JP5287393B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device capable of displaying images and text on a screen.

  In recent years, various electronic devices having a function of displaying characters and images, such as personal computers, mobile phones, and portable game machines, are widely used. As a display device for these electronic devices, a display device represented by a liquid crystal panel is used, and a technique for making it easy for a user to see the display screen is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). . This patent document 1 describes a technique for detecting the tilt of a liquid crystal display and automatically adjusting the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display in accordance with the tilt.

  In addition, display devices that can be used with a rectangular display screen oriented in either the vertical or horizontal direction, that is, the longitudinal direction in either the vertical or horizontal direction, are also in practical use. In such a display device, a technique is known that enables a peep from the next side to be simultaneously prevented while performing a display that is easy for the user to see (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The display device described in Patent Document 2 is configured by arranging a vertical filter and a horizontal filter on a rectangular display surface, and by switching these filters exclusively and selectively, it can be in either a portrait or landscape orientation. It makes it difficult to peek from the neighbor.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-181115 (second page, FIG. 4) JP 2007-206219 A (page 4, FIG. 5)

  There are various types of electronic devices having a display function in terms of a housing configuration and a usage pattern, as represented by a mobile phone. Therefore, for the prevention of peeping on the display screen, it may not be appropriate to change the setting depending only on the orientation of the housing and the orientation of the screen (portrait or landscape). In order to cope with such a case, there is a limit in the technique described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 described above.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to set a peep prevention function for a display screen corresponding to various housing configurations and usage forms of electronic devices.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing, display means capable of displaying an image and text on a screen, and viewing angle setting capable of setting a viewing angle of the display means. Means, a posture detection means capable of detecting a three-dimensional posture of the housing, a determination means capable of determining whether or not the operating state satisfies a wide viewing angle tolerance condition, and the viewing angle setting When the means sets the viewing angle of the display means to be narrow, the attitude detection means detects that the attitude of the housing is horizontal or horizontally long, and is in an operation state that satisfies the wide viewing angle tolerance condition. If the determination means determines that there is, the viewing angle setting means includes control means capable of controlling the display means to set a wide viewing angle.

  According to the present invention, a display screen corresponding to various housing configurations and usage forms of an electronic device can be obtained by determining an operation state associated with the usage form and the like in addition to detecting the attitude of the electronic device. The peep prevention function can be set.

1 is an external view of an electronic apparatus (mobile communication terminal) according to a first embodiment of the invention. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The flowchart of the process of the portable communication terminal which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The block diagram of the electronic device (mobile communication terminal) which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. The flowchart of the process of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. The flowchart of the modification of the process of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. The block diagram of the electronic device (mobile communication terminal) which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. The flowchart of the process of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. The flowchart of the process of the electronic device (mobile communication terminal) which concerns on Example 4 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external view of a slide-type mobile communication terminal 1 that is an electronic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The mobile communication terminal 1 is configured by connecting a first housing 11 and a second housing 12 through a slide mechanism so as to be openable and closable in the vertical direction in the figure. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are opened to each other as viewed from the front (the user side when using a voice call or the like).

  A display unit 13 made of, for example, a liquid crystal or an organic electroluminescence (organic EL) device is attached to the first housing 11. The display unit 13 can display text and images, and the mobile communication terminal 1 uses the display unit 13 to display an application (for example, e-mail transmission / reception, web page browsing, phone book creation and browsing, etc.). Can be executed. A receiver 14 is attached to the first housing 11. A transmitter 15 is attached to the second housing 12. The mobile communication terminal 1 can be used for a voice call by including the receiver 14 and transmitter 15.

  An operation unit 16 (represented by being surrounded by a broken-line frame) including a plurality of operation keys is attached across the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. The operation unit 16 may include operation keys provided on a side surface or a back surface (not shown) of the first housing 11 or the second housing 12. By operating the operation keys belonging to the operation unit 16, the mobile communication terminal 1 can be activated, stopped, or text or operation commands can be input.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the mobile communication terminal 1. The mobile communication terminal 1 includes an antenna 17 and a transmission / reception unit 18 and can transmit and receive radio waves with a radio base station (not shown), for example. The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a voice interface unit 19 that is connected to the receiver unit 14 and the transmitter unit 15 and executes a voice interface function.

  The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a control unit 20 configured by a single processing device such as a microprocessor or a combination of a plurality of chips. The transmission / reception unit 18, the audio interface unit 19, and the operation unit 16 described with reference to FIG. 1 are connected to the control unit 20 through a common bus, for example, and are monitored and controlled by the control unit 20.

  The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a viewing angle setting unit 21 and the display unit 13 is connected to the viewing angle setting unit 21 and the control unit 20 via, for example, the common bus. The viewing angle setting unit 21 is configured by, for example, the technique described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 described above, and sets the viewing angle of the screen display in the display unit 13 to be narrow (setting a narrow viewing angle) to prevent peeping. Alternatively, the narrow viewing angle setting can be canceled (wide viewing angle setting), for example, so that a plurality of people can easily view the screen at the same time.

  The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a posture detection unit 22 including, for example, an acceleration sensor having three or more axes. The posture detection unit 22 is connected to the control unit 20 via, for example, the above-described common bus, and can send the three-dimensional posture data of the mobile communication terminal 1 to the control unit 20.

  The mobile communication terminal 1 includes a state determination unit 23 including, for example, a mechanical switch or an optical sensor. The state determination unit 23 is connected to the control unit 20 through, for example, the above-described common bus, detects whether the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are opened or closed with respect to each other, and obtains data of the result. It can be sent to the control unit 20.

  The operation of the mobile communication terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile communication terminal 1. When the process is started (“START”), the control unit 20 instructs the viewing angle setting unit 21 to set a narrow viewing angle on the display unit 13 so as to prevent peeping (step S1). The control unit 20 waits for transmission of the three-dimensional posture data of the mobile communication terminal 1 from the posture detection unit 22 in a state of preventing peeping (“NO” in step S2).

  Based on the attitude data received from the attitude detection unit 22, the control unit 20 determines that the attitude of the casing (comprising the first casing 11 and the second casing 12) of the mobile communication terminal 1 is horizontal or landscape. Is detected (“YES” in step S3), it waits for transmission of the open / closed state detection data between the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 from the state determination unit 23 (“NO” in step S4).

  If the control unit 20 detects that the first casing 11 and the second casing 12 are in a closed state based on the open / closed state detection data received from the state determination unit 23 (step S5 “ YES ”), instructs the viewing angle setting unit 21 to set a wide viewing angle on the display unit 13 (step S6), and ends the processing (“ END ”).

  In step S3, if it is not detected that the casing of the mobile communication terminal 1 is horizontally or horizontally long ("NO" in step S3), the control unit 20 ends the process. If it is detected in step S5 that the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are in the open state (“NO” in step S5), the control unit 20 ends the process.

  According to the processing flow described above, when the display unit 13 of the mobile communication terminal 1 is first set in the peep prevention state, the housing takes a horizontal or landscape orientation, and the first housing 11 and If the second housing 12 is in a closed state, the peeping prevention is canceled. In such a case, since the use scene where a plurality of people browse the screen at the same time is assumed, the above processing is performed.

  In the above description of the first embodiment, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are connected via the slide mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a foldable or biaxial hinge (double swivel) It is good also as what is connected through mechanisms, such as a formula.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the horizontal or horizontal placement of the housing, the open state in the two-casing structure opening / closing structure is a requirement for the release of the peeping prevention, so that convenience in use and peeping are achieved. It is possible to achieve both prevention effectiveness.

  Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the slide-type mobile communication terminal 2 that is an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The mobile communication terminal 2 has the same appearance as the mobile communication terminal 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  Among the configurations of the mobile communication terminal 2 shown in FIG. 4, the same components as those of the mobile communication terminal 1 shown in FIG. The mobile communication terminal 2 includes a television broadcast receiver (hereinafter abbreviated as TV receiver) 24, and the received television broadcast image is reproduced from the display unit 13 and from the earphones connected to an earphone jack (not shown). can do.

  That is, the mobile communication terminal 2 is an application called television broadcast reception in addition to the voice communication, e-mail transmission / reception, web page browsing, phone book creation and browsing described for the mobile communication terminal 1 of the first embodiment, and other applications. Can be executed.

  The control unit 20 of the mobile communication terminal 2 can selectively execute the plurality of applications. The state determination unit 23 of the mobile communication terminal 2 has a function of determining whether or not the wide viewing angle setting of the display unit 13 is allowed corresponding to the type of application selected and executed by the control unit 20. For example, it is possible to allow wide viewing angle setting corresponding to a television broadcast receiving application without allowing wide viewing angle setting corresponding to an e-mail transmission / reception application.

  The operation of the mobile communication terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile communication terminal 2. The setting of the narrow viewing angle after the start of processing (step S11) is the same as step S1 in FIG. For example, the control unit 20 selects and executes an application to be executed based on an operation in the operation unit 16 (step S12). At this time, for example, it is assumed that one of the above-described applications for sending / receiving e-mail and receiving television broadcast is selected and executed.

  The subsequent steps S13 and S14 are the same as steps S2 and S3 in FIG. 3, respectively. Therefore, if it is not detected in step S14 that the orientation of the casing of the mobile communication terminal 2 is horizontal or horizontally long (“NO” in step S14), the control unit 20 ends the process (“END”).

  If it is detected in step S14 that the orientation of the casing of the mobile communication terminal 2 is horizontal or landscape ("YES" in step S14), if the application being executed is an e-mail transmission / reception, state determination The unit 23 determines that the wide viewing angle setting is not permitted (“NO” in step S15), and the control unit 20 ends the process (“END”). On the other hand, if the application being executed is television broadcast reception, the state determination unit 23 determines that the wide viewing angle setting is permitted (“YES” in step S15), and the control unit 20 indicates the determination result. The reception viewing angle setting unit 21 is instructed to set a wide viewing angle on the display unit 13 (step S16).

  According to the processing flow of the second embodiment described above, when the display unit 13 of the mobile communication terminal 1 is first set in the peeping prevention state, the casing takes a horizontal or landscape orientation and is executed. If the application you don't want to be known to others is unlocked.

  A modification of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The modification is a modification of the flow of processing executed with the configuration of the mobile communication terminal 2 described above as it is, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the modification.

  The setting of the narrow viewing angle after the start of processing (step S21) and application selection (step S22) are the same as step S1 in FIG. 3 and step S12 in FIG. 5, respectively. The subsequent steps S23 and S24 are the same as the steps S2 and S3 in FIG. 3, respectively. Therefore, if it is not detected in step S24 that the casing of the mobile communication terminal 2 is horizontally or horizontally long (“NO” in step S24), the control unit 20 ends the process (“END”).

  When it is detected in step S24 that the orientation of the casing of the mobile communication terminal 2 is horizontal or landscape ("YES" in step S24), the control unit 20 performs the first casing 11 and the second casing 12. Waiting for transmission of the mutual open / closed state detection data from the state determination unit 23 ("NO" in step S25).

  If the control unit 20 detects that the first casing 11 and the second casing 12 are in a closed state based on the open / closed state detection data received from the state determination unit 23 (step S26 “ YES ”), the state determination unit 23 determines the relationship between the application being executed and whether or not the wide viewing angle can be set.

  For example, if the application being executed is e-mail transmission / reception, the state determination unit 23 determines that the wide viewing angle setting is not permitted (“NO” in step S27), and the control unit 20 ends the process (“ END "). On the other hand, if the application being executed is television broadcast reception, the state determination unit 23 determines that the wide viewing angle setting is permitted (“YES” in step S27), and the control unit 20 indicates the determination result. The receiving viewing angle setting unit 21 is instructed to set a wide viewing angle on the display unit 13 (step S28).

  According to the processing flow of the modified example of the second embodiment described above, when the display unit 13 of the mobile communication terminal 1 is first set in the peep prevention state, the housing takes a horizontal or horizontally long posture. If the casings are mutually closed and the application to be executed is not of a character that other people do not want to know, the peep prevention is released.

  In the above description of the second embodiment and the modified examples, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are connected via the slide mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a folding or biaxial hinge ( It may be connected via a mechanism such as a double swivel type.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the horizontal or horizontal orientation of the housing, the nature of the application being executed (the degree that it is not desired to be known to others) is a requirement for the peep prevention release, It is possible to achieve both convenience in use and effectiveness in preventing peeping.

  Hereinafter, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a slide type mobile communication terminal 3 that is an electronic apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The mobile communication terminal 3 is assumed to have the same appearance as the mobile communication terminal 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  Among the configurations of the mobile communication terminal 3 illustrated in FIG. 7, the same configurations as those of the mobile communication terminal 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The mobile communication terminal 3 includes a charger detection unit 25 and can detect that it is attached to an external charger (not shown). This is due to, for example, a method of detecting that a voltage applied to a connection terminal (not shown) with the charger exceeds a predetermined value. The charger detection unit 25 is connected to the control unit 20 through, for example, a common bus, and can notify the control unit 20 of the attachment to the charger.

  The operation of the mobile communication terminal 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile communication terminal 3. The setting of the narrow viewing angle after the start of processing (“START”) (step S31) is the same as step S1 in FIG.

  If the charger detector 25 does not detect attachment to the charger (“NO” in step S32), the controller 20 proceeds to the process of step S33. The processing from step S33 through step S37 to the end (“END”) is the same as the processing from step S2 to step S6 in FIG.

  If the charger detection unit 25 detects attachment to the charger (“YES” in step S32), the control unit 20 instructs the viewing angle setting unit 21 to set a wide viewing angle on the display unit 13 (step S32). S37), the process is terminated ("END").

  According to the processing flow described above, even when the mobile communication terminal 3 is in the narrow viewing angle setting state, if the attachment to the charger is detected, the mobile communication terminal 3 is switched to the wide viewing angle setting. Such switching is effective because it is considered that the mobile communication terminal 3 is not often used for applications that the other person does not want to know while wearing the charger.

  The mobile communication terminal can be charged by connecting an external cable (for example, 18-core cable) and supplying power in addition to being attached to the charger. It is treated differently (ie, peep prevention is not released).

  In FIG. 8, step S32 can be provided at an arbitrary position between steps S31 and S37. Further, FIG. 8 is a modification of step S32 added to the flowchart of FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment, but the process corresponding to step S32 is added to the flowchart of FIG. 5 or FIG. You can also add and transform.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the convenience in use can be improved by canceling the prevention of peeping in the state of being mounted on the charger.

  The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The electronic device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is assumed to be the same as the mobile communication terminal 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the mobile communication terminal 1 according to the fourth embodiment. The processing from step S41 to step S46 after the start of the processing (“START”) is the same as the processing from step S1 to S6 in FIG.

  Assume that a voice call or e-mail has been received from the outside to the mobile communication terminal 1 after the peep prevention is canceled by the wide viewing angle setting in step S46 ("YES" in step S47). The signal representing the incoming call is received from an external radio base station (not shown) in FIG. 2 through the antenna 17 and the transmission / reception unit 18 and transmitted to the control unit 20. Then, the control unit 20 instructs the viewing angle setting unit 21 to set a narrow viewing angle on the display unit 13 to thereby prevent peeping (step S48). As a result, when there is an incoming call in the state in which peeping prevention is canceled, it is possible to return to the peeping prevention state and protect the secret of communication.

  FIG. 9 is obtained by adding step S48 to the flowchart of FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment and modifying the flowchart. However, the flowchart of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 according to the second embodiment or its modification, or FIG. This flowchart can be modified by adding a process corresponding to step S48.

  The signal indicating the incoming call can be processed as an interrupt signal for the control unit 20. As another example of such an interrupt signal, an alarm signal or a notification signal of a low voltage state (decrease in the remaining battery level) can be considered. The low-voltage notification signal is not particularly confidential, so it may be left unchecked.However, for other alarm signals that require confidentiality, It may be appropriate to revert to the setting.

  According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to protect the secret of communication by immediately returning to the setting of peeping prevention when there is an incoming call in the state of releasing peeping prevention.

  Note that the types, shapes, configurations, connections, processing flow configurations, sequences, and the like of electronic devices (not necessarily limited to portable communication terminals) in the above description are examples and are within the scope of the present invention. Various variations are possible.

1, 2, 3 Mobile communication terminal 11 First housing 12 Second housing 13 Display unit 14 Reception unit 15 Transmission unit 16 Operation unit 17 Antenna 18 Transmission / reception unit 19 Audio interface unit 20 Control unit 21 Viewing angle setting unit 22 Attitude Detection unit 23 State determination unit 24 TV reception unit 25 Charger detection unit

Claims (6)

A housing,
Display means capable of displaying images and text on the screen;
Viewing angle setting means capable of setting the width of the viewing angle of the display means;
Attitude detection means capable of detecting a three-dimensional attitude of the housing;
A determination means capable of determining whether or not the operating state satisfies a wide viewing angle tolerance condition;
A charger detecting means capable of detecting that the battery is mounted on an external charger; and when the viewing angle setting means sets the viewing angle of the display means to be narrow, the attitude of the housing is horizontal. Alternatively, if the posture detection unit detects that the posture is set to be horizontally long and the determination unit determines that the operation state satisfies a wide viewing angle allowable condition, the viewing angle setting unit may If the charger detection means detects that the angle is set to be wide and is attached to an external charger, the viewing angle setting means sets the viewing angle of the display means to be wide. and a control unit that controls so that,
An electronic device characterized by comprising: The housing has two parts engaged with each other so as to be openable and closable,
It said determining means, electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the casing you determined that the condition is satisfied the operating state of the wide viewing angle allowed when closed to each other. An application selection means capable of selectively executing a plurality of applications;
It said determination means to claim 1, characterized in that you determine whether to satisfy the operating state of the correspondingly wide viewing angle allowed to the type of application that the application selection means selects and executes The electronic device described. An application selection means capable of selectively executing a plurality of applications;
The housing has two parts engaged with each other so as to be openable and closable,
Whether the determination means is in an operation state that satisfies a wide viewing angle tolerance condition corresponding to the type of application selected and executed by the application selection means when the two parts of the casing are closed to each other the electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that you determine whether. It further comprises a communication means capable of performing data or voice transmission / reception with an external device,
The determination means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that you determined that the operating state does not satisfy the if there is data or voice call wide viewing angle tolerance conditions Electronic equipment.   5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the two portions of the casing are engaged with each other so as to be openable and closable via a slide mechanism or a hinge mechanism.

Images