JP3813941B2 - Mobile phone input device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input device for performing a display screen operation in a mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the mobile phone uses a CPU for its control, it can have not only the original call function but also functions such as e-mail and Web using the display screen. Since graphics can also be displayed, various devices having a pointing device for scrolling the display screen and moving a cursor or pointer on the display screen have been proposed.
[0003]
For example, in Patent Document 1, a mobile phone having a display screen that is arranged on the front surface and displays information is provided with a push button at a position that can be operated with the thumb of one hand of a user holding the mobile phone. On the back of the screen, by placing a pointing device such as a trackball at a position that can be operated with the index finger of the user's one hand holding the mobile phone, scrolling the display screen, dragging and dropping icons displayed on the screen, It has been proposed to control the movement of the cursor displayed on the screen and the execution of the process.
[0004]
Further, in Patent Document 2, in a portable information device provided with processing means for processing various types of information, display means for displaying processing information and the like, and input means for inputting information or operating the equipment, A trackball is provided on the back side of the information device, and the portable information device is displayed on the display screen of the device by moving it like a mouse on the desk or by placing it on the palm and operating it with one hand. A portable information device that can perform scrolling of a screen and pointing operation of coordinates is described.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-16635 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-29568 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the contents displayed on the display screen are becoming more complicated as the functions of the mobile phone increase, a larger display screen is required. Therefore, a recent mobile phone has a first casing having a display screen on the front surface and a front surface. Mobile phones that are configured to be foldable by a hinge portion with a second housing provided with a keyboard are becoming mainstream.
[0007]
Furthermore, in recent mobile phones, the second display screen is provided on the back of the first casing provided with the display screen, so that the display screen can be viewed even in a folded state. Alternatively, there is a configuration in which a first casing having a display screen on the front surface can be rotated 180 degrees so that the display screen can be viewed even when the first and second casings are folded.
[0008]
When the mobile phone having such a configuration is provided with a pointing device such as a trackball described in the above patent document, the screen is scrolled or the cursor is moved by operating the pointing device with the mobile phone open. The display screen or cursor movement direction when the mobile phone is folded and the display screen or cursor movement direction when the pointing device is operated to scroll the screen or move the cursor are reversed when viewed from the user. Therefore, there is an annoyance that the mobile phone must be moved and operated so that the display screen and the moving direction are the same, especially when the enter key button is on the side of the second housing. There is a problem that the operation becomes inconvenient.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to operate the pointing device with the mobile phone opened and when the mobile phone is folded when the pointing device is provided on the rear surface of the mobile phone with the above configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a display unit image control means that can always maintain the display image and the moving direction of the image in the same direction as viewed from the user without having to change the mobile phone when the pointing device is operated.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The mobile phone input device of the present invention comprises:
A first housing having a display screen on the front surface and a second housing having a keyboard on the front surface are configured to be foldable by a hinge portion, and the first housing is a hinge of the hinge portion. In a mobile phone configured to be capable of rotating 180 degrees around an axis orthogonal to the axis, a pointing device is provided as a means for designating position coordinates on the display screen on the back surface of the second casing, and the first State detecting means for detecting whether or not one casing is folded in the state rotated by 180 degrees; and the first casing is folded in a state rotated by 180 degrees by the state detecting means. Image display switching control means for rotating the display content of the display screen and the position coordinates designated by the pointing device 180 degrees on the display screen Characterized by comprising a.
[0011]
In addition, the input device of the mobile phone according to the present invention is configured such that the first casing having the display screen on the front and the back and the second casing having the keyboard on the front can be folded by the hinge portion. In the mobile phone, a pointing device as a means for designating the position coordinates on the display screen is provided on the back surface of the second casing, and whether the mobile phone is in a folded state is detected. a state detecting means, when it is in a state where the cellular phone is folded by said state detecting means is detected, the image movement by the display contents and the pointing device according to the display screen provided on the rear surface, the front And an image display switching control means for holding the display in the same direction as in the case of display on the display screen .
[0012]
According to the present invention, the first housing having the display screen on the front surface and the second housing having the keyboard on the front surface and the pointing device on the back surface can be folded by the hinge portion. And a mobile phone having a configuration capable of viewing the display screen in a state where the first casing is rotated 180 degrees and the first and second casings are folded by the hinges, or A mobile phone in which a first case having a display screen on the front and back sides and a second case having a keyboard on the front side and a pointing device on the back are foldable by a hinge portion In this case, when the display content on the display screen is operated with the mobile phone opened and folded, the image displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone is always displayed to the user. Since capable of maintaining the same direction, one by one Mochikaeru without requiring the mobile phone according to a use state, it is possible to eliminate the troublesome operation.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a front surface (front surface) side and a rear surface side of a mobile phone provided with an input device to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, a mobile phone 100 includes a housing 101 and a housing 102 that are configured to be foldable by a hinge portion 103. The display unit 1 is disposed on the front side of the housing 101, and key buttons 3 for performing operations for executing various functions of the mobile phone are disposed on the surface of the housing 102.
[0015]
A trackball 2 as a pointing device for detecting the moving direction when the rear surface of the housing 102 is moved in parallel with the back of the housing 102 in contact with a desk or the like is provided on the rear surface of the housing 102. The trackball 2 can be rotated by moving it on a desk or the like like a mouse, and the image displayed on the display unit 1 can be scrolled by the position information of the trackball 2.
[0016]
In addition, the housing 101 has a configuration in which the display unit 1 can be rotated 180 degrees around an axis orthogonal to the axis of the hinge unit 103. In a normal usage pattern, the display unit 1 is opened with the mobile phone 100 open. 1 is located on the same surface side as the keyboard 3, but the cellular phone can be folded with the section where the display unit 1 is arranged rotated 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to the axis of the hinge unit 103. It is also possible to scroll the image or the like with the trackball 2 provided on the back surface of the housing 102 while viewing the image displayed on the display unit 1 in a folded state.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows an operation of rotating and folding the display unit 101 of the mobile phone 100 to which the present embodiment is applied by 180 degrees, and the section 101-1 having the display unit 1 of the housing 101 is provided on the hinge unit 103. By rotating 180 degrees around an axis 51 orthogonal to the hinge axis 50 (FIGS. 2 (b) to 2 (d)), the display unit 1 is housed in a state where the cellular phone 100 is closed (folded). The display screen of the display unit 1 is held on the back and can be viewed in a folded state, and the trackball 2 is disposed on the back side (the back of the housing 102) (FIG. 2 (e) )).
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the mobile phone 100 mainly extracting and showing portions related to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 4 to 5 are flowcharts showing an image movement control operation in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 are diagrams for explaining the movement operation of the display screen in the present embodiment. In the block diagram of FIG. 3, the control unit 33 includes a CPU and a memory, and is illustrated as a block that executes control operations for all functions of the mobile phone 100 according to the present embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0019]
When the mobile phone 100 is moved on the desk so that the trackball 2 housed on the back surface of the casing 102 of the mobile phone 100 is in contact with the desk, the trackball 2 rotates. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the movement of the trackball 2 is detected by the rotation amount / position detection unit 38 incorporated in the mobile phone, and the detection result is stored in the control unit 33 that controls the display state of the display unit 1. Output to the display controller. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a state detection unit 39 that detects whether the housing 101 having the display unit 1 incorporated in the mobile phone is in a normal state or is rotated 180 degrees. The case rotation information from is also output to the display control unit 33.
[0020]
The display control unit 33 reflects the movement of the trackball 2 detected by the rotation amount / position detection unit 38 in the scroll of the display unit image, and the case rotation information from the state detection unit 39 is rotated 180 degrees. When the presence is detected, the image display of the display unit 1 is switched and controlled so that the display image is displayed in a state of being rotated 180 degrees on the display screen.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 6, when the mobile phone 100 is opened and the trackball 2 on the back surface of the housing 102 is moved in the direction of the arrow so as to be in contact with the desk, the display unit 1 of the first housing 101 is displayed. The image displayed on the screen can be scrolled in the same direction as the casing movement direction, and the selection item can be automatically selected at the cursor position.
[0022]
For example, if the cursor 4 selecting “Kyushu” is selected with the cursor moving and the image scrolling in the same direction and disappearing from the screen, “China” is displayed in the center of the screen. The cursor 4 'is moved to and "China" is selected. The cursor item can be determined by operating the key button 3 or the key button 7 provided on the side surface of the housing 102, for example. Note that the screen scroll and the cursor movement may be switched and operated independently by the trackball 2.
[0023]
Next, when the casing 102 is fixed and the casing 101 is rotated by 180 ° around the shaft 51 and the mobile phone is closed by the hinge 103 (the state shown in FIG. 2E), the state detection means displays Since it is detected that the unit 1 is folded 180 degrees, the display control unit displays the display image for the image of the display unit 1 ′ when it is closed and the image scroll direction by the trackball. Image switching control of the display unit 1 is performed so that the image is rotated 180 degrees on the display screen.
[0024]
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the housing moves in the direction of the arrow, the image 5 displayed on the display unit 1 moves to the position of the image 5 ′, and the image 6 originally outside the display unit is displayed. Scrolls in the direction that appears in the part. Confirmation of the cursor item when the cellular phone is closed is performed by operating the key button 7 disposed on the side of the casing.
[0025]
In addition, on the screen for selecting character information with the cellular phone opened as shown in FIG. 8, the cursor can be moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the housing. When there are many character information selection items outside the display area, the screen is scrolled by moving the displayed cursor to the screen edge in the direction in which the selection items are to be scrolled, and further moving the housing in that direction. The character information outside is displayed on the display unit, and the cursor can be moved and selected.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 9, when the display unit 1 is rotated 180 degrees and positioned on the back and the cellular phone is closed, as shown in FIG. 9, the display control unit 33 causes the display unit 1 to display the image of the display unit 1. In addition, the moving direction of the selection item by the trackball is controlled to be reversed by 180 degrees and opposite to that in the mobile phone open state. Similarly, when the screen is scrolled and character information outside the display unit is displayed on the display unit, the image and its moving direction are similarly controlled to be opposite to those in the mobile phone open state.
[0027]
Therefore, when the image is moved by the trackball 2 by moving the mobile phone on the desk, the user does not have to change the mobile phone depending on whether the mobile phone is open or closed. Can be kept in the same direction.
[0028]
10 to 13 are operation explanatory views showing the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, not only the image of the display unit 1 is moved, but also the pointer 8 is displayed to enable the pointer movement, image scrolling and cursor movement.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, regarding the scrolling of the screen, the pointer 9 is moved to the end of the direction to be scrolled, and the casing is moved in that direction, so that the selection items outside the display unit are scrolled. Is displayed and can be selected. As shown in FIG. 11, the same operation is possible when the display unit 1 is on the back and the cellular phone is closed.
[0030]
The pointer 10 can be moved in the same direction as the movement direction of the casing on the screen for selecting character information as shown in FIGS. When there are many text information selection items outside the display area, the screen is scrolled outside the display area by moving the displayed pointer to the end of the selection item in the direction of scrolling and moving the housing in that direction. Is displayed on the display unit, and the cursor can be moved and selected. On the other hand, when the mobile phone is closed with the display unit at the back of the housing, the moving direction of the pointer 11 of the display unit is opposite to that when the mobile phone is open. The same applies to screen scrolling.
[0031]
In each of the above embodiments, the trackball 2 is used as a pointing device provided on the back surface of the housing 102. However, the housing along the plane is placed with the back surface of the housing 102 on a flat surface. You may comprise using the optical movement amount detection means which optically detects the movement amount when 102 is moved.
[0032]
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 100 has a foldable mobile phone configuration in which the housing 101 of the mobile phone 100 is provided with the front display unit 12 and the rear display unit 13. By incorporating the same display direction switching means for each display mode when the rear display unit 13 is opened and closed, an image of the front display unit 12 when the casing is opened and the rear display unit 13 when the casing is closed, and a trackball The movement of the image can be always kept in the same direction for the user.
[0033]
In each of the above embodiments, it has been described that the front display image when the housing is opened and that the pointer is moved by the pointing device provided on the back surface of the housing 102. Since there is provided means for moving the image and the pointer by an operation with a four-way key, etc., the front display image when the housing is opened and the movement of the pointer from the operation with the trackball by the command input, the key button unit There may be provided means for switching to the operation with the four-way key.
[0034]
Moreover, it can also be configured to switch from the front display unit image moving method when the housing is opened to the moving method using the pointer by command input. At this time, switching from the rear display unit image moving method when the housing is closed to the moving method using the pointer can be performed by operating a key button or the like disposed on the side surface of the housing, for example.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is configured such that a first housing having a display screen on the front surface and a second housing having a keyboard on the front surface and a pointing device on the back surface are foldable by a hinge portion, And a mobile phone having a configuration capable of viewing the display screen in a state where the first casing is rotated 180 degrees and the first and second casings are folded by the hinge portion, In a mobile phone in which a first casing having a display screen on the back and a second casing having a keyboard on the front and a pointing device on the back are configured to be foldable by a hinge part, When moving the image with the mobile phone open and folded, the image displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone is always kept in the same direction for the user. Because can bets, there is no need to Mochikaeru a mobile phone in a reverse direction in accordance with the use state, it is possible to eliminate the troublesome operation.
[0036]
In addition, since a pointing device such as a trackball is incorporated in the back of the casing on the side of the foldable mobile phone provided with the keyboard, it is possible to move an image as if it were a mouse.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a front surface (front surface) side and a back surface side of a mobile phone including an input device to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a folding function and a rotating function of a mobile phone to which the embodiment is applied.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mobile phone in which blocks of a part mainly related to the present embodiment are extracted and shown.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an image movement control operation in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an image movement control operation in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a movement operation of a display screen in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a movement operation of a display screen in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a movement operation of a display screen in the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display screen moving operation according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 12, 13 Display unit 2 Trackball 3, 7 Keyboard 4, 4 'Cursor 5, 5', 6 Image 8, 9, 11 Pointer 31 Antenna 32 Radio circuit unit 33 Control unit 34 Audio circuit unit 35 Speaker 36 Microphone 37 Key switch unit 38 Rotation amount / position detection unit 39 State detection unit 50, 51 Axis 100 Mobile phone 101, 102 Case 103 Hinge unit

Claims (7)

A first housing having a display screen on the front surface and a second housing having a keyboard on the front surface are configured to be foldable by a hinge portion, and the first housing is a hinge of the hinge portion. In a mobile phone configured to be rotatable 180 degrees around an axis orthogonal to the axis,
A pointing device as a means for designating position coordinates on the display screen is provided on the back surface of the second casing, and whether or not the first casing is folded in a state rotated by 180 degrees. A state detection unit for detecting, and when the state detection unit detects that the first casing is folded in a state of being rotated 180 degrees, the display content of the display screen and the pointing device are designated An input device for a cellular phone, comprising: an image display switching control unit that rotates the position coordinates that are 180 degrees on the display screen. In the mobile phone in which the first casing having a display screen on the front and the back and the second casing having a keyboard on the front are configured to be foldable by a hinge part,
A pointing device as a means for designating a position coordinate on the display screen on the back surface of the second casing , and a state detecting means for detecting whether or not the mobile phone is in a folded state; when it by the state detecting means in a state where the cellular phone is folded has been detected, the display screen of the image movement by the display contents and the pointing device according to the display screen provided in the rear, provided in the front And an image display switching control means for holding the display in the same direction as in the case of display by the mobile phone.   The input device for a mobile phone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pointing device has a function of scrolling display contents on the display screen.   The mobile phone input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a function of moving a pointer displayed on the display screen by the pointing device.   The mobile phone input device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device has a function of moving a cursor displayed on the display screen.   When the pointing device is moved along the plane with the back surface of the first housing placed on the plane, the pointing device detects a movement amount by rotating in contact with the plane. An input device for a mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:   The pointing device is an optical movement amount detecting means for optically detecting the movement amount when the pointing device is moved along the plane with the back surface of the first casing placed on the plane. An input device for a mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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