TERMINAL DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD FOR TERMINAL DEVICE, AND PROGRAM

• US 20150378447A1
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: SATO, Daisuke, NAGANO, Daisuke
• Application Number:
  US14/769,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20150378447A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03 Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

There is provided a terminal device including an operation unit operable in a specific direction, an orientation determining unit configured to determine an orientation of the terminal device including the operation unit, and a control unit configured to switch a function to be implemented in response to an operation on the operation unit in accordance with the orientation.

Claims

1. A terminal device comprising:

an operation unit operable in a specific direction;

an orientation determining unit configured to determine an orientation of the terminal device including the operation unit; and

a control unit configured to switch a function to be implemented in response to an operation on the operation unit in accordance with the orientation.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration determining unit configured to determine a vibration state of the terminal device.

3. The terminal device according to claim 2,

wherein the control unit further switches the function in accordance with the vibration state.

4. The terminal device according to claim 2,

wherein the control unit decides whether or not the function is switched in accordance with the orientation, on the basis of the vibration state.

5. The terminal device according to claim 4,

wherein, when the operation unit detects an operation having a predetermined pattern, the control unit switches the function in accordance with the orientation irrespective of the vibration state.

6. The terminal device according to claim 2,

wherein the vibration determining unit determines the vibration state on the basis of a change in acceleration of a housing of the terminal device.

7. The terminal device according to claim 1,

wherein the orientation determining unit determines the orientation on the basis of an inclination angle of a housing of the terminal device.

8. The terminal device according to claim 1,

wherein the operation unit includes a jog dial that detects a rotating operation or a depressing operation.

9. The terminal device according to claim 1,

wherein the operation unit includes a touch sensor that detects a slide operation or a depressing operation.

10. The terminal device according to claim 1,

wherein the operation unit includes a strain gauge that detects compression or a stretch.

11. The terminal device according to claim 1,

wherein the operation unit includes a button.

12. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing capable of being carried or worn by a user while the user is running,

wherein the control unit switches implementation of a function related to music reproduction and implementation of a function related to navigation for running in response to the operation in accordance with the orientation.

13. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing; and

a belt configured to make a ring along with the housing,

wherein the belt includes a plurality of rigidity units and an extendable unit disposed between the respective rigidity units,

wherein the extendable unit contracts and makes the plurality of rigidity units tightly adhere to each other to form a grip handle, and

wherein the extendable unit extends and makes the plurality of rigidity units separated from each other to form an extendable belt part.

14. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing; and

a coupling unit on a surface of the housing, the coupling unit being configured to be at least structurally coupled to another terminal device.

15. The terminal device according to claim 14,

wherein the coupling unit is further electrically coupled to the other terminal device.

16. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an acceleration detecting unit configured to detect acceleration of a housing of the terminal device; and

an airbag configured to cushion impact on a user of e terminal device or the terminal device,

wherein the control unit activates the airbag on the basis of the acceleration.

17. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of displays,

wherein the control unit switches a display of the displays that displays an image, in accordance with the orientation.

18. A control method for a terminal device, the control method comprising:

detecting an operation on an operation unit operable in a predetermined direction;

determining an orientation of a terminal device including the operation unit; and

switching a function to be implemented in response to the operation in accordance with the orientation.

19. A program for causing a computer to implement:

a function of detecting an operation on an operation unit operable in a predetermined direction;

a function of determining an orientation of a terminal device including the operation unit; and

a function of switching a function to be implemented in response to the operation in accordance with the orientation.