ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF USAGE THEREOF
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising a plurality of operation keys, each of the operation keys comprising:
- a transparent button;
a pixel portion formed below the button; and
a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion;
wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit are formed over the same substrate, wherein a signal to be input as information to the electronic device by the operation keys is displayed in the pixel portion, and wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The number of operation keys is normally on the order of 12 to 20, corresponding to numeral keys and specialized keys, even for a portable telephone device capable of sending signals to, and receiving signals from, the Internet. In order to input Japanese language characters, including kanji, and specialized characters as data, a complex operation is necessary for switching the input mode. With the present invention, display devices are formed in operation keys for inputting information to electronic devices such as portable information terminals, typically portable telephone devices, and information terminals, typically personal computer or stationary telephone devices. A user is able to recognize the operation keys by characters, symbols, and numerals displayed in the operation keys by the display devices. The user is able to recognize the operation keys even in a dark location in accordance with the present invention.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising a plurality of operation keys, each of the operation keys comprising:
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a transparent button;
a pixel portion formed below the button; and
a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion;
wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit are formed over the same substrate, wherein a signal to be input as information to the electronic device by the operation keys is displayed in the pixel portion, and wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches. - View Dependent Claims (11, 17, 23, 29)
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2. An electronic device which functions as a telephone, comprising a plurality of operation keys, each of the operation keys comprising:
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a transparent button;
a pixel portion formed below the button; and
a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion;
wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit are formed over the same substrate, wherein a signal to be input as information to the electronic device by the operation keys is displayed in the pixel portion, and wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches. - View Dependent Claims (12, 18, 24, 30)
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3. An electronic device comprising:
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a first panel comprising a display portion; and
a second panel comprising a plurality of operation keys;
wherein the first panel and the second panel are connected, wherein each of the operation keys comprises a transparent button, a pixel portion formed below the button, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion, wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit portion are formed on the same substrate, wherein a signal to be input as information to the electronic device by the operation keys is displayed in the pixel portion, and wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches. - View Dependent Claims (13, 19, 25, 31)
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4. An electronic device functioning as a telephone, comprising:
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a first panel comprising a display portion; and
a second panel comprising a plurality of operation keys;
wherein the first panel and the second panel are connected, wherein each of the operation keys comprises a transparent button, a pixel portion formed below the button, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion, wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit portion are formed on the same substrate, wherein a signal to be input as information to the electronic device by the operation keys is displayed in the pixel portion, and wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches. - View Dependent Claims (14, 20, 26, 32)
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5. An electronic device comprising a plurality of operation keys, a controller, and a memory,
wherein each of the plurality of operation keys comprises a transparent button, a pixel portion formed below the button, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion, wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit are formed over the same substrate, image information of a signal input to the electronic device by the operation keys is read out from the memory in accordance with the controller, and the signal is displayed in the pixel portions, and wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches.
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6. An electronic device comprising a plurality of operation keys, a controller, and a memory,
wherein each of the plurality of operation keys comprises a transparent button, a pixel portion formed below the button, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel portion, wherein the pixel portion and the driver circuit are formed over the same substrate, wherein a signal to be input as information to the electronic device by the operation keys is displayed in the pixel portion; -
wherein two types of image information, in which the direction of the signal differs, are stored in the memory; and
wherein the direction of the signal displayed in the pixel portion switches by reading out the two types of image information from the memory in accordance with the controller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 16, 22, 28, 34)
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Specification