Information processing apparatus with positioners corresponding to display input region

• US 5,742,476 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gamo, Kyoko, Miyazaki, Nobuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/637,234
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 364/708.1, 364/709.11, 364/709.15, 345/169, 345/172, 345/173, 345/901, 345/902, 345/905
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence

Abstract

An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input panel disposed in the opening which includes a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region. The positioners are convertible between a first position in which they protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which they are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude from the surface of the body.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening and concave portions outside the opening;

display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching, the keys; and

positioners received in the concave portions of the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input region is placed along at least an edge of the opening and includes a plurality of key regions, and wherein the positioners are provided for at least each boundary of the key regions.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising positioners provided on the body corresponding to boundaries between the display region and the input regions.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input region is provided in both sides in the display/input means along corresponding edges of the opening, and includes a plurality of key regions, and

wherein the body comprises a pair of positioners each provided for the corresponding input region.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body;

wherein the body comprises;

concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and

holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and

wherein each of the positioners includes a rugged face on a portion which is a top face when the positioner is at the first position protruding from the surface of the body.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body;

wherein the body comprises;

concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position;

guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and

holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position.

7. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body;

wherein the body comprises;

concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position;

guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and

holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and

wherein each of the positioners has projection members for engaging in the guide slots so as to slide guided by the guide slots, and wherein the holding means are elastic members.

8. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body;

wherein the body comprises;

concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position;

guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and

holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and

wherein each of the positioners includes a rugged face on a portion which is a top face when the positioner is at the first position protruding from the surface of the body.

9. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; and

wherein the input region is divided into a plurality of sub-regions, a key being displayed using at least one sub-region, and

wherein the positioners are provided for at least each boundary of the sub-regions, positioners corresponding to a boundary of the keys being set at the first position, while positioners not corresponding to a boundary of the keys being set at the second position.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body;

wherein the body comprises;

concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and

holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position.

12. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a body having an opening;

a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and

positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region;

wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body;

wherein the body comprises;

concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and

holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and

wherein each of the positioners rotates around an axis, the axis being engaged in axis holes which are provided in the concave portion; and

wherein the holding means is an elastic member.