MXPA01009413A - Portable electronic device, an operation panel thereof, and operation method of the portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to, by arbitrary selection of an operation panel, satisfy taste of a user and improve operability. A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a main unit (101) which has operation switches, and an operation panel (150) which has operation buttons that press the operation switches and which is rotatably mounted on the main unit (101). The operation panel (150) can be freely attache d to and detached from the main unit and can be replaced with another operation panel. The ability to replace the operation panel makes it possible to have multiple types of operation panels available and to select operation panels whose operation buttons are different and mount them on the main unit (10).

Description

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS. YOUR OPERATING BOARD AND OPERATING METHOD OF THE PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable electronic device for use as an auxiliary machine of a video game apparatus or other entertainment system or as a small portable game machine etc., an operation board of said apparatus and a method of operation for said apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional video game apparatus is made with a detachable memory card device. With a video game apparatus of this type, the data stored in the video game apparatus is stored in the memory card device, and the data can be read from the video card device and transferred to the video game apparatus. as necessary.

Figure 1A is a block diagram showing the main part of a memory card device that can be connected and disconnected from a conventional video game apparatus. The memory card 10 has a control means 11 for controlling its operation, a connector 12 for connecting to a terminal provided in a slot of the video game apparatus, and a non-volatile memory 16 for storing data. The connector 12 and non-volatile memory 16 are connected to control means 11. The control means 11 are constructed using, for example, a microprocessor (labeled as such in the diagram). A non-volatile memory 16, an EEPROM or other flash memory may be used. Figure 1 B shows the control items of the control means 11 of the memory card device 10. As shown in Figure 1 B, a conventional memory card device 10 has had only one main unit connection interface 11a to connect to the main unit of the video game apparatus and a memory interface 11b to enter and output data to and from a non-volatile memory. Memory card devices of the same type are constructed to be connected and disconnected from information devices in addition to video game apparatus.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional video game apparatus to and from which a memory card device can be coupled and decoupled. In a conventional video game apparatus 1, a main unit 2 is housed in an approximately square-shaped housing and has a disk loading unit 3 in the middle. Loaded in the disk loading unit 3 is an optical disk as a recording medium in which application programs for video games are recorded. Also provided on the main unit 2 is a reset switch 4 for arbitrarily restarting the game, a power switch 5, a disk operation switch 6 to be used to charge and discharge an optical disk to and from the load unit of disk 3, and, for example, two slots 7A and 7B. The memory card device 10 is inserted into at least one of the slots 7A and 7B, and the data, for example, the results of the games executed in the video game apparatus 1, are written into the non-volatile memory 16. In addition, multiple controls that are not shown in slots 7A and 7B can be connected, allowing multiple users to simultaneously play a competition game. Recently, portable electronic devices have been given importance to be used as auxiliary machines for video game apparatus and other information devices. As well as the memory card device 10 described above, this new portable electronic device is used by being inserted in the slot 7A or 7B of a video game apparatus 1 (main machine), and the necessary data are loaded thereto. After the data is loaded, it can be disconnected from the video game apparatus and used as a small portable gaming machine, etc. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,646,649 (Iwata et al.) Shows a portable information terminal in which an open and close lid is attached to a unit body to cover a pressure sensitive input device. However, this type of portable information terminal is not used as an auxiliary machine for a video game apparatus and can not be connected to the video game apparatus when the operation board is open. Said new portable electronic device has operating switches in the main unit of the device and an operation board that covers these operating switches. The operating buttons for operating the pressure switches are mounted on the operation board, and the user enjoys the games by pressing these operation buttons. In a portable electronic device having this structure, it is convenient from the point of view of operability that the operation button mode corresponds to the content of its operations.

However, if for example the operating content of the operation switches varies depending on the program that is being downloaded from the main machine, it is difficult, with a specific operation board of a single type, to cause the mode of the buttons to operation corresponds to the content of each operation. If the operation boards that have operation buttons of different sizes and heights, etc., or operation boards that have a different color or feel, etc. they can be selected arbitrarily according to the user's taste, the degree of user satisfaction will increase, and a greater demand can be stimulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention, which was foreseen taking into consideration these circumstances, is to satisfy the tastes of the user and improve operability by allowing the operation board to be selected arbitrarily. In order to achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a portable electronic apparatus of the present invention includes a main unit having operating switches, and an operation board that is rotatably mounted on the main unit and has push buttons. operation by means of which the operation switches are pressed. The operation panel can be disconnected freely from the main unit and replaced with another separate operation panel. Since the operation boards can be replaced, it is possible to have multiple types of operation boards, and operation boards of different form of operation buttons and other different characteristics can be selected, and mounted on the main unit. This invention can also be made by an operation board. That is, the operation board of this invention, which is an operation board that is an operation board rotatably mounted on the main unit in a portable electronic device, has operating buttons with which the operation switches can be pressed. , and is constructed to be disconnected from the main unit of the device and is replaceable. Here, operability can be improved if the operation buttons are molded in different ways to suit their mode of use. Also, the method for operating the portable electronic device in accordance with the present invention is a method for operating a portable electronic device having a main unit with operating switches and an operation board that is mounted in a rotatable and detachable manner of the unit. main and has operation buttons through which the operation switches are pressed, which comprises the steps of arbitrarily selecting multiple types of operation boards whose operation buttons are of different shapes, mounting them in the main unit, and pressing the switches of operation of the main unit by means of the operation buttons of a selected operation panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures 1A and 1B show an example of a conventional memory card device; Figure 2 shows a conventional video game apparatus using a memory card device; Figure 3 is a plan view of a video game apparatus using a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of this invention as an auxiliary machine; Figure 4 is a back view of the video game apparatus, showing the slots of the video game apparatus; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the video game apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the video game apparatus; Figure 6B is a diagram showing the control articles of the control means of the video game apparatus; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an operation board of the electronic apparatus of the present invention, with the lid open; Figure 9 is a plan view of the main unit, with the operation board removed; Figure 10 is a view seen from the direction of arrows A-A of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a plan view of the operation board in a closed state; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the operation board; Figure 13 is a plan view of the operation buttons provided in the operation board of the present invention, showing its configuration; Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the state in which the operating board of the portable electronic device is removed; Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the procedure for removing the operating panel of the portable electronic device; Figure 16 is an enlarged partial side view of a hinge structure for detachably mounting the operation board in the main unit; Figure 17 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional side view showing the hinge structure; Figures 18A to 18C are diagrams for explaining a cam device of the hinge structure; Figure 19 is a diagram to explain the assembly operation of an operation board to which the hinge structure is applied, Figure 20 is a diagram for explaining a closed state of an operation board to which the hinge structure is applied; Figure 21 is a diagram for explaining the open and closed state of an operation board to which the hinge structure is applied; Fig. 22 is a plan view showing another embodiment of an operation board having operation buttons of the key type; and Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view of the operation board of Figure 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES An embodiment according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The portable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention can be used as an auxiliary machine of an entertainment system, such as a video game apparatus, which serves as the main machine. The portable electronic device can be used as a memory card device of the main machine, and can also be used as a compact and portable gaming machine. The main machine is not limited to a video game machine, and the portable electronic device which is the auxiliary machine need not have a memory card function. In the following description, a video game apparatus will be described first as the main machine. Figure 3 is a plan view of a video game apparatus as the main machine. A video game apparatus 1 is, for example, one for reading a game program recorded on an optical disc, etc. and to execute it according to the instructions of the user (player). The execution of a program involves controlling mainly the progress of the game, as well as its images and sounds, according to the content of the game. In a video game apparatus 1, a main unit 2 is housed in an approximately rectangular housing and has in its middle part a disk loading unit 3. An optical disk as a recording medium in which the recording programs are recorded. application of video games, is loaded in the disk loading unit 3. Also provided in the main unit 2 are a reset switch 4 to restart the game at will, a power switch 5, a disk operation switch 6 which is used when placing an optical disk or removing it from the disk loading unit 3, and for example, two slots 7A and 7B.

Two operating devices (controls) 20 can be connected to slots 7A and 7B, allowing two users to play competition games, etc. The aforementioned memory card device, or a portable electronic device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can also be inserted into these slots 7A and 7B. The control 20 has first and second operation units 21 and 22, a left hand button 23L and a right hand button 23R, a start button 24, a selection button 25. It also has operation units 31 and 32 that are capable of analogous operations, a mode selector switch 33 that selects the operating mode of these operating units 31 and 32, and a display unit 34 to display the selected operating mode. Figure 4 shows the slots 7A and 7B provided in front of the main unit 2 of the video game apparatus 1. The slots 7A and 7B shown in Figure 4 are each made in two levels; provided at the upper level are the card insertion parts 8A and 8B for charging the aforementioned memory card device 10 or portable electronic device 100 which is described below. The control connection units (plugs) 9A and 9B to which the connection terminal part (connector) 26 of the control 20 is connected are provided at the lower level. Figure 5 shows the state in which the portable electronic device 100 of the embodiment described below is inserted into the memory card insertion part 8A of the slot 7A formed in the front of the video game apparatus 1. It will now be described a portable electronic device according to one embodiment of this invention. The portable electronic apparatus 100, which is the auxiliary machine, is inserted into the memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B provided in the slots 7A and 7B of the video game apparatus 1 (main machine), and can also be used as a single memory card for connected multiple controls 20. For example, if two users (players) are going to play, the controls 20 have functions that make it possible to store the results of the game, etc. in each of the two portable electronic devices 100. Figure 6A is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of a portable electronic device. Like the ordinary memory card 10 mentioned above, the portable electronic device 100 has a control means 41 for controlling its operation, a connector 42 for connecting it to the slot of an information device, etc., and a non-volatile memory. 46, which is an element to store data. The control means 41 is constituted using, for example, a microprocessor (labeled as such in the diagram) and includes a program memory unit 41 A which is a program storage means. Also, a semiconductor memory element whose recorded state is retained even if the power is turned off, such as a flash memory, is used as non-volatile memory 46. Since the portable electronic device 100 of this invention is constituted to use a battery 49 as described below, a static random access memory (SRAM) can be used as non-volatile memory 46, which allows data to be entered and discharged at high speed. In addition to the elements described above, the portable electronic device 100 includes an operating means 43 for operating the stored programs, a display unit 44, which is a screen displaying various information according to that program, such as a screen liquid crystal (LCD), a wireless communication unit 48, which sends and receives data with other memory cards, etc., by infrared rays, etc. and a battery 49, which supplies power to all the above components. Also, the portable electronic device 100 has a small integrated battery as a power supply means. In this way it can operate independently even when it is removed from the slots 7A and 7B of the video game apparatus of the main machine 1. Also, a rechargeable secondary battery such as the battery 49 can be used. When the portable electronic device 100 of the auxiliary machine is inserted into the slots 7A or 7B of the main machine video game apparatus 1, power is supplied from the main machine video game apparatus 1 to the portable electronic device 100. That is, the power source terminal 50 is connected to the connection terminal of the battery 49 by means of the diode 51 to prevent reverse current. And when inserted into a slot in the main machine, such as the above video game apparatus 1, the power source terminal 50 is connected to the power source terminal on the main machine side, and power is supplied from the main machine to the auxiliary machine. As well, if a secondary battery is used, the secondary battery is also charged. The portable electronic device 100 also has a clock 45 and a horn 47, which is a means for emitting sounds that produce sound according to that program. Each of the above elements is connected to the control means 41 and operates under the control of the control means 41. Figure 6B shows the control articles of the control means 41. With an ordinary memory card 10, the Control means have, as already described, only one connection inferred from the main unit to the information devices and one memory inferred from entering and exiting data to the memory. However, with a portable electronic device 100 in accordance with the embodiment of this invention, the control means has, in addition to these interfaces, a display interface, an operation input interface, an audio interface, a communication interface. wireless, a time control and a program download interface. In this way, the portable electronic device 100 can maintain compatibility with previous functions, since it has an interface for managing the functions added by this mode, independently of the previous functions, that an ordinary memory card device 10 has, such as an interphase of main unit connection (main machine) and non-volatile memory management. Also, the portable electronic device 100, which has the operating means 43 for operating the program to be executed and the display unit 44 consisting of a liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., can be applied as an apparatus of portable games. Since the portable electronic device 100 also has the function of storing in the program memory unit 41 A of the control means 41, a program and data downloaded from the main unit of the video game apparatus 1, the application programs they can be executed in the portable electronic apparatus 100. In addition, the stored application programs and different control programs can be easily modified. As already described, the portable electronic apparatus 100 of this invention can control operations independently of the video game apparatus 1. Therefore the data according to the application that are stored in the program memory unit 41 A, which is the program storage unit, can be prepared in the part of the portable electronic device 100, independently of the application program of the part of the video game apparatus 1. The link between the portable electronic device 100 can be achieved as an auxiliary machine and video game apparatus 1 as the main machine exchanging its data with the video game apparatus 1. Furthermore, by equipping the portable electronic device 100 with a watch 45, time data can be shared with the video game apparatus 1. It is say, not only can they synchronize their time with each other but also share data to control in real time the progress of a game that ca gives one is running independently. Next, the outer structure of the portable electronic device will be described. Figures 7 to 11 show the portable electronic apparatus 100 of the present invention in detail. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a state in which the operation board 150 is closed, Figure 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a state in which the operation board 1500 is open, the figure 9 is a plan view of a main unit 101 of the apparatus with operation panel 150 removed, figure 10 is a view seen from the direction of arrows AA of figure 9, and figure 11 is a plan view of the apparatus in a state in which the operation board 150 is closed. The structure of the portable electronic device 100 is such that the operation panel 150 can be freely connected and disconnected from the main unit 101. The display unit 102, which consists of a liquid crystal display element (LCD), etc., is provided in the main unit 101 in the area of approximately the upper half of its upper surface. The display unit 102 corresponds to the display means 44 shown in Figure 6A. A window unit 103 is provided at the tip end of the main unit 101, and wireless communication via the wireless communication unit 48 shown in FIG. 6A is made through the window unit 103. As shown in FIG. 8, a slot insert 104 is formed approximately in the lower half of the main unit the apparatus 101. The slot insert part 104 is inserted into the memory card insertion part 8A and 8B (see FIGS. to 5) in the slots 7A and 7B of the video game apparatus 1 (the main machine) i.e., the slot insert part 104 is made in a shape corresponding to the memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B , and on its final base face a connector part 105 is formed, which constitutes the connector 42 shown in Figure 6A. Built in the main unit 101 is a circuit board 106 (figuralO), which constitutes an electronic circuit centered in the control means 41 of Figure 6A, and a terminal part 107, which is formed at one end of the circuit board 106, is exposed within the connector part 105 (FIG. 10). Therefore, by inserting the slot insertion part 104 into the memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B in the slots 7A and 7B of the video game apparatus 1, the terminal part 107 can be connected to the connection interface of the video card. video game apparatus 1, making it possible to exchange data with the video game apparatus 1. At the same time, power is supplied via the terminal part 107 of the video game apparatus 1 to the portable electronic device 100. As shown in Figure 9, the pressure parts of operation switches, i.e., a first switch pressure part 110a, and a second switch pressure part 110b, are provided, exposed on the upper surface of the insertion part of the switch. slot 104 in the main unit of the apparatus 104. The operation switches (not shown) are constituted, for example, by diaphragm switches and are mounted on the circuit board 106 Constructed in the main unit 101. These operating switches operate by pressing the switch pressure parts 110a 110b. The control means 41 shown in Figure 6A causes a program to be executed by entering the state of the operation switches. Provided in this embodiment are the first switch pressure parts 110a, which are in a group of 4, and the second switch pressure part 110b, which is a single independent switch, as shown in Figure 9. The functions of these switch pressure parts 110a and 110b are given by the program stored in the control means 41. For example, the first switch pressure parts 110a can be assigned the function of moving the characters of the game program stored in control means 41 up, down, left and right. And the second pressure part of switch 110b can be assigned the function of starting or restarting the game program stored in control means 41. Operation board 150, which is rotatably mounted in main unit 101, is closed and it protects the upper surface and connector part 105 of the slot insert part 104 as shown in Figure 7, and opens, as shown in Figure 8, to reveal these portions of the slot insert part 104. When the slot insertion part 104 is inserted into the memory card insertion parts 8A and 8B in the slots 7A and 7B of the video game apparatus 1 (the main machine), the operation board 150 is in its state open as shown in figure 8. Four first operation buttons 151 and a second operation button 152 are provided in operation board 150, as shown for example in figure 11. In these operation buttons 151 and 152, as shown in FIG. 12, their upper parts 151a and 152a are exposed from the upper surface of the operation board 150, and their lower ends 151 and 152b protrude freely and retract from a base board 153 mounted in the back surface of the operation board 150. These operation buttons are joined by a guide 154 as shown in Figure 13. That is, the operation buttons 151 and 152 and the guide 154 are made integrally of a plastic material and they are assembled on the operation board 150 as a single part. Therefore the assembly operation is simple, and the efficiency of the assembly can be improved. The guide 154 has elasticity and provides a restoring force to the operating buttons 151 and 152. The upper parts 151a and 152a of the operation buttons are pressed by the user., and in doing so, the guide 154 sinks, and when the pressing force on the upper parts 151a and 152a is released, the operation buttons 151 and 152 are pushed up and restored to their original positions. When the upper parts 151a and 152a of the operating buttons are pressed, the lower ends 151 b and 152 b protrude from the base board 153. The lower ends 151 b and 152 b of the operation buttons are positioned to be opposite to the pressure portions of first and second switches 110a and 110b, respectively, which are formed in the slot insert part 104 of the main unit 101. Therefore the lower ends 151 b and 152b of the first or second operating buttons protruding from the base board 153 press the corresponding first or second switch pressure parts 110a and 110b. In this way, the operation switches work. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the operation board 150 can be disconnected from the main unit of the apparatus 101. That is, a disengageable hinge structure is formed between the operation board 150 and the main unit of the apparatus 101 as shown in Figs. shown in Figures 16 a The hinge structure will be described below. As shown in Figures 14 and 15, a pair of arms 160, 160 are formed on both sides of the operation board base 150, and support shafts 161, 161 protrude from these arms 160, 160 inwards, one towards the other. By adjusting support axes 161, 161 to the pair of support parts 120, 120 formed in the main unit 101, the operation board 150 is rotatably supported. The support part 120 is constituted within a crack 121 formed in a unit Main 101 and has a structure with which the first and second support parts cooperatively support axes 161 as will be described below. The first support member is made in part of the main unit 101. That is, an arcuate curved surface 122 (FIG. 16) is formed on the interior surface of the top of the crack 121, and this curved surface 122 it constitutes the first part of support. The second support part is formed by a folded flat spring 123. The flat spring 123 has a fixed part 123a, which is anchored to the main unit 101, a falling part 123b, which descends from the fixed part 123a, an inclined part 123c , which extends diagonally upwards, from the lower end of the descending part 123b, and a free end 123d that slopes obliquely downwardly from the upper end of the inclined part 123c. The inclined portion 123c, together with the curved surface 122 which is the first support part, supports the support shaft 161. The free end 123d of the flat spring is positioned near the opening of the crack 121 formed in the main unit 101. The hole between the inner surface of the top of the crack 121 and flat spring 123 is narrower near the opening and gradually widens towards the inclined part 123c of flat spring. Formed on the circumferential surface of the support shaft 161 is a cam 161a (FIG. 17), which is partially convex. The cam 161 a is formed on the circumferential surface of the support shaft 161 in the position in which during rotation of the operation board 150, the flat spring 123 elastically runs on it. That is, the cam 161a is in the position shown in Figure 18A when the operation board 150 is open, and is in the position shown in Figure 18B when the operation board 150 is closed. During rotation of the operation board 150, as shown in FIG. 18C, it comes into contact with the flat spring 123 and moves elastically and runs on the flat spring 123. Thus forming the cam 161a on the support shaft 161, it is obtains a pushing force when the operation board 150 is open and a retraction force when the operation board 150 is closed. That saying, you get a feeling of a slight pull. Also, the operation board 150 rotates on a scale of about 90 and forms a closed state or an open state. In the open state, the arm 160 interferes with the main unit 101 and prevents another rotation. As shown in Figure 19, the operation board 150 can be switched on or off by adjusting it on or away from the support part 120 in the radial direction of the support shaft 161, making use of the elastic deformation of the flat spring 123. As shown in FIG. shown in Figures 20 and 21, formed on the opposite side of the support shaft 121 of the operation board 150, is a cover 170 for covering the connector part 105. Provided at the end of the cover 170, there is an engaging protrusion 171 which meshes with the engaging portion 105a which forms at the bottom of the end face of the main unit 101 in the closed state. The lid 170 is concave on its inner surface, that is, on the part that is opposite to the main unit 101. On the other hand, the end face on which the connecting part 105 is formed on the main unit 101 is convex. When the operation board 150 is closed or open, the engagement protrusion 171 slides on the engaging portion 105a that forms at the bottom of the end face of the main unit 101. At this time, the force operates on the board of operation 150 in the direction for pulling the support shaft 161 of the support part 120. This force deforms the flat spring 123 to open it. This provides a clicking sensation when the operation board 150 is closed, and when the operation board 150 is completely closed, the engagement protrusion 171 is pushed against the main unit 101 by the spring force of the flat spring 123, preventing any ease or patter. With this hinge structure, if force is applied in the direction to pull the support shaft 161 from the support part 120 to the operation board 150, the flat spring 123 opens, and the support shaft 161 can be removed from the part of support 120 without forcing it. Conversely, if the support shaft 161 formed in the operation board 150 is pressed towards the support part 120, the flat spring 123 opens, the support shaft 161 is led to the support part 120, and formed a freely rotating support state. Also, when for example, force is applied to the operation board 150 in its open state to make it rotate more in the direction to open it, the flat spring 123 opens and the support shaft 161 quickly separates from the support part 120, thus avoiding any damage to the support shaft 161 or operation board 150 or to the main unit of the apparatus 101. The operation board 150 has four first operation buttons 151 and a second operation button 152 (e.g. see figure 11), but in the portable electronic apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the operation board 150 can be arbitrarily replaced. That is, in this embodiment, various types of operation board 150 are made available, and can be arbitrarily selected and mounted on the main unit of the apparatus 101. Each operating board 150 that is available has the support shaft 161 described above and its peripheral structure, and can be detachably mounted on the support part 120 of the main unit 101. Figure 22 shows the portable electronic device in which a different type of operation board 150a of the above described operation board 150 is mounted. (for example, see figure 11). The operation board 150a shown in Figure 22 has a first key operation button 200 and a second operation button 210. On the first key operation button 200, each end (upper, lower, left and right) ) is a pressure operating part, and operating knots 201 extend from the lower surface of the operating parts, as shown in Figure 23. Operation knots 201 protrude freely and retract from base board 153, which is mounted on the back surface of operation board 150. When either end on the operation button is pressed, the operating knot 201 extending from the lower surface of that end projects from the base board 153. When the operation board 150a is closed, each operation node 201 is positioned to be opposite a first switch pressure part 110a corresponding formed in the slot insert part 104 of the main unit of the apparatus 101. Therefore the operating node 201 projecting from the base board 153 presses the corresponding first switch pressure part 110a. In this way, the operation switches are operated. Also, as with the operation board 150 shown in Figures 11 and 12, in the second operation button 210, the lower end 211 is positioned to be opposite to the second pressure part of the switch. 110b, and a pressure operation presses the switch operation part 110b. The first key operation button 200 described above is suitable for a game program that requires agile operation, such as an action game. In this embodiment, according to the content of the program that is downloaded to the portable electronic device 100, an operation board 150 having suitable operating buttons for said operation can be mounted, which makes it possible to achieve good operability. Even with the same type of operation buttons, it is possible to adequately change their size, height, touch, color and other characteristics and select and assemble a 150a operation board to suit the user's tastes. For example, a whole repertoire of operation boards 150 can be had, whose operating buttons can have rubber-secure upper parts or can be painted with phosphorescent paint to be visible even in the dark.

In addition, it is effective to satisfy the user's tastes to have operating boards of various types available, with different surface textures and color schemes. In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to a portable electronic device that serves as an auxiliary machine of a video game apparatus. However, this invention is not limited to this example; it can also be applied to various types of portable electronic devices (e.g., a portable stand-alone gaming apparatus or a remote control apparatus) having an operation board that is rotatably mounted on the main unit. As already described, this invention makes it possible to freely connect and disconnect an operation panel to and from the main unit of the apparatus and allows it to be replaced with different operating panels, whereby an operating panel can be selected at will, satisfying the tastes of the user and improving the operability.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A portable electronic device used as an auxiliary machine for a video game apparatus, the portable electronic device comprising: a main unit that includes operating switches; and an operation board having operation buttons by which a user presses the operation switches, the operation board is rotatably mounted on the main unit; characterized in that the portable electronic device can be connected to the video game apparatus when the operation board is open; and the operation panel can be connected and disconnected freely from the main unit and can be replaced with another operation panel.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, further characterized in that multiple types of operation boards having operating buttons can be arbitrarily selected and replaced.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, further characterized in that the multiple types of operation boards each have operating buttons of different shapes.

4. An operating board rotatably mounted in a main unit in a portable electronic device used as an auxiliary machine for a video game apparatus, which includes in a main unit that has operation switches, comprising: operating buttons which press the operation switches, characterized in that the operation board can be connected and disconnected freely from the main unit to replace the operation board with another operation board if necessary; and the portable electronic device can be connected to the video game apparatus when the operation board is open.

5. The operation panel according to claim 4, further characterized in that the operation buttons have shapes that correspond to their modes of use.

6. A method of operation for a portable electronic device that includes a main unit that has operating switches and an operation panel that has operation buttons to press the operation switches, the operation panel freely rotates in the main unit and is mounted detachably in the main unit, the portable electronic device is used as an auxiliary machine for a video game apparatus; the method of operation comprises the steps of: keeping the operation board open when the operation board is connected to the video game machine; and arbitrarily selecting multiple types of operation boards to assemble a selected operating board in the main unit when the portable electronic device is used by itself, and pressing the operation switches of the main unit by operating buttons of the operation board selected.

7. A portable electronic device used as an auxiliary machine for a video game apparatus, the portable electronic device comprising: a main unit that includes operating switches; an operation board that has operation buttons through which a user presses the operation switches; and mounting means for rotatably mounting the operation board in the main unit between an open position and a closed position; further characterized in that the operation board can be connected to the video game machine when the operation board is open; and the mounting means are configured to freely connect the operation board and disconnect the operation board of the main unit to replace the operation board with another operation board if necessary.