JPH08129557A - Portable electronic reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically change the direction of display contents only by changing the direction of a case by a reader even if a fixed-form and longitudinally long text, a laterally long figure, a photograph, a table, etc., is present in an electronic publication. CONSTITUTION: A direction sensor 12 which detects whether or not the length direction of a liquid crystal display unit 2 is horizontal, is provided in the case 1, and when the direction sensor 12 detects its horizontal direction, characters or image information read out of the electronic publication is rotated by 90 deg.. The characters or image information which has been rotated by 90 deg. is displayed and outputted on the liquid crystal display unit. If front and rear scroll keys 6a and 6b and left and right scroll keys 6c and 6d are operated while the direction sensor 12 detects the horizontal direction, the directions of the respective scroll keys are converted to scroll the image information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit in the left-right directions and front-rear directions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic reading device which reads out character or image information stored in an electronic publication such as an FD or a CD-ROM and outputs it to a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art CDs (compact discs) are created by digitizing the contents of various publications such as telephone directories, address books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, various statistical materials, newspapers, technical papers, and government publications.
-Stored in a ROM or FD (floppy disk) and put on the market. A device for reading out character information stored in an electronic publication and image information such as drawings, pictures, and photographs for display and output on a display screen is a reading device such as an FDD or a CD player, and the read character or It was a large-scale device that was composed of a CRT display device for displaying and outputting image information and was placed on a desk.

In recent years, in addition to the ordinary publications described above, the electronic publications may also store magazines such as monthly magazines and weekly magazines as shown in FIG. Magazines are often read not only at homes, schools, workplaces and other desks, but also outdoors such as trains, buses, airplanes and parks. Therefore, it is small enough to be held with one hand so that the reader can easily read electronic publications that store magazines. A thin portable electronic reading device has been developed.

In this portable electronic reading device, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular liquid crystal display (LC) is provided on the front surface 1a of the case 1 having a thin rectangular shape of approximately A4 size.
D) 2 is installed. CD-on side 1b of case 1
An insertion port 3 for an electronic publication of ROR or FD is formed. Further, on the front surface 1a of the case 1, there are a numeral key 4, a next page key 5a, for inputting numerical values such as a display page of an electronic publication,
Previous page key 5b, four front and rear scroll keys 6a,
6b, 6c, 6d are arranged. In addition, Case 1
A power switch 7 is attached to the other side surface 1c.

In the electronic publication, the text 9 of each page of the magazine 8 as shown in FIG. 9A is stored in order for each page as shown in FIG. Then, when this electronic publication is inserted into the insertion slot 3 and the power switch 7 is turned on, 1
A page of text (sentence) 9 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 2. The numeric keypad 4, the next page key 5a, the previous page key 5b
It is possible to display the text 9 of the required page by operating the etc.

Therefore, when a portable electronic reading device which can be easily carried and operated in this way becomes widespread, FIG.
The actual magazines 8 shown in (a), (b), and (c) are no longer necessary, and the publisher only has to issue only CD-ROM or FD electronic publications, and does not use paper, pulp, etc. It is possible to suppress unnecessary waste of resources.

[0007]

However, the portable electronic reading device shown in FIG. 8 still has the following problems to be solved. That is, the above-mentioned CD-ROM
Or, as described above, in the electronic publication of FD, as shown in FIG.
The text 9 on each page of the magazine 8 as shown in FIG.
As shown in, each page is stored in order.

However, the magazine 8 has not only the standard vertically long text 9 shown in FIG. 9A, but also a horizontally long figure and photograph 10 over a plurality of pages (open pages) shown in FIG. 9B. . Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, there is a table 11 or the like formed laterally even if it fits on one page. In the electronic publication, these horizontally long drawings, photographs 10 and table 11 are shown in FIG. 6 so that the vertical direction is correctly displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 having a rectangular shape. It is stored in the same direction as the text 9.

Therefore, when this horizontally long drawing, photograph 10 and table 11 are displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 having a vertically long rectangular shape of the portable electronic reading device, FIG. 10 (a) or FIG.
As shown in (b), the right half of the drawing, the photograph 10, and the table 11 are off the display screen.

In such a situation, the reader of this portable electronic reading device operates the left and right scroll keys 6c and 6d provided on the front surface of the case 1 to display the displayed image,
The photograph 10 and the table 11 are scrolled leftward so that the right side portion is displayed on the liquid crystal display 2.

Thus, if the magazine 8 has not only the standard vertically long text 9 but also the horizontally long figure, the photograph 10 and the horizontally long table 11 exceeding the horizontal width of one page, the reader has to perform a complicated key operation including scroll key operation. I had to do something.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. For example, not only a standard vertically long text but also a horizontally long figure, a photograph, a horizontally long table exceeding a horizontal width of one page, etc. are provided in an electronic publication. Even if it exists, the reader automatically changes the orientation of the magazine when viewing a landscape-oriented article by changing the orientation of the magazine, and the orientation of the display changes automatically. Efficiently displayed on the display,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic reading device that is easy to read and can be greatly improved in operability.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to each page having a rectangular shape stored in an electronic publication inserted through an insertion opening formed on the outer surface of a case. In a portable electronic reading device that reads characters or image information in order in response to an operation on an operation unit provided on the front surface of the case and outputs the two-dimensional display to a rectangular liquid crystal display provided on the front surface of the case. , A direction sensor provided in the case for detecting whether the lengthwise direction of the liquid crystal display is oriented in the horizontal direction and a character or image information read when the direction sensor detects the horizontal direction. 90
It is provided with a rotating means for rotating by 90 ° and a rotating display means for displaying and outputting the character or image information rotated by 90 ° on a liquid crystal display.

In addition, in another invention, in addition to the portable electronic reading device of the above invention, a front-rear direction scroll key and a left-right direction scroll key provided on the front surface of the case, and the front-rear direction scroll key and the left-right direction scroll key. Scroll means for scrolling the character or image information displayed on the liquid crystal display in the front-back direction and the left-right direction according to the operation of the direction scroll key, and the front-back direction scroll key when the direction sensor detects the horizontal direction. And scrolling direction changing means for scrolling the image information displayed on the liquid crystal display device in the left-right direction and the front-back direction in response to a key operation of the left-right direction scroll key.

Further, in another invention, the above-mentioned direction sensor is attached to a long container arranged in the long or short direction of the liquid crystal display and both ends of the long container in the long direction. It is composed of a pair of electrodes and mercury contained in the long container and having a volume of about half the volume of the long container.

[0016]

According to the portable electronic reading device having the above-described structure, when the horizontally long characters or image information is displayed on the vertically long liquid crystal display, the reader turns the entire case sideways. Then, the direction sensor detects that the lengthwise direction of the liquid crystal display is oriented in the horizontal direction, that is, the case is turned sideways.

Then, the character or image information read from the electronic publication is displayed with its direction changed by 90 °. As a result, the horizontally long characters or the entire image information can be viewed in the right direction on the horizontally long liquid crystal display screen as seen from the reader side without the scroll key operation. Therefore, the operability of the entire apparatus is significantly improved.

In another invention, when the reader holds the case sideways, the functions of the front and rear scroll keys and the left and right scroll keys are automatically switched. That is,
From the reader's point of view, the direction you want to scroll is the same as the direction of the scroll key. The reader can easily scroll in any direction without considering the type of scroll key.

In still another aspect of the invention, as the direction sensor, a mercury sensor in which mercury of about half the volume is enclosed in a long container is adopted. For example, when the case is oriented in the vertical (long) direction, a short circuit is maintained between the electrodes at both ends of the long container by mercury, and when the case is oriented in the horizontal (short) direction, for example. , Mercury is biased to one side, and the electrodes on both ends of the long container are opened. Therefore, the direction (posture) of the case can be detected by monitoring the conduction state between the electrodes at both ends.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a portable electronic reading device according to an embodiment. The same parts as those of the conventional portable electronic reading device shown in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals. Therefore, detailed description of the overlapping portions will be omitted.

A rectangular liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided on the front surface 1a of a case 1 having a thin rectangular shape of approximately A4 size.
2 are installed. On the side surface 1b of the case 1, an insertion port 3 for an electronic publication made of an FD (floppy disk) is formed. On the front surface 1a of the case 1, there is a numeral key 4 for inputting a numerical value such as a display page of an electronic publication, a next page key 5a for displaying the next page, and a previous page for displaying the previous page. A key 5b and four scroll keys 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d for moving the displayed image forward, backward, left and right are provided. Each of these keys 4 to 6d constitutes an operation unit. A power switch 7 is attached to the other side surface 1c of the case 1.

Further, in this embodiment, a mercury sensor 12 as a direction sensor is embedded in the front surface 1a of the case 1 at a position adjacent to the scroll keys 6a to 6d. In this mercury sensor 12, as shown in FIG. 2A, a long container 13 is arranged parallel to the short direction of the liquid crystal display 2. The electrodes 14a and 14b are attached to both ends of the long container 13 in the lengthwise direction. Mercury 15 is enclosed in the long container 13.
The volume of this mercury 15 is about half the volume of the long container 13.

Therefore, when the case 1 is held by the reader in the normal vertical direction (vertical posture) as shown in FIG. 3A, the long container 13 of the mercury sensor 12 is shown in FIG. Maintain horizontal orientation as shown. As a result, the mercury 15 maintains a conductive state between the electrodes 14a and 14b at both ends.

On the contrary, when the case 1 is held in the lateral direction (horizontal posture) by the reader as shown in FIG. 3A, the elongated container 13 of the mercury sensor 12 is shown in FIG. 2B. So maintain the vertical direction. As a result, the mercury 15 is biased to one side, and the electrodes 14a and 14b at both ends are changed to an open state.

In this way, the mercury sensor 12 can automatically detect in which direction the reader is carrying the case 1. As shown in FIG. 6, in the electronic publication consisting of the FD read by this portable electronic reading device, as shown in FIG.
(B) Not only the standard vertically long text 9 on each page of the magazine 8 shown in (b) and (c), but also a horizontally long figure, a photograph 10, and a horizontally long table 11 exceeding the width of one page are assigned page numbers, respectively, and are the same. It is stored so that it is in the display direction.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the portable electronic reading device. This portable electronic reading device is composed of a kind of information processing device such as a microcomputer. For driving the CPU 18 that executes various information processings to the bus line 17, and the FDD (floppy disk drive) 19 for reading the information stored in the FD as an electronic publication inserted from the insertion slot 3 FDD
A controller 20, a display controller 22 for driving the liquid crystal display 2, a RAM 21 for storing various variable data, etc. are connected.

In the RAM 21, a standard vertically long text 9 for each page read from an FD electronic publication, a horizontally long figure,
A work memory 21a for temporarily storing a photograph 10, a horizontally long table 11, etc., and a display buffer 21b for storing an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 at a time as image data are formed.

Further, the bus line 17 is provided with a keyboard input circuit 2 for inputting key signals such as a numeral key 4, a next page key 5a and a previous page key 5b provided on the front surface of the case 1.
3, a sensor input circuit 24 to which a direction signal is input from the mercury sensor 12, and a scroll key input circuit 25 are connected.

"Front" of the scroll key input circuit 25
A switch circuit 2 is provided for each of the "rear", "left" and "right" input terminals.
“Front” provided on the front surface of the case 1 through 6
"Rear""Left""Right" scroll keys 6a, 6b, 6
The respective key signals of c and 6d are input. The switch circuit 26 includes four changeover switches 26a, 26b, 26.
c and 26d are incorporated. Each changeover switch 26a-
26d is switched by the detection signal of the mercury sensor 12.

The mercury sensor 12 is shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 3 (a).
When the case 1 is normally held in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 3, the changeover switches 26a to 26d are connected to the normally closed terminal side indicated by black circles. That is, "before" and "after"
"Left" and "right" scroll keys 6a, 6b, 6c, 6
Each key signal of d is a scroll key input circuit 25.
Is input to each of the “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” input terminals.

On the other hand, the mercury sensor 12 is shown in FIGS.
When the case 1 is laterally held as shown in (b), the changeover switches 26a to 26d are connected to the normally open terminal side indicated by white circles. That is, the key signal of the "front" scroll key 6a is the scroll key input circuit 2
5 is input to the "right" input terminal, and the key signal of the "rear" scroll key 6b is input to the "left" input terminal of the scroll key input circuit 25, and the "left" scroll key 6b.
The key signal of c is input to the "front" input terminal of the scroll key input circuit 25, and the key signal of the "right" scroll key 6d is input to the "rear" input terminal of the scroll key input circuit 25.

That is, when the reader changes the orientation of Case 1 from the normal vertical direction (vertical position) to the horizontal direction (horizontal position),
The key signals of the scroll keys 6a to 6d in the respective directions are converted into the key signals of the scroll keys in the different directions and input to the scroll key input circuit 26.

Then, a CD as an electronic publication in which a fixed vertical text 9, a horizontal figure, a photograph 10, a horizontal table 11 and the like of each page of the magazine 8 are recorded is inserted from the insertion slot 3 to the FDD 19.
When the power switch 7 is turned on, the CPU
18 executes display processing of the text 9, figure, photograph 10 and table 11 of each page stored in the electronic publication according to the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the flow chart of FIG. 7 is started, the index N of the displayed page is initialized to 1 at P (program step) 1 (N = 1). At P2, the data of N pages of the electronic publication is read out through the FDD control unit 20 and temporarily stored in the RAM.
21 to the work memory 21a. Then, this data is converted into image data and written in the display buffer 21b. As a result, the contents of the display buffer 21b are displayed and output to the liquid crystal display 2 (P3).

Next, at P4, the detection state of the mercury sensor 21 is checked from the sensor input circuit 24. If the case 1 is horizontal, the work memory 21b has a horizontally long drawing, a photograph 10,
It is determined that the horizontally long table 11 is stored, and the horizontally long drawing, the photograph 10 and the horizontally long table 11 are rotated by 90 ° and written as image data in the display buffer 21b (P5).
As a result, the display image on the liquid crystal display 2 changes its direction by 90 °.

When the detection state of the mercury sensor 21 indicates the normal vertical direction, the direction of the displayed contents is not changed. Next, when the next page key 5a is pressed (P6), 1 is added to the page index N at P7 (N = N + 1) and the process returns to P2 to read the data of N page after the addition. At P8,
When the previous page key 5b is pressed, the page index N is decremented by 1 at P9 (N = N-1), the process returns to P2, and the N page data after the subtraction is read.

Further, in P10, the read page N is pressed by the numeral key 4.
When p is specified, the page index N is set to the specified page Np in P11 (N = Np), and the process returns to P2.
The designated N pages of data are read.

Further, when any of the scroll keys 6a to 6d is pressed at P12, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 is displayed in the direction indicated by the key signal input through the scroll key input circuit 25. A scroll process for scrolling is executed (P13).

In the portable electronic reading device having such a configuration, the reader normally holds the case 1 in the vertical direction. Then, when each page of the magazine 8 shown in FIG. 9A is the standard vertically long text 9, it is normally displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 having a rectangular shape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, in the case where the page of the magazine 8 has a horizontally long figure, the photograph 10 and the horizontally long table 11 which exceeds the width of one page, FIG. ),
The liquid crystal display 2 extends vertically. In this case, if the reader changes the orientation of the case 1 to the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 3B, the horizontal orientation of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 2, the display orientation of the photograph 10 and the horizontal orientation of the table 11 will be described. Is automatically 90
The photograph 10 and the entire table 11 are changed and displayed on the liquid crystal display 2.

Therefore, in the process of reading the text 9 of each page of the magazine 8 while the reader holds the case 1 in the normal vertical direction, a horizontally long figure and photograph 1 which are out of the display area can be seen.
When 0 or a horizontally long table 11 is displayed, it is only necessary to hold the case 1 sideways. That is, a regular actual magazine 8
You can continue to read electronic publications (electronic magazines) as if you were reading.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the case 1 is held sideways, the switch circuit 26 causes the key signals of the scroll keys 6a to 6d to change to the key signals of the other scroll keys. And is input to the scroll input circuit 25.

That is, when the case 1 is normally held in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the arrow directions written on the scroll keys 6a to 6d in the respective directions and the actual arrow directions. This is the same as the scroll direction of the display content of the liquid crystal display 2 when the direction scroll keys 6a to 6d are pressed.

Further, when the case 1 is laterally held, the mercury sensor 12 detects the lateral possession, so that the directions of the scroll keys 6a to 6d can be changed as described above. As a result, As shown in FIG. 4B, the arrow directions of the scroll keys 6a to 6d in each direction,
The scroll directions of the display contents of the liquid crystal display 2 when the scroll keys 6a to 6d in the respective arrow directions are actually pressed are the same.

Therefore, regardless of the carrying direction of the case 1, the reader may press the scroll keys 6a to 6d having the arrow indicating the direction in which the display content is to be moved. Therefore, the operability of the portable electronic reading device can be further improved.

As described above, since the operability and portability of the portable electronic reading device can be greatly improved, the reader can use the portable electronic reading device outdoors in trains, buses, airplanes, parks, etc. By popularizing portable electronic reading devices, general magazine publishers can reduce the number of magazines issued by issuing electronic magazines instead of issuing actual magazines, and reduce waste of paper resources. it can.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Although the FD is adopted as the electronic publication in the apparatus of the embodiment, it may be a CD-ROM.
Further, the data stored in the electronic publication is not limited to the magazine, and may be the various publications described above.

Further, in the apparatus of the embodiment, the mercury sensor 12 is used as the direction sensor, but a gravity direction sensor using a weight for detecting the attitude direction of the case 1 with respect to the gravity direction (vertical direction) may be used.

[0049]

As described above, in the portable electronic reading device of the present invention, the direction sensor for detecting the change of the carrying direction of the case carried by the reader is provided, and the liquid crystal display is automatically displayed when the carrying direction is changed. The display direction of the display content of is changed. Therefore, even if the electronic publication contains not only standard vertical text but also horizontal figures, photographs, and horizontal tables that exceed the horizontal width of one page, the reader should be aware of the orientation of the magazine when viewing horizontal articles. By changing the orientation of the case just by changing the orientation, the orientation of the display automatically changes, and horizontally long articles are efficiently displayed on the liquid crystal display with a rectangular shape, making it easy to see and greatly improving operability. it can.

Further, when the possession direction is changed, the reading of the scroll key in each direction is automatically performed. Therefore, regardless of the carrying direction of the case, the reader may press the scroll key with the arrow indicating the direction in which the display content is to be moved. As a result, the operability of the portable electronic reading device can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable electronic reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mercury sensor incorporated in the apparatus of the embodiment and its operating principle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in direction of display contents on the liquid crystal display of the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation of replacing each scroll key when the carrying direction of the case is changed in the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing stored contents of an electronic publication used in the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a conventional portable electronic reading device.

FIG. 9 An external view of a general magazine

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a problem of a conventional portable electronic reading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Case, 2 ... Liquid crystal display, 3 ... Insertion slot, 4 ... Numeric key, 5a ... Next page key, 5b ... Previous page key, 6a-6d ... Scroll key, 7 ... Power switch, 8 ... Magazine, 9 … Text, 10… Diagram, photo, 11… Table, 12… Mercury sensor,
13 ... Long container, 14a, 14b ... Electrode, 18 ... CP
U, 19 ... FDD, 21b ... Display buffer, 25 ... Scroll key input circuit, 26 ... Switch circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operation provided on the front surface of the case for displaying characters or image information for each page having a rectangular shape stored in an electronic publication inserted through an insertion opening formed on the outer surface of the case. In a portable electronic reading device that sequentially reads data in response to an operation in a section and outputs a two-dimensional display to a rectangular liquid crystal display provided on the front surface of the case, a portable electronic reading device provided in the case, A direction sensor for detecting whether or not the longitudinal direction is oriented in the horizontal direction; a rotating means for rotating the read character or image information by 90 ° when the direction sensor detects the horizontal direction; A portable electronic reading device provided with a rotation display means for displaying and outputting rotated characters or image information on the liquid crystal display. 2. A front-back scroll key and a left-right scroll key provided on the front surface of the case, and a character displayed on the liquid crystal display according to a key operation of the front-back scroll key and the left-right scroll key. Alternatively, a scroll means for scrolling the image information in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and, when the direction sensor detects a horizontal direction, the liquid crystal display according to the key operation of the front-rear direction scroll key and the left-right direction scroll key. The portable electronic reading device according to claim 1, further comprising scroll direction changing means for scrolling the image information displayed on the screen in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. 3. The direction sensor includes a long container arranged in the long or short direction of the liquid crystal display, and a pair of electrodes attached to both ends of the long container in the long direction. The portable electronic reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portable electronic reading device is housed in the long container and has a volume of about half the volume of the long container.