Electronic device

• US 8,644,498 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei, Koyama, Jun, Yamazaki, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry
• Application Number:
  US13/739,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 313/506, 345/81, 345/82, 345/87, 345/92, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.07, 455/566, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/02 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/037 using organic materials, e.g. organic LED
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals

Abstract

An easy to use electronic device is provided. The electronic device functions as a telephone and has a display portion, an audio input portion, an audio output portion, and operation keys. The display portion has a passive element, and the operation keys have LEDs. The direction of an image displayed by the LEDs is switchable.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

operation keys; and

groups of pixels, each group of pixels being comprised in a corresponding one of the operation keys and configured to display an image;

wherein directions of the images displayed by the groups of pixels are switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and

wherein each group of pixels displays a same image when the electronic device is positioned horizontally and when the electronic device is positioned vertically.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the directions of the images displayed by the groups of second pixels are switchable in accordance with a position of the device.

2. An electronic device comprising:

a display portion;

first pixels comprised in the display portion;

sensors comprised in the display portion;

operation keys; and

groups of second pixels, each group of second pixels being comprised in a corresponding one of the operation keys and configured to display an image;

wherein directions of the images displayed by the groups of second pixels are switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and

wherein each group of second pixels displays a same image when the electronic device is positioned horizontally and when the electronic device is positioned vertically.

10. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the directions of the images displayed by the groups of second pixels are switchable in accordance with a position of the device.

14. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein each first pixel comprises a sensor.

16. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein each first pixel comprises a sensor and a transistor electrically connected to the sensor.

18. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor or a photosensor.

3. An electronic device comprising:

a group of pixels, the group of pixel being configured to display an image indicating a type of information input,

wherein the device is configured so that the types of information input can be input to the electronic device by an action of a user directed to the group of pixels, the group of pixels displaying an image corresponding to the type of information input;

wherein a direction of the image displayed by the group of pixels is switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and

wherein the group of pixels displays a same image when the electronic device is positioned horizontally and when the electronic device is positioned vertically.

6. The electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a display portion,

wherein the group of pixels occupies a portion of the electronic device distinct from the display portion.

11. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the direction of the image displayed by the group of pixels is switchable in accordance with a position of the device.

4. An electronic device comprising:

groups of pixels, each group of pixels being configured to display an image indicating a type of information input,

wherein the device is configured so that one of the types of information input can be input to the electronic device by an action of a user directed to one of the groups of pixels, the one of the groups of pixels displaying an image corresponding to the one of the types of information input;

wherein directions of the images displayed by the groups of pixels are switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and

wherein each group of pixels displays a same image when the electronic device is positioned horizontally and when the electronic device is positioned vertically.

7. The electronic device according to claim 4, further comprising a display portion,

wherein the groups of pixels occupy portions of the electronic device distinct from the display portion.

12. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the directions of the images displayed by the groups of pixels are switchable in accordance with a position of the device.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a display portion;

first pixels comprised in the display portion;

sensors comprised in the display portion;

groups of second pixels, each group of second pixels being configured to display an image indicating a type of information input,

wherein the device is configured so that one of the types of information input can be input to the electronic device by an action of a user directed to one of the groups of second pixels, the one of the groups of second pixels displaying an image corresponding to the one of the types of information input;

wherein directions of the images displayed by the groups of second pixels are switchable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and

wherein each group of second pixels displays a same image when the electronic device is positioned horizontally and when the electronic device is positioned vertically.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the groups of pixels occupy portions of the electronic device distinct from the display portion.

13. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the directions of the images displayed by the groups of second pixels are switchable in accordance with a position of the device.

15. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein each first pixel comprises a sensor.

17. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein each first pixel comprises a sensor and a transistor electrically connected to the sensor.

19. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor or a photosensor.