WO2012141196A1

WO2012141196A1 - Electronic apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012141196A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/059869
Authority: WO
Inventors: 八木　健
Original assignee: 株式会社ニコン
Priority date: 2011-04-14
Filing date: 2012-04-11
Publication date: 2012-10-18
Also published as: JP2012221474A

Abstract

This electronic apparatus is provided with a housing formed into a square plate shape, a display panel disposed in a square display area among the plate surfaces of the housing, a touch panel for detecting the presence or absence of tactile contact and the position of the tactile contact for the display area, and connection units disposed in an approximately center position of the back surface with respect to the surface upon which the display panel has been placed in the housing for connecting an external apparatus to the housing.

Description

Electronics

The present invention relates to an electronic device.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-090220 filed on Apr. 14, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

For example, Patent Document 1 is known as an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a portable information terminal. In an electronic apparatus as shown in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which a button is provided in an operation part is known. In such an electronic device, for example, a display unit is provided on one surface of a casing provided in a plate shape, and an operation button is provided in an area around the display unit on the one surface. It has been known.

JP 2010-86089 A

However, in the configuration in which the operation buttons are arranged in the case according to the prior art, the position of the operation buttons in the case is fixed, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to operate, for example, when the case is rotated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device with excellent operability.

An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing formed in a square plate shape, a display panel provided in a square display region of the plate surface of the housing, and presence or absence of contact with the display region And a touch panel that detects a contact position, and a connection portion that is provided at substantially the center of the back surface of the housing with respect to the surface on which the display panel is installed, and connects an external device and the housing.

An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention detects a casing formed in a plate shape, a display panel provided in a display area on a plate surface of the casing, the presence / absence of contact with the display area, and a contact position A touch panel that is provided on the rear surface of the housing with respect to the surface on which the display panel is installed, a connection portion that connects the external device and the housing, and a symmetrical position with respect to the central portion. A plurality of arranged transducers.

According to the aspect of the present invention, an electronic device with excellent operability can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the portable information terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a part of portable information terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a rear view of the portable information terminal concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows one form of operation | movement of the portable information terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows one form of operation | movement of the portable information terminal which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a portable information terminal EQP according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the portable information terminal (electronic device) EQP includes a control device CONT, a display unit DP, a substrate BP, a camera module CM, a rechargeable battery BT, an operation unit SD, and a connection unit MT. , A microphone MC, a speaker SP, a plurality of vibration devices (vibrators) AT, and a first connection portion MS. Control device CONT, display unit DP, substrate BP, camera module CM, rechargeable battery BT, operation unit SD, connection unit MT, microphone MC, speaker SP, and a plurality of vibration devices (vibrators) The AT and the first connection unit MS are electrically connected. In addition, these circuits are electrically connected to an external device via the electrical contact portion of the second connection portion MT.

The casing of the portable information terminal EQP is formed in a square plate shape, for example, and holds the display unit DP, the operation unit SD, and the second connection unit MT.
The display part DP is formed in a square and is provided on the plate surface of the housing. A surface on which the display portion DP is provided in the housing is hereinafter referred to as a display surface Fe. The display unit DP includes a display panel having, for example, a liquid crystal device or an organic EL device. A touch panel is provided in the display area of the display panel. This display area is square. The touch panel detects the presence / absence of contact with the display area and the contact position. As shown in the figure, the display area Fe is substantially equal to the display area of the display panel. Further, only the display portion DP is provided on the display surface Fe.

The operation unit SD is provided on four side surfaces Fa to Fd corresponding to the four sides surrounding the display surface Fe in the housing. The operation part SD includes a side part detection part SD1 provided on the side face Fa, a side part detection part SD2 provided on the side face Fb, a side part detection part SD3 provided on the side face Fc, and a side part detection provided on the side face Fd. Part SD4. The operation unit SD detects the presence / absence of contact from the outside (for example, a user) and the contact position in the side detection units SD1 to SD4.
For example, when the user's finger or the like touches a part of the detection area of the side detection unit SD2, the capacitance of the side detection unit SD2 changes. Further, when the contact state of the user's finger or the like that has been in contact with a part is released, the side part detection unit SD2 capacitance returns to the original state.
Thus, the side detection unit SD2 is configured such that the capacitance of the contact portion changes locally. Such a change in capacitance is transmitted to the control device CONT. In the control device CONT, it is possible to calculate the presence / absence of contact from outside and the contact position by detecting the change in the capacitance. For example, when the user moves the contact portion along the detection area, the position where the capacitance changes moves with the movement of the contact portion. The control device CONT can also detect the movement of the position where the capacitance changes (movement direction, movement distance, and movement speed). The same applies to the other side detection units SD1, SD3, and SD4.

The substrate BP is provided in the housing. The substrate BP includes a control device CONT, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using, for example, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), and various sensors such as an acceleration sensor, a gyro (angular velocity sensor), and a GPS (Global Positioning System). ing. The control device CONT includes a memory and a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls the portable information terminal EQP.
The vibration device AT is a linear vibration actuator having a specified frequency (resonance frequency). The plurality of vibration devices AT1 to AT4 are arranged at different positions in the casing.
The rechargeable battery BT supplies power to each unit. The rechargeable battery BT is provided in the housing, and can be removed from the housing if necessary.

The camera module CM includes a lens and an image sensor, images a subject, and generates image data. The camera module CM here has its lens provided on the back surface Ff of the display surface Fe in the housing FL, but the number and installation location can be changed as necessary.
The second connection portion MT is provided at a substantially central portion of the back surface Ff and mechanically or electrically connects an external device.
The microphone MC and the speaker SP are provided on the back surface Ff.

FIG. 2 is a diagram when the portable information terminal EQP is viewed from the display surface Fe side, and the side detection units SD1 to SD4 are shown in cross section.
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the side detection units SD1 to SD4 is arranged at a position of each side of the display unit DP formed in a square shape, and is formed to have a size corresponding to the size of the display unit DP. .
Specifically, the detection areas 20 of the side detection parts SD1 to SD4 are arranged at positions corresponding to one side of the display part DP. Further, the longitudinal dimension of the detection region 20 of the side detection parts SD1 to SD4 is equal to the dimension of one side of the display part DP.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the portable information terminal EQP. A second connection portion MT, a camera module CM, and a first connection portion MS are provided on the back surface Ff of the portable information terminal EQP. The second connection part MT is a bayonet-type mount including an electrical contact part, and fastens the housing and the external device. The external device is, for example, a camera module including a lens and an image sensor, an easel including a memory, a speaker unit, a hard disk, a musical instrument, or the like. When the external device is attached to the second connection portion MT, the electrical contact portion of the external device and the electrical contact portion of the second connection portion MT come into contact, and the external device is electrically connected to each part of the portable information terminal EQP. Connecting.
The first connection unit MS is an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal for electrically connecting a memory card (external memory) or the like.

Next, the operation of the portable information terminal EQP configured as described above will be described.
The portable information terminal EQP outputs the image data stored in the memory of the control device CONT, the external memory or the like or the image data communicated via the wireless communication unit to the display unit DP and displays it as an image. Similarly, the portable information terminal EQP outputs audio data stored in a memory of the control device CONT, an external memory, or the like from the speaker SP. Furthermore, the portable information terminal EQP communicates data including these image data and audio data with the outside. In addition, when an external device is connected to the second connection unit MT, the portable information terminal EQP operates according to the connected external device. The portable information terminal EQP vibrates the vibration device AT when an event such as reception of communication data or an alarm occurs.

[User operation]
The control device CONT outputs and communicates image data and audio data based on a user operation. When the orientation of the casing of the portable information terminal EQP is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the direction from the side face Fa to the side face Fb is the direction of gravity, the control device CONT For example, an identification display corresponding to each of the predetermined 10 types of processes 1 to 10 is displayed.

For example, the control device CONT sets four unit areas in an area along the upper side in the figure among the four sides of the display unit DP, and sets these unit areas as display areas 31 to 34, respectively. Further, the control device CONT sets four unit areas in the detection area 20 of the side part detection unit SD1 so as to correspond to the display areas 31 to 34, and these unit areas are set as the contact areas (A1) to (D1), respectively. ).

Further, the control device CONT sets two unit areas in an area along the lower side in the figure among the four sides of the display unit DP, and sets these unit areas as

display areas

39 and 40, respectively. The control device CONT sets two unit areas in the detection area 20 of the side detection unit SD1 so as to correspond to the two

display areas

39 and 40, and sets these unit areas as the contact area (M1). And (N1).

Similarly, the control device CONT sets display areas in the areas along the left side in the drawing and the right side in the drawing among the four sides of the display unit DP. The display area 31 is provided in the upper left corner of the display part DP, the display area 39 is provided in the lower left corner of the display part DP, and the display area 34 is provided in the upper right corner of the figure. Since the display area 40 is provided at the lower right corner in the figure, the

display areas

31, 34, 39 and 40 are set as a common display area for the two contact areas.

Therefore,

display areas

31, 35, 37 and 39 are set on the left side in the figure, and

display areas

34, 36, 38 and 40 are set on the right side in the figure. Further, the control device CONT sets four unit areas corresponding to the

display areas

31, 35, 37 and 39 for the detection area 20 of the side part detection unit SD3, and sets these unit areas as contact areas ( Let E1), (G1), (I1) and (K1). Further, the control device CONT sets four unit areas corresponding to the

display areas

34, 36, 38 and 40 for the detection area 20 of the side part detection unit SD4, and sets these unit areas as contact areas ( F1), (H1), (J1), and (L1).

In this state, the control device CONT waits for the user to touch any one of the display areas 31 to 40. In addition, the control device CONT waits for the user to contact the side detection units SD1 to SD4.

When the user touches an area of the touch panel that overlaps one of the display areas 31 to 40, the control device CONT detects the touch position on the touch panel and executes a process corresponding to the identification display displayed at the touch position. . For example, when the user touches a portion of the touch panel that overlaps the display area 31, the control device CONT performs a process (Process 1) displayed on the display area 31.

Further, when the user touches any one of the side detection units SD1 to SD4, the control device CONT detects the contact position of the side detection unit SD1 to SD4. For example, when the contact position is a position in the contact area (A1) of the side detection unit SD1, the process 1 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (A1) in the display unit DP is performed. Further, when the contact position is in the contact area (B1) of the side detection unit SD1, the process 2 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (B1) in the display unit DP is performed. Similarly, when a contact position is detected in the contact area (C1) of the side detection part SD1, the process 3 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (C1) in the display part DP is performed. When contact is detected in the contact area (D1), the process 4 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (D1) in the display unit DP is performed.

Further, when there is a contact with the side detection unit SD2, if the contact position is within the contact area (M1), the process 9 is performed, and if the contact position is within the contact area (N1), the process 10 is performed. Is done. Similarly, in the case of the side detection unit SD3, when the contact position is in the contact area (E1), the process 1 is performed, and when the contact position is in the contact area (G1). If the contact position is in the contact area (I1), the process 7 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (K1), the process 9 is performed. Done.

Similarly, for the side detection unit SD4, the process 4 is performed when the contact position is in the contact area (F1), and the contact position is in the contact area (H1). If the contact position is in the contact area (J1), the process 8 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (L1), the process 10 is performed. Is done.

Thus, the control device CONT performs processing so as to correspond to both the input by the touch panel and the inputs by the side detection units SD1 to SD4. In this case, the control device CONT displays the identification displays of the processing 1 to processing 10 at positions along the four sides of the display unit DP. When the control device CONT detects a contact at the side detection units SD1 to SD4 corresponding to the four sides of the display unit DP, the control device CONT performs the processes 1 to 10. By such an operation, the user can intuitively perform input by the side detection units SD1 to SD4.

Further, when the orientation of the casing of the portable information terminal EQP is switched so that the direction from the side surface Fd to the side surface Fc becomes the direction of gravity as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the control device CONT The display is switched so that the identification display is displayed in the display areas 41-50. In this state, the control device CONT waits for the user to touch any one of the display areas 41 to 50 and waits for the user to touch the side detection units SD1 to SD4. And

In this case, as in the state shown in FIG. 4, when the user touches an area of the touch panel that overlaps any of the display areas 41 to 50, the control device CONT detects the touch position on the touch panel by the display unit detection unit 52b. Then, a process corresponding to the identification display displayed at the contact position is executed. For example, when the user touches a portion of the touch panel that overlaps the display area 41, the control device CONT performs the process displayed on the display area 41 (Process 1).

Further, when the user touches any one of the side detection units SD1 to SD4, the control device CONT detects the contact position of the side detection unit SD1 to SD4. For example, when the contact position is a position in the contact area (A2) of the side part detection unit SD4, the process 1 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (A2) in the display unit DP is performed. Further, when the contact position is in the contact region (B2) of the side detection unit SD4, the process 2 displayed on the portion corresponding to the contact region (B2) in the display unit DP is performed. Similarly, when the contact position is detected in the contact area (C2) of the side detection unit SD4, the process 3 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (C2) in the display unit DP is performed. If contact is detected in the contact area (D2), the process 4 displayed on the part corresponding to the contact area (D2) in the display unit DP is performed.

Further, when there is a contact with the side detection unit SD3, the process 9 is performed if the contact position is in the contact area (M2), and the process 10 is performed if the contact position is in the contact area (N2). Is done. Similarly, in the case of the side part detection unit SD1, when the contact position is in the contact area (E2), the process 1 is performed, and when the contact position is in the contact area (G2). If the contact position is in the contact area (I2), the process 7 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (K2), the process 9 is performed. Done.

Similarly, for the side detection unit SD2, if the contact position is in the contact area (F2), the process 4 is performed, and the contact position is in the contact area (H2). If the contact position is in the contact area (J2), the process 8 is performed. If the contact position is in the contact area (L2), the process 10 is performed. Is done.

Thus, for example, when the posture of the housing is different, such as the posture of the housing shown in FIG. 4 and the posture of the housing shown in FIG. 5, the contact position for performing the same processing is appropriately switched together with the display. Therefore, it is possible to make the user intuitively input by the side detection units SD1 to SD4.
In addition, since the display area in which the display panel is provided is a square, there is no need to change the aspect ratio of the image data to be displayed when the display direction of the image data is switched when the orientation of the housing is changed. As a result, the time required for switching the display can be shortened.
In addition, since the second connection portion MT is provided on the back surface Ff, only the display portion DP can be provided on the display surface Fe, and only the operation portion SD can be provided on the side surface. Thereby, the display area in which the display panel is provided and the detection area 20 can be made relatively wide.

[External device connection]
Next, an operation when an external device is connected to the second connection unit MT will be described. Hereinafter, a case where a camera module is connected as an external device will be described as an example. When the camera module is mounted on the second connection unit MT, the camera module and the control device CONT are electrically connected via the bus. When the control device CONT detects that the camera module is connected to the second connection unit MT, the control device CONT starts imaging with the connected camera module. Then, the control device CONT displays the image data generated by the camera module on the display unit DP. Alternatively, when the camera module is connected, the control device CONT may display an operation button or the like for starting imaging by the camera module on the display unit DP.
Thus, by providing the second connection unit MT, various external devices can be connected to the portable information terminal EQP.

[Vibration]
Next, the vibration generated by the portable information terminal EQP when an event occurs will be described. The control device CONT stores in advance a correspondence table in which events and vibration patterns are associated with each other. Then, when an event occurs, the control device CONT reads a vibration pattern corresponding to the generated event from the correspondence table, and vibrates the vibration device AT with the read vibration pattern. For example, when the event “normal data reception” occurs, the control device CONT vibrates any one of the plurality of vibration devices AT. In addition, when the event “important data reception” occurs, the control device CONT vibrates all the plurality of vibration devices AT.
Further, when the event “alarm” occurs, the control device CONT vibrates the vibration device AT1 at 148 Hz and vibrates the vibration device AT3 at 152 Hz. As a result, a beat vibration of 4 Hz is generated. Further, as an example of the vibration pattern, in addition to simultaneously vibrating the plurality of vibration devices AT at different frequencies, it is conceivable to simultaneously vibrate the plurality of vibration devices AT with different strengths. In this case, you may change the intensity ratio of each vibration device according to time.
Thereby, the portable information terminal EQP can generate vibrations of a plurality of types of frequencies that can be recognized by the user according to the event.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the second connection portion MT is a bayonet mount. However, for example, an external device may be slid in and attached to the housing.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the side detection units SD1 to SD4 has been described by taking the configuration for detecting the change in capacitance due to contact as an example. However, the configuration is not limited to this, for example, A configuration for detecting a change in voltage due to contact (for example, a resistive touch sensor or the like) may be employed. Further, as the configuration of the side detection units SD1 to SD4, in addition to the configuration in which an electrode is provided, a configuration in which no electrode is provided such as a surface acoustic wave method or an infrared method may be used.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the side detection units SD1 to SD4 are arranged on the side surfaces Fa to Fd of the casing has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the side detection unit may be provided on one or more of the side surfaces Fa to Fd.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the touch panel is provided on the surface of the display unit DP has been described as an example. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and a configuration in which the touch panel is not provided may be used. In this case, the operation is performed using the side detection units SD1 to SD4 provided in the operation unit SD. With this configuration, since high operability can be obtained without providing a touch panel, the cost of the portable information terminal can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the aspect in which each of the side detection units SD1 to SD4 is controlled to be divided into a plurality of contact areas has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be set such that one process is performed when one side detection unit is touched without being divided into a plurality of contact areas of the side detection units SD1 to SD4.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the attitude | position which detected the attitude | position of a housing | casing with a sensor and controlled to switch the display in the display part DP based on the detection result was mentioned as an example, it was limited to this, No. For example, it may be controlled to perform a constant display regardless of the detection result of the sensor. Further, a mode in which the user can set a mode for switching display based on the detection result of the sensor and a mode for performing constant display regardless of the detection result may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the surface-side electrode 10a of the electrode 10 is flush with other portions of the side surfaces Fa to Fd has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. No. For example, the configuration may be such that the surface-side electrode 10a is disposed on the inner side of the housing with respect to the other portions of the side surfaces Fa to Fd (configuration in which the surface-side electrode 10a is disposed in a recessed position). A configuration in which the surface-side electrode 10a is disposed on the outer side of the casing with respect to other portions of the side surfaces Fa to Fd (configuration in which the surface-side electrode 10a is disposed at a protruding position) may be employed.

In the above-described embodiment, a plate-like configuration in which the casing is formed in a square shape has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the casing may have a plate-like configuration formed in another shape such as a rectangle, a circle, a triangle, or a polygon. Further, the housing may be formed in other shapes such as a spherical shape, a polygonal column shape, a cylindrical shape, etc. without being limited to a plate shape.

EQP ... mobile information terminal FL ... housing DP ... display unit SD ... operation unit CONT ... control device PN ... display panel TP ... touch panel Fe ... display surface Fa-Fd ... side surface SD1-SD4 ... side detection unit AT ... vibrating device CM ... Camera module BP ... Substrate BT ... Rechargeable battery MT ... Second connection part MC ... Microphone SP ... Speaker MS ... First connection part 10 ... Electrode 10a ... Surface side electrode 10b ... Internal electrode 10c ... Dielectric 20 ... Detection Area 31-40, 41-50 ... Display area

Claims

A housing formed in a square plate shape;
A display panel provided in a square display region of the plate surface of the housing;
A touch panel for detecting the presence or absence and contact position of the display area;
An electronic device provided with a connection portion that is provided at a substantially central portion on the back surface of the housing with respect to a surface on which the display panel is installed, and that connects an external device and the housing.
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vibrators installed at different positions.
3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of vibrators are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the central portion.
A housing formed in a plate shape;
A display panel provided in a display area of the plate surface of the housing;
A touch panel for detecting the presence or absence and contact position of the display area;
A connection portion that is provided at a substantially central portion of the back surface of the housing with respect to a surface on which the display panel is installed, and connects an external device and the housing;
An electronic device comprising a plurality of vibrators arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the central portion.
The operation part which has the detection part in which the presence or absence and contact position with respect to the predetermined area of the side of the case are detected, and the predetermined area is set up corresponding to the display area where the display panel was provided Item 5. The electronic device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.
The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit is arranged on each of four side surfaces of the housing.