JPH06259191A - Information processor for pen and finger operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a working environment with high operability and high visibility by independently moving up and down plural peripheral parts provided on the bottom surface of a device case to tilt the case of the processor in plural directions. CONSTITUTION:Leg parts 130-1 and 130-2 are fixed to the bottom face of a case 120 at the opposite face side to a user so that the case can be tilted. Then, at the time of horizontally using the device, the leg part 130-1 is in a standing state at the longitudinal side surrounding part of the bottom face of the case 120, and at the time of vertically using it, the leg part 130-2 is in the standing state at the lateral side surrounding part of the bottom face of the case 120. Those leg parts 130-1 and 130-2 can be taken in and out from the bottom face of the case 120, and the appropriate tilt can be applied to the case 120 at the time of vertically and horizontally using the case. Then, display information displayed on a display part 200 according to the direction of the tilt is switched so that the upper part of the display information can be displayed where the height of the tilt is high. Thus, a user can always look at the erect normal information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device such as a personal computer, a word processor or a workstation, or a tablet device which is operated by a pen or a finger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a tablet device for pen input or finger input, or an information processing device by pen input operation or finger input operation in which a display section and an input section are integrated, operability and visibility are improved. Therefore, tilt the device body (device housing) so that the front of the device is low when viewed from the user.
(tilt) is often added. Also,
There is also a device in which a leg portion having a hinge mechanism is provided on the inner side of the bottom surface of the device casing having a slightly tilted shape, and the tilt angle can be set in two stages by putting the leg portion in and out (for example, "Hitachi Handwriting input device; OP511 / 5
12 "). Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-293625 discloses a technique for automatically adjusting the tilt angle of an image input tablet to a plurality of angles according to whether or not coordinates are being input. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-304612 discloses a technique for automatically adjusting the display means to an optimum tilt angle depending on whether an input pen or a keyboard is used.

[0003]

By the way, as described above, in any of the conventional products and the techniques disclosed in the above-mentioned prior applications, the tilt of the device casing can be adjusted only in a single direction. However, for example, when creating documents, filling out forms, or when a plurality of people are having a meeting or an interview while looking at a common screen on a table with pen input operation or finger input operation, There are many demands to change the orientation of the screen vertically and horizontally depending on the application.

In order to meet such demands, the object of the present invention is to enable the tilt to be freely switched in two or more directions and to allow the user to see the upright information, thereby improving the operability. It is to provide a work environment with high visibility and communication.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pen / finger operation information processing apparatus having at least an input section on the upper surface of an apparatus casing (apparatus body),
A means for independently moving up and down at two or more peripheral portions of the bottom surface of the device housing is provided. Further, in a pen / finger operation information processing apparatus having a display unit integrally configured with the input unit, detection means for detecting the tilt direction of the device housing, and display on the display unit according to the output of the detection means And display control means for displaying the information to be displayed in a direction such that the higher one by the tilt is higher. Further, the display section is divided into a plurality of windows, and a display control means for displaying at least a window for displaying erect information and a window for displaying inverted information at the same time is provided.

[0006]

It is possible to attach a tilt in two or more directions to the device housing by means of independently moving up and down at two or more peripheral portions of the bottom surface of the device housing. It is possible to attach a tilt that makes it easy to perform an input operation according to a desired orientation of the device housing. Further, in a device having a display-integrated input section on the upper surface of the apparatus housing, based on the detection information of the tilt direction detection means, the information to be displayed on the display section is displayed by the display control means by the height by the tilt. The upright information can be displayed in a direction such that the higher one is on the upper side. Furthermore,
By the display control means for simultaneously displaying a window for displaying at least erect information and a window for displaying inverted information on the display unit, even when a plurality of people are facing each other, the information erect in the direction of each person is displayed. Not only can they be viewed in the window at the same time, but each person can also freely input handwriting in the direction that faces them. With the above operation, an operating environment with high operability, visibility, and communication can be realized.

[0007]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an information processing apparatus by a pen input operation or a finger input operation according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The present embodiment shows a configuration example in which the display integrated input section is provided and the tilt can be switched in two directions. Figure 1 (a)
Shows a state in which the apparatus main body is used in a horizontal orientation with respect to the direction used by the user (front of the user), and FIG. 1B shows the apparatus main body in a vertical orientation with respect to the direction used by the user. It shows the state of use. Each of the following embodiments including this embodiment shows an information processing apparatus having a display-integrated input section, but the present invention is applied to a pen / finger operation information processing apparatus having at least an input section on the upper surface of the apparatus body. It is possible.

In FIG. 1, 100 is a display-integrated input unit in which a transparent input unit such as a tablet input device and a display unit such as a flat display panel are integrated, and 110.
Is an operation medium such as a pen or a finger, and 120 is a device casing of the information processing device (device body; hereinafter referred to as casing). Reference numerals 130-1 and 130-2 denote leg portions attached to the bottom surface of the casing facing the user for tilting the casing 120, and 140-1 and 140-2 are directions used by the user. As shown in FIG. 1 (a), when used horizontally, the leg portion 130-1 is in a state of standing upright on the longitudinal side peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the housing 120, and as shown in FIG. 1 (b). When used vertically, the legs 130-2 are attached to the housing 12
It is adapted to be in a standing state on the short side peripheral portion of the bottom surface of 0. These legs 130-1, 130-
2 can be put in and taken out from the bottom surface of the housing 120 (it is possible to take a stored state and a pulled-out / standing state), and in both cases of portrait use and landscape use. , The housing 120 can be provided with proper tilts such as θ1 and θ2, respectively.

Here, the handwritten information 10 input by the operation medium 110 such as a pen or a finger to the display integrated input section 100.
1 is inking-displayed in real time on the display unit 200 of the display-integrated input unit 100, and it is possible to realize an easy-to-use environment as if by handwriting with a pencil or the like on paper. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the display information 220-1, 220-2 such as characters and icons displayed on the display unit 200 according to the tilt direction is such that the higher the height due to the tilt is, the higher the display information is. It is automatically switched and displayed in any direction. With this, even if the tilt direction is switched, the user can always see the erect information,
Good visibility is obtained.

FIG. 2 is a view showing one specific example of a leg mechanism for switching the tilt in two directions as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 (a) is a bottom view of the housing 120, and FIG. b)
Is a straight line 129 in the leg 130-1 in FIG.
It is a principal part sectional drawing cut | disconnected along -1. Figure 2 (a)
As shown in FIG. 7, the leg portions 130-1 and 130-2 that can be opened / closed (rotated) are attached to two positions on the upper side and the right side of the bottom surface of the housing 120 in order to switch the tilt direction between two directions. . When the housing 120 is horizontal, the legs 13
0-1 and 130-2 are both storage parts 132-1 and 132.
-2 in the closed storage state. In this state, for example, when the housing 120 is tilted horizontally, the hinge mechanism with the shaft 131-1 as the center of rotation is used.
As shown in (b) of FIG. 1, the leg portion 130-1 is pulled out substantially vertically and is erected (opened), so that the casing 120 can be tilted in landscape orientation as shown in FIG. . Further, when the casing 120 is tilted from the horizontal state to the casing 120 in a portrait orientation, the other leg portion 130-2 is made substantially vertical by the hinge mechanism having the shaft 131-2 as the rotation center. By pulling out and standing up (opening), the casing 120 can be tilted in portrait orientation as shown in FIG. The shafts 131-1 and 131-2 described above are held on the wall surfaces on both sides of the storage units 132-1 and 132-2.

Here, the leg portions 130-1 and 130- of FIG.
There are two methods of rotation driving (opening and closing method) of 2; manual and automatic. In the case of manual operation, as shown in FIG. 2, the tilt direction detection sensors 133-1, 133-2 for detecting which leg is opened are attached to each leg 130-1,
It is installed on the housing 120 side near 130-2. Examples of this sensor include an optical switch, a micro switch, a sensor utilizing ultrasonic waves, and the like. In the case of an optical switch, there are a reflection type and a transmission type. FIG. 2B shows an example using a reflection type optical switch, for example, an LED.
Reflection of infrared light or visible light emitted by 134-1 is detected by an optical sensor 135-1 such as a phototransistor or a photodiode. Then, for example, when the detection result from the sensor includes reflected light, it is determined that the leg is closed or "no tilt", and when there is no reflected light, the leg is open or "tilted". In this case, for example, by making the portion 136-1 on the surface of the leg portion 130-1 mirror-like, the presence or absence of reflected light can be more stably determined. By the way, when the legs are manually opened and closed as described above, the legs 1
When 30-1 and 130-2 are opened at the same time, the casing 120 has a tilt in the diagonal direction. To prevent this, the legs 130-only when all the legs are closed.
Either one of 1 or 130-2 may be opened. For that purpose, a mechanism may be configured in which all the legs other than the open legs are locked so as not to be opened, and the lock is released only by closing the opened legs.

On the other hand, when the legs 130-1 and 130-2 are automatically opened / closed, for example, "use in landscape" or "use in portrait" is selected on the front side of the housing 120, for example. Switch for tilt direction selection (not shown)
Depending on which is selected, the leg may be automatically opened using a drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor. In this case, since which leg is to be opened can be easily determined from the selected switch, the tilt direction detecting sensor as in the case of manual operation is not necessary.

FIG. 3 is a hardware block 1 having a function of switching the direction of display information according to the tilt direction.
It is a figure which shows an example. In the figure, 300 is a CPU, 3
10 is a memory such as RAM, 330 is a tilt direction determination unit, 340 is an input unit, 350 is an input control unit, 360 is V
RAM, 370 is a display controller, 380 is a ROM, 390
Is a bus. The input unit 340 is, for example, a tablet and is for inputting handwritten stroke information of the operation medium 110 such as a pen or a finger as a coordinate sequence. Display unit 2
00 is a flat display panel of liquid crystal, EL, plasma, etc., and the display unit 200 displays the bitmap information of the VRAM 360 in a one-to-one correspondence. This display unit 200
The input unit 340 and the input unit 340 constitute the display integrated input unit 100. Further, the CPU 300 executes the program stored in the ROM 380 or the memory 310,
The read / write (drawing) control to the memory 310 and the VRAM 360 via the 90, the input / output control to the input control unit 350 and the display control unit 370, and the like are performed.

In FIG. 3, 320-1, ..., 320-
Reference numeral n denotes a tilt direction detection unit, which corresponds to the above-mentioned tilt direction detection sensor in the case of manual operation, and the above-mentioned tilt direction specifying switch in the case of automatic operation, and the embodiments of FIGS. , The number of tilt direction detectors is n
This is an example when = 2. Here, it is assumed that the ROM 380 and the memory 310 store bitmap information such as character fonts, icon data, and still images, and information 219 having upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions such as graphics and moving images. CP
U300 is a tilt direction detection unit 320-1, ..., 32.
0-n and the information 21 with the orientation based on the information on the tilt direction obtained via the tilt direction determination unit 330.
9 is expanded into bitmap information as follows and VRA
Draw on M360. That is, in the case of using the landscape display shown in FIG. 1A, the display information 219 is erected and drawn in the VRAM 360, and in the case of using the portrait display shown in FIG. The bitmap information rotated 90 degrees is drawn. Such rotation drawing can be easily realized by a well-known technique in the field of personal computers and the like. Also, 320
-0 is a horizontal determination unit that determines whether the housing 120 is tilted or horizontal. In the case of manual operation, if the tilt is not detected by any of the sensors of the tilt direction detection units 320-1, ..., 320-n, it is determined to be horizontal,
In the case of automatic, for example, a horizontal designation switch (not shown)
If is pressed, it may be determined to be horizontal.

4A and 4B are views showing another concrete example of the leg mechanism for switching the tilt in two directions. FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the housing 120, and FIG. It is a principal part sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the leg part 400-1 along the straight line 429-1 in (a) of FIG. As shown in (a) of FIG. 4, in this example, tilt switching in two directions is performed by one leg portion 4.
In this configuration, the legs 400-1 are alternatively positioned at two positions on the upper side and the right side of the bottom surface of the housing 120. Figure 4
As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the leg portion 400-1 attached to can be opened / closed by a hinge mechanism having a shaft 410-1 as a rotation center (rotatable with respect to the leg portion support body 440-1). It is said that. Then, with the leg support 440-1 positioned above or on the right side of the bottom surface of the casing 120,
By changing the leg portion 400-1 from the closed position (stored position) shown by the broken line in FIG. 4B to the open position (drawer / standing position) shown by the solid line, it is possible to use the horizontally long or the vertically long. The tilt can be attached to the housing 120. Further, the support body 440-1 is mounted with the leg portion 400-1, and with the shaft 411-1 near the essential portion of the fan-shaped storage portion 432 as the center of rotation, the fan-shaped storage portion 43.
2 can be rotated 90 degrees in a plane parallel to the bottom surface, and it is semi-fixed at two positions on the upper side (the position shown by the solid line) and the right side (the position shown by the broken line) in FIG. It is designed to be held at.

In FIG. 4, 433-1, 433-
Reference numeral 2 is a tilt direction detection sensor when the method of opening and closing the legs is manual, and detects whether the support body 440-1 is on the upper side or the right side. 437-1 is an opening / closing detection sensor for detecting the opening / closing of the legs, and is mounted on the support body 440-1. These sensors 433-1, 433-2, 437-1
The same type as described above can be applied to the leg portion 400- by the output from the tilt direction detection sensors 433-1 and 433-2 and the output from the opening / closing detection sensor 437-1.
It is configured to determine whether 1 is in the horizontally long use position or the vertically long use position, and determine whether the leg portion 400-1 is in the closed position or the open position. FIG. 4B shows an example using an optical switch as each sensor.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a mirror surface portion attached to the leg portion 400-1 and the support body 440-1 for improving reflection. On the other hand,
In the case of automatic, instead of each of the above sensors as above,
A tilt direction switch (not shown) may be installed. Here, also in the present example, except for the movement of the support body 440-1, the method of opening / closing the leg portion 400-1, the switching control of the display direction, and the like are performed in both cases of manual operation and automatic operation, as shown in FIG. Since it is substantially the same as the example described with reference to FIG. 3, description thereof will be omitted.

By the way, the present invention is also effective for a dialogue system in which a plurality of people simultaneously use from multiple directions. When multiple people use such an interactive system for meetings and interviews, when someone inputs or explains to the customer, etc., the entire device should be displayed so that the displayed information looks upright to the input person and the customer. It is complicated to rotate horizontally one by one. It is superior in operability and visibility to attach a tilt to an input person or a customer with a simple operation, or to automatically switch the display so that the displayed information is upright when viewed from the person. Less than,
An example of application to such a dialogue system in which a plurality of people simultaneously use from multiple directions will be described.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus capable of switching the tilt direction and display information in four directions. In this embodiment, a face-to-face (face-to-face
This is an example of application to a dialogue system used in "to face". As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d), the device is used horizontally from the front, vertically from the right, horizontally from the face-to-face, or vertically from the left. Depending on whether or not (depending on the directions 140-1 to 140-4 to be used), the legs 130-1, 130-2, 130-3,
By pulling out and standing up the leg portion on the opposite side as seen from the user of 130-4, the housing 120 is provided with θ1 in the direction 141-1, θ2 in the direction 141-2, and direction 1.
41-3 has a tilt of θ3 and direction 141-4 has a tilt of θ4, and information such as characters and icons to be displayed on the display unit 200 is displayed on the display unit 200 according to the tilt direction. 1, 220-2,
220-3 and 220-4 are displayed upright. In this embodiment, n = 4 in FIG.
Is equivalent to

FIG. 6 is a view showing one specific example of the leg mechanism for switching the tilt in four directions as shown in FIG. 5, which shows the bottom surface of the housing 120. As shown in FIG. 6, each leg 130-1, 130-2, 130-.
3, 130-4 are shafts 131-1, 131-2, 131
-3, 131-4 are rotatably (openable / closable) held by hinge mechanisms having rotation centers, respectively, and are closed in the storage units 132-1, 132-2, 132-3, 132-4. A position and an open position in which the leg part 130-1 is pulled out from the storage part and stands up in a substantially vertical direction can be taken. In the figure, the leg part 130-1 is in the open position and the other leg part 130-.
2, 130-3 and 130-4 are shown in the closed position. Further, in FIG. 6, 133-1 and 133-
Reference numerals 2, 133-3, 133-4 are tilt direction detection sensors for manual operation. Note that each leg portion 130 in this example
-1, 130-2, 130-3, and 130-4 opening / closing method, display direction switching control, etc., in both cases of manual operation and automatic operation, are substantially the same as the examples described in FIG. 2 and FIG. The description is omitted because it is the same.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the display control according to the present invention. First, in order to simplify the description, a parameter i that means the tilt direction will be defined in relation to each of the above-described embodiments. When i = 0, there is no tilt, that is, horizontal use, i = 1 is the front tilt, i = 2 is the right tilt, i = 3 is the facing tilt, and i = 4 is the left tilt. And 7, in a determination processing step 800, the presence or absence of a tilting request is determined from the output of the tilt direction determination unit 330 of FIG. If i = 0, that is, no request (horizontal use), the process proceeds to processing step 820, and the information 219 having the orientation is read from the ROM 380 or the memory 310 in FIG. 3 described above and described as the upright bitmap information. Drawing on the VRAM 360 of FIG. On the other hand, if i ≠ 0 in the determination processing step 800, that is, if there is a request, the process proceeds to determination processing step 810 to determine the value of i, that is, the tilt direction from the output of the tilt direction determination unit 330. When the determination result in the determination processing step 810 is i = 1, the process proceeds to processing step 820, and as in the above, it is drawn in the VRAM 360 as erect information. If the determination result in the determination processing step 810 is i = 2, ..., N, processing step 8
In step 30, the bitmap information rotated according to the determination result of i = 2, ..., N is drawn in the VRAM 370. Here, the rotation angle may be, for example, 90 × (i−1) degrees in each of the above-described embodiments. However, for example, when it is desired to set the tilt direction to an arbitrary angle, the unit rotation angle may be set to an arbitrary angle as necessary.

By the way, in the interactive system using the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is not always necessary to rotate the display information as described with reference to FIGS. Of course, it is also effective. In this case, instead of setting the tilt direction in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 5 as the condition for the rotation display, for example, a switch (not shown) for designating the rotation direction of the display is prepared, and the tilt direction is set to the predetermined direction. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the display information may be rotated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another specific example of the leg mechanism for switching the tilt direction to four directions.
The figure shows the bottom surface of the housing 120. In the present embodiment, the leg mechanism shown in FIG. 4, that is, the one in which tilt switching in two directions is shared by one leg,
It is configured as a pair. As shown in FIG.
One leg support 4 capable of rotating 90 degrees in the horizontal direction
One leg 400-1 mounted on the 40-1 is the housing 1
The other leg mounted on the other leg support 440-2, which is adapted to be selectively positioned in two positions on the upper side and the right side of the bottom surface of 20, and is rotatable by 90 degrees in the horizontal direction. The part 400-2 is selectively positioned at two positions on the left side and the lower side of the bottom surface of the housing 120. Both legs 400-1 and 400-2 have shafts 410-1 and
By the hinge mechanism with the rotation center at 410-2, the closed position (storage position) and the open position (withdrawal / standing position) can be taken as described above, and both leg support members 440-1 and 4-4 can be used.
A rotation mechanism 40-2 has a shaft 411-1 and 411-2 as a rotation center so that the storage unit 420 can be horizontally rotated to take a vertical or horizontal position. Also,
Reference numerals 433-1, 433-2, 433-3, and 433-4 are tilt direction detection sensors in the case of manual operation. The opening / closing method of the legs 400-1 and 400-2, the switching control of the display orientation, and the like in this example are substantially the same as those in the example of FIG. 4 regardless of whether they are manual or automatic. Is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the information processing apparatus capable of switching the tilt direction and the display information in four directions. In this embodiment, a housing (apparatus main body) 120 is installed on a desk surface 910, and the tilt direction is switched to four directions by selectively protruding and retracting legs from the desk surface. In this example,
The user selects the switch 900- from the direction of 140-1, for example.
By pressing 1, the facing leg portion 930-1 in the direction 140-1 comes out from the table surface 910, and the facing side peripheral portion of the housing 120 is lifted to the front side in the same manner as in each of the embodiments. The housing 120 is tilted so as to be tilted toward the operation medium 110 to facilitate the input by the operation medium 110, and the display information 220-1 is rotated and controlled so as to be upright when viewed from the direction 140-1. Similarly, switch 900-
When 2, 900-3, 900-4 are pressed, the leg portions (not shown) of the respective switches facing each other emerge from the table 910, and predetermined tilt direction switching control and rotation display control are performed. Is configured to.

10A and 10B are views showing still another specific example of the leg mechanism for switching the tilt direction to four directions. FIG. 10A is a bottom view of the housing 120, and FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of essential parts obtained by cutting the leg portion 600-1 along the straight line 629-1 in FIG. Figure 1
As shown in (a) of 0, in this example, rod-shaped leg portions 600-1, 600-2, 600-3 from the bottom surface of the casing 120,
It is possible for the 600-4 to go in and out, and by selecting and driving two specific ones of these four legs,
It is configured to tilt in the direction. That is, the directions of use 140-1, 140-2, 140-
3 and 140-4, the leg portion 6 on the facing side in each usage direction.
00-4 and 600-1, 600-3 and 600-4, 60
The pair of legs 0-2 and 600-3 and 600-1 and 600-2 are simultaneously projected from the bottom surface of the housing 120 to tilt the housing 120. FIG. 10 (b) shows an example in which the legs are taken in and out by a rack and pinion mechanism. For example, a rack is integrally formed on the legs 600-1 and a pinion (small gear) driven by a motor 620-1 is used. )
The leg portion 600-1 can be moved up and down by the rotation of 610-1. When the legs are moved up and down by using the motor and the rack and pinion mechanism as in this example, the housing 120 is adjusted by adjusting the rotation angle of the motor.
It is also possible to easily attach a tilt of arbitrary angle to.

By the way, in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 5, which is used in the interactive system used by a plurality of people at the same time, the screen is divided into multiple windows, and the display information is rotated and displayed in each window area. A method (a method of displaying erect information when viewed from each usage direction in each window corresponding to each usage direction) is also effective. FIG. 11 shows an example of such a multi-window split screen. In FIG. 11A, the screen is moved up and down by 2
An example in which the same information is rotated and displayed in each of the two split windows 700-1 and 700-3 is shown in FIG.
Is a 4-split window 800-1, 80 divided into two vertically and horizontally
An example in which the same information is rotated and displayed on 0-2, 800-3, and 800-4 is shown in (c) of FIG. 11, where four-side overlapping multi-windows 950-1, 950-2,
An example in which the same information is rotated and displayed on 950-3 and 950-4 is shown in (d) of FIG. 11, four right-angled triangular windows 1000-1, 1000-2, 1 divided by diagonal lines.
An example in which the same information is rotated and displayed on 000-3 and 1000-4 is shown. Here, (a) to FIG.
In (d), 220-1, 220-2, 220-
Reference numerals 3 and 220-4 are display information such as characters rotated and displayed in each window. Further, for example, the inking information 230-1 handwritten on the spot by the operation medium 110 such as a pen from the direction of 140-1 also includes 230-2, 23.
As indicated by 0-3 and 230-4, the windows are simultaneously rotated and displayed in real time.
By adopting such a rotation display for each window, the display content can be easily viewed from any direction of the surroundings, and input from the operation medium 100 can be performed easily and reliably from any direction to improve communication. A high environment will be obtained. Note that such multi-window display and rotation display control can be easily realized by a technique well known in the field of personal computers and the like. Further, for example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 9, by pressing any one of the switches 920 shown in FIG.
It is also possible to configure such that the multi-window as described above is used while all the legs are not raised, that is, the housing 120 is kept horizontal.

As a simpler method for changing the tilt direction, a single leg portion (for example, leg portion 130-) is used in connection with the mechanism shown in FIG.
1) is prepared, and the storage portions 132-1, 132-2, 13 of the same size to which the leg portion 130-1 can be detached and attached.
There is a method in which 2-3 and 132-4 are provided, the leg portion 130-1 is attached to the storage portion that needs to be tilted, and the housing 120 is tilted according to the direction of use. In this case, only one leg is required, and a complicated mechanism such as a hinge mechanism is unnecessary. Applying such a method,
FIG. 12 shows an embodiment in which tilting in any direction is possible. 12A is a bottom view of the housing 1120, and FIG. 12B is a side view of the housing 1120. As shown in FIG. 12A, the shape of the housing 1120 is not necessarily rectangular. No need. In this example, a concentric groove 1132 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 1120, and at least two end portions of the detachable leg portion 1130 are tilted in an arbitrary direction such as 1140. 1133, 113
4 is configured to be fitted and attached at a predetermined position in the groove 1132. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1135 denotes a light emitting diode attached to the center of the leg portion 1130, reference numeral 1136 denotes a phototransistor array concentrically arranged on the bottom surface of the housing 1120, and the leg portion 1130 is attached to the leg portion 1130. The center of the pixel overlaps a part of the phototransistor element. Therefore, which phototransistor element is the light emitting diode 1135
The tilt direction 1140 can be easily detected by detecting whether the received light is received, and the display information can be rotated and displayed accordingly.

The rotation display control technique described so far does not necessarily need to be linked with the tilt, and when the viewing angle of the liquid crystal or the like used as the display unit is narrow,
It is also effective to rotate and display on a horizontal screen. In this case, in order to switch the display direction, for example, switches (not shown) may be provided at four positions of the frame portion of the housing 120, and the rotation display may be switched by pressing any one of them. Of course, other methods such as menu selection displayed on the screen may be used.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a proper tilt can be given to the main body of the apparatus in the direction the user wants to operate, and the display information is displayed so that the user can stand upright. Since the rotation is automatically controlled, operability,
It is possible to realize a use environment with high visibility or communication, and the value is great in the information processing device of the pen / finger operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus for switching tilt and display information in two directions according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mechanism for switching the tilt in two directions according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is one of hardware having a function of switching the direction of display information according to a tilt direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows an example.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another example of the mechanism for switching the tilt in two directions according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus for switching tilt and display information in four directions according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mechanism for switching the tilt in four directions according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a processing flow for rotation display control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing another example of the mechanism for switching the tilt in four directions according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the information processing apparatus that switches tilt and display information in four directions according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the mechanism for switching the tilt in four directions according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display form of each embodiment for performing multi-window display according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the tilt is switched in an arbitrary direction according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Display Integrated Input Unit 110 Operation Medium such as Pen or Finger 130-1, 130-2, 130-3, 130-4, 4
00-1, 400-2, 930-1, 1130 Legs for switching the tilt direction 140-1, 140-2, 140-3, 140-4 Direction used by the user 200 Display 220-220 2, 220-3, 220-4 Display information 320-1, 320-2, ..., 320-n Tilt direction detection unit 330 Tilt direction determination unit 340 Input unit 360 VRAM

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location G06F 15/20 506 A 7315-5L (72) Inventor Ojo Adult Yoshida Town, Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 292 Hitachi Microelectronics Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhide Nishiyama Yoshidacho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 292 Hitachi Microelectronics Development Laboratory, Hitachi

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having at least an input section on an upper surface of an apparatus housing (apparatus body), wherein means for independently moving up and down two or more peripheral portions of a bottom surface of the apparatus housing is provided. An information processing device for pen / finger operation, characterized in that the device casing can be tilted in two or more directions. 2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is integrally formed with the input unit provided on the upper surface of the apparatus housing, a unit for detecting the tilt direction of the apparatus housing, and the detection unit. An information processing device for pen / finger operation, comprising means for displaying information to be displayed on the display unit in accordance with an output in a direction such that the higher one due to the tilt is higher. 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display section is divided into a plurality of windows, and a means for displaying at least a window for displaying erect information and a window for displaying inverted information is provided at the same time. Information processing device for pen / finger operation.