JP2004178547A - Portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile telephone or the like capable of detecting a direction in which an operator touches the mobile telephone or the like, and of realizing a desired function according to the detected direction. <P>SOLUTION: This portable electronic device has: an impedance sensing means installed in a planar form in the vicinity of a surface of a case body; a means for obtaining a direction of a detection region based on the shape of a region of which the impedance change is sensed by the impedance sensing means; a means for obtaining a predetermined position from the inside of the region of which the impedance change is sensed by the impedance sensing means to collectively generate the temporal change of the position as an operation input signal; and a means for controlling the section of the operation input signal generated according to the direction of the obtained detection region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a notebook computer (hereinafter, referred to as a “mobile phone”). More specifically, the present invention relates to a mobile telephone or the like which detects a direction in which an operator touches the mobile telephone or the like and realizes a desired function according to the detected direction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A mobile telephone or the like having a function of detecting a direction in which an operator touches the mobile telephone or the like and a function of realizing a desired function according to the detected direction is not known.
In a device having a function of recognizing a character handwritten on a touch pad with a stylus pen or the like, a break between a handwritten character and the next handwritten character is separately input.
[0003]
A user interface that has the same key input function as the conventional one and also has the input function as a touch pad by configuring a keypad using a key mat with a capacitance sensing plate on the lower surface side A device (user interface device such as a mobile phone) has been disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-196856.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile telephone or the like having a function of detecting a direction in which an operator touches the mobile telephone or the like, and capable of realizing a desired function according to the direction detected by the function.
The desired functions include, for example, (1) a function of giving a character-to-character separation to an application that recognizes handwritten characters, (2) a function of executing a process determined according to a detected direction, and (3) detection of And a function of executing processing determined for each application according to the direction of the application.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The configuration of the present invention is shown in the following [1] to [11].
[1] A portable electronic device that operates according to an operation input signal,
Impedance sensing means provided in a plane on at least a part of the surface or near the surface of the case body of the portable electronic device,
Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means;
An input signal generating means for obtaining a predetermined position from within the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means and collectively generating a temporal change in the position as an operation input signal,
An input signal control unit that controls a break of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation unit according to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation unit,
A portable electronic device comprising:
[0007]
Examples of the impedance sensing means include, but are not limited to, a capacitance sensing means. Known impedance sensing means such as a means for sensing a change in resistance may be used as appropriate. One specific example of the capacitance sensing means will be described in detail in the embodiment section.
The impedance sensing means is provided in a plane on the whole or a part of the surface or near the surface of the case of the portable electronic device. The planar shape includes not only a planar shape but also a curved shape such as along the surface of the case body. The impedance sensing means may be a plate or a flexible film.
[0008]
The “method of obtaining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the impedance change detection area” will be described with reference to FIG.
The grid of FIG. 5A includes a stripe-shaped first electrode 31a group of the capacitance type sensor 30 which is a specific example of the impedance sensing means, and a stripe-shaped first electrode 31a group in a direction orthogonal to the first electrode 31a group. 2 shows a group of two electrodes 32a. The first electrode group 31a is formed on a first plate, and the second electrode group 32a is formed on a second plate that is integrally bonded to the first plate.
When the finger F comes into contact with (or approaches to about 1 mm) the capacitance sensor 30, the capacitance between the first electrode 31a and the second electrode 32a changes near the contact portion, and this is output as a signal. Thus, the contact of the finger F is detected.
Now, let us consider a case where the finger F comes into contact from an oblique direction (approximately 130 ° in the illustrated XY coordinate system) as shown in FIG. At this time, a portion where the capacitance changes in the capacitance type sensor 30 is within a deformed ellipse T indicated by a broken line in FIG. The major axis direction CL of the deformed ellipse T is substantially the direction of the finger F. The short axis direction CS is a direction substantially orthogonal to the long axis direction CL. The center of gravity G of the deformed ellipse T is located at a position near the tip of the finger F in the deformed ellipse T (see FIG. 5B).
Therefore, the direction of the finger F (the direction of the detection area) is detected by determining the shape (the side where the position of the center of gravity exists) and the inclination of the change range of the capacitance (the range of the deformation ellipse T) due to the contact of the finger F. We can see that we can do it.
Note that the coordinates of each point in the modified ellipse T may be approximated to a straight line by the square error minimization method, and the direction of the finger F may be obtained from the inclination of the straight line.
In addition, when the outline of the figure greatly deviates from the ellipse due to the accuracy of the capacitive sensor 30 or noise, the ellipse is formed using a general method used for pattern processing such as expansion and contraction of the area. It may be brought closer.
[0009]
A description will be given of "determining a predetermined position from within the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means and collectively setting a temporal change of the position as an operation input signal".
The predetermined position determined from within the impedance change detection area is the center of gravity of the detection area in the area on the planar impedance sensing means (a representative position other than the center of gravity may be used). When the impedance sensing means forms a curved surface, an area obtained by developing the curved surface into a plane is adopted as an area on the impedance sensing means.
An area having coordinates corresponding to each coordinate in the area on the impedance sensing means on a one-to-one basis is provided in the memory, and a temporal change in the position of the center of gravity of the detection area is recorded to obtain a locus drawn by the operation input signal. .
[0010]
[2] In the configuration of the above [1],
Further comprising a character recognition means for recognizing a character based on the trajectory of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
The input signal control means, the switching of the direction of the detection area determined by the direction calculation means, to give the character recognition means as a character recognition break based on the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
A portable electronic device, comprising:
[0011]
For a technique for performing character recognition from coordinates accumulated as a handwritten trajectory, see, for example, "Handwritten character recognition by computer (http://www.nemoto.ecei.tohoku.ac.jp/~wai/manu/manu/.html) And is publicly known.
When the direction of the detection area is switched, the switching is given to the character recognizing means, and is recognized as a character delimiter.
The case where the direction of the detection area is switched includes, for example, (1) when the character handwritten on the impedance sensing unit with the finger of the right hand is switched so as to be handwritten with the finger of the left hand, and (2) portable type. When the orientation of the electronic device is changed (for example, the vertical orientation is set to the horizontal orientation / the horizontal orientation is set to the vertical orientation), and the like.
[0012]
[3] A portable electronic device that operates in response to an operation input signal,
Impedance sensing means provided in a plane on at least a part of the surface or near the surface of the case body of the portable electronic device,
Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means;
An input signal generation unit that generates an operation input signal having a meaning corresponding to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation unit,
A portable electronic device comprising:
[0013]
Various cases are conceivable as “the meaning given to the operation input signal corresponding to the direction of the detection area”.
For example, by associating a direction with an application and inputting a predetermined direction on a menu screen (= for example, touching the impedance sensing means with a finger whose input is performed in a predetermined direction; the same applies to the following). The application corresponding to the direction may be started.
Alternatively, the user may input a predetermined direction on the menu screen having a hierarchical structure to make the hierarchy deeper or shallower.
In game software or the like, for example, an input in a direction corresponding to a right index finger may be moved right, and an input in a direction corresponding to a left index finger may be moved left.
Note that these are merely examples, and the “meaning given to the operation input signal” is not limited thereto.
[0014]
[4] A portable electronic device that operates in response to an operation input signal,
Impedance sensing means provided in a plane on at least a part of the surface or near the surface of the case body of the portable electronic device,
Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means;
Input signal generating means for generating an operation input signal in response to detection of an impedance change by the impedance sensing means;
Input signal control means for controlling an operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means according to the direction of the detection area determined by the direction calculation means,
A portable electronic device comprising:
The configuration of [4] is substantially the same as the configuration of [3]. However, in the configuration of [3], the “meaning to have” is fixed. It can be controlled.
[0015]
[5] In any one of the above constitutions [1] to [4],
A keypad having a plurality of keys,
The impedance sensing unit is a capacitance sensing unit provided below the keypad.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
The plurality of keys are, for example, a numeric keypad and a small number of function keys when the portable electronic device is a mobile phone. The impedance sensing means may be provided only below the keypad, or may be provided wider than the keypad.
FIG. 4A shows an example in which the impedance sensing means 31 (32) is provided below the keypad 21 (22).
[0016]
[6] In the configuration of the above [5],
Key input processing means for validating key input from the keypad only when the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation means is within a predetermined direction range,
A portable electronic device, comprising:
Only when the user holds the portable electronic device in a certain direction (= in a certain holding manner), the direction of the detection region is within the predetermined direction range. Therefore, even if another person who does not have knowledge of the direction operates the portable electronic device, the key input is invalidated. That is, unauthorized use can be prevented.
[0017]
[7] In any one of the constitutions [1] to [6], the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
[8] In any one of the above constitutions [1] to [6],
The portable electronic device is a portable information terminal,
A portable electronic device, comprising:
[9] In any one of the above constitutions [1] to [6],
The portable electronic device is a notebook computer;
A portable electronic device, comprising:
[10] In any one of the above constitutions [1] to [9],
The direction of the detection area determined by the direction calculation means is a direction of the detection area that changes according to the direction in which the portable electronic device is carried,
By such a change in the direction, control of the division of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
A portable electronic device, comprising:
[11] In any one of the above constitutions [1] to [9],
The operation input signal for operating the portable electronic device is input by input means such as a pen or finger for handwriting input,
The direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation means is a direction of the detection area that changes according to the direction of the input means,
By such a change in the direction, control of the division of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
A portable electronic device, comprising:
As described above, the change in the direction of the detection area changes depending on the relative positional relationship between the direction in which the portable electronic device is carried and the direction of the input unit. It also occurs when it changes, and also when the direction of the input means changes.
In particular, it is predicted that the direction in which the portable electronic device is carried changes arbitrarily in a three-dimensional space, and the relative positional relationship with the direction of the input means changes accordingly. The direction of the detection area that is present will change.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the portable electronic device of the present invention is embodied as a mobile telephone will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile telephone according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external view (a) of the mobile phone according to the embodiment, and a schematic cross-sectional view (b) of a main configuration of a line BB in the external view (a). FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic perspective view of FIG. 4A and 4B show the positional relationship between the impedance sensing means (capacitance sensor) and the keypad. FIG. 4A shows an example in which the impedance sensing means (capacitance sensors 31 and 32) are provided below the keypad 21, and FIG. 4) shows an example in which impedance sensing means (capacitance sensors 31 and 32) are provided in a portion different from the keypads 21 and 22. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a method of obtaining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the detection area of the impedance change. FIGS. 6 and 7 are procedures for performing processing according to the detection result by the impedance sensing means (capacitance sensor). It is a flowchart which shows.
[0019]
The mobile telephone illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 4A and 4B includes a liquid crystal display 60, numeric keys provided on a key mat 21 which is a component of the keypad 20, and function keys 21a, 21b,. , Etc., various members such as a voice input device (microphone) 72, a voice output device (earpiece) 71, an antenna 50, etc., which are integrally assembled inside or outside the case. I have. A battery (not shown) is provided detachably. In FIG. 4B, illustration of members is omitted as appropriate, such as illustration of a liquid crystal display, a numeric keypad, and the like. For example, FIG. 4B shows a keypad and an impedance sensing unit ( This is because the figure is intended to explain the positional relationship with the capacitance sensor.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the keypad 20 has a key mat 21 and a flexible substrate 22, and an impedance sensor is provided between the key mat 21 and the flexible substrate 22. A capacitance sensor 30 (31, 32), which is a specific example of the means, is sandwiched and adhered by adhesive layers 11, 13. The configuration shown in FIGS. 2B and 3 is an example of a configuration in which a capacitance sensor is provided below a keypad as shown in FIG. In the configuration in which the capacitance sensor is provided in a portion different from the keypad, a configuration different from the configurations shown in FIGS. 2B and 3 is adopted. Further, even when the capacitance sensor is provided below the keypad as shown in FIG. 4A, it is not always necessary to configure the capacitance sensor as shown in FIGS. Of course, any configuration may be employed as long as the capacitance sensor can be located. Also, when the capacitance sensor is interposed between the key mat 21 and the flexible substrate 22, the adhesive layers 11 and 13 do not necessarily need to be interposed. Needless to say, a configuration in which the capacitance sensor can be sandwiched between them may be appropriately adopted.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the key mat 21, key groups such as ten keys 21a, 21b,... And function keys are provided. Metal contacts 22a, 22b,... Are provided respectively. When the user presses a desired key, the pressing force applied to the key is transmitted to the metal contact located immediately below via the capacitance sensor 30 (31, 32), whereby the metal contact transmits an electric signal to the key. Output to the pad interface circuit 201. That is, the pressing of the key is detected.
In order to give a click feeling (metal knock feeling) at the time of pressing a key, a projection is provided at the lower central portion of each key such as the numeric keys 21a and 21b, and a corresponding portion such as the capacitance sensors 31 and 32 positioned in the middle is provided. A hole may be formed and the protrusion may be penetrated to the metal contacts 2a, 22b and the like.
[0022]
The capacitance sensor 30 includes a first plate 31 and a second plate 32, and is integrated by being bonded by the bonding layer 12. Stripe-shaped electrodes (eg, ITO electrodes) are formed on each of the plates 31 and 32, and the first plate 31 is formed so that the stripe-shaped electrodes form an orthogonal direction (= form a grid). And a second plate 32 are provided. When a part of the human body such as a fingertip contacts (or approaches), the capacitance between the electrode of the first plate 31 and the electrode of the second plate 32 near the contact (or proximity) part changes. Output to the capacitance interface 301. That is, a change in capacitance is detected. This configuration is an example of a capacitance sensor, and it goes without saying that a capacitance sensor having a configuration other than the above may be appropriately adopted.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit of the mobile telephone encodes an electric signal (voice signal) input from the voice input device 72 and supplies the encoded signal to the wireless interface circuit 82 and data (voice data) supplied from the wireless interface circuit 82. A codec circuit 81 that decodes data and the like; data other than audio data is not described here) and outputs it as an electric signal (audio signal) to the audio output device 71 to output audio; The data is converted into an electric signal and output from the antenna 50, and the electric signal received by the antenna 50 is converted into data (audio data or the like; description of data other than audio data is omitted) to convert the data into a codec circuit 81. A wireless interface circuit 82 for outputting to the A controller 83 for controlling such an operation of over face circuit 82, a memory 84 for use as needed controller 83. The codec circuit 81, the wireless interface circuit 82, the controller 83, and the memory 84 constitute a conventionally known mobile telephone circuit 80.
[0024]
The controller 83 receives, in addition to the codec circuit 81 and the wireless interface circuit 82, an electric signal (press detection signal) generated by pressing the keys 21 a, 21 b,. (Pressure detection data) and input. Further, a change in the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 30 in accordance with the contact (or proximity) of the human body is converted into data by the capacitance sensor interface circuit 301 and input to the controller 83. .
Hereinafter, the processing of these inputs will be described with reference to a flowchart.
[0025]
(1) Flow chart of FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a procedure for notifying the character recognition function that the character is a character delimiter (start of the next character) when the direction of the finger F on which a character is handwritten on the capacitive sensor 30 changes. . Note that the character recognition function is realized by the controller 83 executing known character recognition software. The change in the direction of the finger F is caused when the finger on which the character is handwritten is changed, for example, when the second finger of the right hand is changed to the third finger of the right hand, or when the second finger of the right hand is changed to the second finger of the left hand. It can happen when you change to a finger. Further, when the mobile phone is tilted in any of front and rear, left and right, up and down, or a combination thereof, the direction of the finger F on which the character is handwritten changes the relative positional relationship between the mobile phone and the finger F. By doing so, a change similar to the change in the direction of the finger F may occur.
[0026]
First, when it is time to detect a sensor signal (YES in S01), an output signal from the capacitance type sensor 30 is fetched (S03). The position of the detection area detected this time, that is, the position of the center of gravity, is given to the character recognition function (S05). Thereby, the character recognition function stores the position of the detection area detected this time in the memory. That is, it is added to the character locus.
[0027]
Next, the direction of the detection area is determined (S07). Since this method has been described in detail with reference to FIG. 5, the description is omitted here.
[0028]
It is checked whether the detection direction is different from that at the time of the previous detection (S09). Naturally, a certain error range is allowed. For example, it is assumed that the identity of the detection direction is determined for each range of 0 to 45 °, 45 to 90 °, 90 to 135 °, 135 to 180 °, and so on.
[0029]
As a result of the check in step S09, if the direction of the area detected this time (the area where the change in the capacitance is detected) is different from the previous direction (YES in S09), it is a character delimiter and the next character should be started. Is notified to the character recognition function (S11).
The processing is performed as described above.
[0030]
(1) Flow chart of FIG. 7:
FIG. 7 shows a procedure for determining and executing a process to be executed in accordance with the direction of the area detected this time (the area where the change in the capacitance is detected).
[0031]
Steps S01, S03, and S07 are the same as those in FIG.
In step S21, a process to be executed corresponding to the detection direction obtained in step S07 is acquired from the “direction-process table (FIG. 7B)” for the current application. The "direction-processing table" is assumed to be possessed by the mobile telephone for each application. In the illustrated example, for example, if the detection direction obtained in step S07 is in the range of “45 to 90 °”, a process of “moving to the upper left” is executed.
Thus, the procedure of FIG. 7 is executed.
[0032]
Although the above-described embodiment is an example in which the present invention is embodied as a mobile phone, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone. For example, a portable electronic device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a notebook personal computer may be used. Can be applied in the same manner as described above.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
The portable electronic device according to [1], which operates in response to an operation input signal, comprises: an impedance sensing unit provided in a plane on at least a part of a surface of or near the surface of a case body of the portable electronic device; Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area in which the impedance change is detected by the sensing means; and obtaining a predetermined position from within the area in which the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means. Input signal generating means for collectively generating a temporal change as an operation input signal; and control of a division of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generating means according to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculating means. The input signal control means detects the direction in which the operator touches the mobile phone or the like, and detects the operation input signal in accordance with the detected direction. It is possible to control the separator.
[0034]
The portable electronic device according to [3], which operates in response to an operation input signal, includes an impedance sensing unit provided in a plane on at least a part of a surface of or near a surface of a case body of the portable electronic device; A direction calculating means for obtaining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area in which the impedance change is detected by the sensing means; and an operation input signal having a meaning corresponding to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculating means. With the input signal generation means, it is possible to detect the direction in which the operator touches the mobile telephone or the like, and generate an operation input signal having a meaning determined according to the detected direction.
[0035]
The portable electronic device according to [4], which operates in response to an operation input signal, includes an impedance sensing unit provided in a plane on at least a part of a surface of or near the surface of a case body of the portable electronic device; Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the sensing means; and input signal generating means for generating an operation input signal in response to the detection of the impedance change by the impedance sensing means. And input signal control means for controlling the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means according to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation means, so that the direction in which the operator touches the mobile phone or the like is detected. The operation input signal can be controlled according to the detected direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2A is an external view of the mobile phone according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a dashed line BB in the external view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic perspective view of FIG. 2 (b).
FIG. 4 shows a positional relationship between the capacitance sensors 30 (31, 32) and the keypads 20 (21, 22), and (a) shows the capacitance sensors 30 at positions below the keypads 20 (21, 22). (B) shows an example in which the capacitance sensor 30 (31, 32) is provided in a portion different from the keypad 20 (21, 22).
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method of obtaining a direction of a detection area based on a shape of the detection area of the impedance change.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for separating a character input or the like in accordance with a detection result by the capacitance sensor 30 (31, 32).
FIG. 7 is a flowchart (a) illustrating a processing procedure for performing a predetermined process according to a detection result by the capacitance sensor 30 (31, 32), and an explanatory diagram (b) illustrating a direction-processing table.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 20 keypad 21 keypad key mat 22 keypad flexible substrate 21a, 21b key 22a, 22b metal contact 30 capacitance sensor (impedance sensing means)
31 First plate of the capacitance sensor 32 Second plate 11, 12, 13 of the capacitance sensor Adhesive layer

Claims (11)

A portable electronic device that operates according to an operation input signal,
Impedance sensing means provided in a plane on at least a part of the surface or near the surface of the case body of the portable electronic device,
Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means;
An input signal generating means for obtaining a predetermined position from within the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means and collectively generating a temporal change in the position as an operation input signal,
An input signal control unit that controls a break of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation unit according to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation unit,
A portable electronic device comprising: In claim 1,
Further comprising a character recognition means for recognizing a character based on the trajectory of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
The input signal control means, the switching of the direction of the detection area determined by the direction calculation means, to give the character recognition means as a character recognition break based on the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
A portable electronic device, comprising: A portable electronic device that operates according to an operation input signal,
Impedance sensing means provided in a plane on at least a part of the surface or near the surface of the case body of the portable electronic device,
Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means;
An input signal generation unit that generates an operation input signal having a meaning corresponding to the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation unit,
A portable electronic device comprising: A portable electronic device that operates according to an operation input signal,
Impedance sensing means provided in a plane on at least a part of the surface or near the surface of the case body of the portable electronic device,
Direction calculating means for determining the direction of the detection area based on the shape of the area where the impedance change is detected by the impedance sensing means;
Input signal generating means for generating an operation input signal in response to detection of an impedance change by the impedance sensing means;
Input signal control means for controlling an operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means according to the direction of the detection area determined by the direction calculation means,
A portable electronic device comprising: In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A keypad having a plurality of keys,
The impedance sensing unit is a capacitance sensing unit provided below the keypad.
A portable electronic device, comprising: In claim 5,
Key input processing means for validating key input from the keypad only when the direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation means is within a predetermined direction range,
A portable electronic device, comprising: In any one of claims 1 to 6,
The portable electronic device is a mobile telephone;
A portable electronic device, comprising: In any one of claims 1 to 6,
The portable electronic device is a portable information terminal,
A portable electronic device, comprising: In any one of claims 1 to 6,
The portable electronic device is a notebook computer;
A portable electronic device, comprising: In any one of claims 1 to 9,
The direction of the detection area determined by the direction calculation means is a direction of the detection area that changes according to the direction in which the portable electronic device is carried,
By such a change in the direction, control of the division of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
A portable electronic device, comprising: In any one of claims 1 to 9,
The operation input signal for operating the portable electronic device is input by input means such as a pen or finger for handwriting input,
The direction of the detection area obtained by the direction calculation means is a direction of the detection area that changes according to the direction of the input means,
By such a change in the direction, control of the division of the operation input signal generated by the input signal generation means,
A portable electronic device, comprising:

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