Information processing device with rotatable screen and external input device

• US 7,385,597 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Takanori, Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro, Ihara, Keigo, Fukuda, Junko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caschera; Antonio A
• Application Number:
  US09/944,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/333.06, 348/376, 345/184, 345/902, D14/316, D14/317, 361/681, 715/810, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/184
• 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 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• 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 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

In an information processing device, system operations can be simply performed while a screen of a display body is viewed, even when the display body is folded against a main body. In the information processing device, a display body with a screen arranged on the front surface is connected to a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon so as to rotate in opening/folding directions and in a turning direction, and an operating button is positioned to be operable when the back surface of the display body is close to the main body. Also, a system menu is displayed on the screen according to operation of the operating button.

Claims

1. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on a front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

first operating means and second operating means, one of said first and second operating means is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, for operating the information processing device disposed at a position to be operable when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating means is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, for operating the information processing device disposed at a position to be operable when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating means and the second operating means are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and when the back surface of said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating means is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating means;

and display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, wherein said first operating means includes at least an operating button, said second operating means includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first operating means can be pressed; and

said second operating means can be rotated and pressed.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, and wherein

said display control means cancels a display of said system menu when at least one of following conditions occurs:

where said first operating means is operated while said system menu is displayed;

where preset time passes after said system menu is displayed;

where a processing item to be executed is selected from said system menu; and

where prescribed operating means including said keyboard is operated.

4. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, and wherein

said display control means displays at least one processing item out of a processing item relating to input/output setting of said information processing device, a processing item relating to a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processing item relating to operation modes of the information processing device, as the processing items to be displayed in said system menu.

5. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on a front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

a photographing case having a photographing function;

first operating means and second operating means, one of said first and second operating means is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, for operating the information processing device arranged at a position to be operable under a photographing condition where said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating means is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, for operating the information processing device arranged at a position so as to be operable under the photographing condition where said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating means and the second operating means are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and in the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating means is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating means; and

display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, wherein

said first operating means includes at least an operating button, said second operating means includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

6. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein:

said first operating means can be pressed; and

said second operating means can be rotated and pressed.

7. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on a front surface, which is connected, to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

first operating unit and a second operating unit, one of said first and second operating units is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, configured to operate the information processing device disposed at a position to be operable when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating units is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, configured to operate the information processing device disposed at a position to be operable when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating unit and the second operating unit are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and when the back surface of said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating unit is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating unit; and

a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, wherein

said first operating unit includes at least an operating button, said second operating unit includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7, wherein:

said first operating unit includes a button which can be pressed; and

said second operating unit includes a dial which can be rotated and pressed.

9. The information processing device according to claim 7, further comprising a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, and wherein

said display controller cancels a display of said system menu when at least one of following conditions occurs:

where said first operating unit is operated while said system menu is displayed;

where preset time passes after said system menu is displayed;

where a processing item to be executed is selected from said system menu; and

where a prescribed operating unit including said keyboard is operated.

10. The information processing device according to claim 7, further comprising a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, and wherein

said display controller displays at least one processing item out of a processing item relating to input/output setting of said information processing device, a processing item relating to a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processing item relating to operation modes of the information processing device, as the processing items to be displayed in said system menu.

11. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on the front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

a photographing case having a photographing function;

first operating unit and a second operating unit, one of said first and second operating units is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, configured to operate the information processing device arranged at a position to be operable under a photographing condition when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating units is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, configured to operate the information processing device positioned to be operable under the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating unit and the second operating unit are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and in the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating unit is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating unit; and

a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, wherein

said first operating unit includes at least an operating button, said second operating unit includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

12. The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein:

said first operating unit includes a button which can be pressed; and

said second operating unit includes a dial which can be rotated and pressed.

13. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on a front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

first operating means and second operating means, one of said first and second operating means is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, for operating the information processing device disposed at a position to be operable when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating means is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, for operating the information processing device positioned to be operable when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating means and the second operating means are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and when said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating means is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating means; and

display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, wherein

said first operating means includes at least an operating button, said second operating means includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

14. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein:

said first operating means can be pressed; and

said second operating means can be rotated and pressed.

15. The information processing device according to claim 13, further comprising display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, and wherein

said display control means cancels a display of said system menu when at least one of following conditions occurs:

where said first operating means is operated while said system menu is displayed;

where preset time passes after said system menu is displayed;

where a processing item to be executed is selected from said system menu; and

where a prescribed operating means including said keyboard is operated.

16. The information processing device according to claim 13, further comprising display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, and wherein

said display control means displays at least one processing item out of a processing item relating to input/output setting of said information processing device, a processing item relating to a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processing item relating to operation modes of the information processing device, as the processing items to be displayed in said system menu.

17. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on the front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

a photographing case having a photographing function;

first operating means and second operating means, one of said first and second operating means is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, for operating the information processing device positioned to be operable under a photographing condition when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating means is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, operating the information processing device positioned to be operable under the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating means and the second operating means are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and in the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating means is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating means; and

display control means for displaying a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating means, wherein

said first operating means includes at least an operating button, said second operating means includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

18. The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein:

said first operating means can be pressed; and

said second operating means can be rotated and pressed.

19. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on a front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

first operating unit and a second operating unit, one of said first and second operating units is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, configured to operate the information processing device positioned to be operable when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating units is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, positioned to be operable when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating unit and the second operating unit are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and when said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating unit is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating unit; and

a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, wherein

said first operating unit includes at least an operating button, said second operating unit includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

20. The information processing device according to claim 19, wherein:

said first operating unit includes a button which can be pressed; and

said second operating unit includes a dial which can be rotated and pressed.

21. The information processing device according to claim 19, further comprising a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, and wherein

said display controller cancels a display of said system menu when at least one of following conditions occurs:

where said first operating unit is operated while said system menu is displayed;

where preset time passes after said system menu is displayed;

where a processing item to be executed is selected from said system menu; and

where a prescribed operating unit including said keyboard is operated.

22. An information processing device for executing various kinds of information processing, said information processing device comprising:

a main body having a keyboard mounted thereon;

a display body with a display screen arranged on the front surface, which is connected to said main body to rotate in opening/folding directions and to rotate in a turning direction different from the opening/folding directions, to be in a closed position in which the display body covers the keyboard, an open position in which the display screen faces the keyboard, or a turned rotated position in which the display body is turned and rotated, a back surface of the display screen is close to said main body, and the display screen is on an opposite side as the keyboard;

a photographing case having a photographing function;

first operating unit and a second operating unit, one of said first and second operating units is provided outside of said display body, separate from the keyboard and adjacent to the keyboard, configured to operate the information processing device positioned to be operable under a photographing condition when said display body is in each of the open position and turned rotated position, and the other of said first and second operating units is provided on the display body but outside of and operating independently of contact with said display screen, configured to operate the information processing device positioned to be operable under the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position, wherein the at least first operating unit and the second operating unit are positioned on a same left or right side of the display screen when the display body is in the open position, and in the photographing condition when said display body is in the turned rotated position the second operating unit is positioned on an opposite left or right side of the display screen as the at least first operating unit; and

a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, wherein

said first operating unit includes at least an operating button, said second operating unit includes an operating device dedicated for displaying of the system menu showing processing items and said operating device is dedicated for selecting the processing items.

23. The information processing device according to claim 22, wherein:

said first operating unit includes a button which can be pressed; and

said second operating unit includes a dial which can be rotated and pressed.

24. The information processing device according to claim 22, further comprising a display controller configured to display a system menu showing processing items based on an operating system (OS) program on said display screen based on an operation of said first operating unit, and wherein

said display controller displays at least one processing item out of a processing item relating to input/output setting of said information processing device, a processing item relating to a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processing item relating to operation modes of the information processing device, as processing items to be displayed in said system menu.