Electronic apparatus

• US 20090307632A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Kiyoshi, Takegami, Yuri, Hori, Taiki
• Application Number:
  US12/455,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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 1/1671 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 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a display portion, a plurality of first buttons, a second button, and a display controller. The display portion displays a screen. The plurality of first buttons are disposed along an outer circumference of the screen. The display controller displays icons representing functions of the plurality of first buttons at positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of first buttons along an inner circumference of the screen, and changes the functions allocated to the plurality of first buttons and the displayed icons in accordance with a press of the second button.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a display portion to display a screen;

a plurality of first buttons disposed along an outer circumference of the screen;

a second button; and

a display controller to display icons representing functions of the plurality of first buttons at positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of first buttons along an inner circumference of the screen, and change at least one of the functions allocated to the plurality of first buttons and at least one of the displayed icons corresponding to the changed function in accordance with a press of the second button.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display controller displays the icons to be small and movable on the screen in accordance with a predetermined operation.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display controller changes a display mode of the display portion in accordance with the press of the second button.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a third button,

wherein the display controller displays on the screen of the display portion a setting screen with respect to the display controller in accordance with a press of the third button.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a main body of the electronic apparatus includes a first casing that has a first surface on which an operation portion is provided, a second casing that has a second surface capable of facing the first surface and on which the display portion is provided, and a cylindrical hinge to rotatably couple the first casing and the second casing on a back surface side of the main body of the electronic apparatus, the hinge being provided with the plurality of first buttons and the second button.