JP2013125471A - Information input-output device, display control method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information input-output device having improved operability when a user performs touch input with one hand while holding the device with the other hand.SOLUTION: A portable information input-output device having a touch panel, includes: a hand-holding detection unit for detecting that a detection target area on the outer surface of the information input-output device is continuously touched for a set time period or longer without the touch position changed; and a display control unit for changing a position indicating an input reception area where touch input operation is enabled on a display surface of the touch panel to a position closer to the touch position than a current set position that is a predetermined initial position or a current display position of the input reception area, in accordance with the touch position of the touch detected by the hand-holding detection unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information input / output device having a touch panel, a display control method for the information input / output device, and a computer program.

  Many portable information input / output devices such as a tablet personal computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, an electronic book reader, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) have a touch panel of a size approaching the external size of the device. The touch panel here is a human interface that combines a display capable of displaying an image and a touch-type pointing device. The translucent pointing device is in close contact with the front surface of the display, and the surface of the touch panel serves as both a display surface for outputting information to the user and a touch input surface for operation by the user.

  Regarding the operability of a portable device, there is a proposal for facilitating an operation performed while holding the device with one hand. In Patent Document 1, in an electronic device apparatus that is operated with the user holding either of the left and right ends, a plurality of operation buttons are arranged in a circular arc so that the user can easily operate with the thumb even when using either the left or right hand. It has been proposed to place it on a line. Further, in the portable terminal described in Patent Document 2, when a user performs an operation of drawing an arcuate curve in a state where buttons and links that can be selected by the user are displayed, a curve on the touch input surface is drawn. Move the display position of the button or link to the selected position. As a result, the user can select a button or link with only one hand holding the mobile terminal.

JP 2002-73249 A JP 2010-79442 A

  Due to the thin and lightweight portable information input / output device, even a relatively large information input / output device with a screen size equivalent to A4 size, which is common for paper documents, can be placed on a desk or held with both hands. It became easy to use without. In other words, even in an information input / output device with a large screen, it is possible to easily hold the display with one hand and perform touch input with the other hand while holding it with one hand. It was.

  In addition, with the increase in the size of the screen, there is an increased opportunity for portable information input / output devices to be used as writable information storage media instead of paper. For example, a portable information input / output device can be used as a distribution material browsing device in a meeting or presentation, or used as a questionnaire sheet in a concert or exhibition.

  When holding a portable information input / output device with one hand and performing touch input with the other hand, if the position of the hand is far away from the touch position, the information input / output is performed when touch input is performed. Device support is likely to be unstable. In order to keep the support stable, the user needs to increase the strength of the handle, or once with both hands, change the position of one handle to a well-balanced position. In particular, when performing an operation for moving the touch position such as writing a character or dragging an icon, the force to press the touch input surface tends to be strong, and thus the balance of support tends to be lost.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve operability when touch-inputting with one hand while holding it with the other hand.

  A device that achieves the above-described object is a portable information input / output device having a touch panel used for display and input operations, wherein the detection target area of the outer surface of the information input / output device is in a contact position over a set time. An input standby in which a touch input operation is enabled on the display surface of the touch panel in accordance with a contact position detected by the hand-holding detection unit and the contact detected by the hand-holding detection unit. A display control unit that switches a position for displaying an area to a position closer to the contact position than a currently set position, which is a predetermined initial position or a current display position for the input standby area. Prepare.

  According to the present invention, since the input standby area is displayed at a position close to the contact position on the outer surface, the support is provided when the user presses the outer surface with one hand and supports the device while touch-inputting with the other hand. Making it easier to keep stable.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the front surface of an information input / output device. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the back surface of an information input / output device. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware in connection with the display control of an information input / output device. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure in connection with the display control of an information input / output device. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of an input waiting area. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of switching of the display position according to the position of a handle. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of switching of the display position according to the position of a handle. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of an input waiting area, and the example of the switching of the display position. It is a figure which shows the example of the image which has the handwritten entry column which calls an input waiting area. It is a figure which shows an example of a display state. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display state. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of an input waiting area. It is a figure which shows the procedure of handwriting input. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of display control. It is a flowchart of a position detection routine of a handle. It is a flowchart of the control routine of a display position. It is a flowchart of a handwriting input control routine.

  The portable information input / output device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a tablet personal computer having a substantially rectangular outer shape. As shown in FIG. 1, a so-called frame portion surrounding the touch panel 10 is narrow on the front surface of the information input / output device 1, and most of the front surface is occupied by the touch panel 10. In particular, the distance (width of the frame portion) between the both edges in the short side direction of the information input / output device 1 and the touch panel 10 is only about a few millimeters. In the touch panel 10 of this example, the size of the screen 10s serving both as a display surface and a touch input surface is a 13-inch size equivalent to the A4 size. Thus, since the screen 10s is relatively large and the frame portion is narrow, when a user having a palm of a general size holds the information input / output device 1 with one hand, the peripheral portion of the touch panel 10 is the handle. Pressed with a finger.

  A contact sensor 25 is disposed on one end face in the long side direction of the information input / output device 1. The detection result by the contact sensor 25 is reflected in the display control according to the position of the hand as will be described later. The end face on which the contact sensor 25 is disposed is a lower end face when the image display direction of the touch panel 10 is portrait.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a contact sensor 20 that detects contact of an object with its peripheral portion is disposed on the back surface of the information input / output device 1. The contact sensor 20 is composed of four strip-shaped detection units 21, 22, 23, and 24 along the four peripheral edges of the back surface, so that it can be discriminated whether it is held by both hands or one hand. It is possible to detect the contact positions and the number thereof with a resolution of. The same type of sensors as those used in touchpads and pen tablets can be used as the belt-like detection units 21, 22, 23, and 24. The detection result of the contact sensor 20 is also reflected in the display control according to the position of the handle. In order for the contact sensor 20 not to be sensitive when the information input / output device 1 is placed on a flat support surface, the back surface of the information input / output device 1 has undulations that slightly separate the detection surface of the contact sensor 20 from the support surface. Is formed.

  Although not shown, various interfaces such as a power switch, a volume operation unit, a camera lens window, a ventilation unit for audio output by a speaker, a connector, and a jack are provided on the outer surface of the information input / output device 1. And mechanism elements are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the information input / output device 1 includes a communication circuit 28, a storage 29, a control circuit 30, and other components not shown in addition to the touch panel 10 and the contact sensors 20 and 25 described above. The communication circuit 28 is used for wireless communication and wired communication between the information input / output device 1 and an external device. The storage 29 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and is used for storage and temporary storage of various data. The control circuit 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 31 as a computer that executes a control program and various applications, a random access memory (RAM) 32 serving as a work area for executing the program, and a non-volatile storage for setting values for control. A memory 33 is included.

  A functional configuration related to display control in such an information input / output device 1 is shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the information input / output device 1 includes a hand-holding detection unit 301 and a display control unit 302. These components are realized by the CPU 31 of the control circuit 30 executing a control program.

  The hand-held detection unit 301 detects that the detection target area on the outer surface of the information input / output device 1 is continuously pressed without changing the contact position for a set time or longer. In the information input / output device 1, a peripheral portion of the screen 10s of the touch panel 10 is set as a detection target region. Specifically, the touch input area that is assumed to be pressed by the thumb when the user holds the edge of the information input / output device 1 with one hand is the detection target area. When the information input / output device 1 is held by one hand, the detection by the hand holding detection unit 301 is performed for display control for changing the display layout in accordance with the position of the hand. In order to improve the reliability of this detection, the handheld detection unit 301 refers not only to the output of the touch input device (pointing device) 12 of the touch panel 10 but also to the output of the contact sensor 20. That is, detection is performed based on the pressed state on the front surface and the pressed state on the back surface of the information input / output device 1.

  The display control unit 302 includes, among images displayed on the screen 10 s of the touch panel 10, according to the pressed position detected by the hand-holding detection unit 301 (the pressed position is also a contact position because the pressing is accompanied by a contact). The display position of the input standby area where the touch input operation is valid is switched to a position closer to the pressed position than the predetermined initial position or the current display position. If an image including the input standby area is already displayed on the display 13 of the touch panel 10, when the pressed position is changed, the display position of the input standby area is moved accordingly. In the case of newly displaying the input standby area, the input standby area is displayed at a position corresponding to the pressed position at that time.

  When the user supports the information input / output device 1 with only one hand, it is easy to perform touch input to the input standby area by arranging the input standby area near the position (grip position) of the handle. . This is because the balance of support of the information input / output device 1 is not easily lost even when the input standby area is pressed. The pressed position detected by the hand holding detection unit 301 can be regarded as the position of the holding hand. Therefore, basically, the display control unit 302 brings the display position of the input standby area closer to the pressed position detected by the handheld detection unit 301.

  On the other hand, there is a case where the user holds the information input / output device 1 with one hand so as to press it against his torso (belly or chest). When supported in such a two-point support form, it is not always good to bring the input standby area close to the position of the handle. In particular, when the user holds one short side of the peripheral edge of the information input / output device 1 with one hand and presses the other short side against itself, the input standby area is arranged near the position of the holding hand. It is considered that stability is better when it is arranged at the center of the screen 10s (intermediate position of two-point support) or at a position closer to the user's trunk than that. Therefore, when the display control unit 302 has one short side and the object is in contact with the other short side, the position within the range from the center of the display surface to the edge where the object is in contact is displayed. An input standby area is arranged in For this control, the display control unit 302 refers to the output of the contact sensor 25.

  Hereinafter, the display control in the information input / output device 1 will be described with a specific example of display.

  FIG. 5 shows a first example of the input standby area. In FIG. 5, a window 50 representing a calculator is displayed at the center of the screen 10 s of the touch panel 10. In the window 50 smaller than the screen 10s, numerical keys and symbol keys, which are operation keys for inputting arithmetic expressions, are arranged. Strictly speaking, each of these operation keys is an input standby area that is valid when pressed (some touch input operation), but here, for the sake of convenience, the entire window 50 including the area 501 for displaying the calculation result is integrated. One input standby area.

  FIG. 6 shows a first example of display position switching according to the position of the handle. Nine information input / output devices 1 drawn side by side in three rows and three columns in FIG. 6 correspond to each of nine states with different display positions of the window 50. All nine states are display states when used in a portrait orientation.

  The information input / output device 1 at the center of the three-row, three-row arrangement is placed on a desk, for example, and is not held by the user. In this state, the window 50 is arranged at the center of the screen 10s defined as the initial display position. However, the initial position is not limited to the center of the screen 10s, but can be arbitrarily determined and can be customized by the user. When the user holds the information input / output device 1 in a state where the window 50 is displayed at the initial position with one hand, the display position of the window 50 is switched according to the position of the holding hand as follows.

  Like the information input / output device 1 in the second left column in the illustrated arrangement, if the user has a vertical central portion at the left end of the information input / output device 1, the screen 10s is leftward in the vertical center. A window 50 is displayed at a position close to. Conversely, when the user has a vertical center portion at the right end of the information input / output device 1 as in the information input / output device 1 in the right row of the second row, the screen 10s is centered in the vertical direction to the right. A window 50 is displayed at the close position.

  If the user holds the upper left portion of the information input / output device 1 as in the information input / output device 1 in the left column of the first row, the window 50 is displayed in the upper left half of the screen 10s. As in the information input / output device 1 in the center row and the right row in the first row, when the user has the upper end, the window 50 is displayed in the upper half, and when the user has the upper end in the right end, the window 50 is displayed in the upper right half. Is displayed.

  When the user holds the lower left portion of the information input / output device 1 as in the information input / output device 1 in the third row on the left, the window 50 is displayed in the lower left half of the screen 10s. When the user has the lower end as in the information input / output device 1 in the center row and the right row in the third row, the window 50 is displayed in the lower half, and when the user has the lower portion at the right end, the window 50 is displayed in the lower right half. Is displayed.

  A one-dot chain line in FIG. 6 indicates an initial position. It can be seen from the figure that the display position of the window 50 approaches the position of the handle from the initial position.

  The display position of the window 50 is switched when the position of the handle changes. An example is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the user who has the upper left end of the information input / output device 1 temporarily changes the handle from the left hand to the right hand and holds the center of the right end, and then changes the handle from the right hand to the left hand to the right end. The display position is switched in accordance with a series of two repositioning operations of holding the lower part of the screen. A two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 indicates the display position immediately before switching the display position, that is, the current display position at the time of switching. At the time of the first transfer, the window 50 moves to the lower right to approach the position of the handle from the upper left, and at the second transfer, the window 50 moves to the lower left to approach the position of the handle from the center of the right end. Has moved.

  FIG. 8 shows a second example of the input standby area and an example of switching the display position. In FIG. 8A, on the screen 10s of the touch panel 10, a display area 51 for displaying a document and an entry area 52 for a user to write a comment or a message to be added to the document are arranged. The user holds the lower left corner of the information input / output device 1 with the left hand and supports the information input / output device 1 while performing a flick operation with the right hand to scroll the display in the display area 51. Since scroll operations such as flicking and dragging in the display area 51 are effective, it can be said that not only the entry area 52 but also the display area 51 is an input standby area. However, in the present embodiment, of the display area 51 and the entry area 52, only the entry area 52 provided for inputting information is noted as an input standby area in switching the display position.

  In a state where the entry area 52 is arranged on the right side opposite to the handle side in the screen 10s as shown in FIG. 8A, the user touches the entry area 52 with a pen or the like to write in the entry area 52. Then, the display is switched as shown in FIG. 8 (A) and FIG. 8 (B). In FIG. 8B, the entry area 52 is arranged on the same left side as that of the handle and is not hidden by the handle. The user can write desired information in the entry area 52 using the pen 83.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of an image having a handwritten entry field for calling an input standby area. In FIG. 9, on the screen 10s of the touch panel 10, an image 60 representing a questionnaire sheet requested to be filled in by the audience at the concert venue is displayed. That is, the user of the information input / output device 1 in the example of FIG. 9 is a concert audience. However, it is possible to collect information from the participants using the information input / output device 1 at any event such as an exhibition, seminar, presentation, company meeting, etc. without being limited to a concert.

  The image 60 includes a plurality of check boxes including check boxes 601 and 602, handwritten entry fields 621, 622, and 623 for entering specific information related to the question, and a page for an operation to advance the display to the next page. A feed button 650 is provided. When the image 60 is displayed, a browse button 65 and a fill button 66 for the user to switch between the browse mode and the fill mode are displayed at the upper end of the screen 10s. When the user touches the browse button 65 to select a browse mode, an operation for inputting information including touching a check box is invalidated. Instead, a touch input operation such as flicking or dragging that changes the touch position while touching an arbitrary position of the image 60 is effective as the scroll operation. Touching the page feed button 650 is also effective. In FIG. 9, the browse button 65 is emphasized by black and white reversal, indicating that it is in the browse mode. When the user touches the entry button 66, the browsing mode is switched to the entry mode, scrolling and page turning are prohibited, and an operation for inputting information is enabled.

  In the entry mode, pressing the check box is effective, but the check box is not a target for switching the display position according to the position of the handle. That is, a check mark 68 indicating the selected state is added to the touched check boxes 602 and 604 as shown in FIG. 10, but the positions of the check boxes 602 and 604 are fixed to the positions at the start time of the entry mode. There is.

  The display position switching target corresponding to the position of the hand in the image 60 is displayed in response to a touch input operation on the handwriting entry fields 621, 622, and 623. That is, in the entry mode, when the user presses, for example, the handwriting entry field 622 with the pen 83 or a finger as shown in FIG. 11 (the touch may be quickly released or held down for a long time), the handwriting input area 722 is popped up as shown in FIG. Is done. This handwritten input area 722 is an input standby area as an object of display position switching control. The handwriting input area 722 is arranged in a balloon 70 representing the correspondence with the handwriting entry field 622.

  The initial position determined in advance as the display position of the handwriting input area 722 is in the vicinity of the handwriting entry field 622 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in the drawing. Since the initial position is determined relative to the position of the handwritten entry field 622, if the position of the handwritten entry field 622 is changed by scrolling in the browsing mode, the absolute position of the initial position is changed accordingly. When the information input / output device 1 is not supported by one hand, the handwriting input area 722 is displayed at the initial position. On the other hand, when the information input / output device 1 is supported by one hand as illustrated, the handwriting input area 722 is displayed at a position close to the position of the holding hand. In the illustration of FIG. 12, since the position of the handle is the left end portion, the handwriting input area 722 is arranged at the lower part of the screen 10s so as to approach the left side. Since the initial position is a position close to the right end of the central portion in the vertical direction, the display position of the handwriting input area 722 has moved from the initial position to the lower left.

  13A to 13C show a handwriting input procedure performed by the user in the image 60. FIG. 13A shows a state during writing. The user writes information to be input in the handwriting input area 722 using the pen 83. The illustrated input method is a handwriting method in which a locus traced on the screen 10s represents information, but a key input method in which a keyboard is displayed in the handwriting input area 722 may be used. FIG. 13B shows a state where a write end operation is about to be performed. The user who has finished the desired input presses the enter key 71 provided in the balloon 70. Then, the display of the balloon 70 including the handwriting input area 722 ends. FIG. 13C shows a handwritten entry field 622 in which information is written. Information (writing locus) 850 input by the user in the handwriting input area 722 is pasted on the handwriting entry field 622. That is, the handwriting input operation is reflected in the display content of the handwriting entry field 622. In addition, you may make it display the recognized character string in the handwritten entry column 622 using a handwritten character recognition technique.

  Next, the operation of the information input / output device 1 that displays the input standby area as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 14, as the display control operation, the position detection of the handle (S10), the display position control (S20), the handwriting input control (S30), and other controls (S40) are repeatedly executed. In the other control in step S40, display according to a change in the state of the information input / output device 1 such as operation of the touch panel 10 and fixed keys, access from an external device, and connector connection and battery consumption is performed. The display change to which the above-described check mark 68 is added is also included in other controls.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the handle position detection routine in FIG. The handheld detection unit 301 (see FIG. 4) checks whether an object has contacted the detection surface of the contact sensor 20 (S101). If the object is not in contact (NO in S101), the handheld detection unit 301 considers that the support state of the information input / output device 1 is not the handheld state and resets the handheld flag (S111). When an object is in contact with the detection surface of the contact sensor 20 (YES in S101), the handheld detection unit 301 executes the following process.

  First, the position where the object is contacting is memorize | stored among the detection surfaces of the contact sensor 20 which is the peripheral part of the back surface of the information input / output device 1 (S102). The position here may be a rough position, and for example, it may be any one that specifies one of the four sections of the peripheral edge divided into several to about ten pieces. Of course, it may be precise position information in centimeter units or more. If there are a plurality of detected contact positions, all of them are stored.

  Subsequently, the hand-holding detection unit 301 keeps pressing one place in the detection target area on the screen 10s of the touch panel 10 for a predetermined time or more without changing the pressing position, and the pressing range is a typical user's finger. It is checked whether it falls within the set range defined as the size of (S103, S104, S105). The predetermined time is changed according to the current display state and the like. When the input standby area that is the target of the display position switching control is not displayed and does not need to be displayed immediately, for example, when the viewing mode is selected as in the example of FIG. 9, the predetermined time is, for example, 5 seconds. It is said to be about. When the input standby area is already displayed and there is a possibility that the user will immediately input to the input standby area, the predetermined time is set to about 1 second, for example.

  When the touch panel 10 is not pressed, the pressing time is short, or the pressing range does not correspond to the setting range (NO in any of S103, S104, and S105), the handheld detection unit 301 supports the information input / output device 1. Assuming that the state is not a hand-held state, the hand-held flag is reset (S111).

  When the check results in steps S103, S104, and S105 are all YES, the hand-holding detection unit 301 has a typical distance between the touched position of the touch panel 10 and the touch position stored in step S102. The presence / absence of a position within a predetermined range determined based on this is checked (S106, S107, S108). That is, it is checked whether the back and front of the information input / output device 1 can be regarded as being held by one hand.

  If it can be considered that the hand is held with one hand (YES in S108), the hand hold detection unit 301 calculates the position of the hand from the contact position on the back surface and the pressed position on the front surface (S109). In general, with the support by one hand, the front surface of the information input / output device 1 is pressed with a thumb, and the back surface is pressed with a plurality of other fingers. In view of this, for example, an intermediate point in plan view between the center in the direction along the edge of the back surface in the pressed area on the back surface and the pressed position on the front surface can be set as the position of the handle. Further, as a simple method, the pressing position on the front surface may be the position of the handle. The hand holding detection unit 301 that has calculated the position of the holding hand sets a hand holding flag (S110).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the display position control routine in FIG. The display control unit 302 (see FIG. 4) checks whether or not the hand-held flag is set in the above-described position detection routine for the hand (S201). If the handheld flag is not set, the display control unit 302 returns the process flow to the routine of FIG.

  When the handheld flag is set (YES in S201), the display control unit 302 checks whether or not the handwriting request flag is set in a handwriting input control routine described later (S202).

  When the handwriting request flag is not set (NO in S202), the display control unit 302 checks whether the input standby area is already displayed (S207). If the input standby area is not displayed, the display control unit 302 subsequently checks whether display of the input standby area is instructed (S208). If the input standby area is already displayed (YES in S207) or if there is an instruction to display the input standby area (YES in S208), the display control unit 302 sets the display position according to the position of the hand. The input standby area is displayed (S209, S210). As a situation where the input standby area is already displayed, there is a situation where the window 50 is displayed as in the example of FIG. 5 or the entry area 52 is displayed as in the example of FIG. As a situation where there is an input standby area display instruction, for example, in order to display the window 50 of FIG. 5, the user has pressed a selection button corresponding to the calculator function on a menu screen (not shown) for function selection. .

  On the other hand, when the handwriting request flag is set (YES in S202), the display control unit 302 reads the target point stored in the handwriting input control routine (S203) and the target point calls the handwriting input area. It is checked whether it is a column (S204).

  If the target point is not the handwritten entry field (NO in S204), the display control unit 302 advances the process flow to step S207.

  If the target point is, for example, the handwriting entry fields 621, 622, and 623 in FIG. 9 (YES in S204), the display control unit 302 sets the display position according to the position of the hand and inputs the handwriting input that is an input standby area. The area is displayed (S205, S206).

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the handwriting input control routine in FIG. In this routine, the state is first checked (S301), and processing corresponding to the value of the state is performed.

  When the state is “1”, the display control unit 302 checks whether the entry mode is selected (S302). If it is not the entry mode, the process flow returns to the routine of FIG. If it is in the entry mode, the display control unit 302 sets a handwriting request flag (S303), and advances the state from “1” to “2” (S304).

  When the state is “2”, the display control unit 302 checks whether or not the touch panel 10 is pressed (S305). The press here is not a press accompanying a grip for supporting the information input / output device 1 but a press by a touch input operation. If not pressed, the process flow returns to the routine of FIG. When the touch panel 10 is pressed (YES in S305), the display control unit 302 stores the pressed position as a target point related to the determination of the user instruction (S306), and the state is changed from “2” to “3”. Advance (S307). If the target point stored here is, for example, the handwritten entry field 622 of FIG. 9, the handwritten input area 722 is displayed as shown in FIG. 12 by executing the processing of steps S203 to S206 of FIG. . If the target point to be stored is, for example, the check box 602 in FIG. 9, the check mark 68 is added as shown in FIG. 10 by executing the other control routine in step S40 in FIG. Become.

When the state is “3”, the display control unit 302 checks whether or not the touch panel 10 is pressed (S308). The pressing here is not a pressing accompanied with a grip for supporting the information input / output device 1 but a pressing by a touch input operation. When the no-operation state without pressing continues for a predetermined time of 1 minute or 3 minutes (NO in S308 and YES in S312), the display control unit 302 changes the state from “3” to “4”. Advance (S313).
Until the predetermined time elapses, if there is no depression (NO in S308 and NO in S312), the process flow returns directly to the routine of FIG. On the other hand, when the touch panel 10 has been pressed (YES in S308), if the press is not a handwriting end operation such as pressing the enter key 71 in FIG. 13B (NO in S309), the display control unit 302. Accepts handwritten input (S310). The contents of the accepted operation are handed over to the other control routine of FIG. 14, and processing such as displaying the locus of movement of the pressed position is executed by the other control routine. If the pressing of the touch panel 10 is a handwriting end operation (YES in S309), the display control unit 302 advances the state from “3” to “4” (S311).

  When the state is “4”, the display control unit 302 resets the handwriting request flag (S314), and returns the state from “4” to “1” (S315).

  In the above embodiment, the back contact sensor 20 can be omitted, and the number and positions of the handles can be determined based on the pressed state of the touch panel 10. Further, the contact sensor 25 on the end face may be omitted, and the display position of the input standby area may be switched according to the position of the handle determined based on the pressed state of the touch panel 10.

  Instead of detecting the contact of the object with the back surface, the sensor may be arranged to detect the contact of the object with the end surfaces along the plurality of peripheral edges.

  When the distance between the current setting position, which is the initial position of the input standby area or the current display position, and the position of the handle is smaller than a predetermined value, the display position of the input standby area may be kept at the current setting position. In other words, the display position of the input standby area may be brought closer to the position of the holding hand only when the support of the information input / output device 1 is likely to become unstable due to the pressing of the input standby area. Even when there are a plurality of pressing positions of the touch panel 10, that is, when it is estimated that the user is holding with both hands, the display position of the input standby area may be left at the current set position. In the example of FIG. 12, when displaying the balloon 70 having the handwriting input area 722, the image 60 may be moved as a whole so that the handwriting entry field 622 approaches the handwriting input area 722.

  The screen size of the touch panel 10 may be larger or smaller than the A4 size corresponding to the example. The outer shape of the information input / output device 1 is not limited to the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2. It may be a plate having a substantially uniform thickness, or a plate having a curved back surface or front surface so that the thickness of the peripheral end portion of the back surface decreases as it approaches the edge. The shape in plan view is not limited to a rectangle or a square, and may be any shape including an indefinite shape.

  The size of the detection target area on the screen 10s of the touch panel 10 may be appropriately selected according to the size of the screen 10s so that the user can detect gripping. Not only the annular region along the periphery of the screen 10s, but also a set of a plurality of small regions arranged in a circle along the periphery may be used as the detection target region. The entire area of the screen 10s may be the detection target area. For example, when the display position for moving the input standby area only in the long side direction of the screen 10s is controlled, only the position of the handle in the long side direction may be detected. You may make it detect which of the both ends of a side direction is hold | gripped.

  The display 12 of the touch panel 10 may be any of a liquid crystal panel, organic electroluminescence, electronic paper that maintains a display state without substantially consuming electric power, and other flat panel displays. As long as the position of the holding hand can be detected, the detection method of the touch input device 13 is not limited. However, preferred for use in various environments and applications is a device that has a resolution that is effective for pressing even if it is not a bare hand and that is suitable for character input.

  The present invention can also be applied to an information input / output device that detects the posture of the device and automatically switches the display direction from portrait to location or vice versa. Even when the display orientation is location, as with the portrait shown as an example, the display position of the input standby area is switched according to the position of the holding hand, so that touch input can be performed with one hand. The operability of the operation to be performed can be improved.

1 Portable information input / output device 10 Touch panel 10s Screen (display surface)
301 Hand-held detection unit 302 Display control unit 50 Window (input standby area)
52 entry area (input standby area)
722 Handwritten input area (input standby area)
621, 622, 623 Handwritten entry field (entry field)
60 images (images with entry fields)
25 Contact sensor (sensor)

Claims (9)

A portable information input / output device having a touch panel used for display and input operations,
A hand-held detection unit that detects that the detection target area of the outer surface of the information input / output device is kept in contact without changing the position of the contact over a set time; and
In accordance with the contact position detected by the hand-holding detection unit, a position for displaying the input standby area where the touch input operation is valid on the display surface of the touch panel is determined in advance for the input standby area. An information input / output device comprising: a display control unit that switches to a position closer to the contact position than a current set position, which is a position or a current display position. The information input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the detection target region is a peripheral portion of the display surface of the touch panel. The hand-holding detection unit detects that only one part whose distance from an arbitrary position in the detection target region is within a set range is kept in contact without changing the contact position for a set time or longer. Item 3. The information input / output device according to Item 1 or 2. The input standby area is displayed so as to overlap the image when a touch input operation is performed on the entry field in a state where an image having an entry field where information including characters and figures is scheduled to be entered is displayed. The information input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the information input / output device is an operation area for inputting information to be input. A sensor for detecting contact between an end surface portion on one end side of the outer surface and an external object;
The display control unit is configured to input the input when the contact position is a position on the other end side of the display surface in the detection target region and the external object is in contact with the end surface portion of the outer surface. The information input / output device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a position for displaying a standby area is set to a position within a range from a center of the display surface to an edge on the one end side. A display control method for a portable information input / output device having a touch panel,
Detecting that the detection target area of the outer surface of the information input / output device is kept in contact without changing the position of contact over a set time,
A position for displaying an input standby area where a touch input operation is valid on the display surface of the touch panel in accordance with the detected contact position in the touch is displayed as an initial position or a current display predetermined for the input standby area. A display control method characterized by switching to a position closer to the contact position than a currently set position, which is a position. In a state where an image having an entry field where information including characters and figures is scheduled to be entered is displayed, the detection target area of the outer surface of the information input / output device does not change the position of contact over a set time. Detecting that the user has been touched, and detecting that a touch input operation has been performed on the entry field,
According to the contact position of the detection target area, a position where an operation area for inputting information to be entered in the entry field is displayed as the input standby area from an initial position predetermined for the operation area. The display control method according to claim 6, further switching to a position close to the contact position. A computer program executed in a portable information input / output device having a touch panel,
In the computer that the information input / output device has,
A process of detecting that the detection target area of the outer surface of the information input / output device is kept in contact without changing the position of contact over a set time; and
A position for displaying an input standby area where a touch input operation is valid on the display surface of the touch panel in accordance with the detected contact position in the touch is displayed as an initial position or a current display predetermined for the input standby area. And a process of switching to a position closer to the contact position than the current set position, which is a position. On the computer,
In a state where an image having an entry field where information including characters and figures is scheduled to be entered is displayed, the detection target area of the outer surface of the information input / output device does not change the position of contact over a set time. A process of detecting that a touch input operation has been performed on the entry field, as well as detecting being kept in contact;
A position for displaying an input standby area in which a touch input operation is valid on the display surface of the touch panel according to a detected contact position in the touch, an initial position predetermined for the input standby area or a current display The computer program according to claim 8, wherein a process of switching to a position closer to the contact position than a currently set position, which is a position, is executed.

Images