CN101477431A - Handheld electronic device and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A handheld electronic device and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes: a virtual keyboard and a touch screen. The virtual keyboard includes a plurality of key regions. The touch screen is provided with an input area, and the input area displays one of the key areas. When the touch screen detects that a user performs a sliding motion in the input area, the input area displays another key area of the key areas, and does not display other key areas.

Description

Handheld electronic device and method of operation thereof

technical field

The present invention relates to an electronic device and its operating method, and in particular to a handheld electronic device and its operating method.

Background technique

In recent years, computers and mobile phones have become indispensable electronic products for modern people. With the vigorous development of the electronics industry, handheld electronic devices that combine computer and mobile phone functions, such as Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Smart Phone (Smart Phone), Tablet PC (Tablet PC), and super mobile Computers (Ultra-Mobile PC, UMPC) have also come out one after another.

The operation mode of the handheld electronic device can use a stylus or a finger to click on the touch screen, or can use a navigation key (navigation key) to directly control. Due to the small size of the handheld electronic device, in order to save the configuration space of the physical keyboard, handwriting recognition input or virtual keyboard input is used for text input.

The virtual keyboard is displayed on the touch screen of the handheld electronic device, and its appearance is a small standard (Qwerty) keyboard, and the user can use a stylus to click preset keys on the virtual keyboard. When the content to be input is not included in the preset keys of the virtual keyboard, at least one specific key must be pressed to switch to display other keyboard layout modes. However, when it is necessary to input Chinese, English or even symbols, the switching times will tend to be frequent, which makes the text input process seem complicated.

Contents of the invention

The invention relates to a hand-held electronic device and its operating method, which can quickly switch and display different key areas on the touch screen during the input process.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a handheld electronic device is provided, including: a virtual keyboard and a touch screen. The virtual keyboard includes a plurality of keypads. The touch screen has an input area, and the input area displays one of the keypads. When the touch screen detects that a user performs a sliding action in the input area, the input area displays another key area among the key areas and does not display other key areas.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a handheld electronic device is proposed, including: firstly, starting a virtual keyboard, and the virtual keyboard includes several key areas, wherein one of the key areas is displayed on the electronic on an input area of a touch screen of the device. Next, a sliding action performed by a user on the input area is detected. At this time, another keypad among the keypads is displayed in the input area, and other keypads are not displayed. Finally, a pressing action of the user on the other keypad is detected to perform input.

In order to make the above-mentioned content of the present invention more obvious and understandable, a preferred embodiment is specifically cited below, together with the accompanying drawings, and described in detail as follows:

Description of drawings

FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of operating a handheld electronic device with finger touch.

FIG. 1B shows a flowchart of an operating method of a handheld electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a prismatic keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2C shows a perspective perspective view of the prismatic keyboard of Figure 2A.

3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a disc-shaped keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3C shows a schematic perspective view of the disc-shaped keyboard of Fig. 3A.

4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a spherical keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4C shows a perspective perspective view of the ball keyboard of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A shows a schematic diagram of operating another handheld electronic device by finger touch.

FIG. 5B shows a flowchart of an operating method of a handheld electronic device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a double-corner columnar keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6C shows a perspective perspective view of the dual-corner columnar keyboard of FIG. 6A.

7A and 7B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a double-disk keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7C shows a schematic perspective view of the dual disc-shaped keyboard of FIG. 7A .

Fig. 7D shows a schematic diagram of another double disc keyboard.

8A and 8B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a double-ball keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8C shows a perspective perspective view of the dual-ball keyboard of FIG. 8A.

Description of main component symbols

10, 50, 200, 300, 400, 600, 700, 800: Handheld electronic devices

12, 52, 220, 320, 420, 620, 710, 720, 820: touch screen

14, 54, 55, 240, 340, 440: input area

260, 360, 460: virtual keyboard

260a, 360a, 660a, 670a: rectangular surface

262, 264, 266, 362, 364, 462, 464, 466: keypad

360a, 780a, 790a: round surface

460a, 860a, 870a: spherical surface

640, 740, 840: left input area

650, 750, 850: Right input area

660, 760, 860: Rotate the keyboard to the left

670, 770, 870: Rotate the keyboard right

662, 664, 666, 762, 764, 766, 768, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 861, 862, 864, 866, 868: left button area

672, 674, 676, 772, 774, 776, 778, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 871, 872, 874, 876, 878: Right button area

Detailed ways

The operating method of the handheld electronic device of the present invention can be applied to personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), smart phone (Smart Phone), tablet computer (Tablet PC), ultra mobile computer (Ultra-Mobile PC, UMPC) and other electronic devices with touch screens. Please refer to FIG. 1A , which shows a schematic diagram of operating a hand-held electronic device with finger touch. The handheld electronic device 10 includes at least a touch screen 12 , and the touch screen 12 has an input area 14 . The input area 14 is located at the bottom of the touch screen 12 , allowing the user to directly touch the input area 14 when holding the handheld electronic device 10 . The handheld electronic device 10 is preferably an ultra-mobile computer, its body shape is between a notebook computer (Notebook computer) and a personal digital assistant, its size is just enough to be held by both hands, and the touch screen 12 can be directly clicked with the thumb to perform operations. operation or text input.

first embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 1B , which shows a flowchart of an operating method of a handheld electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and please refer to FIG. 1A , which shows a schematic diagram of operating a handheld electronic device with finger touch. The operation method of the handheld electronic device 10 includes: firstly, start a virtual keyboard (not shown in FIG. The input area 14. Next, in step 120 , a sliding action performed by a user on the input area 14 is detected, and the virtual keyboard is rotated accordingly to switch several key regions of the virtual keyboard. The sliding action can be a horizontal movement, a vertical movement, a clockwise movement, a counterclockwise movement or an arc movement. Then in step 130, another key area among the keys is displayed in the input area 14, and other key areas are not displayed, that is, the originally displayed key area and other key areas are hidden. Finally, in step 140 , a pressing action performed by the user on the other keypad is detected to perform an input. The operation method of this embodiment further includes step 150, determining whether to switch the key area again; if it is not necessary to switch the input area, the method ends after the input is completed. If the input area still needs to be switched, another sliding action performed by the user in the input area 14 is detected again in step 160, and the virtual keyboard is rotated accordingly, so that one of the hidden key areas is displayed in the input area 14 and the originally displayed one is displayed. The other keypad is hidden, and the process returns to step 140 to continue inputting. At this time, the keypad pressed for performing input is the keypad displayed after switching. Then, the user can decide in step 150 whether to continue to execute step 160 or to end the method according to his needs.

In addition, in the operation method of this embodiment, when executing step 120, the virtual keyboard is rotated and a first sound effect is generated in response to switching the keypad, and a second sound effect is generated in response to pressing the keypad when executing step 140. sound effects

The virtual keyboard described in the operation method of this embodiment may actually be a prismatic keyboard, a plate keyboard, a sphere keyboard or other keyboards with rotatable properties. The virtual keyboard includes a plurality of keypads. Preferably, the several keypads include an alphabet keypad, a number (number) keypad, a symbol (symbol) keypad and a character (character) keypad. In addition, the several keypads can also be keypads with different base maps, keypads with different colors, or keypads with different fonts.

Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B , which are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a prismatic keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device 200 includes: a columnar keyboard 260 and a touch screen 220 . The touch screen 220 has an input area 240 . Figure 2C shows a perspective perspective view of the prismatic keyboard of Figure 2A. The prismatic keyboard 260 has a plurality of rectangular surfaces 260a and includes a plurality of keypads 262 (shown in FIG. 2B ), 264 and 266 (shown in FIG. 2C ). The keypads 262, 264, 266 are arranged consecutively along the rectangular surface 260a. The input area 240 allows the user to rotate the angular columnar keyboard 260 to switch between the keypads 262 , 264 and 266 .

In FIG. 2A , the keypad 264 is displayed in the input area 240 and other keypads are hidden. At this time, the input area 240 can provide a key area 264 for the user to press and display. When the user wants to switch the displayed keypad 264 to other keypads, the user can click and drag any point P1 in the input area 240 to move along the direction A1. At this time, the prismatic keyboard 260 can be rotated along the rotation axis X1 so as to display different key areas. More specifically, the touch screen 220 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the prismatic keyboard 260 rotates from one angle to another as the point P1 moves. Therefore, the key area 264 corresponding to the angle is hidden immediately, and the key area 262 corresponding to another angle is displayed immediately, that is, the key area 264 in FIG. 2A is automatically switched to the key area 262 in FIG. 2B .

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B , which are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a disk-shaped keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device 300 includes: a disk-shaped keyboard 360 and a touch screen 320 . The touch screen 320 has an input area 340 . Figure 3C shows a perspective perspective view of the puck-shaped keyboard of Figure 3A. The disk-shaped keyboard 360 has a circular surface 360 a and includes a plurality of key areas 362 and 364 , and the key areas 362 and 364 are sector-shaped. In addition, the keypads 362 and 364 are arranged consecutively on the circular surface 360a. The input area 340 allows the user to rotate the disc-shaped keyboard 360 to switch between the key areas 362 and 364 .

In FIG. 3A , the keypad 362 is displayed in the input area 340 and other keypads are hidden. At this time, the input area 340 can provide a key area 362 for the user to press and display. When the user wants to switch the displayed keypad 362 to other keypads, the user can click and drag any point P2 in the input area 340 to move along the direction A2. The direction A2 is substantially a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. At this time, the touch screen 320 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the disk-shaped keyboard 360 rotates from one angle to another as the point P2 moves. Therefore, the key area 362 corresponding to the angle is hidden immediately, and the key area 364 corresponding to another angle is displayed immediately, that is, the key area 362 in FIG. 3A is automatically switched to the key area 364 in FIG. 3B .

Please refer to FIGS. 4A and 4B , which illustrate a schematic diagram of the operation of a handheld electronic device with a spherical keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device 400 includes: a spherical keyboard 460 and a touch screen 420 . The touch screen 420 has an input area 440 . Figure 4C shows a perspective perspective view of the ball keyboard of Figure 4A. The spherical keyboard 460 has a spherical surface 460a and includes a plurality of key areas 462 (as shown in FIG. 4B ), 464 and 466 (as shown in FIG. 4C ). Wherein, the shape of the key areas 462, 464 and 466 is a spherical sector, and the key areas 462, 464 and 466 are arranged consecutively on the circular surface 460a. The input area 440 allows the user to rotate the spherical keyboard 460 to switch between the key areas 462 , 464 and 466 .

In FIG. 4A , the keypad 464 is displayed in the input area 440 and other keypads are hidden. At this time, the input area 440 can provide a key area 464 that the user presses to display. When the user wants to switch the displayed keypad 464 to other keypads, the user can click and drag any point P3 in the input area 440 to move along the direction A3 or A3'. At this time, the touch screen 420 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the spherical keyboard 460 rotates from one angle to another as the point P3 moves. Therefore, the key zone 464 corresponding to this angle is hidden immediately, and the key zone 462 or 466 corresponding to another angle is displayed immediately; that is, the key zone 464 of FIG. 4A is automatically switched along with the movement of P3 along the direction A3 It is the key area 462 in FIG. 4B , or automatically switches from the key area 464 in FIG. 4A to the key area 466 in FIG. 4C as P3 moves along the direction A3 ′.

second embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which shows a flow chart of an operating method of a handheld electronic device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and please refer to FIG. 5A , which shows a schematic diagram of operating another handheld electronic device with finger touch . The operation method of the handheld electronic device 50 includes: first, start a virtual keyboard (not shown in FIG. 5A ) in step 510, the left and right rotating keyboards of the virtual keyboard respectively include several left and right button areas and display one of them respectively. The keypads are in the left and right input areas 54 and 55 of the touch screen 52 . Then, in step 520, detect a sliding action performed by a user in the left input area 54 or the right input area 55, and accordingly rotate the left and right rotary keyboard synchronously to switch several left key areas of the left rotary keyboard and switch the right rotary keyboard Several right keypads for . The sliding action includes a horizontal movement, a vertical movement, a clockwise movement, a counterclockwise movement and an arc movement. Immediately in step 530, one of the left keypad is displayed in the left input area 54, and other left keypads are not displayed, that is, the originally displayed keypad and other left keypads are hidden, and the right keypad is displayed synchronously. One is in the right input area 55, and the other right keypads are not displayed, that is, the originally displayed keypad and other right keypads are hidden. At this time, the displayed left keypad corresponds to the displayed right keypad. Finally, in step 540 , a pressing action performed by the user on at least one of the other left and right keypads is detected to perform an input. However, the left and right button areas can also be switched separately without switching at the same time.

The operation method of this embodiment further includes step 550, determining whether to switch the key area again; if it is not necessary to switch the input area, the method ends after the input is completed. If the input area still needs to be switched, another sliding action performed by the user in the left input area or the right input area is detected again in step 560, and the left and right rotation keyboard is rotated synchronously, so that a hidden left key area and a right key area are hidden. The keypads are respectively displayed in the left and right input areas 54 and 55 to hide the originally displayed left and right keypads, and then return to step 540 to continue the input. Left and right button area. Then, the user can decide in step 550 whether to continue to execute step 560 or end the method according to his needs.

In addition, in the operation method of this embodiment, when executing step 520, the virtual keyboard can be rotated in response to switching the left or right button area, so as to generate a first sound effect; The pressing of the area produces a second sound effect.

The left-right rotating keyboard described in the operation method of this embodiment may actually be a double-corner columnar keyboard, a double-plate keyboard, a double-sphere keyboard or other double-keyboards with rotatable characteristics. The left and right rotating keyboard includes a plurality of left and right key areas. Preferably, the left and right keypads include a set of alphabet keypads, a set of number (number) keypads, a set of symbol (symbol) keypads and a set of character (character) keypads. In addition, these left and right keypads can also be multiple sets of keypads with different base maps, multiple sets of keypads with different colors, or multiple sets of keypads with different fonts, and each set of corresponding left keypad and right keypad The keypads have the same base map, the same color, or the same font.

The main difference between this second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the virtual keyboard of this embodiment has a double-keyboard combination with a left-right rotating keyboard, and the keypads displayed by the left-right rotating keyboard correspond to letters, numbers, and symbols or characters, etc., or correspondingly have the same basemap, color or font. Preferably, the left input area and the right input area are respectively located at the lower left corner and the lower right corner of the touch screen, and the left and right hands of the user are respectively corresponding to the left input area and the right input area when holding the handheld electronic device, so that the user Use the left and right hands to directly touch the left input area and the right input area respectively. In particular, the user only needs to rotate one of the rotating keyboards with one-handed thumb touch, and the other rotating keyboard can be rotated correspondingly and synchronously.

Please refer to FIGS. 6A and 6B , which are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a double-corner columnar keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device 600 includes: a dual-corner columnar keyboard and a touch screen 620 . The double-cornered columnar keyboard includes left and right rotating keyboards 660 and 670 , and the touch screen 620 has left and right input areas 640 and 650 correspondingly. FIG. 6C shows a perspective perspective view of the dual-corner columnar keyboard of FIG. 6A. The left and right rotary keyboards 660 and 670 are prismatic keyboards, each having a rectangular surface 660a and 670a, and the left and right rotary keyboards 660 and 670 include several left keypads 662 (shown in FIG. 6B ), 664 and 666 (shown in FIG. 6B ), respectively. 6C) and several right button areas 672 (shown in FIG. 6B ), 674 and 676 (shown in FIG. 6C ). The left button areas 662 , 664 , 666 and the right button areas 672 , 674 , 676 are successively arranged along the rectangular surfaces 660 a and 670 a respectively. The left and right input areas 640 and 650 allow the user to rotate the left and right rotary keyboards 660 and 670 to switch the left key areas 662 , 664 and 666 and the right key areas 672 , 674 and 676 respectively.

In FIG. 6A , the left and right keypads 664 and 674 are displayed in the left and right input areas 640 and 650 respectively and the other keypads are hidden. At this time, the left and right input areas 640 and 650 can respectively provide the left and right button areas 664 and 674 to be pressed by the user, and the contents and actions of the displayed left button area 664 and the displayed right button area 674 are corresponding. When the user wants to switch the displayed left and right button areas 664 and 674 to other button areas, the user can click and drag any point P4 in the left input area 640 to move along the direction A4. At this time, the left corner columnar keyboard 660 can be rotated along the rotation axis X2, so as to display different left key areas. In more detail, the touch screen 620 detects the sliding action on the left input area 640, so the left corner columnar keyboard 660 rotates from a first angle to another first angle as the point P4 moves. . Therefore, the left key area 664 corresponding to the first angle is hidden immediately, and the left key area 662 corresponding to another first angle is displayed immediately, that is, the left key area 664 in FIG. 6A is automatically switched to the left key area 662 in FIG. 6B . Likewise, the right-rotating keyboard rotates from a second angle to another second angle correspondingly with the rotation of the left-rotating keyboard. Therefore, the right key area 674 corresponding to the second angle is hidden immediately, and the right key area 672 corresponding to another second angle is displayed immediately, that is, the right key area 674 in FIG. 6A is automatically switched to the right key area 672 in FIG. 6B . In addition, the user can also click and drag any point P5 in the right input area 650 to move along the direction A5, so as to achieve the purpose of switching the displayed left and right key areas 664 and 674 into other key areas. At this time, the right corner columnar keyboard 670 can be rotated along the rotation axis X3, so as to display different right key areas. In more detail, the touch screen 620 detects the sliding action on the right input area, so the right corner columnar keyboard 670 rotates from the second angle to another second angle along with the movement of the point P5. Therefore, the right key area 674 corresponding to the second angle is hidden immediately, and the right key area 672 corresponding to another second angle is displayed immediately, that is, the right key area 674 in FIG. 6A is automatically switched to the right key area 672 in FIG. 6B . Likewise, the left-rotating keyboard rotates correspondingly from the first angle to another first angle as the right-rotating keyboard rotates. Therefore, the left key area 664 corresponding to the first angle is hidden immediately, and the left key area 662 corresponding to another first angle is displayed immediately, that is, the left key area 664 in FIG. 6A is automatically switched to the left key area 662 in FIG. 6B .

Please refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B , which are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of a handheld electronic device with a disk-shaped keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device 700 includes: a pair of disk-shaped keyboards and a touch screen 720 . The double disk-shaped keyboard includes left and right rotating keyboards 760 and 770 , and the touch screen 720 has left and right input areas 740 and 750 . Fig. 7C shows a perspective perspective view of the dual disc keyboard of Fig. 7A. The left and right rotary keyboards 660 and 670 of the double disc-shaped keyboard each have a circular surface 660a and 670a, respectively including several left key areas 762, 764, 766 and 768 and right key areas 772, 774, 776 and 778. The shapes of the left key areas 762, 764, 766 and 768 and the right key areas 772, 774, 776 and 778 are fan-shaped, and the left key areas 762, 764, 766 and 768 and the right key areas 772, 774, 776 and 778 are respectively located at They are arranged consecutively on the circular surfaces 760a and 770a. The left and right input areas 740 and 750 allow the user to rotate the left and right rotary keyboards 660 and 670 of the double disc-shaped keyboard to switch between the left key areas 762 , 764 , 766 and 768 and the right key areas 772 , 774 , 776 and 778 .

In FIG. 7A , the left and right keypads 762 and 772 are displayed in the left and right input areas 740 and 750 respectively and the other keypads are hidden. At this time, the left and right input areas 740 and 750 can provide the user to press the displayed left and right key areas 762 and 772 , and the displayed left key area 762 and the displayed right key area 772 have corresponding contents and actions. When the user wants to switch the displayed left and right button areas 762 and 772 to other button areas, the user can click and drag any point P6 in the left input area 740 to move along the direction A6. The direction A6 is substantially a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. At this time, the touch screen 720 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the left disk-shaped keyboard 760 rotates from a first angle to another first angle as the point P6 moves. Therefore, the left button area 762 corresponding to the first angle is hidden immediately, and the left button area 764 corresponding to another first angle is displayed immediately, that is, the left button area 762 in FIG. 7A is automatically switched to the left button area 764 in FIG. 7B . Likewise, the right rotation keyboard 770 rotates from a second angle to another second angle correspondingly with the rotation of the left rotation keyboard 760 . Therefore, the right key area 772 corresponding to the second angle is hidden immediately, and the right key area 774 corresponding to another second angle is displayed immediately, that is, the right key area 774 in FIG. 7A is automatically switched to the right key area 772 in FIG. 7B . In addition, the user can also click and drag any point P7 in the right input area 750 to move along the direction A7, so as to achieve the purpose of switching the displayed left and right key areas 762 and 772 into other key areas. The direction A7 is substantially a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. At this time, the touch screen 720 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the right disc-shaped keyboard 770 rotates from the second angle to another second angle along with the movement of the point P7. Therefore, the right key area 772 corresponding to the second angle is hidden immediately, and the right key area 772 corresponding to another second angle is displayed immediately, that is, the right key area 772 in FIG. 7A is automatically switched to the right key area 774 in FIG. 7B . Likewise, the left-rotating keyboard rotates correspondingly from the first angle to another first angle as the right-rotating keyboard rotates. Therefore, the left button area 764 corresponding to the first angle is hidden immediately, and the left button area 762 corresponding to another first angle is displayed immediately, that is, the left button area 762 in FIG. 7A is automatically switched to the left button area 764 in FIG. 7B .

Please refer to FIG. 7D , which shows a schematic perspective view of another double disc-shaped keyboard. The aforementioned double disc-shaped keyboard of FIG. 7C includes four left keypads 762, 764, 766 and 768 and four right keypads 772, 774, 776 and 778, while the other double-disc-shaped keyboard of FIG. 7D includes ten Left keypads 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788 and 789 and ten right keypads 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798 and 799. Compared with the double disc-shaped keyboard in FIG. 7C , the design of another double-disc-shaped keyboard in FIG. 7D can include more left and right button areas to provide users with more options for input switching, from which they can select the required left and right buttons area to be displayed on the touch screen 710 . Therefore, according to the design method of FIG. 7D , when the area of the circular surfaces 780 a and 790 a of the double disc-shaped keyboard is larger, more fan-shaped areas can be configured to serve as left and right keypads.

Please refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B , which illustrate a schematic diagram of the operation of a handheld electronic device with a double ball keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device 800 includes: a pair of spherical keyboards and a touch screen 820 . The double ball keyboard includes left and right rotation keyboards 860 and 870 , and the touch screen 820 has left and right input areas 840 and 850 . FIG. 8C shows a perspective perspective view of the dual-ball keyboard of FIG. 8A. The left and right rotating keyboards 860 and 870 of the double spherical keyboard each have a spherical surface 860a and 870a, and the left and right rotating keyboards 860 and 870 respectively include a plurality of left button areas 861 (as shown in FIG. 8B ), 862, 864, 866 and 868 (as shown in FIG. 8C ) and the right button area 871 (as shown in FIG. 8B ), 872 , 874 , 876 and 878 (as shown in FIG. 8C ). The shapes of the left key areas 861, 862, 864, 866, and 868 and the right key areas 871, 872, 874, 876, and 878 are roughly spherical fan-shaped, and the left key areas 861, 862, 864, 866, and 868 and the right key areas 871 , 872, 874, 876 and 878 are arranged successively on the circular surfaces 860a and 870a respectively. The left and right input areas 840 and 850 provide the left and right rotary keyboards 860 and 870 of the spherical keyboard for the user to switch between the left key areas 861 , 862 , 864 , 866 and 868 and the right key areas 871 , 872 , 874 , 876 and 878 respectively.

In FIG. 8A , the left and right keypads 862 and 872 are displayed in the left and right input areas 840 and 850 respectively and the other keypads are hidden. At this time, the left and right input areas 840 and 850 can provide the left and right button areas 862 and 872 that the user presses to display. When the user wants to switch the displayed left and right button areas 862 and 872 to other button areas, the user can click and drag any point P8 in the left input area 840 to move along the direction A8 or A8'. At this time, the touch screen 820 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the left-rotating keyboard 860 rotates from a first angle to another first angle as the point P8 moves. Therefore, the left button area 862 corresponding to the first angle is hidden immediately, and the left button area 861 or 864 corresponding to another first angle is displayed immediately; The left key area 862 automatically switches to the key area 861 in FIG. 8B , or automatically switches from the key area 862 in FIG. 8A to the key area 864 in FIG. 4C as P8 moves along the direction A8'. Likewise, the right rotation keyboard 870 rotates from a second angle to another second angle correspondingly with the rotation of the left rotation keyboard 860 . Therefore, the right button area 872 corresponding to the second angle is hidden immediately, and the right button area 871 or 874 corresponding to another second angle is displayed immediately, that is, the right button area 872 of FIG. 8A is automatically switched to the right button of FIG. 8B District 871. In addition, the user can also click and drag any point P9 in the right input area 850 to move along the direction A9, so as to achieve the purpose of switching the displayed left and right key areas 862 and 872 into other key areas. The direction A9 is substantially a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. At this time, the touch screen 820 detects the sliding action on the input area, so the right disk-shaped keyboard 870 rotates from the second angle to another second angle along with the movement of the point P9. Therefore, the right button area 872 corresponding to the second angle is hidden immediately, and the right button area 871 or 874 corresponding to another second angle is displayed immediately, that is, the right button area 872 of FIG. 8A is automatically switched to the right button of FIG. 8B area 871 or the right button area 874 of FIG. 8C. Likewise, the left-rotating keyboard rotates correspondingly from the first angle to another first angle as the right-rotating keyboard rotates. Therefore, the left button area 862 corresponding to the first angle is hidden immediately, and the left button area 861 or 864 corresponding to another first angle is displayed immediately, that is, the left button area 862 of FIG. 8A is automatically switched to the left button of FIG. 8B Area 864 or the left button area 864 of FIG. 8C.

The handheld electronic device and its operating method disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention provide a virtual keyboard with various key areas, and the user rotates the virtual keyboard through the input area of the touch screen to quickly switch and display different keys area on the touch screen. In addition, during the operation, sound effects can be generated synchronously in response to the rotation of the rotary dial or the pressing of the keypad, so as to increase the fun of operation. Furthermore, when the user holds the handheld electronic device with his hands, he can directly rotate the virtual keyboard by clicking and dragging his fingers to perform switching operations, and can press the virtual keyboard with his fingers to input text.

In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed as above with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art of the present invention can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the claims.

Claims (17)

1. portable electric device comprises:

One dummy keyboard comprises a plurality of key zones; And

One Touch Screen, has an input area, this input area show those key zones one of them, wherein detect a user when this input area carries out a sliding action when this Touch Screen, this input area shows those key zones another key zone wherein, and does not show other those key zones.

2. portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein this input area is positioned at the lower end of this Touch Screen, so that this user this input area of direct touch-control when gripping this electronic installation.

3. portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein respectively this key zone be shaped as rectangle, fan-shaped or sphere is fan-shaped.

4. portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein those key zones are arranged in a corner post shape keyboard, a discoid keyboard or a spherical keyboard.

5. portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein those key zones comprise an alphabet key district, a digital keys district, a symbol keys district and a character key zone.

6. portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein those key zones are key zone with different base maps, have the key zone of different colours or have the key zone of different fonts.

7. portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein this input area is divided into a left input area and a right input area, and those key zones also are divided into most left button districts and most right key zones, wherein should left side input area show those left button districts one of them, and should right side input area show those right key zones one of them, when this Touch Screen detects this user when this left side input area carries out this sliding action, this left side input area shows wherein another of those left button districts, and when this Touch Screen detects this user when this right side input area carries out this sliding action, this right side input area shows wherein another of those right key zones.

8. portable electric device according to claim 7, wherein should left side input area and this right side input area lay respectively at the lower left corner and the lower right corner of this Touch Screen so that this user respectively should left side input area and this right side input area with the direct touch-control of right-hand man.

9. portable electric device according to claim 7, wherein respectively this left button district be shaped as rectangle, fan-shaped or sphere is fan-shaped, and this each right key zone be shaped as rectangle, fan-shaped or sphere is fan-shaped.

10. portable electric device according to claim 7, wherein those left button districts are arranged in a corner post shape keyboard, a discoid keyboard or a spherical keyboard, and those right key zones are arranged in a corner post shape keyboard, a discoid keyboard or a spherical keyboard.

11. the method for operating of a portable electric device comprises:

Start a dummy keyboard, and this dummy keyboard comprises a plurality of key zones, wherein those key zones one of them be shown on the input area of a Touch Screen of this electronic installation;

Detect the sliding action that a user carries out at this input area;

Show those key zones another key zone wherein on this input area, and do not show other those key zones; And

Detect the push action of this user, to carry out input at this another key zone.

12. method of operating according to claim 11, the step that wherein detects this sliding action comprises:

Detection occurs in this sliding action on this input area, and wherein this sliding action is a bit moving along a direction in this input area; And

Show that the step of this another key zone on this input area comprises:

This dummy keyboard along with moving of this point from an angular turn to another angle; And

Hide key zone, and show key zone corresponding to this another angle corresponding to this angle.

13. method of operating according to claim 11, wherein this sliding action comprises that horizontal direction moves, vertical direction moves, a clockwise direction moves, a counter clockwise direction moves with an arcuation direction and moves.

14. method of operating according to claim 11, wherein this method also comprises:

Produce one first audio in response to the switching of those key zones; And

Produce one second audio in response to the pushing of key zone of this demonstration.

15. method of operating according to claim 11, wherein this input area is divided into a left input area and a right input area, and those key zones also are divided into most left button districts and most right key zones, and the step of this this sliding action of detection comprises:

Detection betides this left side input area or this sliding action that should right side input area, and the step of this another key zone of this demonstration on this input area comprises:

Show that simultaneously corresponding this left button district and this right side key zone are in this left side input area and this right side input area.

16. method of operating according to claim 11, wherein this sliding action comprises that horizontal direction moves, vertical direction moves, a clockwise direction moves, a counter clockwise direction moves with an arcuation direction and moves.

17. method of operating according to claim 11, wherein this method also comprises:

Produce one first audio in response to the switching of those left button districts or those right key zones; And

Produce one second audio in response to left or the pushing of right key zone of this demonstration.

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