Portable terminal device

• US 20060284855A1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shintome, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,612,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection

Abstract

A portable terminal device comprises an input device configured to receive an input operation on a plurality of positions, the input device allocating a function to be executed to the plurality of positions by an input operation, a sensor configured to detect a posture of the portable terminal device, and a control unit configured to allow the function to be changed according to the posture of the portable terminal device detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. A portable terminal device, comprising:

an input device configured to receive an input operation on a plurality of positions, the input device allocating a function to be executed to the plurality of positions by an input operation;

a sensor configured to detect a posture of the portable terminal device; and

a control unit configured to allow the function to be changed according to the posture of the portable terminal device detected by the sensor.

2. A portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is configured to input position information according to an input operation on a two-dimensional surface.

3. A portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit allows the function to be changed after a lapse of a pre-set given time following the detecting of a change in the posture of the portable terminal device.

4. A portable terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising

a management table configured to allow the function to be recorded in a way to correspond to each area, and wherein

the control unit changes the function corresponding to each area recorded on the management table.

5. A portable terminal device, comprising:

a first casing configured to have a first input device;

a second casing;

a second input device configured to receive an input operation on a plurality of positions, the second input device allocating a function to be executed to the plurality of positions by an operation;

a connection configured to couple the first casing and the second casing, the connection being operable to a first state with the first casing and the second casing exposed and being operable to a second state, the second state is that the first casing and the second casing are overlaid to expose the second input device exposed;

a state detecting unit configured to detect between the first state and the second state;

a posture detecting unit configured to detect the posture of the first casing; and

a control unit configured to, when the second state is detected by the state detecting unit, allow the allocated function to be changed according to the posture of the first casing detected by the posture detecting unit.

6. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the second input device is configured to input position information according to an input operation on a two-dimensional surface.

7. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit allows the function to be changed after a lapse of a pre-set given time following the detecting of a change in the posture of the first casing.

8. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising

a management table configured to allow the function to be recorded in a way to correspond to each area, and wherein

the control unit changes the function corresponding to each area recorded on the management table.

9. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising

an operation deciding unit configured to decide whether or not an input operation is done on the second input device;

and

a stop control unit configured to stop the changing of the function by the control unit during a time period in which the operation deciding unit is decided as the input operation being done.

10. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising

a first display unit provided near the second input device, and configured to allow information representing the function allocated to a plurality of positions.

11. A portable terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the first display unit is configured to change the display position of information representing a function corresponding to each position according to the change of the function allocated to the plurality of positions.

12. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising

a camera unit provided on the first casing to capture an image;

an image storing unit configured to store an image captured by the camera unit;

a second display unit provided on the first casing;

a posture information storing unit configured to store, in connection with the image stored in the image storing unit, posture information representing the posture detected by the posture detecting unit if the image is captured;

an image changing unit configured to change a direction of the image according to both the posture detected by the posture detecting unit and the image information connected with the image as a display target stored in the image storing unit; and

an image display control unit configured to allow the image of the direction changed by the image converting unit to be displayed on the second display unit.

13. A portable terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising

a camera unit provided on the second casing to capture an image;

an image storing unit configured to store an image captured by the camera unit;

a second display unit provided on the first casing;

a posture information storing unit configured to store, in connection with the image stored in the image storing unit, posture information representing the posture detected by the posture detecting unit if the image is captured;

an image changing unit configured to change a direction of the image according to both the posture detected by the posture detecting unit and the image information connected with the image as a display target stored in the image storing unit; and

an image display control unit configured to allow the image of the direction changed by the image converting unit to be displayed on the second display unit.