luminance variation mode. When the normal lighting is performed, the first embodiment refers to the presence or absence of contact with the touch pad 16, whereas the second embodiment. Is to refer to the presence or absence of a change in display on the display unit 15. Therefore, hereinafter, differences will be described, description of the same points will be omitted, or only a brief description will be given.

  FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of the operation in the luminance variation mode of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the second embodiment. Here, the same operation steps as the operation steps of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the first embodiment described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The display unit lighting control function 11a detects a change in the image displayed on the display unit 15 after the entire display screen of the display unit 15 is normally lit for a predetermined time in step S102 (step S201). Then, the predetermined area including the position where the change is detected is normally lit, and the outside of the area is lit darkly (step S202). The region that is normally turned on will be described later. Then, it is determined whether a control end instruction has been input (step S203). This instruction is a predetermined contact with the touch pad 16. When the instruction is input, the display unit lighting control function 11a moves to an operation of setting a predetermined waiting time in step S105. If the instruction is not input, the process proceeds to an operation of detecting a change in the image in step S201.

  Here, the region that is normally lighted in the operation of normally lighting the predetermined region including the position where the contact is detected in step S202 will be described in detail. The region that is normally lit is a region where the display has changed. This area may be a predetermined range from the position where the change occurred, or may be all of the display by the application causing the change to be displayed, for example, a window assigned to the application. For example, when the clock unit displays the time divided into hours and minutes in the window and the number indicating the minute changes, the area that is normally lit is the predetermined range from the position where the number indicating the minute is displayed. It is also possible to include all the windows displayed by the clock unit, and as a result, include a region where a number indicating the time is displayed.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of a region that is normally lit in the second embodiment. In this example, the display screen of the display unit 15 displays a fourth area 15n in which still images that are different depending on the browser unit are displayed at a rate of one frame every few seconds like a picture-story show, and the time by a clock unit. And a fifth region 15o. 13A, 13B, and 13C, the display changes as the person moves to the right in the fourth area 15n as time elapses. Since the time is displayed in the region 15o, the display naturally changes with the change of the time.

  FIG. 13A shows a display at time 1 and shows that all of the fourth area 15n is normally lit by changing the still image displayed in the fourth area 15n. Further, since the number indicating the time displayed in the fifth area 15o has changed, it indicates that all of the fifth area 15o is normally lit.

  FIG. 13B shows the display at time 2, and the still image displayed in the fourth area 15n is changed compared to the display shown in FIG. 13A, so that the fourth area 15n is changed. Indicates that all are normally lit. On the other hand, since the number indicating the time displayed in the fifth area 15o has not changed, it indicates that all of the fifth area 15o is lit darkly.

  FIG. 13C shows the display at time 3, and the still image displayed in the fourth area 15n is changed compared to the display shown in FIG. 13B, so that the fourth area 15n is changed. Indicates that all are normally lit. Further, since the number indicating the time displayed in the fifth area 15o has been changed, it indicates that all of the fifth area 15o is normally lit.

  Through FIGS. 13A to 13C, the background portion excluding the fourth region 15n and the fifth region 15o is the fifth region darkly lit as shown in FIG. 13B, as shown by hatching. Compared to 15o, it is lit darker. This is because the background display has not been changed from before time 1.

  According to the operation of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the second embodiment described above, since the area including the position where the display has changed is normally lit, it is possible to normally illuminate the area that is newly worth viewing. it can.

  The display unit lighting control function 11a performs the operation in the luminance variation mode when the touch to the touch pad 16 is detected, and performs the operation in the luminance fixed mode when the contact is not detected. Even if there is any change, it may not be lit normally. Here, the contact may be at an arbitrary position of the touch pad 16. In this way, when there is both a contact operation that depends on the user and a change in the display image that depends on the application, etc., the normal lighting is performed, so that the power consumption is not impaired without impairing the convenience of the user. A strong reduction effect is obtained. In addition, the second embodiment can be applied to an apparatus that does not include the touch pad 16, in other words, does not include a touch panel.

(Third embodiment)
The configuration of the mobile communication device to which the information processing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is applied is the same as the configuration of the mobile communication device according to the second embodiment. The difference is in the operation of the display unit lighting control function 11a in the luminance variation mode. That is, when lighting normally, the second embodiment refers to the presence or absence of a change in display on the display unit 15, whereas in the third embodiment, it follows the notification from the application to be displayed. Therefore, hereinafter, differences will be described, description of the same points will be omitted, or only a brief description will be given.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the operation in the luminance variation mode of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the third embodiment. Here, the same operation steps as the operation steps of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the second embodiment described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The display unit lighting control function 11a performs normal display on the entire display screen of the display unit 15 for a predetermined time in step S102, and then displays the application on the display unit 15 or the predetermined control of the control unit 11. A notification indicating the display screen area or display position of the display unit 15 is received from the function, the notified area or the area including the display position is normally lit, and the outside of the area is lit darkly (step S301). ). Then, the process proceeds to an operation of determining whether or not a control end instruction is input in step S203. When the instruction is not input, the display unit lighting control function 11a proceeds to an operation of normally lighting the area based on the notification from the application in step S301 or a predetermined control function of the control unit 11.

  Here, the notification indicating the area or the display position is not an instruction for normally lighting the area identified by the notification and not lighting the other areas normally. The area identified by the notification is a notice that it is important. In other words, even if it is for reducing power consumption, the area should be excluded from the target for reducing the brightness. It is. That is, the display unit lighting control function 11a does not necessarily control the luminance of the display unit 15 by these notifications. For example, in the fixed luminance mode, the luminance is not controlled with reference to these notifications.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a region that is normally lit in the third embodiment. In this example, on the display screen of the display unit 15, the navigation unit displays the current position of the apparatus and the route to the destination by overlapping the map. The map is composed of a portion indicating a road (not hatched) and a portion indicating a building (vertically and horizontally hatched).

  Here, the navigation unit includes an area including a position where the current position of the device is displayed and an area including a position where a point requiring attention included in the route is displayed, in this case, a position where a point to be bent is displayed. The display area lighting control function 11a is notified of the including area. The display unit lighting control function 11a normally lights the circular sixth region 15p-1 that is a region including a position where the notified current position of the device is displayed. In addition, the seventh region 15q-1 except for the sixth region 15p-1 that is larger than the sixth region 15p-1 centering on the position is lit darkly.

  Furthermore, the display unit lighting control function 11a normally lights the circular sixth region 15p-2 that is a region including the position where the notified point to bend is displayed. Further, the seventh region 15q-2, which is larger than the sixth region 15p-2 centered on the position and which is larger than the sixth region 15p-2, is lit darkly. Then, the eighth region 15r, which is a region other than the sixth regions 15p-1, 15p-2 and the seventh regions 15q-1, 15q-2, is further lit darkly.

  Here, the sixth regions 15p-1 and 15p-2 have different radii, and the seventh regions 15q-1 and 15q-2 have different radii. These radii are notified by the navigation unit. When there is no notification, the display unit lighting control function 11a uses a default value. Alternatively, the navigation unit notifies an attribute of a position to be notified, for example, that the current position of the device is a position to be displayed, and the display unit lighting control function 11a uses a value stored in association with the attribute. .

  According to the operation of the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the third embodiment described above, the area notified by the application or the like is normally turned on. Can be lit.

  The display unit lighting control function 11a performs the operation in the luminance variation mode when the touch to the touch pad 16 is detected, and performs the operation in the luminance fixed mode when the contact is not detected. Even if a notification indicating a region or a display position is received, it may not be normally lit. Here, the contact may be at an arbitrary position of the touch pad 16. In this way, power consumption can be reduced without sacrificing user convenience by being normally lit when there is both a user-dependent contact operation and an application-dependent notification reception. A strong effect can be obtained. In addition, the third embodiment can be applied to an apparatus that does not include the touch pad 16, in other words, does not include a touch panel.

(Other embodiments)
The first to third embodiments described above can be appropriately combined. For example, in the second and third embodiments, the display unit lighting control function 11a may normally light a soft key, similar to the display unit lighting control function 11a according to the first embodiment. In addition, when display is performed on the display unit 15 by a plurality of applications and / or control functions of the control unit 11, and each display is performed as, for example, different windows, the display unit lighting control function 11a is displayed for each window. In addition, different embodiments may be controlled.

  The above description uses an example in which the present invention is applied to a mobile communication device, but the present invention can naturally be applied to any device having a touch pad, such as a PDA or a personal computer. Furthermore, it is suitable for a device that operates by the amount of power stored in a small rechargeable battery. The present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications are possible.

11 control unit 11a display unit lighting control function 11b display unit lighting control mode 15 display unit 15a, 15e, 15i contact position 15a-2 second contact position 15b, 15b-2, 15f, 15f-2, 15j, 15j-2 First region 15c, 15c-2, 15g, 15g-2, 15k, 15k-2 Second region 15d, 15d-2, 15h, 15h-2, 15m, 15m-2 Third region 15n Fourth region Region 15o Fifth region 15p-1, 15p-2 Sixth region 15q-1, 15q-2 Seventh region 15r Eighth region 16 Touch pad 20 Application processing unit 30 Power supply unit

Claims (17)

A touch panel;
Of the display screen of the touch panel, a predetermined area including a position where contact is detected by the touch panel is lit at a first luminance, and outside the area is lit at a second luminance less than the first luminance. An information processing apparatus comprising: a lighting control unit configured to display on the touch panel in a luminance variation mode in which all of the display screen is turned off when no touch is detected by the touch panel for a predetermined time. When the lighting control means is displayed on the touch panel in the luminance variation mode, the display screen has an area where the soft key is displayed at the first luminance regardless of the inside or outside of the predetermined area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is lit. When the lighting control means is displayed on the touch panel in the luminance variation mode, the lighting control means is outside the predetermined area and in a second predetermined area in contact with the predetermined area on the display screen. 2. The information according to claim 1, wherein lighting is performed at a second luminance, and the regions other than the predetermined region and the second predetermined region are lighted at a third luminance lower than the second luminance. Processing equipment. 2. The lighting control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the touch panel detects that the touched position has moved while maintaining contact, the lighting control unit moves the predetermined area following the movement. The information processing apparatus described. When the touch panel detects that the touched position has moved in contact with the touch panel, the lighting control means turns on the first area with the first luminance in each of the positions that have passed through the movement. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. When it is detected that the lighting control unit has been in contact with the contacted position for a first time, the lighting control unit lights the inside of a predetermined area of a first size with the first luminance, and When it is detected that contact has been made for a second time exceeding the first time, the first area within a predetermined area having a second size larger than the predetermined area having the first size is detected. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is lit with luminance. The lighting control means is that the contact between the two positions on the inner and outer boundaries of the predetermined region and one or two of the two contacted positions has moved while maintaining the contact. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when detected by a touch panel, the size of the predetermined area is changed following the movement. When the first predetermined contact is detected by the touch panel when the lighting control unit is displayed on the touch panel in the luminance variation mode, the lighting control unit is configured to light the entire display screen with the first luminance. When the second predetermined contact is detected by the touch panel when the touch panel is displayed in the fixed mode and the touch panel is displayed in the fixed brightness mode, the touch panel is displayed in the brightness variation mode. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is circular or rectangular. When a horizontally written sentence is displayed on the display screen, the predetermined area is a part of the area where the sentence is displayed and is a rectangle extending from the left end to the right end of the displayed area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. When vertically written text is displayed on the display screen, the predetermined area is a part of the area where the text is displayed and is a rectangle extending from the upper end to the lower end of the displayed area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. Display means;
Of the display screen of the display means, a predetermined area including a position where the displayed image is changed is lit at a first luminance for a predetermined time, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the predetermined area An information processing apparatus comprising: lighting control means for lighting the interior at a second luminance lower than the first luminance. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined area is an area displayed by one application. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined area is one window. Display means displayed by the application;
On the display screen of the display means, lighting is performed so that a predetermined area including a position specified by the application is lit with a first luminance, and outside the area is lit with a second luminance less than the first luminance. An information processing apparatus comprising control means. The display means is a touch panel,
16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 15, wherein the lighting control unit turns on the first luminance when contact with the display unit is detected. A battery for supplying power to each part of the device;
The lighting control unit lights the display screen at the first luminance and the second luminance when the amount of electric power stored in the battery is less than a predetermined electric energy threshold. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, claim 12, or claim 15.

Images