JP2001024921A - Portable electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of both a digital camera function and a personal digital assistant(PDA) function without expanding equipment when both the functions are included together. SOLUTION: A main body 1A of equipment is provided with a liquid crystal display(LCD) panel 3 to be functioned as a finder part when using equipment as a digital camera and to be functioned as a display and input operation part when using equipment as a PDA and corresponding to the selected function, the indication on the LCD panel 3 is vertically inverted so as to mutually vertically invert a display image to be displayed when using the equipment as the digital camera and a display image to be displayed when using the equipment as the PDA. A changeover switch 8 is provided for exclusively switching both the functions and corresponding to switching of the changeover switch 8, the indication is vertically inverted. Besides, a stylus pen 5 is housed in the main body 1A of equipment so as to be inserted/ejected and corresponding to the insertion/ejection of the stylus pen 5, the indication is vertically inverted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a function as a digital camera, and both functions can be selected and used exclusively and used as a digital camera. The present invention relates to a portable electronic device having an image display unit that functions as a finder unit when the device is used, and also functions as a display unit and an input operation unit when used as a PDA. The present invention relates to a portable electronic device configured to switch a display state of an image display unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some digital cameras have an image display section composed of an LCD panel of about 2 inches to 3.5 inches in a camera body, and this image display section is used as a finder. Some have a so-called PDA function that can be used as an electronic mail terminal, an Internet terminal, a scheduler, an address book, and the like.

[0003]

Since the digital camera is designed to be held by the right hand and to press the release button with the forefinger of the right hand, the grip (grip) is disposed at the right end, and the release is located at the top of the grip. Usually, a button is provided. That is, the grip is arranged on the right side of the image display unit. On the other hand, a PDA is generally used in such a manner that it is held with a left hand and buttons are operated with a right hand, and a touch panel (display unit and operation unit) is operated with a stylus pen. That is, the grip is arranged on the left side of the image display unit. Therefore, in the case of a digital camera simply added with the function of a PDA, there is no inconvenience when the digital camera is used as a digital camera. Therefore, in a portable electronic device having both the function of a digital camera and the function of a PDA, it is desirable to arrange grips on both left and right sides of the image display unit. However, arranging the grips on the left and right sides of the image display unit causes an increase in the size of the device. That is, when using the function of the digital camera and the function of using the function of the PDA, the position where the device is held is reversed, so that the usability when using one of the functions is sacrificed, or There is a problem in that the size of the camera must be increased, and either one of grips provided on both sides must be selected. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is an apparatus having both the function of a digital camera and the function of a portable information terminal and capable of exclusively using both functions, and When used as a camera, it functions as a finder unit, and when used as a portable information terminal, an image display unit that functions as a display unit and an input operation unit in a portable electronic device provided in the device main body. An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of both functions without increasing the size of a device by enabling the device to be used upside down so that the function is easy to use.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a portable electronic device according to the present invention is provided with a display image displayed when used as a digital camera, and a display image displayed when used as a portable information terminal. According to the selected function, the display by the image display unit is inverted upside down so that the display images to be displayed are in a vertically inverted relationship with each other. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable electronic device according to the first aspect, there is provided a changeover switch for exclusively switching a function of the digital camera and a function of the portable information terminal. The display by the image display unit is configured to be turned upside down. Claim 3
According to the present invention, in the portable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, the image display unit is configured by a touch panel capable of inputting with a pen, and a pen for performing an input operation with the touch panel is stored in the main body of the device so as to be insertable and removable. The display by the image display unit is turned upside down in accordance with insertion and removal of the pen. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable electronic device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the posture of the device main body, that is, the posture when the portable electronic device is used as a digital camera, or when the portable electronic device is used as a PDA. A posture sensor for detecting whether the posture is detected is provided, and the display by the image display unit is turned upside down according to the detection result of the posture sensor. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the portable electronic device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the portable electronic device further includes a grip state sensor that detects a grip state by a user, and the detection result of the grip state sensor is Accordingly, the display by the image display unit is inverted upside down. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the portable electronic device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
While inverting the display by the image display unit,
The contrast of the display image is automatically adjusted according to the function selected at that time. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the portable electronic device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the display by the image display unit is vertically inverted and the sharpness of the displayed image is selected at that time. It is characterized in that it is configured to automatically adjust according to the function in which it is located. Note that sharpness is also called a picture, enhancer, or the like.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a portable information device showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a state viewed from the front side, and FIG. 1B shows a state viewed from the back side. . 2A and 2B are perspective views showing states of the portable information device shown in FIG. 1 at the time of use. FIG. 2A shows a state at the time of use as a digital camera, and FIG. 2B shows a state at the time of use as a PDA. ing. [Embodiment corresponding to claims 1 and 2] Portable information device 1
Is designed based on the structure of a digital camera. As shown in FIGS. 1 (a), (b) and 2 (a), the device body 1A of the portable information device 1 has a front face. The lens 2, the liquid crystal display panel 3 on the back, and the grip 1B on the right side are provided.
A release button 4 is provided on the lower surface when the DA function is used. The liquid crystal display panel 3 has a touch panel function, and functions as a finder in the camera mode, that is, when the portable information device 1 is used as a digital camera, but in the PDA mode, that is, when the portable information device 1 is used as a PDA. Sometimes it functions as a display and input operation unit. As shown in FIG. 2B, the touch operation on the liquid crystal display panel 3 is performed by bringing the pen tip 5a of the stylus pen 5 into contact with the panel surface. The stylus pen 5 can be stored in the pen storage section 1a of the device main body 1A when not in use. Switching between the camera mode and the PDA mode is performed by pressing a mode changeover switch 8 provided on the lower surface of the grip portion 1B (the upper surface when the PDA function is used). That is, each time the mode switch 8 is pressed, the camera mode and the PDA mode are alternately switched.

[0006] The portable information device 1 configured as described above.
Is in the camera mode, as shown in FIG.
The subject 10 can be imaged by holding the grip 1B with the right hand 11R, pointing the lens 2 toward the subject 10, and pressing the release button 4. At that time, a light image of the subject 10 is formed on the CCD in the device main body 1A via the lens 2. Then, the light image is replaced by an electric signal by a CCD, A / D converted and stored in a memory, and the digital data stored in the memory is subjected to reproduction processing, whereby an erect image 10 ′ of the subject 10 is displayed on a liquid crystal display. Panel 3
Will be displayed. On the other hand, in the PDA mode, the operation screen of the PDA function (e-mail, address book, etc.) is displayed upside down as in the camera mode. Therefore, in the PDA mode, as shown in FIG. 2B, the portable information device 1 is turned upside down from the camera mode, and the grip 1B is held with the left hand 11L and the right hand 11 is held.
The touch operation of the liquid crystal display panel 3 can be performed by using the stylus pen 5 with R. As described above, the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 is performed in accordance with the selected mode so that the display image displayed in the camera mode and the display image displayed in the PDA mode have a vertically inverted relationship. , The entire portable information device 1 can be used upside down in accordance with the selected mode so that the function of the mode can be used easily. In addition, the operability of both functions can be improved. That is, even when the grip portion 1B is provided on only one side, the convenience in using one of the camera mode and the PDA mode is not sacrificed.

A switch 8 for exclusively switching between the camera mode and the PDA mode is provided. Each time the mode switch 8 is pressed, the camera mode and the PDA mode are switched.
The mode can be easily switched by alternately switching between the A mode and the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 being vertically inverted. Some conventional video cameras rotate the liquid crystal display panel in the direction of shooting so that the person to be shot can check the image being shot. The reversal is a mirror image reversal, not a vertical reversal. In addition, the liquid crystal display panel is connected to the video camera body at one end and is configured to be openable and rotatable up and down like a door, and the liquid crystal display panel is opened from a state where the display surface side is stored facing down to the camera body side, By rotating it 180 degrees up and down and storing it again in the camera body, the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel is kept facing outward and the display is adjusted so as to become an erect image. This is to rotate the liquid crystal display panel with respect to the camera body, but not to flip the liquid crystal display panel upside down with the camera body. In addition, the mode after the upside down is not different from the PDA mode, but remains in the camera mode, which is fundamentally different from the present invention.

[Embodiment Corresponding to Claim 3] FIG. 2
As shown in (b), a pen sensor 7 for detecting whether or not the stylus pen 5 is stored in the pen storage unit 1a.
Is provided. When the pen sensor 7 detects that the stylus pen 5 has been pulled out, the control circuit in the device main body 1a determines that the PDA mode has been selected,
The mode automatically shifts to the DA mode, and the operation screen of the PDA function is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 3 in an upside-down state in the camera mode. As described above, the mode is switched in conjunction with the insertion / removal of the stylus pen 5, so that the stylus pen 5 can be moved from the pen storage unit 1a without pressing the mode switch 8 one by one.
By simply pulling out the stylus pen, the function of the PDA can be used immediately. If the stylus pen 5 is stored in the pen storage unit 1a, the camera can be immediately returned to the camera mode. [Embodiment Corresponding to Claim 4] FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b)
As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2A, the posture of the device main body 1a with respect to the vertical direction, that is, the posture when used in the camera mode (the posture as shown in FIG. 2A) or the PDA mode Posture when used in
A posture sensor (up / down sensor) 9 for detecting whether the posture is as shown in FIG. The control circuit in the device main body 1a uses the posture sensor 9 to determine whether the posture of the device main body 1a is a PDA.
If it is detected that the camera is in the posture when used in the mode, it is determined that the PDA mode has been selected, and the mode automatically shifts to the PDA mode. The screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 3. As described above, the attitude sensor 9 for detecting the attitude of the device main body 1a, that is, how the device main body 1a is up and down, is provided, and the detection result is used as a mode switching trigger to invert the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 up and down. The mode change switch 8
You can use it as a digital camera or a PDA by simply changing the way
Or can be used as

[Embodiment Corresponding to Claim 5] FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2A and 2B, a grip state sensor 6 for detecting a grip state by the user is provided on the back surface of the grip portion 1B. Grasping state sensor 6
Is the right hand 11R when used as a digital camera
The sensor detects the thumb of the right hand 11R as shown in FIG. 2A.
It is provided at the position where the thumb of R touches. Equipment body 1a
The control circuit inside determines that the camera mode has been selected when the thumb is detected by the grip state sensor 6, and when the thumb is not detected, automatically shifts to the PDA mode, and the same as in the camera mode. Displays the operation screen of the PDA function on the liquid crystal display panel 3 in the upside down state. As described above, the grip state sensor 6 that detects the grip state of the device main body 1a, that is, whether the grip part 1B is held by the right hand 11R or the left hand 11L is provided, and the detection result is set in the mode. As a trigger for switching, the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 is turned upside down, so that the portable information device 1 can be used as a digital camera or a PDA by simply changing the way of holding the portable information device 1 without pressing the mode switch 8 one by one. Or can be used as The grip state sensor may be any sensor that can detect a different grip state (grip position of the grip portion 1B) depending on the mode, and is not limited to a sensor that detects a thumb.

[0010] A control circuit in the device main body 1a inverts the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 according to the selected mode, and selects the contrast of the displayed image at that time. Automatically adjust according to the mode being set. That is, the control circuit stores in memory the optimum setting value of the contrast in the case where the display is inverted and the case where the display is not inverted, and sets the value of the contrast of the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 to be easy to see in accordance with each case. Automatically switch to. in this way,
The display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 is turned upside down in accordance with the selected mode, and the contrast of the displayed image is automatically adjusted in accordance with the currently selected mode.
Even when used as a DA, it is possible to provide an easy-to-see display with optimal contrast. That is, the liquid crystal display panel generally has a characteristic that the contrast continuously changes depending on the vertical viewing angle, and the optimal value of the contrast adjustment is up and down except when the angle of the line of sight to the screen is vertical (90 degrees). Since the display is different depending on the inversion, the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 is inverted upside down as described above, and by performing the contrast adjustment, it is possible to prevent the display from being difficult to see due to the upside down.

A control circuit in the apparatus main body 1a reverses the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 up and down according to the selected mode, and selects the sharpness of the displayed image at that time. Automatically adjust according to the mode being set. That is, the control circuit stores in advance the optimum sharpness setting value for the case where the display is inverted and the case where the display is not inverted, and sets the value of the sharpness value of the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 to be easy to see in accordance with each case. Automatically switch to. in this way,
The display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 is turned upside down in accordance with the selected mode, and the sharpness of the displayed image is automatically adjusted in accordance with the currently selected mode.
Even when used as a DA, an easy-to-see display with optimal sharpness can be performed. That is, sharpness is an image quality adjustment item of the liquid crystal display panel, and a natural image is displayed in the camera mode, and character information is displayed in the PDA mode. By inverting the display on the liquid crystal display panel 3 and adjusting the sharpness as described above, it is possible to prevent a problem that the display is difficult to see due to the inversion. In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the grip state sensor 6, the pen sensor 7, the mode changeover switch 8 and the attitude sensor 9 are provided as trigger means for switching modes, but all of them are actually provided. It is not necessary to have at least one of these.

[0012]

As described above, the present invention has the following excellent effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the selected function is selected so that the display image displayed when the digital camera is used as a digital camera and the display image displayed when the digital camera is used as a PDA are upside down. In response, the display by the image display unit is configured to be turned upside down, so that the entire portable information device can be used upside down so that the function can be used easily according to the selected function. The operability of both functions can be improved without increasing the size. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display on the image display unit is turned upside down in response to the switching of the changeover switch, so that the function switching and the display switching can be easily performed. According to the third aspect of the present invention, a pen for performing an input operation using the touch panel is stored in the device main body so as to be insertable / removable, and the display on the image display unit is turned upside down according to the insertion / removal of the pen. Function and display can be easily changed without operating the changeover switch and the like. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the display on the image display unit is turned upside down in accordance with the detection result of the posture sensor for detecting the posture of the device main body. Also, it is possible to easily switch the function and the display. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the display on the image display unit is turned upside down according to the detection result of the grip state sensor that detects the grip state by the user. Even if it is not, switching of functions and switching of display can be easily performed. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the display on the image display unit is vertically inverted and the contrast of the displayed image is automatically adjusted according to the function selected at that time.
The best image quality can be obtained both when used as a digital camera and when used as a PDA. Claim 7
According to the invention described above, the display on the image display unit is turned upside down, and the sharpness of the displayed image is automatically adjusted according to the function selected at that time, so that the PDA can be used even as a digital camera. The best image quality can be obtained even when used as.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a portable information device showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state viewed from the front side, and (b) shows a state viewed from the back side. I have.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a state when the portable information device shown in FIG. 1 is used, where FIG. 2A shows a state when used as a digital camera and FIG. 2B shows a state when used as a portable information terminal. Each is shown.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: portable information device, 1A: device body, 1B: grip portion, 1a: pen storage portion, 2: lens, 3: liquid crystal display panel (image display portion), 4: release button, 5: stylus pen, 6: grip State sensor, 7: pen sensor, 8: mode switch, 9: posture sensor, 10: subject, 1
0 ': erect image 11L: left hand, 11R: right hand

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A device which has both a digital camera function and a portable information terminal function and which can be used by exclusively selecting both functions. When used as a digital camera, the device functions as a finder section, A portable electronic device equipped with an image display unit that functions as a display unit and an input operation unit when used as a terminal, a display image displayed when used as a digital camera, and a display image displayed when used as a portable information terminal A portable electronic device characterized in that the display on the image display unit is turned upside down in accordance with a selected function so that the displayed image and the displayed image are turned upside down. 2. A switch for exclusively switching between a function of a digital camera and a function of a portable information terminal, wherein the display on the image display unit is vertically inverted in accordance with the switching of the switch. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image display unit is configured by a touch panel capable of inputting with a pen, and a pen for performing an input operation by the touch panel is removably stored in a device main body, and the image is displayed in accordance with the insertion and removal of the pen. 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display on the display unit is turned upside down. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a posture sensor for detecting a posture of the device main body, wherein a display by said image display unit is vertically inverted in accordance with a result of detection by said posture sensor. 4. The portable electronic device according to any one of 3. 5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a grip state sensor for detecting a grip state by a user, wherein a display by said image display unit is turned upside down in accordance with a detection result of said grip state sensor. Item 5. The portable electronic device according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the image display unit is inverted upside down, and the contrast of the displayed image is automatically adjusted according to a function selected at that time. The portable electronic device according to claim 1. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display by the image display unit is vertically inverted, and the sharpness of the displayed image is automatically adjusted according to a function selected at that time. The portable electronic device according to claim 1.