JPH096473A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain optimum power saving by controlling power supply to each section of the device based on the information from a tilt detection means detecting a tilt angle of a display section and an input section. CONSTITUTION: A form information terminal equipment 100 is provided with a display section 101 and a key section 102, a tilt detector 103 detecting a tilt angle and a power control section 104 controlling power supply to each section of the device based on information therefrom. Then a tilt of the display section 101 is delivered through an L111 and a tilt of the key section 102 is delivered through an L112 to the tilt detector 103, which detects a tilt angle and fed to the power control section 104 via an L115. The power control section 104 controls power supply to each section based on this. Thus, when the input section is at an angle inadequate for usual input, the power supply to the input section is interrupted to prevent improper input and power consumption. For example, mis-input caused when a touch panel is touched unexpectedly is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable information terminal, POS.
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic device, when a power switch is turned on and the electronic device is not actually used effectively, the next input is made after a certain time has passed since the last key input operation. When is not performed, a method of shifting to a power saving mode (for example, turning off the display screen) is used.

However, even if the device is actually used, if the time setting is short, the power saving mode is entered while the user is resting for a while, and the display screen disappears. . In addition, if the set time is long, the power saving mode cannot be achieved, and extra power is consumed.

In some electronic devices equipped with a lid, the power switch is turned off when the lid is closed.

[0005]

In small electronic devices such as electronic notebooks and handy terminals, and portable information terminal devices, most of them are generally driven by batteries or batteries from the viewpoint of carrying them around. Therefore, it is very important to suppress the power consumption because it affects the driving time.

However, the method of setting the power saving mode when there is no input for a certain time has a problem that it is difficult to set the time. Furthermore, in a device equipped with a lid, in a system in which electric power is controlled in conjunction with opening and closing of the lid, the portability is impaired because the size of the device itself increases and the weight increases. Further, such a small electronic device often does not have a lid or the like, which is not suitable in such a case.

Therefore, in the present invention, in such an electronic device, in consideration of the fact that the device body is carried around and used, the electric power is controlled by the inclination angle of the device.
That is, when the device is at an inclination angle which is not considered to be normally used, it is possible to perform optimum power saving by controlling power to the display unit and the input unit.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[Means of Claim 1] In an electronic device including a display unit including a liquid crystal display and the like, and an input unit including a touch panel key, a keyboard, and the like, tilt detection means for detecting a tilt angle of the display unit and the input unit, A power control unit is provided for controlling the power supply to each unit of the device based on the information from the tilt detection unit.

[Means of Claim 2] When the tilt angle of the display unit detected by the tilt detecting unit is at a preset angle, the electric power control unit
Turn off the power supply to the display.

[Means for Claim 3] When the inclination angle of the input section detected by the inclination detection means is at a preset angle, the electric power control section
Cut off the power supply to the input section.

[Means for Claim 4] A screen reversing means for reversing the screen display by 180 degrees for display is provided, and during the screen reversing display, the angle for performing the power control is automatically changed.

[0012]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the tilt angle of the input section or the display section is detected by the tilt detecting means. For example, when the display unit is at an angle that cannot be confirmed by the user, it is determined that the display is not confirmed, and the power control unit controls the power of the display unit. Specifically, the power supply to the backlight of the liquid crystal display device is cut off. If the input section is at an angle that the user cannot input, it is determined that no input has been made, and the power control section cuts off the input from the input section.

When the display screen is inverted by 180 degrees by the screen inversion means, the tilt angle for power control is also shifted by 180 degrees. Further, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power control by not performing power control immediately after the screen inversion.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The morphological information terminal device 100 is provided with a display unit 101 and a key unit 102, and a tilt detector 103 that detects the tilt angle of these and a power control unit that controls the power supply to each unit of the device based on information from the tilt detector 103. 104 is provided.

The tilt detector 103 comprises a gyro sensor or the like. The power control unit 104 uses a gate array or a one-chip microcomputer programmed to operate similarly.

Electric power from the power source 107 is first supplied to the electric power control unit 104 through L119, and from there, L116,
It is supplied to each part through L120, L121, L122, and L125. The display unit 101 and the key unit 102 are supplied through the display control unit 105 and the key input control unit 106, respectively.

For the input from the key unit 102, the key input data is sent through the key input control unit 106 through L117, converted into a key code here, and sent to the CPU 108 through L126.
Send key input data to.

The CPU 108 sends the display data to the display control unit 105 through L127, develops the display image here, and then sends the display data to the display unit 101 through L113.

Data is exchanged between the CPU 108 and the memory 109 through L130 and L131.
Data is exchanged between the CPU 108 and the peripheral device 110 through L128 and L129. Although the storage device is only the memory 109 in this embodiment, it may be external. Peripheral devices include printers, bar code readers, magnetic card readers, OCRs, communication units, and the like.

The flow of power control by tilting is as follows.
The inclination of 1 is transmitted to the inclination detector 103 through L111 and the inclination of the key portion 102 is transmitted through L112, the inclination detector 103 detects the inclination angle, and the power control unit 104 is transmitted through L115.
Sent to Based on this, the power supply from the power control unit 104 to each unit is controlled.

Basically, the content of control of power supply is to stop the power supply. However, in the part where it is inconvenient to stop the power supply, before switching to the power saving mode or stopping the power supply. If a process is required, the series of processes is included.

For example, the CPU 108 is caused to perform a pre-process for recording in the memory 109 the state immediately before the control is started.
The power control unit 104 sends the command to the CPU 108 through L123, and when the CPU 108 finishes writing in the memory 109, the power control unit 104 is notified through L124.
It is set not to control the power supply to the PU 108.

A specific example is shown below. FIG. 2 is an external view of the portable information terminal device. On the front surface of the portable information terminal device 200, there is a liquid crystal display 201 as a display unit and a touch panel key 202 as a key unit. These are the same surface and cannot move independently of the device body. A power switch 203 and a bar code reader connector 204 are provided on the lower surface. Further, on the side surface, there is an SIO connector 205 for connecting a wireless communication unit or a cable or a host or another portable information terminal.

The structure of this portable information terminal device is shown in FIG. Although the configuration is basically the same as that of FIG. 1, a key display controller 304 (hereinafter referred to as KDC) is provided as a processing device dedicated to key input and screen display, in addition to the central processing device CPU 308. L
Data is exchanged with the CPU 308 via 322 and L323 so that key input and screen display can be processed at high speed.

The tilt detector 303 is a liquid crystal display 3
Since 01 and the touch panel key 302 are on the same surface and do not move independently, the tilt angle of the main body is detected. The power control unit 305 controls the power source 306 to L32.
L318, L320, L
CPU 308 and KD via 324 and L327, respectively
C304, inclination detector 303, barcode reader 309
Power is supplied to the respective components, and the power supply to each unit is controlled by the information from the inclination detector 303.

Electric power to the liquid crystal display 301, the touch panel key 302, and the backlight 310 is L313, L
It is supplied from the KDC 304 via 315 and L317. Display data is sent from the KDC 304 to the liquid crystal display 301 via L314, and key input data is sent from the touch panel key 302 to the KDC 304 via L316.

The CPU 308 and the memory 307 are L
The CPU 308 and the barcode reader 309 exchange data with each other via L330 and L331 via 328 and L329. Instructions and data are exchanged between the CPU 308 and the power control unit 305 via L325 and L326.
The bar code reader 309 is provided with a switch for generating a trigger for executing reading, and the bar code is scanned by operating this switch.

As an example, this portable information terminal device 30
Connect the barcode reader 309 as a peripheral device to 0,
The applications for inventory management and product replenishment ordering shall be operated.

Here, since the liquid crystal display 301 and the touch panel key 302 are integrated, the range of the tilt angle at which the display is invisible and the range of the tilt angle unsuitable for key input can be set to the same, as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the display surface is facing upward (which will be defined as "0 degree" hereafter) and when the tilt angle is from the state where the device is upright (90 degrees), the display is viewed or key input is performed, and otherwise Since it can be determined that the display is not being viewed in the case of the inclination angle of, the inclination angle other than 0 to 90 degrees is set as a range of angles invisible on the display and unsuitable for key input.

The basic operational steps of this system are shown in the flow chart of FIG. In this system, the control contents of power supply are different when waiting to read a barcode and at other times. These are designated as control mode 1 and control mode 2, respectively.

First, when the power switch is turned on in step 701, application startup processing is performed in step 702. When the application starts up, in step 703, one of a mode for displaying data of inventory status to the host, a mode for checking inventory, or a mode for performing communication with the host is selected.

Here, a mode for checking the inventory is selected,
At the same time, mode setting is performed to determine whether or not to control power supply by tilting. In the following, we will explain the case of controlling,
If the control mode is set, step 70 in FIG.
4, 707, 708, 710, 713, 716-726
There is no flow chart.

When it is set to control the power supply, C
The PU 308 sends to the power control unit 305 an instruction to set the control content of power supply to the control mode 1. After that, it waits for the barcode to be read. In the meantime, the tilt angle is checked in step 704, and if it is within the range of 0 to 90 degrees, in step 705, the input of the trigger switch of the barcode 309 is waited for.

When the trigger switch is input, the bar code is scanned and read in step 706. If there is no input, the process proceeds to step 714. When the inclination angle is checked in step 704 and it is outside the range of 0 to 90 degrees, the control mode 1 is switched to step 716. As the execution content, the power supply to the KDC 304 is stopped, the display is erased, and the input of the touch panel key 302 is not accepted. On the other hand, the power supply to the CPU 308 and the bar code reader 309 is continued, and the input of the trigger switch of the bar code reader 309 can be recognized.

Then, in step 717, the tilt angle is checked, and if the tilt angle is within the range of 0 to 90 degrees, the control mode 1 is released in step 718, the process proceeds to step 705, and the trigger switch of the bar code reader 309. Wait for input. If the tilt angle is out of the range of 0 to 90 degrees in step 717, it is checked in step 719 whether the trigger switch of the barcode reader is input, and if it is, step 7
The control mode 1 is released at 20 and the bar code is scanned and read at step 706. If the trigger switch is not input in step 719, the process returns to step 717 to check the tilt angle.

After the barcode is read in step 706, the CPU 308 controls the power control unit 3 in step 707.
A command for setting the control content of the power supply to the control mode 2 is transmitted to 05 and the setting of the control content is changed. Then, in step 708, the inclination angle is checked, and if it is within the range of 0 to 90 degrees, the barcode number and the product name read in step 709 are displayed. If the tilt angle is out of the range of 0 to 90 degrees in step 708, control mode 2 is set in step 721.
To switch to. Specifically, the current operating status is written in the memory 307, and then KDC 304, CP
Power supply to U308 and barcode reader 309 is stopped.

Power is constantly supplied to the power supply control unit 305 and the tilt detector 303 so that the power supply control unit 305 and the tilt detector 303 are in an operable state. Then, in step 722, the inclination angle is checked, and if it is within the range of 0 to 90 degrees, the control mode 2 is released in step 723, information is read from the memory 307, and the control mode 2 is read.
Restart from the situation immediately before executing. Here, the process restarts from displaying the barcode number and the product name in step 709.

If the tilt angle is out of the range of 0 to 90 degrees in step 723, the tilt angle is checked until it falls within the range. After the bar code number is displayed in step 709, the inclination angle is checked again in step 710, and if it is within the range of 0 to 90 degrees, the next step 711 waits for the input of the quantity. If the tilt angle is outside the range of 0 to 90 degrees, step 724.
Switch to control mode 2 with step 725
Wait until the tilt angle falls within the range of 0 to 90 degrees. When the tilt angle is within the range of 0 to 90 degrees in step 725, the control mode 2 is released in step 726, and the input of the quantity is waited in step 711. The operation of step 724 is the same as that of step 721, and the operation content of step 726 is the same as that of step 723.

When the quantity is input in step 711, the data is written in the memory 307 and the data is updated. If there is no input, the quantity returns to 710 and the tilt angle is checked again.

When the quantity is input in step 711, the quantity input in step 711 is added to the quantity input in step 712.
The supplementary order processing is performed by comparing with the reference value data recorded in the memory 307. After that, in step 713, the command for changing the control content of the power supply to the control mode 1 is CP
It is sent from the U 308 to the power control unit 305, and the setting of the control content is changed. Then, in step 714, it is checked whether the power switch is off, and if it is off, step 715
Go to and terminate the application. If it is not off, the process returns to step 704 and the same operation is continued until it is turned off.

Next, in the apparatus having the same external view as in FIG.
In the portable information terminal device 600 having the configuration as shown in FIG. 6, the product summary and price data are searched and displayed,
Consider a case where an application that allows inquiries such as ordering products and confirming inventory is operated by the wireless communication unit 609.

Although the configuration is almost the same as that of FIG. 3 described above, the peripheral device is changed from the bar code reader to the wireless unit 609, and a comparator 611 is provided so that the tilt angle detection range can be set by an application. There is. This comparator 611 is provided from the inclination detector 603 to L614.
The inclination angle information is received via the CPU 608, the inclination angle setting value is received from the CPU 608 via the L631, and these values are compared to determine whether the inclination angle is within the setting range. To the power control unit 605. The power control unit 605 controls power supply based on this information.

The comparator 611 is provided with a buffer for storing the setting value information received from the CPU 608, and the same setting value is compared until the setting value information is sent from the CPU 608. By doing so, the CPU 608 operates correctly even when the power supply to the CPU 608 is stopped.

In this system, it is possible to rotate the display by 180 degrees so that the data displayed can be easily seen by the other party who faces each other at the time of business negotiations. When the rotation display is performed, the display is performed opposite to the original upper and lower sides of the device, so that the tilt angle at which the user and the other party are looking at the display is the same as in FIG. 4 in the normal display (0 to 90 degrees). In Although,
In the case of rotation display, it is possible to reverse the situation, from a state in which the display surface faces upward (0 degrees) to a state in which the device is upside down (-90 degrees).

In this system, the detection range of each inclination can be set by the application, and the setting is changed according to the normal display and the rotation display. Therefore, since the power supply may be controlled immediately after the display is rotated and the display may disappear, there is a margin in the detection range of the tilt angle and the key input to execute the rotation display Control should not be performed while is being performed.

As a specific set value, when the inclining angle at which the display is not visible and the inclining angle range inconvenient for the key input are both set to be the same, and the display is rotated by 180 degrees as shown in FIG. Is a range of tilt angles other than -90 to 20 degrees, and is -20 to 90, which is the opposite when displayed normally.
The range of inclination angle is other than degrees.

The operational steps of this system are shown in the flowchart of FIG. It is basically the same as the flowchart in FIG. When the power switch is turned on in step 801, the system is started up in step 802. After the start-up is completed, mode setting is performed in step 803 as to whether to control the power supply by the inclination.

When the control is set to be performed, the inclination angle is checked in step 804, and if it is within the range of −20 to 90 degrees, the process proceeds to the next step 805, but if it is out of the range, it is determined in step 812. , Control the power supply. The control of power supply is the same as in the case of FIG.
Even during the execution of the control, the electric power control unit 605 causes the inclination detector 6
03 and the comparator 611 are supplied with electric power to be in an operable state, and the tilt angle is checked in step 813 to be -2.
When it is in the range of 0 to 90 degrees, the control of the power supply is canceled in step 814 and the process proceeds to step 805. If it is out of the range, the tilt angle is checked until it is in the range.

In step 805, the search content of the data to be displayed is keyed in, but if there is no input, step 8
Move to 09. Here, as an example, the price of a product and the number of stocks are inquired, and such an input is made. Then, in step 806, the data is retrieved, but when inquiring about the inventory confirmation by wireless with respect to the host, the mode in which the power supply is not controlled until the response is returned after the call is made or the timeout occurs Leave. When the response is received, the data is written in the memory 807, and even if the power supply is controlled thereafter, the data such as the presence or absence of the stock can be displayed after the cancellation.

When the price and inventory data are retrieved in step 806, the inclination angle is examined in step 807.
If it is within the range of 20 to 90 degrees, proceed to step 808,
The retrieved data is displayed, but if it is outside the range of -20 to 90 degrees, control of power supply is executed in step 815. This step 815 has the same function as step 812.

In step 816, the tilt angle is -20 to 90.
The inclination angle is monitored until it is within the range of degrees, and when it is within the range, the control of the power supply is released in step 817, and the process proceeds to step 808 to display the searched price and inventory quantity data. When the data is displayed, it is next checked in step 809 whether there is an input of a key for executing the rotation display. If there is an input, the rotation display is executed and the process proceeds to step 818. If not, the process proceeds to step 810.

In step 809, the power supply control is not performed for about 3 seconds after the key for executing the rotation display is input, and unnecessary power supply is not performed after the operations of the following steps 818 and 819. Make sure that control is not performed suddenly.

In step 818, in order to change the setting of the range of the tilt angle which is invisible on the display and inconvenient for key input, the CPU 608 sets the tilt angle to the comparator 611 to a range other than -90 to 20 degrees. A change command is sent, and subsequently, in step 819, the tilt angle is -90 to 20.
If it is within the range, the process proceeds to step 821. If it is out of the range, the process proceeds to step 820. In step 820, control of power supply is executed, and the content is the same as in step 812.

In step 822, the inclination angle is -90 to 20.
Wait until it is within the range of degrees, and if it is within the range, step 8
At 23, the control of the power supply is canceled and the process proceeds to step 821. In step 821, it is checked whether or not there is a key input for canceling the rotation display, and if there is no key input, the process returns to step 819, but if there is, the rotation display is canceled and the tilt angle is set within the range other than the original -20 to 90 degrees. Return to step 810. In step 810, it is checked whether the power switch is off. If it is off, the application is terminated in step 811, and if it is on, the process returns to step 804.

[0055]

According to the present invention, in a portable electronic device, when the input section is at an angle inappropriate for normal input,
By cutting off the power supply to the input unit, it is possible to prevent unnecessary input and suppress power consumption.
For example, it is possible to prevent erroneous input when the touch panel or the like is touched carelessly.

Further, when the display unit is at an angle where the user cannot see the screen, the power supply to the display unit is cut off, so that unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

Further, during reverse display, the setting of the tilt angle is automatically changed in response to the reverse display, so that unnecessary power control is not performed during reverse display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a portable information terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a range of a tilt angle when the portable information terminal device is used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a range of an inclination angle when rotation display is performed in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operational steps of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operational steps of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Personal Digital Assistant Main Body 101 Display Unit 102 Key Unit 103 Tilt Detector 104 Power Control Unit 105 Display Control Unit 106 Key Input Control Unit 107 Power Supply 108 CPU 109 Memory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device comprising: a display unit made up of a liquid crystal display or the like; and an input unit made up of a touch panel key, a keyboard, etc .; and inclination detecting means for detecting an inclination angle of the display unit and the input unit, An electronic device comprising: a power control unit that controls power supply to each unit of the device based on information from the inclination detection unit. 2. A power supply to the display unit is cut off by the power control unit when the tilt angle of the display unit detected by the tilt detection unit is at a preset angle. The electronic device according to claim 1. 3. The power control unit shuts off the power supply to the input unit when the tilt angle of the input unit detected by the tilt detecting unit is at a preset angle. The electronic device according to claim 1. 4. A screen reversing device for reversing the screen display by 180 degrees and displaying the screen display, and during the screen reversing display, the angle at which the power control is performed by the power control unit is automatically changed. Item 2. The electronic device according to item 2.