Portable electronic apparatus

• US 9,405,458 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Urushihata, Mutsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): EURICE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/352,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/158, 361/679.56, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 463/37
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

According to an aspect, a portable electronic apparatus includes a housing, a touch panel, and a control unit. The housing includes a first surface, and a convex section that is formed near an edge area of the first surface. The touch panel is arranged on the first surface, and includes a first area near the convex section and a second area excluding the first area. The control unit controls the touch panel to display an operation screen on the first area.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a side surface;

a touch panel arranged on the first surface and including a first area near the side surface and a second area excluding the first area;

a control unit for displaying an operation screen on the first area, and

a touch detecting unit detecting a touch on a third area that is on the second surface and near the side surface, wherein

the control unit is configured to;

detect an input operation on the first area as an operation for a screen displayed on the second area;

when the touch detecting unit detects no touch on the third area, display a predetermined screen formed by combining the first area and the second area; and

when the touch detecting unit detects the touch on the third area, display the operation screen on the first area and display the predetermined screen on the second area.

2. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display, on the first area, information indicative of at least one of date, time, remaining battery level, and radio field intensity.

3. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to:

display a first screen on a upper area of the second area;

display a second screen on a lower area of the second area;

display an operation screen related to the first screen on an upper area of the first area; and

display an operation screen related to the second screen on a lower area of the first area.

4. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third area is opposite the first area of the touch panel.

5. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a camera arranged near an edge of the second surface that is apart from the third area.

6. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third area extends in the longitudinal direction over the second surface.

7. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third area is a convex-shaped section that extends from near an edge of the second surface to a certain position and a level of the third area is higher than a level of the second surface excluding the third area.

8. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to:

when the touch detecting unit detects no touch on the third area, display information indicative of at least one of date, time, remaining battery level, and radio field intensity on the first area; and

when the touch detecting unit detects the touch on the third area, display the operation screen and display no information indicative of date, time, remaining battery level, and radio field intensity, on the first area.

9. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length, which is from an edge of the first area at a center side of the first surface, around the side surface, and to an edge of the third area at a center side of the second surface, is no less than 80mm.

10. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor for detecting an orientation of the housing, wherein

the control unit is configured to change a display orientation of a screen displayed on the-second area and a display orientation of the operation screen displayed on the first area in accordance with the orientation of the housing detected by the acceleration sensor.

11. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to display the operation screen on an upper area of the first area.

12. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center of gravity of the housing is in a side of the third area.

13. The portable electronic apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a battery accommodated in the third area.

14. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a side surface;

a touch panel arranged on the first surface and including a first area near the side surface and a second area excluding the first area

a control unit for displaying an operation screen on the first area, and

a touch detecting unit detecting a touch on a third area that is on the second surface and near the side surface, wherein

the control unit is configured to;

display, on the first area, an operation item that is associated with an image that is displayed on the second area in the operation screen;

when the touch detecting unit detects no touch on the third area, display a predetermined screen formed by combining the first area and the second area; and

when the touch detecting unit detects the touch on the third area, display the operation screen on the first area and display the predetermined screen on the second area.

15. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a side surface;

a touch panel arranged on the first surface and including a first area near the side surface and a second area excluding the first area;

a control unit for displaying an operation screen on the first area, and

a touch detecting unit detecting a touch on a third area that is on the second surface and near the side surface,

wherein the third area is convex-shaped section of which a level is higher than a level of the second surface excluding the third area, and

the control unit is configured to;

when the touch detecting unit detects no touch on the third area, display a predetermined screen formed by combining the first area and the second area; and

when the touch detecting unit detects the touch on the third area, display the operation screen on the first area and display the predetermined screen on the second area.