PORTABLE DEVICES AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100053083A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: HWANG, Jun-Sik
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A portable electronic device including a first input/output unit including a monostable display element, a second input/output unit including a bistable display element, a main setting unit configured to selectively set either one of the first and second input/output units as a main input/output unit and the other one of the first and second input/output units as a sub input/output unit, and a conversion unit configured to convert the sub input/output unit into a touch pad for inputting a command on the main input/output unit.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a first input/output unit including a monostable display element;

a second input/output unit including a bistable display element;

a main setting unit configured to selectively set either one of the first and second input/output units as a main input/output unit and the other one of the first and second input/output units as a sub input/output unit; and

a conversion unit configured to convert the sub input/output unit into a touch pad for inputting a command on the main input/output unit.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second input/output units includes a touch screen.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first input/output unit and the second input/output unit are respectively formed on front and rear sides of a main body of the portable electronic device.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, further comprising:

a gravity sensor configured to sense gravity,

wherein the main setting unit is further configured to set either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit that is formed on a surface which is sensed to face an opposite direction of gravity by the gravity sensor.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 3, further comprising:

an illuminance sensor configured to sense an amount of illuminance,

wherein the main setting unit is further configured to set either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit that is formed on a surface where the illuminance is sensed higher by the illuminance sensor.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 3, further comprising:

a camera sensor configured to sense a user operating the portable electronic device,

wherein the main setting unit is further configured to set either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit that is formed on a surface where the user is sensed by the camera sensor.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 3, further comprising:

a user input unit configured to receive a user input to set either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the main setting unit is further configured to set either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit according to the user input received through the user input unit.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second input/output units respectively include first and second display elements for displaying a video signal having a different frame rate from each other.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the bistable display element is an electronic paper display element.

11. A method of controlling a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying first information via a first input/output unit including a monostable display element;

displaying second information via a second input/output unit including a bistable display element;

selectively setting, via a main setting unit, either one of the first and second input/output units as a main input/output unit and the other one of the first and second input/output units as a sub input/output unit; and

converting, via a conversion unit, the sub input/output unit into a touch pad for inputting a command on the main input/output unit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second input/output units includes a touch screen.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first input/output unit and the second input/output unit are respectively formed on front and rear sides of a main body of the portable electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sensing gravity via a gravity sensor included in the device,

wherein the setting step sets either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit that is formed on a surface which is sensed to face an opposite direction of gravity by the gravity sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sensing, via an illuminance sensor included in the device, an amount of illuminance,

wherein the setting step sets either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit that is formed on a surface where the illuminance is sensed higher by the illuminance sensor.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising;

sensing, via a camera sensor included in the device, a user operating the portable electronic device,

wherein the setting step sets either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit that is formed on a surface where the user is sensed by the camera sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, via a user input unit included in the device, a user input to set either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the setting step sets either one of the first and second input/output units as the main input/output unit according to the user input received through the user input unit.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second input/output units include respectively include first and second display elements for displaying a video signal having a different frame rate from each other.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the bistable display element is an electronic paper display element.