JP2012221474A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus with excellent operability.SOLUTION: A portable information terminal EQP comprises: a frame formed into a square plate-like shape; a display panel DP provided in a square display area of a plate surface of the frame; a touch panel for detecting the presence or absence of contact with the display area and a contact position; an operation unit SD having a detection section which detects the presence or absence of contact to a predetermined area of a side face of the frame and a contact position and in which the predetermined area is set corresponding to an area where the display unit is provided; and a second connection unit MT provided at an approximately center part of a back face of a surface where the display panel is disposed and connecting an external device with the frame.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  For example, Patent Document 1 is known as an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a portable information terminal. In an electronic apparatus as shown in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which a button is provided in an operation part is known. In such an electronic device, for example, a display unit is provided on one surface of a casing provided in a plate shape, and an operation button is provided in an area around the display unit on the one surface. It has been known.

JP 2010-86089 A

  However, in the configuration in which the operation buttons are arranged in the casing according to the prior art, the position of the operation button in the casing is fixed, and thus there is a problem that it is difficult to operate, for example, when the casing is rotated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic apparatus having excellent operability.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that a housing formed in a square plate shape and a square display region of a plate surface of the housing are provided. A display panel, a touch panel for detecting presence / absence and contact position of the display area, a presence / absence of contact and a contact position with respect to a predetermined area on the side surface of the housing, and the display unit being provided in the area Correspondingly, an operation unit having a detection unit in which the predetermined area is set, and a connection unit that is provided at substantially the center of the back of the surface on which the display panel is installed, and connects an external device and the housing And an electronic device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic device excellent in operativity can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the portable information terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a part of portable information terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a rear view of the portable information terminal concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows one form of operation | movement of the portable information terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows one form of operation | movement of the portable information terminal which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a portable information terminal EQP according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the portable information terminal (electronic device) EQP includes a control device CONT, a display unit DP, a substrate BP, a camera module CM, a rechargeable battery BT, an operation unit SD, and a connection unit MT. , A microphone MC, a speaker SP, a plurality of vibration devices AT, and a first connection unit MS. A control device CONT, a display unit DP, a substrate BP, a camera module CM, a rechargeable battery BT, an operation unit SD, a connection unit MT, a microphone MC, a speaker SP, a plurality of vibration devices AT, 1 connection part MS is electrically connected. In addition, these circuits are electrically connected to an external device via the electrical contact portion of the second connection portion MT.

The casing of the portable information terminal EQP is formed in a square plate shape, for example, and holds the display unit DP, the operation unit SD, and the second connection unit MT.
The display part DP is formed in a square and is provided on the plate surface of the housing. A surface on which the display portion DP is provided in the housing is hereinafter referred to as a display surface Fe. The display unit DP includes a display panel having, for example, a liquid crystal device or an organic EL device. A touch panel is provided in the display area of the display panel. This display area is square. The touch panel detects the presence / absence of contact with the display area and the contact position. As shown in the figure, the display area Fe is substantially equal to the display area of the display panel. Further, only the display portion DP is provided on the display surface Fe.

The operation unit SD is provided on four side surfaces Fa to Fd corresponding to the four sides surrounding the display surface Fe in the housing. The operation part SD includes a side part detection part SD1 provided on the side face Fa, a side part detection part SD2 provided on the side face Fb, a side part detection part SD3 provided on the side face Fc, and a side part detection provided on the side face Fd. Part SD4. The operation unit SD detects the presence / absence of contact from the outside (for example, by the user) and the contact position in the side detection units SD1 to SD4.
For example, when the user's finger or the like touches a part of the detection area of the side detection unit SD2, the capacitance of the side detection unit SD2 changes. Further, when the contact state of the user's finger or the like that has been in contact with a part is released, the side part detection unit SD2 capacitance returns to the original state.
Thus, the side detection unit SD2 is configured such that the capacitance of the contact portion changes locally. Such a change in capacitance is transmitted to the control device CONT. In the control device CONT, it is possible to calculate the presence / absence of contact from outside and the contact position by detecting the change in the capacitance. For example, when the user moves the contact portion along the detection area, the position where the capacitance changes moves with the movement of the contact portion. The control device CONT can also detect the movement of the position where the capacitance changes (movement direction, movement distance, and movement speed). The same applies to the other side detection units SD1, SD3, and SD4.

The substrate BP is provided in the housing. The substrate BP includes a control device CONT, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using, for example, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), and various sensors such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro (angular velocity sensor), and a GPS (Global Positioning System). ing. The control device CONT includes a memory and a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls the portable information terminal EQP.
The vibration device AT is a linear vibration actuator having a specified frequency (resonance frequency). The plurality of vibration devices AT1 to AT4 are arranged at different positions in the casing.
The rechargeable battery BT supplies power to each unit. The rechargeable battery BT is provided in the housing, and can be removed from the housing if necessary.

The camera module CM includes a lens and an image sensor, images a subject, and generates image data. The camera module CM here has its lens provided on the back surface Ff of the display surface Fe in the housing EL, but the number and installation location thereof can be changed as necessary.
The second connection portion MT is provided at a substantially central portion of the back surface Ff and mechanically or electrically connects an external device.
The microphone MC and the speaker SP are provided on the back surface Ff.

FIG. 2 is a diagram when the portable information terminal EQP is viewed from the display surface Fe side, and the side detection units SD1 to SD4 are shown in cross section.
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the side detection units SD1 to SD4 is arranged at a position of each side of the display unit DP formed in a square shape, and is formed to have a size corresponding to the size of the display unit DP. .
Specifically, the detection regions 20 of the side detection units SD1 to SD4 are arranged at positions corresponding to one side of the display unit DP. Further, the longitudinal dimension of the detection region 20 of each of the side detection parts SD1 to SD4 is equal to the dimension of one side of the display part DP.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the portable information terminal EQP. A second connection portion MT, a camera module CM, and a first connection portion MS are provided on the back surface Ff of the portable information terminal EQP. The second connection part MT is a bayonet-type mount including an electrical contact part, and fastens the housing and the external device. The external device is, for example, a camera module including a lens and an image sensor, an easel including a memory, a speaker unit, a hard disk, a musical instrument, or the like. When the external device is attached to the second connection portion MT, the electrical contact portion of the external device and the electrical contact portion of the second connection portion MT come into contact, and the external device is electrically connected to each part of the portable information terminal EQP. Connecting.
The first connection unit MS is an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal for electrically connecting a memory card (external memory) or the like.

Next, the operation of the portable information terminal EQP configured as described above will be described.
The portable information terminal EQP outputs the image data stored in the memory of the control device CONT, the external memory or the like or the image data communicated via the wireless communication unit to the display unit DP and displays it as an image. Similarly, the portable information terminal EQP outputs audio data stored in a memory of the control device CONT, an external memory, or the like from the speaker SP. Furthermore, the portable information terminal EQP communicates data including these image data and audio data with the outside. In addition, when an external device is connected to the second connection unit MT, the portable information terminal EQP operates according to the connected external device. The portable information terminal EQP vibrates the vibration device AT when an event such as reception of communication data or an alarm occurs.

[User operation]
The control device CONT outputs and communicates image data and audio data based on a user operation. When the orientation of the casing of the portable information terminal EQP is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the direction from the side face Fa to the side face Fb is the gravitational direction, the control device CONT displays in the display areas 31 to 40 of the display unit DP. For example, an identification display corresponding to process 1 to process 10 is displayed.

  For example, the control device CONT sets four unit areas in an area along the upper side in the figure among the four sides of the display unit DP, and sets these unit areas as display areas 31 to 34, respectively. In addition, the control device CONT sets four unit areas in the detection area 20 of the side detection unit SD1 so as to correspond to the display areas 31 to 34, and these unit areas are set as contact areas (A1) to (D1), respectively. ).

  Further, the control device CONT sets two unit areas in an area along the lower side in the figure among the four sides of the display unit DP, and sets these unit areas as display areas 39 and 40, respectively. Further, the control device CONT sets four unit areas in the detection area 20 of the side part detection unit SD1 so as to correspond to the two display areas 39 and 40, and each of these unit areas is a contact area (M1). And (N1).

  Similarly, the control device CONT sets display areas in the areas along the left side in the drawing and the right side in the drawing among the four sides of the display unit DP. The display area 31 is provided in the upper left corner of the display part DP, the display area 39 is provided in the lower left corner of the display part DP, and the display area 34 is provided in the upper right corner of the figure. Since the display area 40 is provided at the lower right corner in the figure, the display areas 31, 34, 39 and 40 are set as a common display area for the two contact areas.

  Accordingly, display areas 31, 35, 37 and 39 are set on the left side in the figure, and display areas 34, 36, 38 and 40 are set on the right side in the figure. Further, the control device CONT sets four unit areas corresponding to the display areas 31, 35, 37 and 39 for the detection area 20 of the side part detection unit SD3, and sets these unit areas as contact areas ( Let E1), (G1), (I1) and (K1). Further, the control device CONT sets four unit areas corresponding to the display areas 34, 36, 38 and 40 for the detection area 20 of the side part detection unit SD4, and sets these unit areas as contact areas ( F1), (H1), (J1), and (L1).

  In this state, the control device CONT waits for the user to touch any one of the display areas 31 to 40. In addition, the control device CONT waits for the user to contact the side detection units SD1 to SD4.

  When the user touches an area of the touch panel that overlaps any of the display areas 31 to 40, the control device CONT detects a contact position on the touch panel and executes a process corresponding to the identification display displayed at the touch position. . For example, when the user touches a portion of the touch panel that overlaps the display area 31, the control device CONT performs a process (Process 1) displayed on the display area 31.

  When the user touches any one of the side detection units SD1 to SD4, the control device CONT detects the contact position on the side detection unit SD1 to SD4. For example, when the contact position is a position in the contact area (A1) of the side detection unit SD1, the process 1 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (A1) in the display unit DP is performed. Further, when the contact position is in the contact area (B1) of the side detection unit SD1, the process 2 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (B1) in the display unit DP is performed. Similarly, when a contact position is detected in the contact area (C1) of the side detection part SD1, the process 3 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (C1) in the display part DP is performed. When contact is detected in the contact area (D1), the process 4 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (D1) in the display unit DP is performed.

  Further, when there is a contact with the side detection unit SD2, if the contact position is within the contact area (M1), the process 9 is performed, and if the contact position is within the contact area (N1), the process 10 is performed. Is done. Similarly, in the case of the side detection unit SD3, when the contact position is in the contact area (E1), the process 1 is performed, and when the contact position is in the contact area (G1). If the contact position is in the contact area (I1), the process 7 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (K1), the process 9 is performed. Is called.

  Similarly, for the side detection unit SD4, the process 4 is performed when the contact position is in the contact area (F1), and the contact position is in the contact area (H1). If the contact position is in the contact area (J1), the process 8 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (L1), the process 10 is performed. Is done.

  As described above, the control device CONT performs processing so as to support both the input by the touch panel and the inputs by the side detection units SD1 to SD4. In this case, the control device CONT displays the identification displays of the processing 1 to the processing 10 at positions along the four sides of the display unit DP. When the control device CONT detects contact at the side detection units SD1 to SD4 corresponding to the four sides of the display unit DP, the control device CONT performs each of the processing 1 to processing 10. With such an operation, the user can intuitively perform input using the side detection units SD1 to SD4.

  Further, when the orientation of the casing of the portable information terminal EQP is switched so that the direction from the side surface Fd to the side surface Fc becomes the direction of gravity as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the control device CONT The display is switched so that the identification display is displayed in the display areas 41 to 50. In this state, the control device CONT is in a state of waiting for the user to contact any one of the display areas 41 to 50 and in a state of waiting for the user to contact the side detection units SD1 to SD4. And

  In this case, similarly to the state shown in FIG. 4, when the user touches an area of the touch panel that overlaps any of the display areas 41 to 50, the control device CONT detects the contact position on the touch panel by the display unit detection unit 52 b. Then, a process corresponding to the identification display displayed at the contact position is executed. For example, when the user touches a portion of the touch panel that overlaps the display area 41, the control device CONT performs the process displayed on the display area 41 (Process 1).

  When the user touches any one of the side detection units SD1 to SD4, the control device CONT detects the contact position on the side detection unit SD1 to SD4. For example, when the contact position is a position in the contact area (A2) of the side part detection unit SD4, the process 1 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (A2) in the display unit DP is performed. Further, when the contact position is in the contact region (B2) of the side detection unit SD4, the process 2 displayed on the portion corresponding to the contact region (B2) in the display unit DP is performed. Similarly, when the contact position is detected in the contact area (C2) of the side detection unit SD4, the process 3 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (C2) in the display unit DP is performed. If contact is detected in the contact area (D2), the process 4 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (D2) in the display unit DP is performed.

  Further, when there is a contact with the side detection unit SD3, the process 9 is performed if the contact position is in the contact area (M2), and the process 10 is performed if the contact position is in the contact area (N2). Is done. Similarly, in the case of the side part detection unit SD1, when the contact position is in the contact area (E2), the process 1 is performed, and when the contact position is in the contact area (G2). If the contact position is in the contact area (I2), the process 7 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (K2), the process 9 is performed. Is called.

  Similarly, for the side detection unit SD2, if the contact position is in the contact area (F2), the process 4 is performed, and the contact position is in the contact area (H2). If the contact position is in the contact area (J2), the process 8 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (L2), the process 10 is performed. Is done.

Thus, for example, when the posture of the housing is different, such as the posture of the housing shown in FIG. 4 and the posture of the housing shown in FIG. 5, the contact position for performing the same processing is appropriately switched together with the display. Therefore, it is possible to make the user intuitively input by the side detection units SD1 to SD4.
In addition, since the display area in which the display panel is provided is a square, there is no need to change the aspect ratio of the image data to be displayed when the display direction of the image data is switched when the orientation of the housing is changed. As a result, the time required for switching the display can be shortened.
Further, by providing the second connection portion MT on the back surface Ff, only the display portion DP can be provided on the display surface, and only the operation portion SD can be provided on the side surface. Thereby, the display area in which the display panel is provided and the detection area 20 can be made relatively wide.

[External device connection]
Next, an operation when an external device is connected to the second connection unit MT will be described. Hereinafter, a case where a camera module is connected as an external device will be described as an example. When the camera module is mounted on the second connection unit MT, the camera module and the control device CONT are electrically connected via the bus. When the control device CONT detects that the camera module is connected to the second connection unit MT, the control device CONT starts imaging with the connected camera module. Then, the control device CONT displays the image data generated by the camera module on the display unit DP. Alternatively, when the camera module is connected, the control device CONT may display an operation button or the like for starting imaging by the camera module on the display unit DP.
Thus, by providing the second connection unit MT, various external devices can be connected to the portable information terminal EQP.

[Vibration]
Next, the vibration generated by the portable information terminal EQP when an event occurs will be described. The control device CONT stores in advance a correspondence table in which events and vibration patterns are associated with each other. Then, when an event occurs, the control device CONT reads a vibration pattern corresponding to the generated event from the correspondence table, and vibrates the vibration device AT with the read vibration pattern. For example, when the event “normal data reception” occurs, the control device CONT vibrates any one of the plurality of vibration devices AT. In addition, when the event “important data reception” occurs, the control device CONT vibrates all the plurality of vibration devices AT. Further, when the event “alarm” occurs, the control device CONT vibrates the vibration device AT1 at 148 Hz and vibrates the vibration device AT3 at 152 Hz. As a result, a beat vibration of 4 Hz is generated. Further, as an example of the vibration pattern, in addition to simultaneously vibrating the plurality of vibration devices AT at different frequencies, it is conceivable to simultaneously vibrate the plurality of vibration devices with different strengths. In this case, you may change the intensity ratio of each vibration device according to time.
Thereby, the portable information terminal EQP can generate vibrations of a plurality of types of frequencies that can be recognized by the user according to the event.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the second connection portion MT is a bayonet mount. However, for example, an external device may be slid in and attached to the housing.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as a structure of side part detection part SD1-SD4, although demonstrated taking the example of the structure which detects that an electrostatic capacitance changes by contact, it is not restricted to this, For example, A configuration for detecting a change in voltage due to contact (for example, a resistive touch sensor or the like) may be employed. Moreover, as a structure of side part detection part SD1-SD4 other than the structure which provides an electrode, the structure which does not provide an electrode, such as a surface acoustic wave system and an infrared system, for example, may be sufficient.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the side detection units SD1 to SD4 are arranged on the side surfaces Fa to Fd of the casing has been described as an example. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the side part detection part may be configured to be provided on one or more faces of the side faces Fa to Fd.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated taking the example of the structure by which the touchscreen was provided in the surface of display part DP, it is not restricted to this, The structure by which a touchscreen is not provided may be sufficient. In this case, it becomes the structure operated using side part detection part SD1-SD4 provided in the operation part SD. With this configuration, since high operability can be obtained without providing a touch panel, the cost of the portable information terminal can be reduced.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the aspect which controls so that each of side part detection part SD1-SD4 was divided | segmented into a some contact area was mentioned as an example, it was not restricted to this. For example, it may be set so that one process is performed when one side detection unit is touched without being divided into a plurality of contact areas of the side detection units SD1 to SD4.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the attitude | position which detected the attitude | position of a housing | casing with a sensor and controlled to switch the display in the display part DP based on the detection result was mentioned as an example, it was limited to this, No. For example, it may be controlled to perform a constant display regardless of the detection result of the sensor. Further, a mode in which the user can set a mode for switching display based on the detection result of the sensor and a mode for performing constant display regardless of the detection result may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the surface side electrode 10a among the electrodes 10 demonstrated and demonstrated as an example the structure which is the same state with the other part among side surface Fa-Fd, it is limited to this. No. For example, the configuration may be such that the surface side electrode 10a is disposed on the inner side of the housing with respect to the other portions of the side surfaces Fa to Fd (configuration in which the surface side electrode 10a is disposed at a recessed position). The configuration may be such that the surface-side electrode 10a is disposed on the outer side of the housing with respect to the other portions of the side surfaces Fa to Fd (configuration in which the surface-side electrode 10a is disposed at a protruding position).

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated taking the case of the plate-shaped structure in which the housing | casing was formed in the square, it is not restricted to this. For example, the casing may have a plate-like configuration formed in another shape such as a rectangle, a circle, a triangle, or a polygon. Further, the housing may be formed in other shapes such as a spherical shape, a polygonal column shape, a cylindrical shape, etc. without being limited to a plate shape.

  EQP ... portable information terminal FL ... casing DP ... display unit SD ... operation unit CONT ... control device PN ... display panel TP ... touch panel Fe ... display surface Fa-Fd ... side surface SD1-SD4 ... side detection unit AT ... vibration device CM ... Camera module BP ... Substrate BT ... Rechargeable battery MT ... Second connection part MC ... Microphone SP ... Speaker MS ... First connection part 10 ... Electrode 10a ... Surface side electrode 10b ... Inner side electrode 10c ... Dielectric 20 ... Detection Areas 31-40, 41-50 ... display area

Claims (3)

A housing formed in a square plate shape;
A display panel provided in a square display region of the plate surface of the housing;
A touch panel for detecting the presence or absence and contact position of the display area;
An operation unit having a detection unit configured to detect the presence / absence of contact with a predetermined region on a side surface of the housing and a contact position and set the predetermined region corresponding to the region where the display unit is provided;
A connection portion that is provided at a substantially central portion of the back surface of the housing with respect to a surface on which the display panel is installed, and connects an external device and the housing;
Electronic equipment comprising. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is arranged on each of four side surfaces of the housing. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of vibration devices installed at different positions.

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