Multi-function portable data-processing device

• US 20030092470A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kurakane, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,016,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A cellular phone of folded type has a cover panel and a base panel coupled by a hinge for swiveling of the cover panel between a folded state and a developed state. The base panel mounts thereon a touch-sensitive panel whereas the cover panel mounts an image projector for projecting an image of keyboard information onto the touch-sensitive panel. The keyboard information includes a label for each of the keypads for designating the function of the keypad, and switched based on the input mode of the cellular phone.

Claims

1. A portable data-processing device comprising a panel body having a front surface used for an input operation, an image projector for projecting a keyboard image including information of a keyboard onto said front surface, a control unit for detecting a function specified by an input operation on said front surface based on a location of said input operation.

2. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said front surface includes a touch-sensitive panel having a plurality of specified key-input locations, and said keyboard image includes an image of a label for each of said specified key-input locations.

3. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said front surface includes a touch-sensitive panel having a plurality of unspecified key-input locations, and said keyboard image includes images of a keyboard specifying said unspecified key-input locations and a label for each of said unspecified key-input locations.

4. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said front surface mounts thereon a keyboard including a plurality of keypads, and said keyboard image includes an image of a label for each of said keypads.

5. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera having a field of view overlapping an area of said keyboard image, wherein said control unit detects the input operation based on a image signal obtained by said camera.

6. The portable data-processing device according to claim 5, wherein said panel body includes a cover panel and a base panel coupled with a hinge, said cover panel mounts said image projector and said camera, and said base panel mounts said front surface.

7. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, further comprising an arm for mounting said image projector, wherein said arm is coupled to said panel body for swiveling.

8. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said panel body includes a cover panel and a base panel coupled with a hinge, said cover panel mounts said image projector, and said base panel mounts said front surface.

9. The portable data-processing device according to claim 8, wherein said image projector projects said keyboard image when an angle of said cover panel with respect to said base panel becomes a specified angle.

10. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said image projector includes a light source and a reflector having a plurality of micromirrors each controlled by said information of the keyboard.

11. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said portable data-processing device is a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant or a personal handy phone.

12. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard image includes images of keypads, pictures, sentences and/or labels for said keypads.

13. The portable data-processing device according to claim 1, wherein said image projector projects a selected one of a plurality of keyboard images.