JP5926773B2 - Peripheral device, information processing system, and connection method of peripheral device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral device connectable to a portable device, an operation system including the peripheral device, and a method for connecting the peripheral device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are peripheral devices that add functions to a portable device by being connected to the portable device. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for connecting another controller as a peripheral device to a connector provided on a controller of a game device. According to this, by using two controllers, more various game operations are possible, and the modes of games that can be played are expanded.

Japanese Patent No. 4255510

  When connecting a peripheral device to a portable device, as described above, a method of using an expansion connector provided in the portable device is generally used. However, when the portable device does not have an expansion connector, or when another device is connected to the connector, a peripheral device cannot be connected.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device or the like that can be connected to a portable device without using a connector.

  The present invention employs the following configurations (1) to (12) in order to solve the above problems.

(1)
An example of the present invention is a peripheral device for adding a predetermined function to a portable device having an infrared communication function. The peripheral device includes an additional function unit, an infrared communication unit, and a support unit. The additional function unit has a predetermined function. The infrared communication unit can perform infrared communication with the portable device. The support unit detachably supports the portable device such that the infrared light receiving and emitting unit in the portable device is positioned at a position where infrared rays can be transmitted to and received from the infrared communication unit.

  According to the configuration of (1) above, the support unit supports the portable device so that the light emitting / receiving unit of the portable device and the infrared communication unit of the peripheral device can communicate with each other. Therefore, by attaching the peripheral device to the portable device, infrared communication can be performed between the portable device and the peripheral device. As a result, a function by the additional function unit of the peripheral device can be added to the portable device. In other words, according to the configuration (1), it is possible to connect the peripheral device to the portable device with a simple configuration without using a connector.

  Further, according to the configuration of (1) above, each communication unit is in a non-contact state when the portable device and the peripheral device are attached. Therefore, even if the user drops the device, there is little possibility that each communication unit is destroyed, and a safer information processing system can be provided. Furthermore, according to the configuration of (1) above, since communication with the peripheral device is performed using the infrared communication function of the portable device, a highly versatile peripheral device can be provided.

(2)
The light emitting / receiving unit may be provided on the side surface of the portable device. At this time, a support part has a wall part which surrounds the side surface of a portable apparatus in the state in which a support part supports a portable apparatus. An infrared communication part is provided in the wall part of the position facing a light emitting / receiving part.

  The “wall portion” may be configured to surround the side surface of the mobile device, and may be formed so as to face the entire circumference of the side surface, or may face a part of the side surface (a part of the opening). May be formed).

  According to the configuration of (2) above, in a state where the peripheral device is attached to the portable device (attached state), the wall portion surrounds the portable device, so that the light receiving / emitting portion of the portable device is in an appropriate position. The portable device can be positioned so that Furthermore, since the wall portion faces the light emitting / receiving portion of the portable device, it is possible to prevent external light from entering the light receiving / emitting portion by the wall portion. Therefore, according to the configuration of (2) above, the wall portion can be positioned so that the light emitting / receiving portion is at an appropriate position, and external light can be shielded. Accordingly, the peripheral device can perform infrared communication with high accuracy.

(3)
The light emitting / receiving unit may be provided on a predetermined surface of the portable device. At this time, a support part has a part which opposes the predetermined surface of a portable apparatus in the state in which a support part supports a portable apparatus. An infrared communication part is provided in the part facing a light emitting / receiving part in a support part.

  According to the configuration of (3) above, since the support portion has a portion facing the light emitting / receiving portion of the portable device, external light can be prevented from entering the light emitting / receiving portion by the portion. According to this, since the external light can be shielded, the peripheral device can perform infrared communication with high accuracy.

(4)
The support unit may include a holding unit that holds the portable device so that the portable device is fixed to the peripheral device.

  According to the configuration of (4) above, the support unit can fix and support the portable device. Therefore, the support unit can securely position the mobile device while fixing it, and can achieve efficient communication by shielding external light with the configuration of (3) above.

(5)
The support unit may support the portable device by pressing the side surface of the portable device with an elastic body.

  According to the configuration of (5) above, since the portion of the peripheral device that contacts the portable device is an elastic body, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the contact portions of the portable device and the peripheral device are damaged by impact. That is, even when an impact is applied to a portable device to which a peripheral device is attached by dropping or the like, the possibility that the two devices are damaged can be reduced, and a device that is not easily broken can be provided.

(6)
The portable device may include two foldable housings. At this time, the support portion supports one of the two housings in a state where the inner surface is exposed when the housing is folded.

  According to the configuration of (6) above, the support unit can support the mobile device in a state where the inner surfaces of the two housings of the mobile device are exposed. Therefore, the user can open and close the portable device without removing the peripheral device from the portable device in the mounted state, and can provide a peripheral device that is easier to use.

(7)
The additional function unit may include an operation unit. At this time, the infrared communication unit transmits operation data representing an operation on the operation unit to the portable device.

  According to the configuration of (7) above, the peripheral device can add an operation function to the portable device. That is, the user can perform a more complicated operation than the case where the portable device is used alone by performing an operation using the operation unit included in the peripheral device.

(8)
The portable device may have a predetermined operation member provided on one side with respect to the left-right direction on the predetermined operation surface. At this time, the operation unit includes an operation member disposed on the outer side of the operation surface and on the opposite side of the one side in a state where the support unit supports the portable device.

The “operation surface” is a surface that is exposed in the mounted state, and is a surface that is viewed by the user during use. The operation surface is a surface on which a display screen is provided, for example.
Moreover, the portable apparatus should just have a predetermined | prescribed operation member at least on the one side of an operation surface, for example, may have the operation member also on the other side.

  According to the configuration of (8) above, the operation member is added by the peripheral device on one side in the left-right direction on the operation surface of the portable device, while the operation member is not added by the peripheral device on the other side of the operation surface. Therefore, the user can hold the information processing system by holding the peripheral device with the hand operating the operation member and pressing the portable device with the other hand. That is, when the user grips the information processing system, the portable device is pressed, so that the peripheral device is prevented from being detached from the portable device by the user's own hand.

(9)
The predetermined operation member included in the portable device may be a direction input device capable of instructing the direction and size, and the operation member included in the operation unit is a direction input device capable of instructing the direction and size. Also good.

  The “direction input device” is a concept including an operation device capable of instructing a direction and a size, such as a slide pad or an analog stick in an embodiment described later. The “direction input device” can also be called an analog direction indicator.

  According to the configuration of (9) above, the direction input devices are arranged on both the left and right sides of the operation surface of the portable device. Therefore, the user can operate the slide pad with both hands. That is, the peripheral device can be used to enable a game operation using two direction input devices in the portable device.

(10)
The portable device may include a first operation button provided on one side on a predetermined side surface and a second operation button provided on the other side on the predetermined side surface. At this time, a support part has a wall part which surrounds the side surface of a portable apparatus in the state in which a support part supports a portable apparatus. Further, at least a portion of the wall portion facing the first operation button is opened. The operation unit includes an operation button disposed at a position on the other side of the second operation button in a state where the support unit supports the portable device.

  In other words, the “position on the other side of the second operation button” is a position outside the second operation button as viewed from the center of the portable device in the left-right direction.

  According to the configuration of (10) above, the mobile device has the first operation button and the second operation button arranged on both sides of the predetermined side surface. Here, regarding the first operation button on one side, since the wall portion is open at a portion facing the first operation button, the user can easily operate the first operation button in the mounted state. it can. On the other hand, regarding the second operation button on the other side, the second operation button is difficult to press by the operation member ((7) above) added to the other side of the operation surface of the portable device. An additional operation button of the peripheral device is provided on the outside. Therefore, the user can easily operate the additional operation button in the mounted state. Therefore, according to the configuration of (9), the user can operate the operation buttons arranged on both sides of the predetermined side surface even when the portable device is operated alone even in the mounted state.

(11)
The support unit may support the portable device by supporting the side surface of the portable device with at least a part of the outer surface of the portable device exposed.

  According to the configuration of (11) above, the user can easily remove the peripheral device from the portable device by pressing the outer surface of the portable device.

(12)
The support unit may support the side surface of the portable device with a predetermined surface of the portable device exposed. At this time, the peripheral device further includes a grip portion that is disposed on the back side of the predetermined surface in a state in which the support portion supports the portable device and can be gripped by the user.

  According to the configuration of (12) above, the user can use the portable device by gripping the grip portion of the peripheral device in the mounted state. Here, when the peripheral device is attached to the portable device, the size of the entire device (the portable device and the peripheral device) becomes large. However, by providing a grip portion on the peripheral device, the entire device can be easily held. . Further, according to the configuration of (11) above, the user can use the mobile device by viewing the predetermined surface of the mobile device by gripping the grip portion, so that the predetermined surface is the operation surface of the mobile device. In the case of (a surface to be viewed by the user when in use), the peripheral device can be easily grasped in a state where the operation surface is easy to see.

(13)
Another example of the present invention is a peripheral device that can be attached to a portable device having an infrared communication function.
The portable device includes a plate-shaped first housing, a second housing, a first direction input device, a first operation button, and a second operation button. The second housing is foldably connected to the first housing. The first direction input device is provided on one side with respect to the left-right direction on the inner side surface of the first housing and can indicate the direction and size. The first operation button is provided on one side of the side surface of the first housing. The second operation button is provided on the other side of the side surface.
The peripheral device includes an operation unit, an infrared communication unit, a support unit, and a grip unit.
The infrared communication unit transmits operation data representing an operation on the operation unit to the portable device by infrared communication. The support unit supports the portable device such that the infrared light receiving and emitting unit in the portable device is positioned at a position where infrared rays can be transmitted to and received from the infrared communication unit. The grip portion is disposed on the back side of the first housing in a state where the support portion supports the portable device, and can be gripped by the user.
Further, the support portion has a wall portion that supports the side surface of the first housing and at least a portion facing the first operation button is opened.
The operation unit includes a second direction input device and operation buttons. The second direction input device is disposed on the outer side of the inner surface of the first housing and on the opposite side of the first housing in a state where the support portion supports the portable device, and can indicate the direction and size. The operation button is arranged at a position on the other side of the second operation button in a state where the support unit supports the portable device.
The width of the portion of the wall portion that supports one side of the first housing is set to a length that allows the first direction input device to be operated by a hand that holds the grip portion.

  According to the configuration of (13) above, the same effects as the configurations of (1) and (7) to (10) can be achieved. Further, according to the configuration of (13) above, the user can input the first direction with the hand holding the grip portion by appropriately setting the width of the wall portion in the portion supporting the one side of the first housing. The device can be easily operated.

  In addition, the present invention may be provided as an information processing system including a portable device and peripheral devices in the configurations (1) to (13). In addition, the present invention may be provided as a connection method for connecting the peripheral devices in the configurations (1) to (13) to the portable device in the configurations (1) to (13).

  According to the present invention, the peripheral device detachably supports the portable device so that the portable device is positioned at a position where the infrared communication unit in the portable device and the infrared communication unit in the peripheral device can communicate with each other. The peripheral device can be connected to the portable device without using the connector.

The figure which shows an example of the information processing system in this embodiment Front view of portable device 1 Right side view of portable device 1 Left side view of portable device 1 Top view of portable device 1 Bottom view of portable device 1 The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the portable apparatus 1 Plan view of peripheral device 2 Perspective view of peripheral device 2 viewed from the lower right front Perspective view of peripheral device 2 viewed from upper left rear Block diagram showing the internal configuration of the peripheral device 2 The figure which shows the portable apparatus 1 and the peripheral device 2 before and behind mounting | wearing

[1. Overview of information processing system]
Hereinafter, an information processing system including a peripheral device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system includes a portable device 1 and a peripheral device 2. The peripheral device 2 is detachably attached to the portable device 1.

  The portable device 1 may be of any type as long as it is a portable information processing device. In the present embodiment, the mobile device 1 is a game device capable of executing game processing. In other embodiments, the mobile device 1 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a mobile information terminal, or the like. The portable device 1 has an infrared communication function. In the present embodiment, the portable device 1 is a foldable device, but in other embodiments, it may not be a foldable device.

  The peripheral device 2 is a device for adding (adding) a predetermined function to the portable device 1. The predetermined function may be any function, but is an operation function in the present embodiment. That is, the peripheral device 2 includes operation units such as a slide pad 57a and operation buttons 57b, and transmits operation data representing operations on the operation unit to the portable device 1. The peripheral device 2 has an infrared communication function, and communication between the peripheral device 2 and the portable device 1 is performed by infrared communication. In other embodiments, the peripheral device 2 may be provided with a sensor function for detecting predetermined information such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or a GPS sensor, or a predetermined signal (for example, a television broadcast). May be added, or a display function may be added.

  As described above, the peripheral device 2 according to the present embodiment adds an operation unit to the portable device 1. A user can perform more various and complicated game operations by attaching the peripheral device 2 to the portable device 1. Specifically, in the state where the peripheral device 2 is mounted on the portable device 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the two slide pads 15 and 57a are arranged on the left and right, so that the user can hold the slide pad with both hands. Each can be operated. That is, the peripheral device 2 in the present embodiment can be used to enable a game operation using two direction input devices in the portable device 1. Here, in a game system that uses a controller dedicated to a game, such as a stationary game device, it is common to use the above two direction input devices (analog direction instruction units). For example, many games have been provided in which an operation of moving a player character with one direction input device and an operation of moving an aim of a gun or the like with the other direction input device. The peripheral device 2 in the present embodiment is used for applying a game (game application) based on a game operation using the above two direction input devices to a portable game device without impairing operability. Can be used. Note that the game application executed on the mobile device 1 may execute a game that allows a game operation only when the peripheral device 2 is attached to the mobile device 1, or the mobile device 1 alone. The game may be executed such that the game operation is possible (even if the peripheral device 2 is not attached to the portable device 1).

[2. Configuration of portable device]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the mobile device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 are views showing the external appearance of the mobile device 1. The portable device 1 is a portable game device and is configured to be foldable. 2-6 has shown the portable apparatus 1 in the open state (open state). FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable device 1. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the mobile device 1, and FIG. 4 is a left side view of the mobile device 1. FIG. 5 is a top side view of the mobile device 1, and FIG. 6 is a bottom side view of the mobile device 1. The portable device 1 can execute a predetermined game program, and can display an image captured by a virtual camera set in a virtual space on a screen. The portable device 1 can capture an image with a camera, display the captured image on a screen, and store data of the captured image.

  First, an external configuration of the mobile device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the mobile device 1 includes a lower housing 11 and an upper housing 21. The lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 are connected so as to be openable and closable (foldable). In the present embodiment, each of the housings 11 and 21 has a horizontally long rectangular plate shape, and is connected so as to be rotatable at the long side portions of each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the upper long side portion of the lower housing 11 is provided with a protrusion 11 </ b> A that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface (main surface) 11 </ b> B of the lower housing 11. . In addition, the lower long side portion of the upper housing 21 is provided with a protruding portion 21A that protrudes from the lower side surface of the upper housing 21 in a direction perpendicular to the lower side surface. By connecting the protrusion 11A of the lower housing 11 and the protrusion 21A of the upper housing 21, the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 are foldably connected.

(Description of lower housing)
First, the configuration of the lower housing 11 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the lower housing 11 includes a lower LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 12, a touch panel 13, operation buttons 14A to 14L, a slide pad 15, LEDs 16A to 16B, and An insertion port 17 is provided. Details of these will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower LCD 12 is housed in the lower housing 11. The lower LCD 12 has a horizontally long shape, and is arranged such that the long side direction coincides with the long side direction of the lower housing 11. The lower LCD 12 is disposed at the center of the lower housing 11 in the left-right direction (the x-axis direction shown in FIG. 2). The lower LCD 12 is provided on the inner surface (main surface) of the lower housing 11, and the screen of the lower LCD 12 is exposed from an opening provided in the lower housing 11. When the portable device 1 is not used, it is possible to prevent the screen of the lower LCD 12 from becoming dirty or damaged by keeping it in a closed state. The number of pixels of the lower LCD 12 may be, for example, 256 dots × 192 dots (horizontal × vertical). Unlike the upper LCD 22 described later, the lower LCD 12 is a display device that displays an image in a planar manner (not stereoscopically viewable). In the present embodiment, an LCD is used as the display device, but other arbitrary display devices such as a display device using EL (Electro Luminescence) may be used. Further, as the lower LCD 12, a display device having an arbitrary resolution can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the portable device 1 includes a touch panel 13 as an input device. The touch panel 13 is mounted on the screen of the lower LCD 12. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 13 is a resistive film type touch panel. However, the touch panel is not limited to the resistive film type, and any type of touch panel such as a capacitance type can be used. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 13 having the same resolution (detection accuracy) as that of the lower LCD 12 is used. However, the resolution of the touch panel 13 and the resolution of the lower LCD 12 do not necessarily match. An insertion port 17 (dotted line shown in FIG. 2) is provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. The insertion slot 17 can accommodate a touch pen 28 used for performing an operation on the touch panel 13. In addition, although the input with respect to the touchscreen 13 is normally performed using the touch pen 28, it is also possible to input with respect to the touchscreen 13 not only with the touch pen 28 but with a user's finger | toe.

  Each operation button 14A-14L is an input device for performing a predetermined input. As shown in FIG. 1, a cross button (direction input button) 14A, a button 14B, a button 14C, a button 14D, and a button among the operation buttons 14A to 14L are provided on the inner surface (main surface) of the lower housing 11. 14E, a power button 14F, a select button 14J, a HOME button 14K, and a start button 14L. The cross button 14 </ b> A has a cross shape, and has buttons for instructing up, down, left, and right directions. Functions corresponding to the program executed by the mobile device 1 are appropriately assigned to the buttons 14A to 14E, the select button 14J, the HOME button 14K, and the start button 14L. For example, the cross button 14A is used for a selection operation or the like, and the operation buttons 14B to 14E are used for a determination operation or a cancel operation. The power button 14 </ b> F is used to turn on / off the power of the mobile device 1.

  The slide pad 15 is a direction input device that indicates a direction and a size, and is provided on the inner surface of the lower housing 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the slide pad 15 is provided above the cross button 14A. The slide pad 15 is configured such that a stick portion operated by a finger slides in an arbitrary direction (an arbitrary angle in the up / down / left / right and diagonal directions) with respect to the inner surface of the lower housing 11. The slide pad 15 functions according to a program executed by the mobile device 1. For example, when a game in which a predetermined object appears in the three-dimensional virtual space is executed by the mobile device 1, the slide pad 15 functions as an input device for moving the predetermined object in the three-dimensional virtual space. In this case, the predetermined object is moved in the direction in which the movable member (stick part) of the slide pad 15 slides. In another embodiment, a direction input device that enables analog input by tilting the movable member in any direction of up, down, left, and right and in an oblique direction may be used.

  A microphone hole 11 </ b> E is provided on the inner surface of the lower housing 11. In the present embodiment, the microphone hole 11E is provided on the lower side (lower right side) of the lower LCD 12. Inside the microphone hole 11E, a microphone (see FIG. 7) as a voice input device described later is provided, and the microphone detects sound outside the portable device 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, an L button 14 </ b> G and an R button 14 </ b> H are provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. The L button 14G is provided on the left side (here, the left end) of the upper surface of the lower housing 11, and the R button 14H is provided on the right side (here, the right end) of the lower housing 11. The L button 14G and the R button 14H can function as, for example, a shutter button (shooting instruction button) of a camera. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a volume adjustment switch 14 </ b> I is provided on the left side surface of the lower housing 11. The volume adjustment switch 14I is used to adjust the volume of the speaker included in the mobile device 1.

  In addition, a light emitting / receiving unit 27 of the infrared communication module 37 is provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. As described above, the portable device 1 has an infrared communication function. Specifically, the portable device 1 includes an infrared communication module 37, and a light emitting / receiving unit 27 is provided on the surface of the housing 11 or 21 of the portable device 1. The light emitting / receiving unit 27 includes, for example, an infrared filter that transmits a predetermined frequency band, and a module that receives and transmits infrared rays inside the infrared filter. In the present embodiment, the light emitting / receiving section 27 is provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11 so that an infrared signal is emitted forward of the user when the lower housing 11 is gripped (see FIG. 5). However, in other embodiments, the light emitting / receiving section 27 is provided at any position, such as the other side surface or the outer surface (the back surface opposite to the inner main surface on which the lower LCD 21 is provided). May be.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an openable / closable cover portion 11 </ b> C is provided on the left side surface of the lower housing 11. A connector (not shown) for electrically connecting the portable device 1 and the external data storage memory 45 is provided inside the cover portion 11C. The data storage external memory 45 is detachably attached to the connector. The data storage external memory 45 is used, for example, for storing (saving) data of an image captured by the portable device 1. The connector and its cover portion 11 </ b> C may be provided on the right side surface of the lower housing 11.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an openable / closable cover portion 11 </ b> D is provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. Inside the cover portion 11D, a connector (not shown) for electrically and detachably connecting the portable device 1 and the external memory 44 storing the game program is provided. When the external memory 44 is connected to the portable device 1, a predetermined game program is executed. The connector and its cover portion 11D may be provided on the other side surface of the lower housing 11 (for example, the right side surface).

  Also, the lower side of the lower housing 11 has a first LED 16A for notifying the user of the power ON / OFF status of the mobile device 1, and the right side of the lower housing 11 shows the status of establishment of wireless communication of the mobile device 1 to the user. A second LED 16B for notification is provided. The mobile device 1 can perform wireless communication with other devices, and the second LED 16B is lit when the wireless communication is established. The portable device 1 is, for example, IEEE802.11. It has a function of connecting to a wireless LAN by a method compliant with the b / g standard. A wireless switch 19 for enabling / disabling the wireless communication function is provided on the right side surface of the lower housing 11 (see FIG. 3).

  The mobile device 1 also includes an audio output terminal 29 for connecting an audio output unit such as an earphone. The position of the audio output terminal 29 may be anywhere, but in this embodiment, the audio output terminal 29 is provided on the lower side surface of the lower housing 11 (see FIG. 6). In another embodiment, the audio output terminal 29 may be provided on the left and right side surfaces or the upper side surface of the lower housing 11.

  Further, the portable device is provided with a strap hole 11 </ b> F for attaching a strap to the portable device 1. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the strap hole 11 </ b> F is provided on the lower side surface of the lower housing 11. Here, the two strap holes 11F are provided on the left and right sides of the lower side surface, but the number of the strap holes 11F may be any number. Further, the position of the strap hole 11F may be anywhere, and may be the other side surface or the outer side surface of the lower housing 11.

  Although not shown in the figure, the lower housing 11 stores a rechargeable battery serving as a power source for the portable device 1, and the terminal is provided via a terminal provided on the side surface (for example, the upper side surface) of the lower housing 11. The battery can be charged.

(Description of upper housing)
Next, the configuration of the upper housing 21 will be described. 2 and 3, the upper housing 21 includes an upper LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 22, an outer camera 23 (a left-eye camera 23a and a right-eye camera 23b), an inner camera 24, and 3D adjustment. A switch 25 and a 3D indicator 26 are provided. Details of these will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper LCD 22 is accommodated in the upper housing 21. The upper LCD 22 has a horizontally long shape and is arranged such that the long side direction coincides with the long side direction of the upper housing 21. The upper LCD 22 is disposed at the center of the upper housing 21 in the left-right direction (the x-axis direction shown in FIG. 2). The area of the screen of the upper LCD 22 is set larger than the area of the screen of the lower LCD 12. Specifically, the screen of the upper LCD 22 is set to be horizontally longer than the screen of the lower LCD 12. That is, the ratio of the horizontal width in the aspect ratio of the screen of the upper LCD 22 is set larger than the ratio of the horizontal width in the aspect ratio of the screen of the lower LCD 12.

  The screen of the upper LCD 22 is provided on the inner surface (main surface) 21 </ b> B of the upper housing 21, and the screen of the upper LCD 22 is exposed from an opening provided in the upper housing 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface of the upper housing 21 is covered with a transparent screen cover. The screen cover protects the screen of the upper LCD 22 and integrates the upper LCD 22 and the inner surface of the upper housing 21, thereby providing a sense of unity. The number of pixels of the upper LCD 22 may be, for example, 640 dots × 200 dots (horizontal × vertical). In the present embodiment, the upper LCD 22 is a liquid crystal display device. However, for example, a display device using EL (Electro Luminescence) may be used. In addition, a display device having an arbitrary resolution can be used as the upper LCD 22.

  The upper LCD 22 is a display device capable of displaying a stereoscopically visible image. In the present embodiment, the left-eye image and the right-eye image are displayed using substantially the same display area. Specifically, the upper LCD 22 is a display device in which a left-eye image and a right-eye image are alternately displayed in a horizontal direction in a predetermined unit (for example, one column at a time). Alternatively, the upper LCD 22 may be a display device in which the left-eye image and the right-eye image are alternately displayed in a time division manner. In the present embodiment, the upper LCD 22 is a display device capable of autostereoscopic viewing. Then, a display device of a lenticular method or a parallax barrier method (parallax barrier method) is used so that the left-eye image and the right-eye image that are alternately displayed in the horizontal direction appear to be decomposed into the left eye and the right eye, respectively. . In the present embodiment, the upper LCD 22 is a parallax barrier type. The upper LCD 22 uses the right-eye image and the left-eye image to display an image (stereoscopic image) that can be stereoscopically viewed with the naked eye. That is, the upper LCD 22 uses the parallax barrier to visually recognize the left-eye image for the user's left eye and the right-eye image for the user's right eye, thereby producing a stereoscopic image (stereoscopically viewable) having a stereoscopic effect for the user. Can be displayed. Further, the upper LCD 22 can invalidate the parallax barrier. When the parallax barrier is invalidated, the upper LCD 22 can display an image in a planar manner (in the sense opposite to the above-described stereoscopic view, the planar LCD is planar). Visual images can be displayed). As described above, the upper LCD 22 is a display device capable of switching between a stereoscopic display mode for displaying a stereoscopically viewable image and a planar display mode for displaying an image in a planar manner (displaying a planar view image). . This display mode switching is performed by a 3D adjustment switch 25 described later.

  The outer camera 23 is a stereo camera that is provided on an outer surface (back surface opposite to the main surface on which the upper LCD 22 is provided) 21D of the upper housing 21 and has a normal direction of the outer surface 21D as an imaging direction. The outer camera 23 includes two cameras, a left-eye camera 23a and a right-eye camera 23b. The left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b are arranged so that their imaging directions are parallel to each other. The left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b each include an imaging device (for example, a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor) having a predetermined resolution and a lens.

  As shown by a broken line in FIG. 2, the left-eye camera 23 a and the right-eye camera 23 b constituting the outer camera 23 are arranged in parallel with the horizontal direction of the screen of the upper LCD 22. That is, the left-eye camera 23 a and the right-eye camera 23 b are arranged so that a straight line connecting the two cameras is parallel to the horizontal direction of the screen of the upper LCD 22. In FIG. 2, the broken lines representing the left-eye camera 23 a and the right-eye camera 23 b mean that the left-eye camera 23 a and the right-eye camera 23 b exist on the outer surface opposite to the inner surface of the upper housing 21. As shown in FIG. 2, when the user views the screen of the upper LCD 22 from the front, the left-eye camera 23a is located on the left side, and the right-eye camera 23b is located on the right side. The distance between the left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b is set to be approximately the distance between both human eyes, and may be set, for example, in the range of 30 mm to 70 mm. The interval between the left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b is not limited to this range. In another embodiment, the interval between the two cameras 23a and 23b may be variable.

  The left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b are respectively arranged at positions that are symmetrical from the center with respect to the left-right direction of the upper LCD 22 (upper housing 21). That is, the left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b are respectively arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to a line that bisects the upper LCD 22 into left and right. Further, the left-eye camera 23 a and the right-eye camera 23 b are disposed on the upper side of the upper housing 21 and on the back side above the upper end of the screen of the upper LCD 22 when the upper housing 21 is opened. That is, the left-eye camera 23a and the right-eye camera 23b are arranged on the outer surface of the upper housing 21 and above the upper end of the projected upper LCD 22 when the upper LCD 22 is projected onto the outer surface.

  As described above, the two cameras of the outer camera 23 are arranged at symmetrical positions from the center with respect to the left-right direction of the upper LCD 22, so that when the user views the upper LCD 22 from the front, the imaging direction of the outer camera 23 is set by the user. It can be matched with the line-of-sight direction. Further, since the outer camera 23 is disposed at a position on the back side above the upper end of the screen of the upper LCD 22, the outer camera 23 and the upper LCD 22 do not interfere inside the upper housing 21. Therefore, it is possible to make the upper housing 21 thinner than in the case where the outer camera 23 is disposed on the back side of the screen of the upper LCD 22.

  The inner camera 24 is a camera that is provided on the inner surface (main surface) 21B of the upper housing 21 and has the normal direction of the inner surface as the imaging direction. The inner camera 24 includes an imaging element (for example, a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor) having a predetermined resolution, and a lens.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inner camera 24 is disposed above the upper end of the screen of the upper LCD 22 in the state in which the upper housing 21 is opened, with respect to the left-right direction of the upper housing 21. Arranged at the center position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner camera 24 is an inner surface of the upper housing 21, and is a back side intermediate between the left and right cameras (the left-eye camera 23 a and the right-eye camera 23 b) of the outer camera 23. It is arranged at the position. That is, when the left and right cameras provided on the outer surface of the upper housing 21 are projected on the inner surface of the upper housing 21, the inner camera 24 is provided in the middle of the projected left and right cameras.

  Thus, the inner camera 24 images in the opposite direction to the outer camera 23. The inner camera 24 is provided on the inner surface of the upper housing 21 and on the back side of the intermediate position between the left and right cameras of the outer camera 23. Thus, when the user views the upper LCD 22 from the front, the inner camera 24 can capture the user's face from the front. In addition, since the left and right cameras of the outer camera 23 and the inner camera 24 do not interfere with each other inside the upper housing 21, the upper housing 21 can be made thin.

  The 3D adjustment switch 25 is a slide switch, and is a switch used to switch the display mode of the upper LCD 22 as described above. The 3D adjustment switch 25 is used to adjust the stereoscopic effect of a stereoscopically viewable image (stereoscopic image) displayed on the upper LCD 22. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the 3D adjustment switch 25 is provided at the ends of the inner side surface and the right side surface of the upper housing 21, and when the user views the upper LCD 22 from the front, the 3D adjustment switch 25 is visually recognized. It is provided at a position where it can be made.

  A concave portion is formed in the right end portion of the inner surface of the upper housing 21, and the 3D adjustment switch 25 is provided in the concave portion. The 3D adjustment switch 25 is disposed so as to be visible from the front and right sides of the upper housing 21. The slider of the 3D adjustment switch 25 can be slid to an arbitrary position in a predetermined direction (vertical direction), and the display mode of the upper LCD 22 is set according to the position of the slider.

  The 3D indicator 26 indicates whether or not the upper LCD 22 is in the stereoscopic display mode. The 3D indicator 26 is an LED, and lights up when the stereoscopic display mode of the upper LCD 22 is valid. As shown in FIG. 2, the 3D indicator 26 is provided on the inner surface of the upper housing 21 and is provided near the screen of the upper LCD 22. For this reason, when the user views the screen of the upper LCD 22 from the front, the user can easily view the 3D indicator 26. Therefore, the user can easily recognize the display mode of the upper LCD 22 while viewing the screen of the upper LCD 22.

  A speaker hole 21 </ b> E is provided on the inner surface of the upper housing 21. Sound from a speaker 43 described later is output from the speaker hole 21E.

(Description of internal configuration of portable device 1)
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the internal electrical configuration of the portable device 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the mobile device 1. As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the above-described units, the mobile device 1 includes an information processing unit 31, a main memory 32, an external memory interface (external memory I / F) 33, an external memory I / F 34 for data storage, data It includes electronic components such as an internal memory 35 for storage, a wireless communication module 36, an infrared communication module 37, a real time clock (RTC) 38, an acceleration sensor 39, a power supply circuit 40, and an interface circuit (I / F circuit) 41. These electronic components are mounted on an electronic circuit board and accommodated in the lower housing 11 (or the upper housing 21).

  The information processing unit 31 is information processing means including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 311 for executing a predetermined program, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) 312 for performing image processing, and the like. In the present embodiment, a program for executing a predetermined process is stored in a memory (for example, the external memory 44 connected to the external memory I / F 33 or the data storage internal memory 35) in the portable device 1. The CPU 311 of the information processing section 31 executes processing according to the program (for example, shooting processing, image display processing described later, and the like) by executing the program. Note that the program executed by the CPU 311 of the information processing unit 31 may be acquired from another device through communication with the other device. The information processing unit 31 includes a VRAM (Video RAM) 313. The GPU 312 of the information processing unit 31 generates an image in response to a command from the CPU 311 of the information processing unit 31 and draws it on the VRAM 313. Then, the GPU 312 of the information processing unit 31 outputs the image drawn in the VRAM 313 to the upper LCD 22 and / or the lower LCD 12, and the image is displayed on the upper LCD 22 and / or the lower LCD 12.

  A main memory 32, an external memory I / F 33, a data storage external memory I / F 34, and a data storage internal memory 35 are connected to the information processing section 31. The external memory I / F 33 is an interface for detachably connecting the external memory 44. The data storage external memory I / F 34 is an interface for detachably connecting the data storage external memory 45.

  The main memory 32 is a volatile storage unit used as a work area or a buffer area of the information processing unit 31 (the CPU 311). That is, the main memory 32 temporarily stores various data used for the processing based on the program, or temporarily stores a program acquired from the outside (such as the external memory 44 or another device). In the present embodiment, for example, a PSRAM (Pseudo-SRAM) is used as the main memory 32.

  The external memory 44 is a nonvolatile storage unit for storing a program executed by the information processing unit 31. The external memory 44 is composed of, for example, a read-only semiconductor memory. When the external memory 44 is connected to the external memory I / F 33, the information processing section 31 can read a program stored in the external memory 44. A predetermined process is performed by executing the program read by the information processing unit 31. The data storage external memory 45 is composed of a non-volatile readable / writable memory (for example, a NAND flash memory), and is used for storing predetermined data. For example, the data storage external memory 45 stores an image captured by the outer camera 23 or an image captured by another device. When the data storage external memory 45 is connected to the data storage external memory I / F 34, the information processing section 31 reads an image stored in the data storage external memory 45 and applies the image to the upper LCD 22 and / or the lower LCD 12. An image can be displayed.

  The data storage internal memory 35 is configured by a readable / writable nonvolatile memory (for example, a NAND flash memory), and is used for storing predetermined data. For example, the data storage internal memory 35 stores data and programs downloaded by wireless communication via the wireless communication module 36.

  The wireless communication module 36 is, for example, IEEE 802.11. It has a function of connecting to a wireless LAN by a method compliant with the b / g standard. The infrared communication module 37 has a function of performing infrared communication with other devices (for example, the peripheral device 2 or the same type of game device). The wireless communication module 36 and the infrared communication module 37 are connected to the information processing unit 31. The information processing unit 31 transmits / receives data to / from other devices via the Internet using the wireless communication module 36 or transmits / receives data to / from other devices using the infrared communication module 37. be able to.

  An acceleration sensor 39 is connected to the information processing unit 31. The acceleration sensor 39 detects the magnitude of linear acceleration (linear acceleration) along the three-axis (xyz-axis) direction. The acceleration sensor 39 is provided inside the lower housing 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the acceleration sensor 39 is configured such that the long side direction of the lower housing 11 is the x axis, the short side direction of the lower housing 11 is the y axis, and the inner side surface (main surface) of the lower housing 11. With the vertical direction as the z axis, the magnitude of linear acceleration on each axis is detected. For example, the acceleration sensor 39 may be of the type available from Analog Devices, Inc. or ST Microelectronics NV. The acceleration sensor 39 is, for example, an electrostatic capacitance type acceleration sensor, but other types of acceleration sensors may be used. The acceleration sensor 39 may be an acceleration sensor that detects a uniaxial or biaxial direction. The information processing unit 31 can calculate the posture and movement of the mobile device 1 using data (acceleration data) indicating the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 39.

  Further, the mobile device 1 may include a gyro sensor instead of the acceleration sensor 39 or together with the acceleration sensor 39. The gyro sensor detects an angular velocity around a predetermined axis (for example, the xyz axis). Data representing the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor is output to the information processing unit 31. The information processing unit 31 can calculate the attitude and movement of the mobile device 1 using data (angular velocity data) indicating the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor.

  Further, the RTC 38 and the power supply circuit 40 are connected to the information processing unit 31. The RTC 38 counts the time and outputs it to the information processing unit 31. The information processing unit 31 calculates the current time (date) based on the time counted by the RTC 38. The power supply circuit 40 controls power from a power source (the rechargeable battery housed in the lower housing 11) of the mobile device 1 and supplies power to each component of the mobile device 1.

  In addition, an I / F circuit 41 is connected to the information processing unit 31. A microphone 42 and a speaker 43 are connected to the I / F circuit 41. Specifically, a speaker 43 is connected to the I / F circuit 41 via an amplifier (not shown). The microphone 42 detects the user's voice and outputs a voice signal to the I / F circuit 41. The amplifier amplifies the audio signal from the I / F circuit 41 and outputs the audio from the speaker 43. The touch panel 13 is connected to the I / F circuit 41. The I / F circuit 41 includes a voice control circuit that controls the microphone 42 and the speaker 43 (amplifier), and a touch panel control circuit that controls the touch panel. The voice control circuit performs A / D conversion and D / A conversion on the voice signal, or converts the voice signal into voice data of a predetermined format. The touch panel control circuit generates touch position data in a predetermined format based on a signal from the touch panel 13 and outputs it to the information processing unit 31. The touch position data indicates the coordinates of the position where the input is performed on the input surface of the touch panel 13. The touch panel control circuit reads signals from the touch panel 13 and generates touch position data at a rate of once per predetermined time. The information processing unit 31 can know the position where the input is performed on the touch panel 13 by acquiring the touch position data.

  The operation unit 14 includes the operation buttons 14 </ b> A to 14 </ b> L and is connected to the information processing unit 31. From the operation unit 14 to the information processing unit 31, operation data indicating an input status (whether or not the button is pressed) for each of the operation buttons 14A to 14I is output. The information processing unit 31 acquires the operation data from the operation unit 14 to execute processing according to the input to each operation button 14A to 14I.

  The lower LCD 12 and the upper LCD 22 are connected to the information processing unit 31. The lower LCD 12 and the upper LCD 22 display images according to instructions from the information processing unit 31 (the GPU 312). In the present embodiment, the information processing section 31 causes the upper LCD 22 to display a stereoscopic image (a stereoscopically viewable image) using the right eye image and the left eye image.

  Specifically, the information processing unit 31 is connected to an LCD controller (not shown) of the upper LCD 22 and controls the parallax barrier on / off for the LCD controller. When the parallax barrier of the upper LCD 22 is on, the right-eye image and the left-eye image stored in the VRAM 313 of the information processing unit 31 are output to the upper LCD 22. More specifically, the LCD controller alternately repeats the process of reading pixel data for one line in the vertical direction for the image for the right eye and the process of reading pixel data for one line in the vertical direction for the image for the left eye. Thus, the right-eye image and the left-eye image are read from the VRAM 313. As a result, the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye are divided into strip-like images in which pixels are arranged vertically for each line, and the strip-like images for the right-eye image and the strip-like images for the left-eye image are alternately arranged. The image arranged on the upper LCD 22 is displayed on the screen. Then, when the user visually recognizes the image through the parallax barrier of the upper LCD 22, the right eye image is visually recognized by the user's right eye and the left eye image is visually recognized by the user's left eye. As a result, a stereoscopically viewable image is displayed on the screen of the upper LCD 22.

  The outer camera 23 and the inner camera 24 are connected to the information processing unit 31. The outer camera 23 and the inner camera 24 capture an image in accordance with an instruction from the information processing unit 31 and output the captured image data to the information processing unit 31.

  The 3D adjustment switch 25 is connected to the information processing unit 31. The 3D adjustment switch 25 transmits an electrical signal corresponding to the position of the slider to the information processing unit 31.

  The 3D indicator 26 is connected to the information processing unit 31. The information processing unit 31 controls lighting of the 3D indicator 26. For example, the information processing section 31 turns on the 3D indicator 26 when the upper LCD 22 is in the stereoscopic display mode. The above is the description of the internal configuration of the mobile device 1.

[3. Peripheral device configuration]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the peripheral device 2 will be described. First, an outline of the peripheral device 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, the peripheral device 2 includes an additional function unit, an infrared communication unit, and a support unit. That is, the peripheral device 2 supports the portable device 1 by the support unit, communicates with the supported portable device 1 by the infrared communication unit, and adds a predetermined function by the additional function unit to the portable device 1. It is.

  The additional function unit is a member having a predetermined function to be added to the mobile device 1. The predetermined function of the additional function unit may be any function. In the present embodiment, the peripheral device 2 adds an operation function as a predetermined function. Specifically, the additional function unit includes an operation unit 57 such as a slide pad 57a and an operation button 57b shown in FIG. In other embodiments, the additional function unit may include a sensor unit that detects predetermined information, such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or a GPS sensor. Further, for example, the additional function unit may include a receiving unit that receives a predetermined signal (for example, an antenna that receives a television broadcast). Further, for example, the additional function unit may include a display unit.

  The infrared communication unit (infrared communication unit 62 shown in FIG. 11) is a member capable of performing infrared communication with the portable device 1. When the peripheral device 2 is attached to the portable device 1 (referred to as “attached state”), the infrared communication unit 62 transmits and receives data (information) between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 by infrared communication. . That is, the infrared communication unit 62 receives data obtained by the predetermined function (for example, operation data representing an operation on the operation unit 57, data detected by the sensor unit, data received by the reception unit, etc.). It transmits to the portable device 1 by infrared communication. Alternatively, the infrared communication unit 62 receives data (for example, image data to be displayed on the display unit) for executing the predetermined function from the portable device 1 by infrared communication. In other embodiments, one of the mobile device 1 and the peripheral device 2 may have only a transmission function, and the other may have only a reception function. That is, the infrared communication unit 62 may have only one of a transmission function and a reception function.

  The said support part is a member which supports the portable apparatus 1 so that attachment or detachment is possible. The support unit supports the mobile device 1 in a fixed manner (so that the positional relationship between the mobile device 1 and the peripheral device 2 is constant). The specific configuration of the support portion for supporting the portable device 1 may be any configuration. Although details will be described later, the support unit is positioned such that the infrared light receiving and emitting unit 27 in the portable device 1 is positioned at a position where infrared rays can be transmitted to and received from the infrared communication unit 62 of the peripheral device 2. Support. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by attaching the peripheral device 2 to the portable device 1, infrared communication can be performed between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2. As a result, the function of the additional function unit in the peripheral device 2 can be added to the portable device 1. That is, according to this embodiment, the peripheral device 2 can be connected to the portable device 1 with a simple configuration without using a connector.

  Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the peripheral device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8-10 is a figure which shows the external appearance of the peripheral device 2. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the peripheral device 2, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the peripheral device 2 viewed from the lower right front, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the peripheral device 2 viewed from the upper left rear.

(Description of support part)
The peripheral device 2 includes a support unit for supporting the mobile device 1. In the present embodiment, the support portion includes a wall portion 51 and a bottom surface portion 52. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the bottom surface portion 52 is a member formed in a substantially planar shape. The wall portion 51 is provided at an edge around the bottom surface portion 52. Specifically, the wall 51 includes a first wall 51a, a second wall 51b, and a third wall 51c. The first wall portion 51a is provided on the upper side of the bottom surface portion 52 (the side on the y-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 9). The second wall portion 51b is provided on the right side (the x-axis positive direction side shown in FIG. 9) and the right side of the lower side of the bottom surface portion 52. The third wall portion 51 c is provided on the left side and the left side of the lower side of the bottom surface portion 52. Hereinafter, the details of the support portion will be described.

  The support portion may support any position of the mobile device 1, but in this embodiment, the support portion supports the lower housing 11 of the mobile device 1 (see FIG. 1 and the like). That is, the support portion is configured to be able to support the lower housing 11. Specifically, the bottom surface portion 52 is formed in the same size as the plate-like lower housing 11. Further, the wall 51 is formed in a frame shape, and is configured such that a space surrounded by the frame-shaped portion (a space in which the lower housing 11 is inserted) has a size corresponding to the lower housing 11. That is, the wall 51 is configured such that the space is the same as or slightly larger than the lower housing 11.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the support unit supports the housing (lower housing 11) in which the operation unit (the operation button 14 or the slide pad 15) is provided in the foldable portable device 1. In the present embodiment, when the peripheral device 2 is attached to the portable device 1, the user holds the peripheral device 2, and when the peripheral device 2 is not attached to the portable device 1, the user The lower housing 11 is gripped. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the user grips the lower side of the mobile device 1 regardless of whether the peripheral device 2 is not attached or not. Therefore, even when the peripheral device 2 is attached, the user can use the portable device 1 in the same manner as when the peripheral device 2 is not attached, so that the peripheral device 2 becomes easier to use. In other embodiments, the support unit may support the upper housing 21 of the mobile device 1 or may support both the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21.

  Moreover, although a support part may support any position of the lower housing 11, in this embodiment, it supports the side surface of the lower housing 11. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the wall portion 51 is configured in a frame shape and is supported so as to surround the side surface of the lower housing 11. Thereby, the wall part 51 can support the portable apparatus 1 firmly, and can position the portable apparatus 1 in a mounting state. In the present embodiment, the wall 51 holds the mobile device 1 so that the mobile device 1 is fixed to the peripheral device 2. As a method of fixing the portable device 1 to the peripheral device 2, in this embodiment, a method in which the support portion surrounds the side surface of the portable device 1 is adopted. However, in other embodiments, the support portion is You may fix the portable apparatus 1 by arbitrary methods. For example, in another embodiment, the support unit may fix the portable device 1 by sandwiching the portable device 1 from the upper side surface and the lower side surface.

  The wall portion 51 may support two or more of the four side surfaces of the lower housing 11, but in the present embodiment, the wall portion 51 supports the four side surfaces of the lower housing 11. (See FIG. 12). Specifically, the first wall portion 51 a supports the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. The second wall portion 51 b supports the left side surface and the lower side surface of the lower housing 11. The third wall portion 51c supports the right side surface and the lower side surface of the lower housing 11. Thus, in this embodiment, since each wall part 51a-51c supports the four side surfaces of the lower housing 11, the peripheral apparatus 2 can support the portable apparatus 1 more firmly, and the portable apparatus 1 can be supported. Can be positioned more accurately.

  In the present embodiment, the wall 51 is formed so as to face only a part of the entire side surface of the lower housing 11 (see FIG. 8). That is, the wall 51 is formed so that a part thereof is opened. In the present embodiment, the wall 51 is formed by opening a position corresponding to a predetermined member provided on the side surface of the mobile device 1. The “position corresponding to the predetermined member” is a position facing the predetermined member in the mounted state. Specifically, the wall 51 in the present embodiment is open at the following positions. That is, the wall 51 is open at the left end of the upper side surface of the lower housing 11, which is a position corresponding to the L button 14 </ b> G of the mobile device 1. The wall 51 is open at the upper portion of the left side surface of the lower housing 11, which is a position corresponding to the volume adjustment switch 14 </ b> I of the mobile device 1. The wall 51 is open at the right end of the upper side surface of the lower housing 11, which is a position corresponding to the R button 14 </ b> H of the mobile device 1. The wall 51 is open at the center of the lower side surface of the lower housing 11, which is a position corresponding to the audio output terminal 29 of the mobile device 1. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the user can use the predetermined member of the mobile device 1 even in the mounted state. That is, in the present embodiment, the user can press the L button 14G, the R button 14H, and the volume adjustment switch 14I even in the wearing state, and can insert and remove the earphone and the like to the audio output terminal 29. .

  In other embodiments, the wall 51 may be formed by opening other positions. For example, the central portion of the upper side surface of the lower housing 11, which is the position corresponding to the cover portion 11 </ b> D of the external memory 44, may be open. In addition, for example, the wall 51 may be open at the lower side of the left side surface of the lower housing 11, which is a position corresponding to the cover 11 </ b> C of the external data storage memory 45. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the wall 51 may have a shape in which no opening is formed. That is, the wall 51 may be formed so as to face the entire circumference of the side surface of the lower housing 11 (that is, in an annular shape).

  The height of the wall portion 51 (length in the z-axis direction) may be any length, but is set to be (almost) the same as the thickness of the lower housing 11 in the present embodiment. The height of the wall 51 may be set to, for example, 5 [mm] or more and 15 [mm] or less. Further, the width of the wall 51 may be any length, but is set so that the overall size of the information processing system (the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2) does not become too large in the mounted state. Also good. Further, the width d (see FIG. 8) of the portion (the third wall portion 51c) that supports the left side of the lower housing 11 in the wall portion 51 is set to the operation portion (slide pad) of the portable device 1 with the hand holding the peripheral device 2. 15 or the cross button 14A) may be set to an operable length. Further, the width of the wall portion 51 may be set to a length that can maintain sufficient strength so as not to be damaged by an impact such as dropping. For example, in the present embodiment, the width of the wall portion 51 is a length of 5 [mm] or more and 20 [mm] or less, except for the right side (x-axis positive direction side) portion where the operation portion (slide pad 57a) is provided. Is set to

  In this embodiment, a support part supports one housing of the portable apparatus 1 provided with two housings which can be folded in the state which exposed the inner surface at the time of folding. Specifically, the support portion supports the side surface of the lower housing 11 of the mobile device 1 and exposes the inner surfaces of the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the foldable portable device 1 can be opened and closed when the peripheral device 2 is attached to the portable device 1. Since the user can open and close the portable device 1 without removing the peripheral device 2 from the portable device 1, it is convenient. In other embodiments, the support portion may support the predetermined surface. For example, the support portion may have a claw portion that supports the portable device 1 by being hooked on the inner surface of the lower housing 11.

  Any mechanism may be used for the support unit to support the portable device 1. In this embodiment, a support part supports the portable apparatus 1 by pressing the side surface of the portable apparatus 1 with an elastic body. That is, a pressing member made of an elastic body is provided on the wall surface of the wall portion 51 (a surface facing the side surface of the mobile device 1 in the mounted state). Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the wall portion 51 includes a plurality of (here, six) pressing members 54 a to 54 f. Each pressing member 54a-54f is comprised by elastic bodies, such as rubber | gum. Moreover, although a some press member may be arrange | positioned how, in this embodiment, each press member 54a-54f is provided in the position which presses the portable apparatus 1 from four directions. Specifically, the first pressing member 54a and the second pressing member 54b are provided on the wall surface of the first wall portion 51a. The third pressing member 54c is provided on the right wall surface of the second wall portion 51b. The fourth pressing member 54d is provided on the lower wall surface of the second wall portion 51b. The fifth pressing member 54e is provided on the lower wall surface of the third wall portion 51c. The sixth pressing member 54f is provided on the left wall surface of the third wall portion 51c. Thus, in this embodiment, each pressing member 54a-54f presses the portable apparatus 1 from four directions, and the portable apparatus 1 is supported. As a result, the peripheral device 2 can firmly support the portable device 1 in a balanced manner. In other embodiments, the plurality of pressing members may be provided at positions where the portable device 1 is pressed from two or three directions.

  According to the present embodiment, since the portion of the peripheral device 2 that contacts the mobile device 1 is an elastic body, the possibility that the contact portions of the mobile device 1 and the peripheral device 2 are damaged by an impact can be reduced. . That is, even if an impact is applied to the information processing system (the portable device 1 to which the peripheral device 2 is attached) by dropping or the like, the possibility that the two devices are damaged can be reduced and the device is not easily broken. Can be provided.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since communication between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 is performed by infrared communication, the two are non-contact in terms of the configuration for communication. Therefore, in this embodiment, both are connected only by the support mechanism for supporting the portable device 1. On the other hand, when both are physically connected by a connector or the like, they are also connected by a communication configuration in addition to the support mechanism. Therefore, in this embodiment, if an impact is applied to the information processing system, a greater impact is applied to the support mechanism than when both are physically connected by a connector or the like. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is particularly effective to employ a support mechanism using the pressing member, which is a support mechanism that is not easily damaged even when a large impact is applied.

  In other embodiments, as a mechanism for supporting the mobile device 1, the support portion may have a claw portion that can be hooked into the recess of the mobile device 1. For example, when the recessed part is provided in the portable apparatus 1, a support part may support the portable apparatus 1 by making a nail | claw part latch on the said recessed part.

  In the present embodiment, the wall portion 51 (second wall portion 51b) is provided with a slit 58 at a position corresponding to the strap hole 11F provided on the side surface of the portable device 1. Therefore, when a strap is attached to the strap hole 11F, the strap can be passed through the slit 58 in the mounted state. Thereby, even when the strap is attached to the side surface of the mobile device 1, the user can insert the mobile device 1 into the space formed by the frame-shaped wall portion 51, and easily attach the peripheral device 2 to the mobile device 1. Can be attached to. Further, by passing the strap through the slit 58, the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 are not easily detached when the portable device 1 to which the peripheral device 2 is attached is dropped. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the slit 58 is formed in a bowl shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the wall portion 51 where the slit 58 is provided. This makes it difficult for the strap to come off from the slit 58, and as a result, the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 can be made hard to come off.

  The bottom surface portion 52 in the support portion supports the outer surface of the mobile device 1 (lower housing 11). The bottom surface portion 52 may be formed so as to cover all or a part of a surface to be supported (here, the outer surface of the lower housing 11). In the present embodiment, the bottom surface portion 52 is formed so as to expose a part of the outer surface. According to this, since the user can remove the peripheral device 2 from the portable device 1 by pushing the lower housing 11 from the outer surface, for example, the user can easily remove the peripheral device 2 without having the upper housing 21. Can do. Moreover, in this embodiment, a support part exposes the lower part (y-axis negative direction side) part of the said outer side surface, and supports the portable apparatus 1. FIG. According to this, the user can remove the peripheral device 2 more easily by placing the left or right thumb against the outer surface and pushing the lower housing 11 from the outer surface. Moreover, when the opening part in the wall part 51 is formed so that the exposed part in an outer side surface and the exposed part in a side surface may continue like this embodiment, it can remove the peripheral device 2 more easily. it can. Furthermore, when the portable device 1 is a device including two housings that can be opened and closed (foldable) as in the present embodiment, the outer surface of the housing (here, the lower housing 11) supported by the support portion. The exposed portion may be in contact with a side (here, the lower side) different from the side (here, the upper side) to which the two housings are connected. According to this, even when the two housings are opened, the peripheral device 2 can be easily removed by pushing the exposed portion.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral device 2 is provided with a battery lid 59 that can be attached to and detached from the peripheral device 2. The battery which is the power source of the peripheral device 2 is disposed inside the battery cover 59, and the user can replace the battery by removing the battery cover 59. The battery lid 59 may be located anywhere, but in the present embodiment, the battery lid 59 is provided on the bottom surface portion 52. Therefore, since the battery cover 59 is covered with the portable device 1 in the mounted state, it is possible to prevent the battery cover 59 from being removed and the battery from being removed.

(Explanation of infrared communication unit)
The infrared communication unit 62 described above has a light emitting / receiving unit 55 that receives and transmits infrared light. The light emitting / receiving unit 55 may be provided anywhere in the peripheral device 2, but in the present embodiment, the light receiving / emitting unit 55 is provided on the wall 51. The light emitting / receiving unit 55 includes, for example, an infrared filter that transmits a predetermined frequency band, and a module that receives and transmits infrared rays inside the infrared filter. The configuration of the light emitting / receiving unit 55 may be the same as that of the light receiving / emitting unit 27 in the portable device 1 described above. The light emitting / receiving unit 55 is provided at a position corresponding to the light emitting / receiving unit 27 of the mobile device 1, in other words, on the wall 51 at a position facing the light receiving / emitting unit 27 of the mobile device 1. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the light emitting / receiving unit 55 is provided on the first wall 51 a that supports the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. Although details will be described later, this enables infrared communication between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 in the mounted state.

(Gripping part)
Further, the peripheral device 2 may include a grip portion that can be gripped by the user. When the peripheral device 2 is attached to the portable device 1, the size of the entire device (the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2) increases. However, by providing a grip portion on the peripheral device 2, the entire device can be easily held. Can do. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the peripheral device 2 includes gripping portions 53a and 53b. Although the position of the grip portion is arbitrary, in the present embodiment, the grip portions 53 a and 53 b are arranged on the back side of the operation surface of the mobile device 1. The operation surface of the mobile device 1 is a surface that is exposed in the wearing state, and is a surface that is viewed by the user during use. Here, the operation surface is the inner surface (main surface) of the lower housing 11. Specifically, each gripping portion 53 a and 53 b is disposed on the back side of the bottom surface portion 52. As a result, the user can see the operation surface of the portable device 1 by gripping the grips 53a and 53b. That is, the user can use the portable device 1 while holding the peripheral device 2 in the mounted state. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each holding part 53a and 53b is formed in a convex shape. According to this, the user can hold the peripheral device 2 more easily by holding the peripheral device 2 by placing a finger (ringing finger or little finger) on the convex portion.

(Operation section)
In the present embodiment, the peripheral device 2 includes an operation unit 57 as the additional function unit. The type, position, number, and the like of the operation members included in the operation unit 57 are arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 57 includes a slide pad 57a, an additional R button 57b, a ZL button 57c, and a ZR button 57d. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 57 includes an operation button and a direction input device (slide pad). However, in other embodiments, the operation unit 57 may include a trackball or a keyboard. .

  The slide pad 57a is an example of a direction input device that can indicate a direction and a size. The slide pad 57a may be disposed anywhere, but in the present embodiment, the slide pad 57a is provided on the surface of the wall portion 51 (second wall portion 51b) that supports the inner surface of the lower housing 11 (see FIG. 8). That is, the slide pad 57a is disposed on the side (here, the right side) of the operation surface of the lower housing 11 in the mounted state. The slide pad 57a is disposed at a position where the slide pad 57a can be operated with a thumb when both the left and right sides of the peripheral device 2 are gripped. In other embodiments, the slide pad 57a may be disposed, for example, on the back side of the operation surface of the lower housing 11 in the mounted state, or may be disposed below the operation surface.

  The operation unit 57 includes an additional R button 57b. The additional R button 57b may be disposed anywhere in the peripheral device 2. In the present embodiment, the additional R button 57b is provided on the side surface on the upper side (y-axis positive direction side) of the portion that supports the right side surface of the second wall portion 51b (see FIG. 8). That is, the additional R button 57b is disposed outside the R button 14H of the mobile device 1 in the mounted state (outside when viewed from the center of the mobile device 1 in the left-right direction). The additional R button 57b is arranged at a position where it can be operated with the index finger (or middle finger) when the left and right sides of the peripheral device 2 are gripped in the mounted state.

  Here, in the present embodiment, since the slide pad 57a is arranged on the right side of the mobile device 1 in the mounted state, it is difficult for the user to press the R button 14H of the mobile device 1. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an additional R button 57b disposed on the same side as the slide pad 57a is provided for the portable device 1. According to this, for example, when the same function as the R button 14H is assigned to the additional R button 57b in the game application executed on the mobile device 1, the user uses the additional R button 57b instead of the R button 14H. can do. As described above, the additional R button 57b can easily perform the operation using the R button 14H even in the mounted state, and the peripheral device 2 can prevent the operability of the portable device 1 from being lowered. Further, in the present embodiment, the additional R button 57b is arranged at a position where it can be operated with a finger (an index finger or a middle finger of the right hand) that can operate the R button 14H when the peripheral device 2 is not attached to the portable device 1. The Therefore, the user can use the additional R button 57b with the same operation feeling as the R button 14H, and the operability of the peripheral device 2 can be further improved.

  In addition, the direction in which the additional R button 57b is pressed (direction in which it can be pressed) may be any direction. In this embodiment, the direction in which the additional R button 57b is pressed is the direction in which the R button 14H of the mobile device 1 is pressed. In the same direction (ie, downward). Therefore, the user can operate the additional R button 57b with the same operation feeling as the R button 14H of the portable device 1, and the operability can be further improved.

  The operation unit 57 includes a ZL button 57c and a ZR button 57d. The ZL button 57c and the ZR button 57d may be disposed anywhere on the peripheral device 2. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the ZL button 57 c is provided in the upper left portion of the peripheral device 2, and the ZR button 57 d is provided in the upper right portion of the peripheral device 2. That is, in the mounted state, the ZL button 57 c is disposed on the upper left with respect to the operation surface of the mobile device 1, and the ZR button 57 d is disposed on the upper right with respect to the operation surface of the mobile device 1. Further, the ZL button 57c is arranged behind the L button 14G of the mobile device 1 in the mounted state (in the negative z-axis direction). The ZR button 57d is disposed behind the additional R button 57b. Thus, the ZL button 57c and the ZR button 57d are arranged at positions where they can be operated with the middle finger (or index finger) when the left and right sides of the peripheral device 2 are gripped in the mounted state. The pressing direction of the ZL button 57c and the ZR button 57d may be any direction, but in the present embodiment, it is set to face downward and slightly forward (z-axis positive direction side).

(Internal configuration of peripheral device 2)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the peripheral device 2. As shown in FIG. 11, the peripheral device 2 includes an operation unit 57, a control unit 61, and an infrared communication unit 62. The operation unit 57 is connected to the control unit 61, and the control unit 61 is connected to the infrared communication unit 62.

  The operation unit 57 outputs operation data representing operations on the operation devices (the slide pad 57 a and the buttons 57 b to 57 d) included in the operation unit 57 to the control unit 61. The control unit 61 performs various types of information processing in the peripheral device 2. For example, the control unit 61 receives operation data from the operation unit 57 and outputs the operation data to the infrared communication unit 62 so as to transmit the operation data to the portable device 1. For example, the control unit 61 may perform power supply control in the peripheral device 2. For example, the control unit 61 controls each unit in the peripheral device 2 to be turned off (sleep state) when the buttons 57b to 57d are not operated for a predetermined time. And when operation is performed with respect to each said button 57b-57d, each part in the peripheral device 2 is controlled to ON. The infrared communication unit 62 performs infrared communication with the portable device 1. Specifically, when operation data is output from the control unit 61, the operation data is converted into an infrared signal, and infrared rays are emitted. In addition, when the infrared communication unit 62 receives an infrared signal from the mobile device 1, the infrared communication unit 62 outputs the received data to the control unit 61. In the present embodiment, the mobile device 1 may transmit an infrared signal representing a control command for controlling the peripheral device 2 to the peripheral device 2.

(Description of information processing system in which peripheral device 2 is attached to portable device 1)
In the present embodiment, when the peripheral device 2 is mounted on the mobile device 1, the user inserts the lower housing 11 of the mobile device 1 into a space surrounded by the frame-like wall portion 51. As a result, the lower housing 11 is supported by the support portion when the side surface of the lower housing 11 is pressed by the pressing members 54 a to 54 f of the wall portion 51.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 before and after being mounted. As described above, the light emitting / receiving unit 27 of the portable device 1 is provided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11 in the present embodiment, and the light emitting / receiving unit 55 of the infrared communication unit 62 is the light emitting / receiving unit 27 of the portable device 1. Is provided at a position corresponding to. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, in the mounted state, the light emitting / receiving unit 27 of the mobile device 1 and the light emitting / receiving unit 55 of the peripheral device 2 are arranged to face each other. In other words, the support part (wall part 51) is positioned at a position where the infrared light receiving / emitting part 27 in the portable device 1 can be transmitted and received with the infrared communication part 62 of the peripheral device 2. The portable device 1 is supported.

  As described above, the support unit supports the portable device 1 so that the infrared communication unit of the portable device 1 and the infrared communication unit of the peripheral device 2 can communicate with each other. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, communication between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 becomes possible by attaching the peripheral device 2 to the portable device 1. As a result, the function of the peripheral device 2 can be added to the portable device 1. That is, according to this embodiment, the peripheral device 2 can be connected to the portable device 1 with a simple configuration without using a connector.

  In the connection method in which the communication units in the two devices are brought into contact with each other by a connector or the like, if the user accidentally drops the device during connection, the connection portion (connector portion) of the two devices may be destroyed. There is. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, each communication unit is in a non-contact state when two devices are mounted. Therefore, even if the user drops the device, there is little possibility that each communication unit is destroyed, and a safer information processing system can be provided. Note that, as in the present embodiment, when the mobile device 1 is a game device that is expected to be used by children, the mobile device 1 includes a sensor (here, an acceleration sensor) that detects its own movement, When it is assumed that the user moves and uses the portable device 1, this connection method is particularly effective, even when the user drops the device.

  According to the present embodiment, since communication with the peripheral device 2 is performed using the communication function (infrared communication function) included in the mobile device 1, the mobile device 1 is not added to the mobile device 1 without adding a communication unit. And the peripheral device 2 can be communicated. As a communication method between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2, for example, by inserting a cartridge having a communication unit capable of communicating with the peripheral device 2 into a connector for connecting the external memory 44, the cartridge A method of performing communication between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 via the network is also conceivable. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the peripheral device 2 having higher versatility than the above method.

  In this embodiment, the light emitting / receiving unit 27 is provided on the side surface of the portable device 1, the wall 51 surrounds the side surface of the portable device 1 in the mounted state, and the infrared communication unit 62 (light emitting / receiving unit 55) It is provided on the wall 51 (first wall 51 a) at a position facing the light emitting unit 27. Therefore, the wall 51 can support the portable device 1 with the operation surface exposed, and can position the portable device 1 so that the light emitting and receiving unit 27 is in an appropriate position. Furthermore, since the wall 51 faces the light emitting / receiving unit 27, external light (light from other than the light receiving / emitting unit 55) can be prevented from entering the light receiving / emitting unit 27 by the wall 51. As described above, in the present embodiment, the wall portion 51 has a function of shielding external light as well as a function of positioning so that the light emitting / receiving portion 27 is in an appropriate position. Accordingly, the peripheral device 2 can perform infrared communication with high accuracy.

  As described above, the wall 51 is formed so as to cover the light emitting / receiving unit 27 in the mounted state. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a wall portion (first wall portion 51 a) is formed around the light emitting / receiving portion 55. In another embodiment, an elastic pressing member may be provided around the light emitting / receiving unit 55, and in the mounted state, the periphery of the light receiving / emitting unit 27 may be pressed by the pressing member. This also prevents light from the outside from entering the light emitting / receiving unit 27. In the present embodiment, the two light receiving and emitting units 27 and 55 are arranged so that there is almost no gap between them (see FIG. 12). A slight gap may be formed between the light emitting / receiving units 27 and 55. Although the shielding effect by the wall 51 increases as the gap becomes smaller, the peripheral device 2 can shield external light to some extent by the wall 51 even when a slight gap is generated.

  In other embodiments, the light emitting / receiving unit 27 may be provided on the outer surface of the portable device 1 (lower housing 11). That is, the light emitting / receiving unit 27 is provided on a predetermined surface (outer surface) of the mobile device 1, the support unit has a portion facing the predetermined surface of the mobile device 1 in the mounted state, and the infrared communication unit is in the support unit You may provide in the said part. Also by this, the external light to the light emitting / receiving unit 27 can be shielded by the portion of the support unit. In addition, when the light emitting / receiving part 27 is provided in the outer surface of the lower housing 11, the bottom face part 52 functions as the said part in a support part.

  In the wearing state, the user can hold the peripheral device 2 and use the information processing system (the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2). In the present embodiment, since the grip portions 53a and 53b are provided on the left and right sides of the peripheral device 2, the user can grip the left and right sides of the information processing system with both hands. Specifically, regarding the left hand of the user, the thumb is positioned on the slide pad 15 or the cross button 14A of the mobile device 1, the index finger is positioned on the L button 14G of the mobile device 1, and the middle finger is positioned on the ZL button 57c of the peripheral device 2. The user can hold the information processing system so that the ring finger and the little finger are positioned on the holding portion 53a. Regarding the user's right hand, the thumb is positioned on the slide pad 57a of the peripheral device 2, the index finger is positioned on the additional R button 57b of the peripheral device 2, the middle finger is positioned on the ZR button 57d of the peripheral device 2, and the ring finger and little finger The user can grip the information processing system so that is positioned at the grip portion 53b. According to this, the user can perform an operation using the two slide pads 15 and 57a and at least four buttons 14G and 57b to 57d, and the operation is more complicated than when the mobile device 1 is used alone. It can be performed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, an operation unit (slide pad 57 a) is added to the right side of the operation surface of the mobile device 1 by the peripheral device 2, while the peripheral device 2 provides the left side of the operation surface of the mobile device 1. The operation unit is not added. That is, the portable device 1 has a predetermined operation member (slide pad 15) provided on one side (left side) in the left-right direction on the operation surface, and the operation unit of the peripheral device 2 is outside the operation surface in the mounted state. And the operation member (slide pad 57a) arrange | positioned on the opposite side of the said one side is included. According to this, the user can hold the information processing system by holding the peripheral device 2 with the right hand and pressing the portable device 1 with the thumb of the left hand. That is, when the user holds the information processing system, the portable device 1 is pressed, so that the peripheral device 2 is prevented from being detached from the portable device 1 by the user's own hand.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile device 1 has operation buttons on the left and right shoulders, respectively. That is, the mobile device 1 has a first operation button (L button 14G) provided on one side on a predetermined side surface and a second operation button (R button 14H) provided on the other side on the predetermined side surface. Here, regarding the operation button on the left shoulder, since the wall 51 has at least a portion facing the L button 14G, the user can easily operate the L button 14G as the operation button on the left shoulder in the mounted state. be able to. On the other hand, regarding the operation button on the right shoulder, the R button 14H is difficult to press by the slide pad 57a added to the right side of the operation surface of the mobile device 1, but the additional R button 57b is provided on the right side of the R button 14H. . That is, the operation unit 57 includes an operation button (additional R button 57b) disposed at the position on the other side of the R button 14H in the mounted state. Therefore, the user can easily operate the additional R button 57b as an operation button on the right shoulder in the mounted state. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user can operate the operation buttons arranged on the left and right shoulders of the information processing system as in the case of operating the portable device 1 alone even in the mounted state. Even in the wearing state, the user can perform button operations with the left and right forefinger or middle finger, so that more complicated operations can be performed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the operation unit 57 includes an operation member (ZL button 57c) disposed behind the L button 14G and an operation member (ZR button 57d) disposed behind the additional R button 57b in the mounted state. ). Therefore, in this embodiment, a total of four buttons are provided, two each on the left and right shoulders of the information processing system. According to this, the user can perform a button operation with the index finger and the middle finger (or the middle finger and the ring finger) when holding the peripheral device 2, so that a more complicated operation can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the operation button (L button 14G and the additional R button 57b) disposed on the front side of the left and right shoulders is the downward direction, and the operation button (ZL) disposed on the back side. The pressing direction of the button 57c and the ZR button 57d) is set so as to face the near side rather than the downward direction. Therefore, by operating the operation buttons arranged on the front side with the index finger and operating the operation buttons arranged on the back side with the middle finger, the user can easily operate these operation buttons.

[4. Modified example]
The support unit of the peripheral device 2 may be any unit that detachably supports the portable device 1 and is not limited to the one having the wall unit 51 and the bottom unit 52 shown in the above embodiment. For example, the support portion may have an annular shape and support the side surface of the mobile device 1. At this time, the support part may have a bottom face part, and does not need to have it. Further, the support part may be made of a material having stretchability (elasticity). According to this, it becomes easy to attach the support portion (peripheral device 2) to the portable device 1, and it is possible to attach the peripheral device 2 to a plurality of types of portable devices having different sizes. Further, in the present modification, when the peripheral device 2 includes an operation unit as an additional function unit, the operation unit is disposed on a plane substantially the same as the operation surface of the portable device 1 as in the slide pad 57a in the above embodiment. May be. According to this, the user can easily operate the operation unit while looking at the operation surface.

  Further, the communication between the portable device 1 and the peripheral device 2 may be wireless communication using, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) instead of infrared communication. That is, the portable device 1 may have a wireless communication function, and the peripheral device 2 may include a communication unit that can communicate wirelessly with the portable device 1. At this time, the support unit only needs to be able to detachably support the mobile device 1, and positioning is not performed so that the communication unit of the mobile device 1 is positioned according to the communication unit of the peripheral device 2. Good. Even when the communication between the mobile device 1 and the peripheral device 2 is wireless communication, the communication unit of the mobile device 1 and the communication unit of the peripheral device 2 communicate with each other in the same manner as in the above embodiment. According to this, it is possible to provide a safer information processing system in which two devices can be brought into non-contact with respect to the configuration for communication, and each communication unit is less likely to be destroyed.

  The present invention can be used as, for example, a peripheral device for adding an operation function to a portable game device for the purpose of connecting a peripheral device to a portable device without using a connector.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile device 2 Peripheral device 11 Lower housing 14 Operation button 15 Direction input device 21 Upper housing 27 Light emitting / receiving part 37 Infrared communication module 51 Wall part 52 Bottom part 53a, 53b Grasping part 54a-54f Press member 55 Light receiving / emitting part 57 Operation 62 Infrared communication unit

Claims (15)

A peripheral device for adding a predetermined function to a portable device having a communication function,
An additional function unit having the predetermined function;
A communication unit capable of performing infrared communication and / or wireless communication with the portable device;
A support unit that detachably supports the portable device,
The additional function unit includes an operation unit,
The portable device has a predetermined operation member provided on one side with respect to the left-right direction on a predetermined operation surface,
The operation unit includes a peripheral device including an operation member disposed on the outer side of the operation surface and opposite to the one side in a state where the support unit supports the portable device. The portable device has an infrared communication function,
The communication unit can perform infrared communication with the portable device,
The support unit removably supports the portable device such that an infrared light receiving and emitting unit in the portable device is positioned at a position where infrared light can be transmitted to and received from the communication unit .
The light emitting / receiving unit is provided on a side surface of the portable device,
The support portion has a wall portion surrounding a side surface of the portable device in a state where the support portion supports the portable device,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is provided on the wall portion at a position facing the light emitting / receiving unit. The portable device has an infrared communication function,
The communication unit can perform infrared communication with the portable device,
The support unit removably supports the portable device such that an infrared light receiving and emitting unit in the portable device is positioned at a position where infrared light can be transmitted to and received from the communication unit .
The light emitting / receiving unit is provided on a predetermined surface of the portable device,
The support portion has a portion facing the predetermined surface of the portable device in a state where the support portion supports the portable device,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is provided in a portion of the support unit that faces the light emitting / receiving unit.   The peripheral device according to claim 3, wherein the support unit includes a holding unit that holds the portable device so that the portable device is fixed to the peripheral device.   The peripheral device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support unit supports the portable device by pressing a side surface of the portable device with an elastic body. The portable device includes two foldable housings,
The peripheral device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support portion supports one of the two housings in a state where an inner surface is exposed when the housing is folded. The additional function unit includes an operation unit,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits operation data representing an operation on the operation unit to the portable device. The predetermined operation member included in the portable device is a direction input device capable of instructing a direction and a size,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the operation member included in the operation unit is a direction input device capable of designating a direction and a size. The portable device has a first operation button provided on the one side on a predetermined side surface, and a second operation button provided on the other side on the predetermined side surface,
The support portion has a wall portion surrounding a side surface of the portable device in a state where the support portion supports the portable device,
The wall has an opening at least at a portion facing the first operation button,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes an operation button disposed at a position on the other side of the second operation button in a state where the support unit supports the portable device.   The said support part supports the said portable apparatus by supporting the side surface of the said portable apparatus in the state in which at least one part of the outer side surface of the said portable apparatus was exposed. The peripheral device described. The support portion supports a side surface of the portable device in a state where a predetermined surface of the portable device is exposed,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, further comprising a grip portion that is disposed on a back side of the predetermined surface in a state in which the support portion supports the portable device and can be gripped by a user. A peripheral device for adding a predetermined function to a portable device having a communication function,
An additional function unit having the predetermined function;
A communication unit capable of performing infrared communication and / or wireless communication with the portable device;
A support unit that detachably supports the portable device,
The support portion supports a side surface of the portable device in a state where a predetermined surface of the portable device is exposed,
The additional function unit is a peripheral device including an operation unit disposed on a side of the predetermined surface on a surface in the same direction as the predetermined surface in a state where the support unit supports the portable device. A peripheral device attachable to a portable device having an infrared communication function,
The portable device is:
A plate-shaped first housing;
A second housing foldably connected to the first housing;
A first direction input device which is provided on one side with respect to the left-right direction on the inner side surface of the first housing, and which can indicate the direction and size;
A first operation button provided on the one side of the side surface of the first housing;
A second operation button provided on the other side of the side surface,
The peripheral device is:
An operation unit;
An infrared communication unit that transmits operation data representing an operation on the operation unit to the portable device by infrared communication;
A support unit that supports the portable device such that an infrared light receiving and emitting unit in the portable device is positioned at a position where infrared rays can be transmitted to and received from the infrared communication unit;
A gripping part disposed on the back side of the first housing in a state in which the support part supports the portable device, and capable of being gripped by a user;
The support portion includes a wall portion that supports a side surface of the first housing and at least a portion facing the first operation button is opened.
The operation unit is
A second direction input device arranged outside the inner side surface of the first housing and opposite to the one side in a state where the support unit supports the portable device, and capable of indicating a direction and a size;
An operation button disposed at a position on the other side of the second operation button in a state where the support unit supports the portable device,
In the peripheral device, a width of a portion of the wall portion that supports the one side of the first housing is set to a length that allows the first direction input device to be operated by a hand that grips the grip portion. An information processing system including a portable device and a peripheral device for adding a predetermined function to the portable device, wherein the portable device performs infrared communication and / or wireless communication with the peripheral device A first communication unit capable of
The peripheral device is:
An additional function unit having the predetermined function;
A second communication unit capable of performing infrared communication and / or wireless communication with the portable device;
A support unit that detachably supports the portable device,
The additional function unit includes an operation unit,
The portable device has a predetermined operation member provided on one side with respect to the left-right direction on a predetermined operation surface,
The information processing system, wherein the operation unit includes an operation member disposed outside the operation surface and on the opposite side of the one side in a state where the support unit supports the portable device. A connection method for connecting a peripheral device for adding a predetermined function to a portable device having a communication function,
The portable device has a predetermined operation member provided on one side with respect to the left-right direction on a predetermined operation surface,
The peripheral device is:
A communication unit capable of performing infrared communication and / or wireless communication with the portable device;
A support part for detachably supporting the portable device;
An operation member,
A method for connecting peripheral devices, wherein the portable device is supported by the support portion so that the operation member is disposed outside the operation surface and opposite to the one side.

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